ESPN: Patriots must cope with the rookie wall

[Deus Irae]

Thanks, I knew there was one guy I was missing. I forgot Spikes in my post.

Spikes and Guyton have been rotating, no? I haven't seen Reiss' breakdowns the last few weeks.

Yes, Guyton comes in on the passing downs. Spikes is in for the run downs, meaning he's taking the big beating.

 

[Haley]

Hey, they just had a long weekend for turkey day, what more do they need?!?

Seriously though, everyone has their own 'finals week' to manage. But I'd think that somehow you'd dig down deep and find the motivation to keep plugging away when you are a rookie heading into the playoffs and possibly the Superbowl.

 

[Deus Irae]

Speaking of the rookie wall....


It's going to be even worse if the league goes to 18 games.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

So does this article officially end the "OLD AND SLOW" mantra?

 

[JSn]

Yes, Guyton comes in on the passing downs. Spikes is in for the run downs, meaning he's taking the big beating.

Speaking of Spikes, he and Chung along with Wilhite, Wright and Pryor, were not spotted at the media portion of practice. Hopefully they turn up late like Koppen did yesterday.

 

[IllegalContact]

hmmm....ok....rookie wall.....

did seymour hit it?
light?
warren?
wilson?
samuel?
koppen?
wilfork?

I don't think a rookie wall is nearly the impact on teams doing well.....

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

The rookie wall is real and understandable.

It is a well documented medical fact that 23-24 year-olds don't have nearly the stamina as 28-35 year-olds.

 

[Deus Irae]

Patriots rookies must tackle a block of the ‘wall’ - The Boston Globe

 

[alamo]

It is a well documented medical fact that 23-24 year-olds don't have nearly the stamina as 28-35 year-olds.

College girls can be so gullible

Anyway, I think the extra time off at Thanksgiving will help this phenomenon a lot.

 

[TheComeback]

Week 10 was when I said to myself, "Man, we've still got six weeks to go." Having said that, it didn't alter my preparation. Bill Parcells was the head coach, and there was no way I was going to let him or the team down. Bill Belichick is the head coach now, and he knows these rookies will start to feel it and will sharpen their focus. Fighting that rookie wall is part of the process of turning yourself into a professional football player. I don't anticipate it being a problem. Good question, Drew.

Bruschi's Breakdown: Peyton Hillis key for Browns' offense

Doesn't necessarily mean there won't be any problems, but it's not something to worry about unless we start losing games.

 

[Sicilian]

Speaking of the rookie wall....


It's going to be even worse if the league goes to 18 games.

Well then college ball will just have to add a few games by moving to a BCS playoff system...

Half kidding. I do want to see a BCS playoff, but don't think it would effect this situation at all. You're right, if their team makes the playoffs you'd be effectively doubling the season for a rookie with an 18 game regular season.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Speaking of the rookie wall....


It's going to be even worse if the league goes to 18 games.

Not at all. The plan is to eliminate 2 pre-season games and add two regular season games. The rookies already play in all four of the pre-season games. Their season will remain 20 games prior to the playoffs.

 

[Deus Irae]

Not at all. The plan is to eliminate 2 pre-season games and add two regular season games. The rookies already play in all four of the pre-season games. Their season will remain 20 games prior to the playoffs.

The exhibition games are nothing like real games.

 

[karran_s]

this is a typical result of sucess. espn likes will start to dissect every small thing. iam surprised thye havent mentioned the weather/snow yet for the rooks

Ha..ha.. nice one.. ESPN will continue to focus on the patriots, as they are becoming the biggest story in town.. Every team now wants to match up with the Pats after the ass-whupping they dealt on MNF to the so called # 1 defense in the NFL..

Our rookies will get stronger and more excited as we get closer to the goal .. B & B will make it clear for them and will keep them all focused and ready. No worries there.

 

[ausbacker]

WTF does John Wall have to do with the Patriots? Different sport you douches .

 

[Ring 6]

So does this article officially end the "OLD AND SLOW" mantra?

Its always something.
Remember in 2003 after winning the last 12 regular season games, some mediots were picking against us in the playoffs solely because the odds of winning 15 in a row are really big.