*** OFFICIALLY UNOFFICIAL **** Patriots @ Cardinals Post-Game Thread

[DaBruinz]

I just saw that play on the NFLN replay and that's exactly what happened.

What part? The other two falling on Valentine?

 

[Kontradiction]

What part? The other two falling on Valentine?

Yeah. Otherwise he had him wrapped up for a loss.

 

[DaBruinz]

-Was really impressed with our wide receivers
-thought Jimmy played very well
-thought Flemming accounted well for himself
- Bennett is a much better blocker than I thought
-Great game by White
-I thought Cannon and Andrews were up and down, especially Cannon late in the game
-Ryan had a rough 4th quarter
-this defense still makes me nervous in crunch time

Overall. a good performance against a really good team on the road.

Whatever was hobbling Cannon late definitely affected him.. Not sure why the Pats didn't put Waddle in for him..

 

[IllegalContact]

my .02

-despite a stolen 1st round draft pick, the Pats started 3 rookies (thuney,karras,mitchell) and a few others made an impact (valentine, jones, jones)
-the offense was very efficient.........they tried to ground and pound and were okay at that.....Jimmy had a pretty decent YPA (8.0) and QBR
- RB's did their jobs....helped keep things balanced
- defense did well......DJohnson breaks more tackles than anyone, but he didn't kill the Pats
- why is freeny starting?
- ghost was a difference-maker

 

[Love The Drake]

Appearantly Freeny always does his job and is never out of position I watched him closely on a few plays and he was right there giving chase he almsot caught Johnson from behind on one play.
Maybe we have been too hard on BBS binkie.
That being said eager to see what Rowe brings to this defense he can kind of be a safety CB maybe even backer hybrid and can help not just with tall receiver jump balls but I think he could help with backs in motion as well as stopping the run by using his long arms to trap ball carriers from doing what Johnson did to us a few times.

 

[long distance]

Bottom line:

This team looks as solid as one can reasonably hope for - and that's without its 3 best players and without a single projected OL starter.

The thing I was most happy about offseason acquisitions was confirmed week 1:
it was not so much about improving on what would be a healthy 2015 team
it was about insurance to remain contenders even with the most devastating loses
these loses came sooner than expected - but even more so the gain on this incredible insurance policy

there are teams out there one injury away from the end of 2016 dreams
(we saw the Cowboys and Vikings already (what a price to pay to at least try to salvage something!) - think also about Colts if Luck goes down, Broncos if something happens to CJ or Sanders etc, etc)

Thanks to BBs offseason we can stay calm even through the most devastating loses. Never thought that is possible. Cannot tell you enough what a great feeling that is.

 

[DaBruinz]

Bottom line:

This team looks as solid as one can reasonably hope for - and that's without its 3 best players and without a single projected OL starter.

Projected from when? Thuney has been the projected starter at LG since he was drafted.
Andrews was projected by many to be the starter with Stork being forced to move. Stork moved himself right off the team..

I'll agree about the OTs and the RG position.

 

[Kontradiction]

Projected from when? Thuney has been the projected starter at LG since he was drafted.
Andrews was projected by many to be the starter with Stork being forced to move. Stork moved himself right off the team..

I'll agree about the OTs and the RG position.

Yup. RG is nowhere near settled and the team could still use Solder back, but that job was Thuney's from very early on in camp. And he was extremely solid last night. I counted a couple of pancake blocks on designed runs.

 

[long distance]

Projected from when? Thuney has been the projected starter at LG since he was drafted.
Andrews was projected by many to be the starter with Stork being forced to move. Stork moved himself right off the team..

I'll agree about the OTs and the RG position.

I thought you could read it from the context: offseason team building towards insurance.

Thuney's first considerable projections as starting LG came at the beginning of TC when it was seen and reported that Dante put him there and sticks with it.

When Thuney was drafted @78 most people were FTW at first. There were different words from BB and Dante where he would be used since many hoped for OT. Afterwards he was mostly projected as a back-up to all 3 interior positions. Jackson, Mason, Cooper and Stork were mostly in discussion for starting jobs at that time. At least thats how I remember it. And I gladly give you me remembering it wrong.

