Post Game Thread - Pats beat the Texans

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

The biggest stat today? 1-0.

Gronk fumble is a non issue. Mistakes happen. Also, its week one so I didnt expect perfection. Man, 2018 and still a fearsome team.

 

[TommyD4207]

Overall it is hard to find much fault with the OL. Particularly the tackle play. A big deal considering the pass rush of the Texans and the Cannon coming back from an injury as well as Brown's first start with the Pats.

It wasn't perfect but that was encouraging.

Trent Brown was great.

Jadaveon Clowney did, indeed, play today. although you wouldn't know it.

 

[JayNM]

What post-game reivews/analysis you guys usually read? My stuff has been weak lately...

 

[BobDigital]

Worth pointing out. Bentley didn't make any amazing plays but he never really made a mistake that i saw. He seemed to know where he was suppose to be and didn't get out of position. What more could you hope for from a rookie in his first game?

 

[Coolade2]

I played in golf tournament today so I saw just the end of game.. it went as I predicted ..not quite the score but comfy big win except for the late punt return botch fumble... Looking forward to watching replay of entire game. Go pats..

 

[SammyBlueCat]

What happens when someone gets put into BB's Cat house?

That is a secret

 

[PlanB]

Matt Chatham on Twitter has a series boner for Wise.

I'd binge watch that

 

[PatriotReign]

I don't drink alcohol. I DESPISE undercover rat trolls that infest this board with their sanctimonious. ultra narcissistic screeds that constantly seek to degrade the Patriot fan's enjoyment watching the Pats win.Perhaps it's a generational thing...I'm in my sixties, you are in your 20's. Perhaps you have this need to point out others failures to buttress your own self esteem. Whatever it is, today's win was thoroughly enjoyable and I see no need to go off bashing individual players for whatever imperfections they may have displayed out there today..IN A GODDAMNED WIN.
I read this entire thread before I posted and I saw NO mention of the despicable Morelli, who I can tell all of you unequivocally, tried to SCREW the Patriots out a well deserved win. Contemptible, abominable,CROOKED refereeing. Guess everyone missed the utter depravity of this crew because of the TV screen.

Tony Corrente (corrupti) was today's official.

 

[farn]

Happy with OL. Happy with DL.

Those two are huge : both in size and importance. Hope they keep it up.

 

[TommyD4207]

Happy with OL. Happy with DL.

Those two are huge : both in size and importance. Hope they keep it up.

This. If those two units are solid like this all year (next week is another big test), the Patriots are going to be just fine.

Secondary was pretty damned good too, today.

 

[Tuck]

The kid was impressive in person today. He's an absolute tree stump. He looks like a younger Daid Harris in the middle. He's thicker than Hightower and he moves well.

 

[fnordcircle]

Happy with OL. Happy with DL.

Those two are huge : both in size and importance. Hope they keep it up.

IMO the biggest strengths of this team, other than its QB are probably DB, OL, DL, RB, in that order. RB would have been higher if well, Hill and Michel were healthy/playing.

Still, a nice change from the awful times from 2005 until Talib.

 

[BobDigital]

Some more game thoughts. Everything i think is worth point out.

Offensive thoughts.

QB - Brady was Brady. He gave me no reason to think he won't be great all year.
RB - Burkhead looked good. Hasn't lost a step and could have had a TD today. That may be forgotten, but he absolutely broke the LB's ankles on his TD catch route that Brady missed on. White is steady like usual. With Hill going down Sony's health becomes vital.
TE - Gronk looked great but i saw sad to see almost no impact from any other TEs. I don't recall Allen having any key blocks to spring a run.
WR - A lot of people are not happy with Hogan. Well, if the other team puts their #1 CB on Hogan that will be a hard match up for him to win. He isn't a #1 WR. Dorsett will be the big story as he should for this group. Clearly this group really needs Edelman. He will open it up for Hogan.
OL - Overall a good game all around.

Defensive thoughts.

DL - It is hard to be mad about much this unit did. They generally were able to contain Watson and get pressure. A lot of people will be mad about how many yards the Texan's stacked up on the ground late in the game. I get the feeling part of that was scheme more than poor play. Early in the game they managed to hold the run down well. That is the sample i am concerned about.
LB - Very solid play at this level. Nice to see Bentley contribute. They finally found their 3rd LB.
CB - This unit was lights out. After a shaky preseason at times Gilmore picked up where he left off. I predicted in the preseason he would make the probowl this year. Nothing in this game lead me to believe otherwise. Rowe who has been a guy who can be frustrating at times was good today. He is very match up dependent though. J. Jones had a great run last year and picked it right back up this year. This unit made Watson hold on to the ball. I would argue 2 of the Pats sacks were coverage sacks really.
S - Solid group. Today. IIRC Jason McCourty had a big pass break up 1 on 1 with Hopkins deep. Encouraging to see. Harmon and McCourty and Chung all had nice games. Chung is often the unsung hero of this group but came up with a huge play today to get a PBU on a potential TD on a player he wasn't even covering. Amazing stuff.

