Random Patriots thoughts

[BobDigital]

Just a bunch of thoughts that probably don't deserve their own thread. Comment on my thoughts or post your own.

#1 Derek Rivers - What the hell? He has played in one game (Lions) and barely saw the field. The likes of the immortal Grissom, Davis and Simon have seen more snaps than him on defense. The only time Bill played him is when he hand was forced with injuries. Why? The talent is there. He had a solid enough preseason and he looks healthy. He won't get any better being inactive week after week. I appreciate that perhaps his run defense isn't all it could be, but it isn't he can't defend the run at all. We had high hopes of him going into the season. While the defense has improved the pass rush has lost some sizzle since week 1. I think Rivers can be one of our better guys in that area still. BB needs to let him out of the dog house already. If the Pats can't get to the QB they can't win it all. Even without him seeing the field I have more faith in Rivers doing it than most of the other DEs on the roster.

#2 Gordon's role - It is so nice to have Edelman back! What a difference one player can make. For the first time we saw this offense with all the key players they will have on the field together. The options which suffered the most were Patterson and Gordon. Patterson was unsurprising as he is a gimmick player. He will have his 10 or so snaps a game and hopefully have an impact in them. Gordon hasn't gotten many snaps. A lot is being made of his Hammy but honestly it looked pretty good last night and he still didn't see the field much. 18 snaps for Gordon, but 4 targets. At this point I'm thinking Gordon isn't going to be a guy who see the field a ton. Edelman/Dorsett/Hogan are 3 guys Brady and BB trust. They allow you to run the typical system. Gordon I think is having issues picking it up. Not surprising with his limited time here. He may never fully pick up the system. It doesn't mean he can't be useful. When he is at the line I don't think he is making adjustments. I think he is running a planned route. I don't know if that is going to change anytime soon. If it doesn't his snaps will be limited. Brady threw him to 4 times on 18 snaps. 4 or 5 catches are all Gordon needs to have a huge impact. It is early but the hopes of him playing starter snaps seems like a very distant dream at this point. Maybe next year (if he isn't busted). The key is to utilize him for the snaps they can get him in for.

#3 3rd CB - Rowe was the guy here. McCourty is the guy now. When Rowe is 100% who takes the spot? The way Jason is playing it is hard for me to kick him out. I think this will be a ride the hot hand scenario all season. Rowe has flashed but he hasn't been good enough to demand locking down that spot upon his return. Clearly J Jones and Gilmore have their spots unchallenged but the 3rd will be something to watch all year. Maybe even one of the rookies JC Jackson or Crossen can get in the mix. The fact BB kept the 2 rookies speaks volumes of their potential. Will we see this merry go round become even more interesting if one of them can jump into that 3rd role for a time? While I like to know who will play where in the big games this may be a spot where you shrug and run whoever is playing the best out there. This team almost waited too long to pull Arrington in SB49. I hope they are faster on the uptake this time if something isn't looking good in a key game. We have a lot of options here and if it isn't working that day there is no need to ride it into the 3rd quarter.

#4 Harmon/D. McCourty - Interesting what is going on here. It seems Harmon has kind of taken over the deep duties and McCourty now is playing down more. Obviously it didn't work last game though many of those plays were highly competitive. Why the change this year as opposed to last year? While a lot of what I have seen hasn't been encouraging I think in the long run it will be good. McCourty didn't have much of an impact last year playing deep. I think getting into the muck like this may be the best thing for him in the long run. I think he need a swift kick in the ass to help hone those attacking instincts again. I don't know if this will be a permanent thing or if they will give McCourty his center field spot back. In either case I think by the playoffs the Pats will be better off here regardless of their choice.

That' all I have for now.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Josh Gordon is a work in progress. He needs game style conditioning as well as an understanding of the scheme. So far he has received positive reviews from his team mates and coaches.

 

[luuked]

Derek Rivers - What the hell? He has played in one game (Lions) and barely saw the field. The likes of the immortal Grissom, Davis and Simon have seen more snaps than him on defense. The only time Bill played him is when he hand was forced with injuries. Why? The talent is there. He had a solid enough preseason and he looks healthy. He won't get any better being inactive week after week. I appreciate that perhaps his run defense isn't all it could be, but it isn't he can't defend the run at all. We had high hopes of him going into the season. While the defense has improved the pass rush has lost some sizzle since week 1. I think Rivers can be one of our better guys in that area still. BB needs to let him out of the dog house already. If the Pats can't get to the QB they can't win it all. Even without him seeing the field I have more faith in Rivers doing it than most of the other DEs on the roster.

