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Not a pretty start to the season, but a good win none the less. Here we go:
- Brady was just awesome tonight. No doubt about it. Anyone questioning if the offseason will affect him will have to wait until late in the season and maybe he will fade but I doubt it. He was precision sharp. His deep ball still ain't the best, but still can throw the short and intermediate passes as good as anyone.
- Gotta give it to the interior o-line. Last year, it started out as a disaster. Tonight it was pretty solid. some breakdowns early in the running game, but the pass protection was nearly flawless. Next Sunday will be a far bigger test for this group.
- The stats doesn't show it, but I saw a lot of good out of Malcolm Butler tonight. Yes, he got burnt badly several times by Antonio Brown (what CB doesn't), but he looked as good as Revis was many other times shutting Brown down. I think with more experience, Butler will become a solid starting CB.
- Gronk was amazing yet again. He is impossible to cover. The Steelers did show too many times that he is even harder to cover when you don't even try to cover him.
- Dion Lewis looks to be the free agent steal of the offseason. I don't know if he can be an every down back, but pair him with Blount and the Pats will have a solid 1-2 punch. It is weird, I am trying to think of a comparison for him from past Patriots offenses, but he seems unique. Much shiftier than Faulk, Woodhead, or Vereen.
- The run defense is really a big concern. When Ninkovich is getting burnt left and right not setting the edge, you gotta be concerned. I know he was held several time, but it was scary how much Williams reached the outside and picked up ten plus yards at a clip. But remember the run defense was a concern early in the year the last two years and they ended both seasons with pretty good run defenses.
- Not concerned that the front seven didn't get a lot of on Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger is a guy Belichick will always play a QB like Roethlisberger with contain rather than rushing him. I remember one game about 5 years ago where Vrabel's only job was to block the running lane for Big Ben and keep him in the pocket and Ben crumbled. Let's see the defensive pressure next week. If we don't see it coming in the next few weeks, then I will be scared.
- Disappointed we didn't see more of Chandler in the offense, but with Gronk and Edelman it will be difficult for everyone to get more than a few passes in their direction. He did draw some coverage away from Gronk in the red zone (hell I think the Steelers defenders confused him for Gzronk because Chandler got more coverage at times).
- Malcolm Brown has a ways to go before he makes us forget Wilfork. He needs to be more disciplined with his penetration. I saw him shoot the wrong gap many times.
- The headphones thing is going to blow up into a big story because the media will report it as it was only a problem for the Steelers. I really hope this doesn't drag out, but knowing the NFL they will let the Pats dangle in the wind even though they had the same problems.