But that was not the point of my post and I am sorry to lose this time and concentration to clarify something so peripheral. I would prefer to concentrate on the main points and not nitpick on every minor detail -
because anyone can to that to any post.

 

[condon84]

Completely entertained.

Jimmy might net us a few high round draft picks.

 

[DaBruinz]

Some interesting info from Doug Kyed:

Patriots-Cardinals Takeaways: Chris Long, Justin Coleman Impress In Pass Game

"PASS PROTECTION
Marcus Cannon: 1 1/2 sacks, two hurries, holding (three pressures)
Ted Karras: two hurries, holding (three pressures)
Joe Thuney: 1/2 sack
David Andrews: QB hit, tripping
AJ Derby: QB hit
Cameron Fleming: hurry
Shaq Mason: holding
Martellus Bennett: holding

— Fleming held up very well against former Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones. Cannon gave up Jones’ sack.

People will say that Fleming wasn't tested because the Cardinals had Jones line up opposite Cannon more than against Fleming. Well, even when Jones was lined up against Fleming, Jones wasn't exactly in Jimmy's face. Neither was Calais Campbell when he was opposite Fleming.

Bennet did a helluva job against Jones and shouldn't have been called for a hold that was text book using the player's own momentum against him

 

[IllegalContact]

Yeah. Otherwise he had him wrapped up for a loss.

that was a 'this is not college football' lesson for Valentine......you can't just throw the RB to the ground

 

[willard]

Just to add in again, I was surprised that Bennett was the only tight end to make an impact. I saw Derby's jersey a couple times after a play was over and the players were milling about. Never saw him make a play. never noticed Harbor in the game-could have been just did not see him. I had expected to see both to help the tackles on the edges blocking and as outlets across the middle for Jimmy G, but I was wrong.

Very happy they were able to run a more traditional lineup as it opens up the offence.

Sure Mitchell has gotten his props, but he was the best looking opening day receiver since Edelman. Amazed he was there after watching the elbow dislocation in preseason. Look forward to what he can give us through the year.

 

[WhoaDirty]

— Fleming held up very well against former Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones. Cannon gave up Jones’ sack.

People will say that Fleming wasn't tested because the Cardinals had Jones line up opposite Cannon more than against Fleming. Well, even when Jones was lined up against Fleming, Jones wasn't exactly in Jimmy's face. Neither was Calais Campbell when he was opposite Fleming.

Bennet did a helluva job against Jones and shouldn't have been called for a hold that was text book using the player's own momentum against him

I wonder if Fleming held up well in part because he has had some time going against Jones in practice the last couple years?

 

[PatsFan92]

Salty, salty people. How dare we celebrate, in our own team sub no less! The horror, the horrrrror!

 

[Patriot Missile]

Game being replayed on NFL network right now

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

New public transit system in Arizona. Takes at least 5 people for a ride.

 

[PatsFan92]

https://i.reddituploads.com/1366e8c6b3e645b5a9ad6b6aa9a7b5ae?fit=max&h=1536&w=1536&s=17c0f71d575bc20030710b428a4f5fdc

 

[jah]

Just to add in again, I was surprised that Bennett was the only tight end to make an impact. I saw Derby's jersey a couple times after a play was over and the players were milling about. Never saw him make a play. never noticed Harbor in the game-could have been just did not see him. I had expected to see both to help the tackles on the edges blocking and as outlets across the middle for Jimmy G, but I was wrong.

Very happy they were able to run a more traditional lineup as it opens up the offence.

Sure Mitchell has gotten his props, but he was the best looking opening day receiver since Edelman. Amazed he was there after watching the elbow dislocation in preseason. Look forward to what he can give us through the year.

Harbor was inactive.

 

[obgod3]

Pats played very much better than I expected, although I did expect great defense and I think they did. Fitz and Floyd are always going to get their yards, I don't care who covers Fitz it is a loosing battle if you give the QB time. Our guys did great.