He is essentially a rookie after missing all of last year with rehab. Not only this but he is also coming back from a ACL. I would not judge him until after the BYE.

3rd CB - Rowe was the guy here. McCourty is the guy now.

JMac is CB2. JJones CB3 / Slot CB. I think the situation is pretty clear. Rowe will get his snaps in specific matchups.

McCourty didn't have much of an impact last year playing deep

DMac didn't play much FS already last year . Him being used interchangeably as SS/LB/CB has been going on for a bit. People just don't pay too much attention to it because his position on the depth chart is FS. I honestly don't understand why people are making him to some kind of whipping boy. He has not been bad in this role so far over the entire season. This entire narrative is way overblown.

 

[jah]

I'm not really sure where you got the idea that Gordon has been having trouble picking up the system. It's been a few weeks and he's already provided tangible impact in 2 wins. Of course it's going to take some time, and I wouldn't expect him to take many snaps this early on regardless of health. Hopefully by the end of the season he can be a full time player.

 

[BradytoMosstoGronk]

Gordon played a good chunk of snaps against the Dolphins, and lost snaps because they had to shuffle Edelman back in Thursday.

In my opinion, after Thursday, he should be seeing more. He’s still new, they want to be careful with his hammy (on a short week), you chose the viable option for his snap count regression this week. This guys got too much talent to be on the sideline. Also, comments from Brady and co kind of tell a different story from your hypothesis he’s having trouble getting the offense down.

I don’t believe for a second he’s going to, or is currently having trouble figuring it out here.

 

[Brady6]

He is essentially a rookie after missing all of last year with rehab. Not only this but he is also coming back from a ACL. I would not judge him until after the BYE.



JMac is CB2. JJones CB3 / Slot CB. I think the situation is pretty clear. Rowe will get his snaps in specific matchups.



DMac didn't play much FS already last year . Him being used interchangeably as SS/LB/CB has been going on for a bit. People just don't pay too much attention to it because his position on the depth chart is FS. I honestly don't understand why people are making him to some kind of whipping boy. He has not been bad in this role so far over the entire season. This entire narrative is way overblown.

Rivers isn’t essentially a rookie, he was injured but he took part in all other aspects of being in the NFL. Flowers missed his entire rookie season and he was able to get on the field without an issue. Rivers clearly isn’t where he needs to be in the eyes of the coaching staff.

When targeting Devin McCourty QBs are 14/16 for 164 yards 3 touchdowns and a 144.2 QB rating. If that isn’t awful I’m not sure what you would consider awful.

 

[Brady6]

I’m pleased with Sony Michel and Trent Brown. I am disappointed in Hogan, Hightower, and Rivers.

 

[luuked]

Rivers isn’t essentially a rookie, he was injured but he took part in all other aspects of being in the NFL. Flowers missed his entire rookie season and he was able to get on the field without an issue. Rivers clearly isn’t where he needs to be in the eyes of the coaching staff.

When targeting Devin McCourty QBs are 14/16 for 164 yards 3 touchdowns and a 144.2 QB rating. If that isn’t awful I’m not sure what you would consider awful.

Shows once again how little you know.

 

[PScottman]

When targeting Devin McCourty QBs are 14/16 for 164 yards 3 touchdowns and a 144.2 QB rating. If that isn’t awful I’m not sure what you would consider awful.

What role do you think a safety like McCourty should be playing? Man to man? Centerfield?

As the defense evolves to combat what happened in last year's SB (and the contests leading up to it), would it surprise you to learn that they changed Chung's role from shadowing mainly TEs to covering the RBs out of the backfield.

The results have been pretty good so far. Hines was pretty bottled up in the Colts game. That shifts the TE responsibilities to McCourty where previously he could be a centerfielder keeping the play in front of him and taking the "pass off" in zones where the play was already half or more over.

In three weeks if he hasn't improved as he molds into the VERY different role for him - probably a conversation worth having.

 

[Brady6]

Shows once again how little you know.

When did you become the authority on what people know?

 

[luuked]

What role do you think a safety like McCourty should be playing? Man to man? Centerfield?

As the defense evolves to combat what happened in last year's SB (and the contests leading up to it), would it surprise you to learn that they changed Chung's role from shadowing mainly TEs to covering the RBs out of the backfield.

The results have been pretty good so far. Hines was pretty bottled up in the Colts game. That shifts the TE responsibilities to McCourty where previously he could be a centerfielder keeping the play in front of him and taking the "pass off" in zones where the play was already half or more over.

