Game Thoughts: I am embarrased by this loss edition

[luuked]

Belichick is the greatest coach of all time, but he is also human. Belichick makes mistakes. He is not immune to it. I don't blindly think everything he does is perfect. I think he is more right than any other coach, but even he makes bad decisions.

And you keep on making the case the Pats should have sat Brady today while arguing against it.

I said already that I would have been absolutely fine sitting Brady for both games but kinda get why he was on the field. A few different bounces and we recover two batted passes against the Jets and the Dolphins in their redzone and Brady's presence suddenly is golden.

It didnt happen and Jimmy could have done same job.

 

[Rob0729]

So is Logan Ryan still good?

He isn't bad. I thought last week, he played fairly well. They played a lot of zone. So he got credit by a lot of fans for being the first defender to a receiver after getting the ball even though it wasn't his coverage.

 

[luuked]

When they are in makeable field goal range, the Pats usually pass on third and long in a close game because if they don't get anymore yards, they can still kick the field goal. The Pats usually only run on third and long when they are not in field goal range and back up on their side of the field because they want field position on the punt.

Except when we are on the verge of FG range but whatever. Again very situational.

 

[Danger Zone]

Will the Patriots be able to pull out of this swoon?

Choice 1: The Patriots tried desperately to win and the fact they couldn’t is humiliating, damning and cause for panic. Concern level:This.

Choice 2: The Patriots didn’t care if they won or lost and the fact that they did indeed lose to a five-win team that quit on its season weeks ago is not the least bit concerning to the Patriots and shouldn’t be for anyone else either. Concern level: This.

Choice 3: The Patriots wanted to win but they were going to do it on their very specific terms. If they did win, terrific. But if they didn’t, they were very prepared for that eventuality, having left two of their best defenders at home and running an offense ripped from the 1940s. Concern level: This.

Did you go with 3? Tell me you went with 3. Because it had to be 3.

Choice 3 expresses my views almost exactly. I feel like too many people are trying to argue that it has to be either Choice 1 or Choice 2.

 

[Rob0729]

Except when we are on the verge of FG range but whatever. Again very situational.

For Gostkowski, that is makeable field goal range despite what happened today (he missed the field goal anyway). But then again, the Pats got no yards on that 3rd down running the ball either.

 

[luuked]

And who said that they would approach this way in the playoffs. And they did anything but play vanilla last week. McDaniels took almost every trick play out of his playbook in that game. They played a lot of zone though last week because they were without their two starting safeties and playing man would have been suicide.

If McD using three trick plays in a row is not a sign of desperation then I dont know what is. Also all trick plays happened on one single drive so its not like we were trying them consistently throughout the game.

The zone part is true but how many disguises, stunts or other exotic DL packages did you see in the last two games?

Thats where we will make our money during the playoffs.

 

[Joker]

Ryan should have batted or INT'd that pass. Stuff like this happens when you play NOT to lose. 18 runs/pass-RB to start the game, rushing 3 on a 3rd and 13 and giving up a first down on a QB run to a punch drunk Tannehill. This was embarrassing tactical football but this is how they wanted to play this game. In hindsight, I'd have preferred to see Jimmy G put in there as soon as that moronic goon Suh tried to cripple Brady.

 

[Peachhead]

Memo to Josh McDaniel: The next time the Pats are in 3rd and 1 or 2 and you call a shotgun formation play I'm gonna use the powers of the force to give you a long distance smack right upside the head.

It did work one time with a reception by Gronk. But don't let that decieve you into thinking it's a good idea. I'm not categorically opposed to occasionally throwing it in such situations. But stop telling defences that's exactly what we're going to do! We've got Steven Jackson, remember? Opposing defenses surely know it. Power runs by S. Jackson and sneaks by Brady have to be at least on the minds' of the opponent on 3rd and short. The shotgun formation does precisely the opposite.

 

[Danger Zone]

Mike Loyko @NEPD_Loyko
Rewatched majority of offensive snas from today. No way this team was going all out to win the game. The game plan and play calling was..

designed to keep players out of harms way and to avoid further injury to skill position players.. If they had won doing it, great, but this

was not a typical Patriots game plan. It eye opening how little guys like even Keshawn Martin, James White were utilized during the game..

Gronk was essentially a blocking TE today. They didn't run him up the seam or over the middle hardly ever. When he was targeted it was all..

towards/on the sideline. They tried to protect Amendola and went to him only in desperate situations.. LaFell was a non-factor...

Mike Loyko @NEPD_Loyko
On defense they were content to lineup and play basic coverages, mix in a few different rush looks, but nothing complex or exotic.

Mike Loyko @NEPD_Loyko
Gettin Steven Jackson work looked like a main priority. Traditional Patriots passing/route concepts were rarely used, mostly due 2 personnel

 

[luuked]

For Gostkowski, that is makeable field goal range despite what happened today (he missed the field goal anyway). But then again, the Pats got no yards on that 3rd down running the ball either.