STs

This unit needs work on kickoff coverage. It will get there. McCarron should never play for this team again. Activate Hollister. I don't wanna have to see a repeat of Cyrus Jones.

Misc

Like all week 1 games it was sloppy in some ways. It was kind of nice to get a Brady tipped int, a Gronk fumble and a muffed punt all out of the way and still win. Gronk probably won't fumble again for a long time. I think we will work something out to make sure we don't have any more muffed punts. They are just too game changing.

Houston is a team I thought would compete this year in the AFC. I can say confidently that isn't happening. Watson seems off and for them to compete they need him to play like an MVP. Something about the injury either has him playing scared or he isn't fully back from it. Running QBs like Watson don't get healthier as the season goes on. I am betting the under on their win total.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Butler says hi...

He got a pick for Ten today.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

I don't drink alcohol. I DESPISE undercover rat trolls that infest this board with their sanctimonious. ultra narcissistic screeds that constantly seek to degrade the Patriot fan's enjoyment watching the Pats win.Perhaps it's a generational thing...I'm in my sixties, you are in your 20's. Perhaps you have this need to point out others failures to buttress your own self esteem. Whatever it is, today's win was thoroughly enjoyable and I see no need to go off bashing individual players for whatever imperfections they may have displayed out there today..IN A GODDAMNED WIN.
I read this entire thread before I posted and I saw NO mention of the despicable Morelli, who I can tell all of you unequivocally, tried to SCREW the Patriots out a well deserved win. Contemptible, abominable,CROOKED refereeing. Guess everyone missed the utter depravity of this crew because of the TV screen.

I don't drink alcohol. I DESPISE undercover rat trolls that infest this board with their sanctimonious. ultra narcissistic screeds that constantly seek to degrade the Patriot fan's enjoyment watching the Pats win.Perhaps it's a generational thing...I'm in my sixties, you are in your 20's. Perhaps you have this need to point out others failures to buttress your own self esteem. Whatever it is, today's win was thoroughly enjoyable and I see no need to go off bashing individual players for whatever imperfections they may have displayed out there today..IN A GODDAMNED WIN.
I read this entire thread before I posted and I saw NO mention of the despicable Morelli, who I can tell all of you unequivocally, tried to SCREW the Patriots out a well deserved win. Contemptible, abominable,CROOKED refereeing. Guess everyone missed the utter depravity of this crew because of the TV screen.

You're in your 60s and still don't get the point of an online forum? People criticize and people just sit back and enjoy. It is what it is. Not sure why you're spazzing out over here

 

[Arialgg]

He got a pick for Ten today.

He also got pretty badly beat for a TD...

 

[A Defiant Goose]

I don't know what everyone's up in arms about with the officials. Seemed like the usual missed call here and there. Nothing out of the ordinary

 

[The Brandon Five]

Can I just say that the Reverse sweep to the SHORT side of the field is a recipe for disaster and should never be attempted. I don't care if you have Usain Bolt, he's not turning that corner clean.

That's a McDaniels specialty: outside runs to the short side of the field. Always a shocker when it doesn't work.

 

[TommyD4207]

He also got pretty badly beat for a TD...

Smoked. he even pulled the 'ran so fast he fell down' thing when Stills was pulling away.

Tannehill threw the INT right to him. It was a decent play, but one that any JAG CB should be able to make with some regularity.

 

[patfanken]

I'm not going to worry about the overall quality of the run game. I will simply say that Bedard's grade on Shelton should be an interesting one. I might have to actually tune into 98.5 on Tuesday just to hear it.

I'm really looking forward to finding out if the problem was schematic or just poor play. Romo seemed to think it was the former.

As to Shelton, most of those big gains were being run off tackle. I don't think you can ask your NT to stop plays out there. Usually you are looking for your LB's to make plays out there.

Bottom line - there is too much we don't know about the schemes, personnel, and why those runs were so effective. But it WILL make for a great discussion when the film thread comes out and some of those things become clearer.