- Joined
- Jul 11, 2005
- Messages
- 16,929
- Reaction score
- 31,563
I am old enough to remember when the transistor radio was high technology. A time when my first computer was a $2500 Apple 2c that could hold about 2 floppy discs worth of data before it froze up. So when I lost my wifi connection for the last 2 weeks, one would have thought that I wouldn't go through such severe internet withdrawal symptoms.
The loss not only affected me, but all the people around me who had to deal with a rabid Pat's fan who didn't have any other outlet to vent his observations and except to them. ......And to have all this coincide with a 2 game losing streak only made matters worse.
Needless to say there are a lot of people around me that are thrilled that I have been reunited with the internet.....and the Pats won. Pardon me if any of my observations are redundant.
1. I couldn't help be reminded of a game the Pats had against a very good Rams team back in 2003 or 4. It was another time when they came into a game,on the road, with a horrible injury situation on defense. One that necessitated the use of Troy Brown as the nickle back. It was another game where it was very hard to predict a win based on so many bad match ups due to the injuries. Once again, like vs the Rams, the Pats not only won the game, they won it convincingly.
2. With 7 games to go, this wasn't a game that assures the Pats anything except the right to control our own destiny within the division, But what was important about this game was that it was a "character win". It was game that the 2009 team would have surely lost, and gives me that warm feeling that THIS team has the character to over come adversity, which bodes well for the post season
3. In General the defense IS getting better. It has more than held its own vs 2 good offensive teams (Dallas and the Giants). Granted its certainly not a "championship" quality defense by any means, but collectively they have done enough to get enough 3rd down stops that should ensure wins on days where the the offense is just slightly better than average.
The fact that they held the Jets to 14 pts with 5 guys playing significant minutes who one wouldn't think would be playing this season was astounding. Some of that MIGHT be attributed to the Jets' ineptness on offense, but not all of it.
4. Even with all the new injuries its hard to believe that the Pats will lose more than 2 of the next 7 games. That SHOULD be enough for the Pats to get one of the 2 byes. At the same time the defense should get a big boost with McCourty, Spikes, Fletcher, and Chung all coming back over the next month or so.
5. A couple of quick thoughts on the Giants game - I don't think I have EVER seen a worse oass interference call in all my years than the one they call on Brown. Not that the refs made a bad call, it was just so BADLY played by Brown. Clearly the ONLY reason he is still with the team is his special teams play, because he has NO business EVER being in the secondary playing an NFL offense.
6. I thought that the Giants game was Barrett's finest hour....until he got hurt....again.
7. For all the noise about the Giant's pass rush, I thought that Eli got hit much more than Brady did.
8. Probably the most enjoyable part of the Pats win over the Jets was listening to Felger tap dance around his position that the Jets' methodology of building a team was superior to the way the Pats do it. Listening to him admitting that he had to find a new team to compare the Patriot Way to, was music to these tired ears.
9. A bigger highlight on the pick 6 by Nnkovitch than the pick itself, was White decleating Keller coming off the line. It was THAT play that allowed Ninko to then jump the RB coming out of the backfield. It was a perfect example of the BB refrain of "Do Your Job". If White didn't do his job, Ninko couldn't have made that play. And he must have done it quite a bit, since Keller was non factor most of this game.
10. Jet fans have to be dying this week. If they couldn't beat a depleted Pats team in NJ, when they seemingly had EVERY advantage, when will they. Collingsworth mentioned how hyped up and focused the Jets were when he visited Jets practice, and compared it to how understated the Pats were that week. It was sweet.
11. It could be that the Jets window of opportunity is closing. Its becoming increasingly clear that Sanchez is what he is. An average NFL QB. A 55% completion rate passer, who can make big plays, but can also cost you a game with a series of bad throws.
With the right team, he can take a real good team deep into the playoffs as he's shown, but the Jets of the next few years don't look to be that kind of team. While their DL has some young talent, their LB corp (except for Harris) is over paid and under performing and is likely to be completely revamped. Their secondary is anchored by their CBs and they have 3 good ones, but their S's are average, and teams are catching up to Rex's schemes.
On the offensive side their OL has deteriorated, their running game is just average, and next year's WR situation isn't going to improve.
10-6 isn't a given for this team and 10-6 isn't a lock for a wildcard berth this year.
12. It was a real tough break for the Texans to lose Schaub for the season. They looked like the best team in the AFC until that injury. They will likely still win the division with ease , and still will be a threat to get one of the byes. They have the best D in the league, statistically, so Lienhart won't be required to do more than "manage" the game. It is a great opportunity for him to revive his career.
13. After the Dallas, Steeler, and Giants game there could be a legitimate case made that there was a blueprint to stop the Pats offense. I think the Jets game showed that that that premise was a bit overstated.
The Jets game showed that when the Pats executed their offense better, they can move the ball against the so called blueprint defenses. Also as the Pats continue to see the tight man to man underneath coverages, the better they will be prepared to attack them.
14. I am somewhat ashamed that I am taking so much enjoyment from the implosion of the Colts this season. I only wish Manning had been playing, because even if he was in the lineup, the Colts would have had only 2 or 3 more wins at this point.
