Early look ahead: Bucs at Patriots, week 3

[shmessy]

Don't know why you say that. Been a PATS fan all my life. I rather learn from mistakes, that's how I cope with such horrifying losses. I like to think the PATS know what their mistakes are, and are learning from them.

Like for instance Week 1 they turned the ball over 3 times. The issue was ball control, and in Week 2 (albeit a short week between) they had no turnovers.

Week 2 they had big time WR issues. Probably more than one. But they've got a long week before playing Tampa. And I expect them to win, and I'll be rooting for them.

I sure hope you share the same optimism as I do.

What "losses" are you talking about?

Dude, I'm trying to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I can understand what that poster you responded to said.

 

[mosi]

I wouldn't say so. I got a good look at that game yesterday (they were being shown on the big screen next to the one showing Giants/Broncos) and if their defense plays us like they did the Saints last week and if our WR's still can't catch the damn ball, they will shut our offense out.

Agree with this 100%. This game could get really ugly very fast. Their defense is very good and our offense, right now, is pretty bad.

If the offense does not get its house in order ASAP, this season could be very, very long.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Could Dashon Goldson(Bucs Safety) be suspended for our game

Sorry for ESPN link: NFL mulls ban for Dashon Goldson of Tampa Bay Buccaneers for latest hit - ESPN

The NFL is discussing whether to suspend Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Dashon Goldson for his helmet-to-helmet hit Sunday on New Orleans Saints running back Darren Sproles, according to a league source.

Dashon Goldson likely will be hearing from the NFL again this week for his second flagged hit in two games, and this time he may be facing a suspension.
The hit to Sproles came one week after Goldson was fined $30,000 for hitting New York Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland during the Buccaneers' Week 1 loss.

The skeptic in me say he won't because the Patriots are next opponent, unless he is and appeals in which case it gets upheld (possibly) for us or more likely Arizona.

2 weeks in rows with similar issues, you'd think the commish would want to send a message to the league.

 

[Kontradiction]

Agree with this 100%. This game could get really ugly very fast. Their defense is very good and our offense, right now, is pretty bad.

If the offense does not get its house in order ASAP, this season could be very, very long.

Gronk coming back should help open some things up. I don't know how much it will help if the rookies still can't catch, but it will help some either way. Amendola coming back (whenever that happens) will also help. I would love to see the team offer Lloyd more money to return to the line-up, but that's not going to happen.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Re: Could Dashon Goldson(Bucs Safety) be suspended for our game

Jumped the gun on this post. Mods, feel free to delete or merge into http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...-look-ahead-bucs-patriots-week-3-a-page4.html

 

[dales804]

Re: Could Dashon Goldson(Bucs Safety) be suspended for our game

I imagine he's playing. If he gets suspended, he'll appeal like Ed Reed did last year. I don't know when the appeal would be heard but I think that would happen next week.

 

[JMC00]

Agree with this 100%. This game could get really ugly very fast. Their defense is very good and our offense, right now, is pretty bad.

If the offense does not get its house in order ASAP, this season could be very, very long.

And the Pats defense is playing well while the Bucs offense might be worse than the Pats right now.

 

[shmessy]

Agree with this 100%. This game could get really ugly very fast. Their defense is very good and our offense, right now, is pretty bad.

If the offense does not get its house in order ASAP, this season could be very, very long.

Experience for the rooks, + Gronk, Amendola and Vereen later on says 10-6 or 11-5 with momentum heading into the playoffs.

Don't screw it up by rushing Gronkowski back too soon. The Pats are already 2-0 in the division re tiebreakers etc. Get to the tournament as the healthy team with the momentum. Frankly, I'm tired of the Patriots blowing their load in the regular season only to watch the Lombardi be hoisted by teams that played on wild card weekend.

They may win 3-0 this Sunday. That would be great. 6-3 at the bye is very doable.

I can see 3 losses in a row at ATL, at CIN and home against NO. The next 3 against at NYJ, Miami and Pittsburgh are the games that Gronk and Amendola need to be healthy for (timing-wise and division/tiebreaker wise - - Miami is the threat).

Get the ugly win this week at home against the Bucs. Freeman is horrible. Don't waste Gronk on that.

If the Pats O is HEALTHY at the bye with a 6-3 record, they will be well positioned for the drive.

 

[JMC00]

Giving Gronk limited snaps against Tampa wouldn't be wasting him, it would getting him back into the flow of things so he is ready for the Atlanta, Cincinnati and New Orleans run.

 

[shmessy]

Giving Gronk limited snaps against Tampa wouldn't be wasting him, it would getting him back into the flow of things so he is ready for the Atlanta, Cincinnati and New Orleans run.

Once again, I would love wins against ATL, Cin and NO.

Looking at the schedule, they can live with losses there however.

If Gronk is healthy to go, of course, have him play. If it is a 50-50 risk for this week, I would let him watch the Pats win 3-0.

Getting him into the break HEALTHY at 6-3 is more important than decimated at 7-2. At this point, the truly important games to have him healthy are the divisional/conference ones starting October 20th. Maybe have Gronk worked in some for the Oct 6 game at Cincy.

