Post Game Thread Pats @ Bucs

[NE-VT]

I wish I had the bar set so low. At least you're happy

Lets talk about the defense assuming they hit those FGs.

Punt 7 (we forced 2 in one drive because of ST)
FG 3
TD 2
Failed TD Throw 1

We held them 4/13 on 3rd down.

Our defense was faced with a short field twice because of offensive turnovers.

How high is your bar set?

 

[Shed83]

I continue to be incredibly underwhelmed by and disappointed with the OL. Why is that group so bad?

Bring back DeGuglielmo

They'll figure it out! They need to

 

[supafly]

Or they backslide and end up where they were before this game. Anyone can speculate.

Well, yeah, that's what I was suggesting. The truth will come out in the coming weeks/months, one way or the other.

For now, it's great to see them takes some steps forward. Hopefully, the Jets provide even more optimism.

 

[archstanton543]

How high is your bar set?

Pretty low. TB, like the Pats had two days to prepare and were running basic O's and D's out there with guys that were gassed early and often. I take very little away from this game as it was an ugly and sloppy win.

But a win's a win so I'll take it.

 

[Jangles]

Lets talk about the defense assuming they hit those FGs.

Punt 7 (we forced 2 in one drive because of ST)
FG 3
TD 2
Failed TD Throw 1

We held them 4/13 on 3rd down.

Our defense was faced with a short field twice because of offensive turnovers.

How high is your bar set?

I've already said I thought they played a lot better. But I don't think it was anywhere near a "great" performance. Stupid penalties, bad tackling, bad communication still plagued them for large chunks of the game.

Winston also missed plenty of wide open throws that weren't because of pressure.

 

[Jangles]

I get where you're coming from in trying to provide some context to a game that we barely won. That said, I would find it hard to dispute Andy's claim that the defense looked much better, because they did.

The truth about the defense's improvement will be seen in the coming games. We should be able to continue the improvement with the Jets. That may help to provide some momentum for the Falcons game, which will be a huge test. I'm not going to bed thinking that all of the issues are solved, but it's good to see them take some steps forward.

See my post above. Andy didn't say they played much better. He said they were dominant and played great.

Which is false. They played a hell of a lot better then in the previous games. But nowhere near what I would consider great or dominant.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Providing perspective. The andyjohnsons of the forum are coming out of hibernation with their I told you so's about the defense. The incompetence of Nick Folk saved us today.

Yes, 2 back to back amazingly dumb and completely unforced roughing the passer penalties in the last 30 seconds of the first half to allow Folk a last second 55 yard FG attempt was clearly an example of the incompetence of Folk saving us.
Then Brady fumbling near midfield and the Bucs gaining a huge 15 to 20 yards to setup an easy, chip shot 50 yard FG for Folk to miss and bail us out.

You calling out others by name because they dismiss your hysterics is half comical, half sad.

 

[carmelo15]

The offensive PI have to stop this is utter bull **** no other team gets called for it.

Dion Lewis needs to get more snaps he’s getting better and better

 

[supafly]

I've already said I thought they played a lot better. But I don't think it was anywhere near a "great" performance. Stupid penalties, bad tackling, bad communication still plagued them for large chunks of the game.

Winston also missed plenty of wide open throws that weren't because of pressure.

It was "great" for what we've seen for 2017, but I agree with your concerns. There are plenty of things they still need to clean up.

Unfortunately, we've yet to see a complete effort, although the Saints game was fairly close to what we'd want to see on a weekly basis.

 

[fnordcircle]

You? Protective? Is this supposed to be ironical?

I wear protection when I bang your mom.

 

[Kdo5]

Yes, 2 back to back amazingly dumb and completely unforced roughing the passer penalties in the last 30 seconds of the first half to allow Folk a last second 55 yard FG attempt was clearly an example of the incompetence of Folk saving us.
Then Brady fumbling near midfield and the Bucs gaining a huge 15 to 20 yards to setup an easy, chip shot 50 yard FG for Folk to miss and bail us out.

You calling out others by name because they dismiss your hysterics is half comical, half sad.

Man those consecutive roughing the passer penalties. It is jarring to see a Belichick coached football team do something like that. Granted one of them may have been ticky tack.

The offsides on 4th and 3 and the egregious hands to the face on 3rd and 20 were even worse. Solid defense was the only reason we weren't in a hole.

 

[NE-VT]

I've already said I thought they played a lot better. But I don't think it was anywhere near a "great" performance. Stupid penalties, bad tackling, bad communication still plagued them for large chunks of the game.

Winston also missed plenty of wide open throws that weren't because of pressure.

I agree with that mostly. There is definitely room for improvement. What communication issues did you notice? I am not the convinced the blown coverages were based on communication issues this time.

Personally, I am more worried about the offensive performance.

 

[Guts]

We beat a tough team on the road without Gronk and Edelman. Penalties aside, our D looked much better I do wish TB12 would get hit less though. Our SB hopes still is on his shoulders

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Me too

Cat years or human years? Lol

 

[supafly]

Personally, I am more worried about the offensive performance.

The one and only thing I'm worried about on offense is the fact that Tom Brady is constantly getting hit and thrown around like a rag doll.

In all reality, this should be at the top of the priority list. Perhaps even above any defensive issues. There's no one factor that is more important than he is, and it's been something that we've been seeing for 5 straight games, now.

 

[supafly]

I wear protection when I bang your mom.

Ouch.

 

[luuked]

For the most part, the number of blown coverages were way down. I am curious if this is a function of the Bucs not employing the offensive concepts that gave us trouble: zone read/ run pass option, bunch formations, pre-snap motion from empty sets, etc.

If I remember correctly thats what Lombardi said on GM Street before the game. The way the Bucs operate on offense plays favorably into the matchup for the Pats. That being said, they tried to motion and bunch up a few times but if thats not your regular offense then it is hard to incorporate this before a TNF.

The entire game was just a match of wills and toughness.

 

[luuked]

Understand, and apparently you didn't read my entire post. Just saying that it appears to be a trend and something to monitor going forward.

If the trend is to continue doing sound decisions in situational football like the punt then I hope it is a trend. But then again it has been in the teams DNA for more than a decade. Stop fighting windmills..

 

[luuked]

I agree with that mostly. There is definitely room for improvement. What communication issues did you notice? I am not the convinced the blown coverages were based on communication issues this time.

Personally, I am more worried about the offensive performance.

Might be the lack of sleep but I dont remember any blown coverages off the top of my head except for that one pass in the first half to the Bucs player (TE ?) that was suddenly completely open but got penalized for a stupid block in the back and resulted in that weird 1st & 4.

Apart from that there was no really blown coverage in the same style as against the Chiefs, Texans or Panthers.

 

[NE-VT]

That being said, they tried to motion and bunch up a few times but if thats not your regular offense then it is hard to incorporate this before a TNF.

The fact that is was hard for them to employ concepts that challenge our previously exposed weaknesses is a bad sign for them IMO. Our ability to be offensively flexible is such a beautiful feature of our scheme.