I just have to wonder what would be worth more. Trading the #1 pick or trading Manning himself.
Nice to be back. Unhappy that I will have to wait until next Monday before I can watch another game.
The loss not only affected me, but all the people around me who had to deal with a rabid Pat's fan who didn't have any other outlet to vent his observations and except to them. ......And to have all this coincide with a 2 game losing streak only made matters worse.
Needless to say there are a lot of people around me that are thrilled that I have been reunited with the internet.....and the Pats won. Pardon me if any of my observations are redundant.
1. I couldn't help be reminded of a game the Pats had against a very good Rams team back in 2003 or 4. It was another time when they came into a game,on the road, with a horrible injury situation on defense. One that necessitated the use of Troy Brown as the nickle back. It was another game where it was very hard to predict a win based on so many bad match ups due to the injuries. Once again, like vs the Rams, the Pats not only won the game, they won it convincingly.
2. With 7 games to go, this wasn't a game that assures the Pats anything except the right to control our own destiny within the division, But what was important about this game was that it was a "character win". It was game that the 2009 team would have surely lost, and gives me that warm feeling that THIS team has the character to over come adversity, which bodes well for the post season
3. In General the defense IS getting better. It has more than held its own vs 2 good offensive teams (Dallas and the Giants). Granted its certainly not a "championship" quality defense by any means, but collectively they have done enough to get enough 3rd down stops that should ensure wins on days where the the offense is just slightly better than average.
The fact that they held the Jets to 14 pts with 5 guys playing significant minutes who one wouldn't think would be playing this season was astounding. Some of that MIGHT be attributed to the Jets' ineptness on offense, but not all of it.
4. Even with all the new injuries its hard to believe that the Pats will lose more than 2 of the next 7 games. That SHOULD be enough for the Pats to get one of the 2 byes. At the same time the defense should get a big boost with McCourty, Spikes, Fletcher, and Chung all coming back over the next month or so.
5. A couple of quick thoughts on the Giants game - I don't think I have EVER seen a worse oass interference call in all my years than the one they call on Brown. Not that the refs made a bad call, it was just so BADLY played by Brown. Clearly the ONLY reason he is still with the team is his special teams play, because he has NO business EVER being in the secondary playing an NFL offense.
6. I thought that the Giants game was Barrett's finest hour....until he got hurt....again.
7. For all the noise about the Giant's pass rush, I thought that Eli got hit much more than Brady did.
8. Probably the most enjoyable part of the Pats win over the Jets was listening to Felger tap dance around his position that the Jets' methodology of building a team was superior to the way the Pats do it. Listening to him admitting that he had to find a new team to compare the Patriot Way to, was music to these tired ears.
9. A bigger highlight on the pick 6 by Nnkovitch than the pick itself, was White decleating Keller coming off the line. It was THAT play that allowed Ninko to then jump the RB coming out of the backfield. It was a perfect example of the BB refrain of "Do Your Job". If White didn't do his job, Ninko couldn't have made that play. And he must have done it quite a bit, since Keller was non factor most of this game.
10. Jet fans have to be dying this week. If they couldn't beat a depleted Pats team in NJ, when they seemingly had EVERY advantage, when will they. Collingsworth mentioned how hyped up and focused the Jets were when he visited Jets practice, and compared it to how understated the Pats were that week. It was sweet.
11. It could be that the Jets window of opportunity is closing. Its becoming increasingly clear that Sanchez is what he is. An average NFL QB. A 55% completion rate passer, who can make big plays, but can also cost you a game with a series of bad throws.
With the right team, he can take a real good team deep into the playoffs as he's shown, but the Jets of the next few years don't look to be that kind of team. While their DL has some young talent, their LB corp (except for Harris) is over paid and under performing and is likely to be completely revamped. Their secondary is anchored by their CBs and they have 3 good ones, but their S's are average, and teams are catching up to Rex's schemes.
On the offensive side their OL has deteriorated, their running game is just average, and next year's WR situation isn't going to improve.
10-6 isn't a given for this team and 10-6 isn't a lock for a wildcard berth this year.
12. It was a real tough break for the Texans to lose Schaub for the season. They looked like the best team in the AFC until that injury. They will likely still win the division with ease , and still will be a threat to get one of the byes. They have the best D in the league, statistically, so Lienhart won't be required to do more than "manage" the game. It is a great opportunity for him to revive his career.
13. After the Dallas, Steeler, and Giants game there could be a legitimate case made that there was a blueprint to stop the Pats offense. I think the Jets game showed that that that premise was a bit overstated.
The Jets game showed that when the Pats executed their offense better, they can move the ball against the so called blueprint defenses. Also as the Pats continue to see the tight man to man underneath coverages, the better they will be prepared to attack them.
14. I am somewhat ashamed that I am taking so much enjoyment from the implosion of the Colts this season. I only wish Manning had been playing, because even if he was in the lineup, the Colts would have had only 2 or 3 more wins at this point.
I just have to wonder what would be worth more. Trading the #1 pick or trading Manning himself.
Nice to be back. Unhappy that I will have to wait until next Monday before I can watch another game.