 

[fumbrunner]

Revis will likely take KT completely out of the games as well. Needless to say, if Gronk could play, even on a limited snap count, it would help immensely. Otherwise, Dobson better be ready to step up.

On another note, KT has faced McKelvin, Cromartie, and now likely Revis. Welcome to the NFL.

 

[shmessy]

Giving Gronk limited snaps against Tampa wouldn't be wasting him, it would getting him back into the flow of things so he is ready for the Atlanta, Cincinnati and New Orleans run.

You're forgetting one thing - - - It all depends on his health.

 

[Kontradiction]

Once again, I would love wins against ATL, Cin and NO.

If Gronk is healthy to go, of course, have him play. If it is a 50-50 risk for this week, I would let him watch the Pats win 3-0.

I highlighted the points I agree with. I don't think this team, in this league, with the Dolphins tied for best record in the division and an easier schedule, can "handle" losses anywhere where they don't need them. If Gronk is ready to go, he should play. If he looks ready this week, give him a limited snap count (such as third downs and red zone work) and let him get used to playing football again. Then increase his snap count in Atlanta and the next week until he's fully up to speed.

 

[shmessy]

I highlighted the points I agree with. I don't think this team, in this league, with the Dolphins tied for best record in the division and an easier schedule, can "handle" losses anywhere where they don't need them. If Gronk is ready to go, he should play. If he looks ready this week, give him a limited snap count (such as third downs and red zone work) and let him get used to playing football again. Then increase his snap count in Atlanta and the next week until he's fully up to speed.

Once again, key word is "if".

We are in September. It is a non-divisional/non-conference game at home against a team that won't put much scoring pressure on the Pats offense.

I'm sick of seeing Gronk useles in January/February the past two years in a row. He's had more back surgeries in the past 5 years than all but 1% of the population.

I understand where alot of folks are coming from on this. I want them to go 19-0 also, believe me.

But I want them to be holding the Lombardi in February. It's a September non-divisional home game against a team who can probably be held to under 11 points. Personally, I wouldn't push it IF there is any concern about that back.

 

[jmt57]

While Revis will indeed most likely shut down one receiver, that leaves Leonard Johnson and Michael Adams covering the others.

As bad as the passing game has been, those should be favorable matchups for the Patriots.

 

[Kontradiction]

Once again, key word is "if".

We are in September. It is a non-divisional/non-conference game at home against a team that won't put much scoring pressure on the Pats offense.

I'm sick of seeing Gronk useles in January/February the past two years in a row. He's had more back surgeries in the past 5 years than all but 1% of the population.

One of Gronk's injuries came after he dragged Pollard five yards down field, Pollard couldn't hold on, and fell on his ankle. If not for that, he would have been healthy in the Super Bowl. The other happened on the PAT unit, and the third happened because he clearly wasn't ready to come back. He had that back surgery some time ago and has been practicing for a couple of weeks now. Hard to imagine a scenario in which he is ready to go either against the Bucs or against the Falcons.

I understand where alot of folks are coming from on this. I want them to go 19-0 also, believe me.

I could give a damn about them going 19-0. My biggest concern is them winning the division and entering the playoffs. With that being a concern, I don't think that they, or any team for that matter, can afford to lose any games. Particularly a team with the hardest offense to master in football starting rookies and Edelman at WR right now.

 

[shmessy]

I could give a damn about them going 19-0. My biggest concern is them winning the division and entering the playoffs. With that being a concern, I don't think that they, or any team for that matter, can afford to lose any games. Particularly a team with the hardest offense to master in football starting rookies and Edelman at WR right now.

A 13-6 win this Sunday works for me.

They've had HFA the last 3 years in a row (Denver was knocked out). Big deal.

Let the kids learn - -throw them into the fire. They can't improve sitting on the bench.

As long as they run the table against the AFC East (most important games will be the Miami games), 11-5 will get them into the tournament this year.

Health is more important in January/February.

 

[Kontradiction]

A 13-6 win this Sunday works for me.

They've had HFA the last 3 years in a row (Denver was knocked out). Big deal.

Health is more important in January/February.

Obviously. But stashing Gronk away for that long doesn't guarantee his health at that time of the year, either. Sometime this week, the Pats will have a padded practice. If Gronk participates in any way, I want to see him used vs. the Bucs (limiting his snaps, of course, until he gets his wind back up). Once that happens, increase his snap count in Atlanta.

 

[dales804]

Revis will likely take KT completely out of the games as well. Needless to say, if Gronk could play, even on a limited snap count, it would help immensely. Otherwise, Dobson better be ready to step up.

On another note, KT has faced McKelvin, Cromartie, and now likely Revis. Welcome to the NFL.

That's quite a CB group to go against to start his career. However, I'd think, strategically, it would make sense for Revis to cover Edelman as he's Brady's main target now and force the rookies and Brady to beat them.

 

[everlong]

If they used Gronk in a red zone only role to maximize his value and minimize the risk it could be a win-win.