What was it? 45? Another sack would take us to 50+..

Am pretty certain this is the area where you see biggest drop off with Kickers. That being said Ghost has been consistent from 50+ so you could have taken that risk I guess.

But then again who do you throw to / what do you call on 3 & 13 while minimizing the sack probability?

 

[luuked]

Memo to Josh McDaniel: The next time the Pats are in 3rd and 1 or 2 and you call a shotgun formation play I'm gonna use the powers of the force to give you a long distance smack you right upside the head.

It did work one time with a reception by Gronk. But don't let that decieve you into thinking it's a good idea. I'm not categorically opposed to occasionally throwing it in such situations. But stop telling defences that's exactly what we're going to do! We've got Steven Jackson, remember? Opposing defenses surely know it. Power runs by S. Jackson and sneaks by Brady have to be at least on the minds' of the opponent on 3rd and short. The shotgun formation does precisely the opposite.

Agree that I was confused about some third down calls without SJax on the field.

Was he even on in the second half except for the TD?

 

[luuked]

Mike Loyko @NEPD_Loyko
Rewatched majority of offensive snas from today. No way this team was going all out to win the game. The game plan and play calling was..

Mike Loyko @NEPD_Loyko
designed to keep players out of harms way and to avoid further injury to skill position players.. If they had won doing it, great, but this

Mike Loyko @NEPD_Loyko
was not a typical Patriots game plan. It eye opening how little guys like even Keshawn Martin, James White were utilized during the game..

Mike Loyko @NEPD_Loyko
On defense they were content to lineup and play basic coverages, mix in a few different rush looks, but nothing complex or exotic.

Unsurprisingly Loyko was able to put it into more eloquent words but that's pretty much what I was trying to argue.

 

[alvinnf]

I saw a team that clocked the first half and then went out of their way to stay away from their bread and butter routes over the middle. Do I know what that means, no. But, I am pretty sure they went out of their way to stay upright.

 

[Rob0729]

If McD using three trick plays in a row is not a sign of desperation then I dont know what is. Also all trick plays happened on one single drive so its not like we were trying them consistently throughout the game.

The zone part is true but how many disguises, stunts or other exotic DL packages did you see in the last two games?

Thats where we will make our money during the playoffs.

Again, you are putting words in my mouth. When did I say it was a sign of desperation? I am just pointing out the Pats didn't play vanilla when they are doing flea-flickas, double reverses, etc.

 

[Danger Zone]

Unsurprisingly Loyko was able to put it into more eloquent words but that's pretty much what I was trying to argue.

My opinion exactly as well (but put much more eloquently and knowledgeably of course)

Mike Loyko @NEPD_Loyko
Any #Patriots fan concerned that today's performance is a reflection of their actual chances in the playoffs, should probably watch the tape

 

[Rob0729]

Unsurprisingly Loyko was able to put it into more eloquent words but that's pretty much what I was trying to argue.

No one is arguing against this. I and others are arguing that if this is the strategy you are going to adopt, you don't play Brady and other guys you need for the playoffs. If you aren't playing to win and playing more to protect players, don't play the players you are trying to protect.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Everybody. If you're going to rest guys, rest them. There's a backup at every position.

Did you even read @luuked's post? Outside of QB, the team doesn't have any backups. Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan are the crucial starting CBs on the team. How can you rest them if you only have 3 CBs healthy? Gronk's backup in Chandler is also injured; they ran many 2 TE-sets (because of no backup WRs) with Williams out there. Again, who do you bench? The only benchable guy was Brady. Possibly McCourty if you trust Tavon Wilson being in 2 deep safety sets with Harmon since Richards is also hurt.

 

[Joker]

I looked at the route map they ran the entire game...they did almost nothing with the quick middle slants all game. Dead giveaway what they had planned

 

[Bruins29]

No one is arguing against this. I and others are arguing that if this is the strategy you are going to adopt, you don't play Brady and other guys you need for the playoffs. If you aren't playing to win and playing more to protect players, don't play the players you are trying to protect.

They had 38 guys dressed. They barely played Chander and DA. Lafell was not used. White wasnt used much.

They are out of bodies and have to play someone. They figured TB might squeak them a win. Suh fell on him, bad break.

 

[archstanton543]

Mike Loyko @NEPD_Loyko
Any #Patriots fan concerned that today's performance is a reflection of their actual chances in the playoffs, should probably watch the tape

What tape? I mean, I can give you tape of the kicker missing a make-able FG. I can give you tape of a hand-off on 3 and long that went nowhere. I can give you tape of the O-line breaking down and almost getting Brady killed. What tape do you want me to look at?