In three weeks if he hasn't improved as he molds into the VERY different role for him - probably a conversation worth having.

Don't throw actual football talk and facts at people who just love to have a whipping boy.

 

[luuked]

When did you become the authority on what people know?

You are showing it again and again. The way you are using his stats to prove a point is the same as people who claim Brady had a horrible game because he had 2 INTs.

Stats without context.

Similarly, who cares if a player who essentially missed his entire rookie preseason due to a ****ing ACL injury that still affects him has a slow start into the season. Compare him to a guy who had a completely different injury. That makes sense.

 

[Brady6]

You are showing it again and again. The way you are using his stats to prove a point is the same as people who claim Brady had a horrible game because he had 2 INTs.

Stats without context.

Similarly, who cares if a player who essentially missed his entire rookie preseason due to a ****ing ACL injury that still affects him has a slow start into the season. Compare him to a guy who had a completely different injury. That makes sense.

You have an excuse or justification for everything that isn’t a positive.

 

[luuked]

You have an excuse or justification for everything that isn’t a positive.

No excuses just actually rewatching the game and A22 and coming to conclusions based on what actually happened not narratives or hot takes.

But to stay with your logic. I guess you also have excuses or justifications for all those INTs Brady is throwing.

 

[Brady6]

No excuses just actually rewatching the game and A22 and coming to conclusions based on what actually happened not narratives or hot takes.

But to stay with your logic. I guess you also have excuses or justifications for all those INTs Brady is throwing.

McCourty has not played well this season and every thing from stats, film, and analysis support that. If you want to live a fairyland that is fine but don’t act like your opinion is of significance. Offer something other than what you think to support anything you say and it might carry some value but until then don’t dispute stats with what you think you see.

 

[ralmat55]

What role do you think a safety like McCourty should be playing? Man to man? Centerfield?

As the defense evolves to combat what happened in last year's SB (and the contests leading up to it), would it surprise you to learn that they changed Chung's role from shadowing mainly TEs to covering the RBs out of the backfield.

The results have been pretty good so far. Hines was pretty bottled up in the Colts game. That shifts the TE responsibilities to McCourty where previously he could be a centerfielder keeping the play in front of him and taking the "pass off" in zones where the play was already half or more over.

In three weeks if he hasn't improved as he molds into the VERY different role for him - probably a conversation worth having.

Enough had been seen to discuss it. It’s just an impossible matchup for D. McCourty. He simply doesn’t have the length or strength to play man against a good TE. Giving up 50 pounds, he can’t press, so he’s lined up 10 yards off and in a chase position from the snap. Even if there’s a bad throw and he gets in position to contest the reception, McCourty’s giving up 6 or 7 inches in height making it a “tall” order to even get a hand on the ball.

I actually like the use of more dime alignments. Involving Chung more in coverage of running backs has been a positive. With J. McCourty making the CB2 position his own over the last few weeks, my hope is Eric Rowe becomes the dime back rather than D. Harmon as I see him as the only DB on the roster with the physical attributes to cover TEs man to man other than Chung.

Then I guess, we pray for no more injuries as this team’s depth is painfully thin in this area.

 

[PF_SU]

I actually like the use of more dime alignments. Involving Chung more in coverage of running backs has been a positive. With J. McCourty making the CB2 position his own over the last few weeks, my hope is Eric Rowe becomes the dime back rather than D. Harmon as I see him as the only DB on the roster with the physical attributes to cover TEs man to man other than Chung.

Didn't Rowe start out as safety in college, before being moved to CB? With his physical profile I agree that it may be worthwhile considering playing him against TEs in dime packages and move McCourty back.

 

[Mack Herron]

Didn't Rowe start out as safety in college, before being moved to CB? With his physical profile I agree that it may be worthwhile considering playing him against TEs in dime packages and move McCourty back.

3 years at FS moved to CB as Senior at Utah. I think he was viewed as perimeter CB with Pats, but no room there. Rowe has played inside as well. McCourty has struggled in coverage so will be interesting to see what happens. Rowe has been out with a groin however, so may not be the answer Sunday.

 

[luuked]

McCourty has not played well this season and every thing from stats, film, and analysis support that. If you want to live a fairyland that is fine but don’t act like your opinion is of significance. Offer something other than what you think to support anything you say and it might carry some value but until then don’t dispute stats with what you think you see.

Except this is not true. Maybe you should watch games instead of looking at stats. DMac has been used all over the place and apart from last week look fine.

And last week was mostly a technique issue where it is even unclear how much of it is on him. But that would require you to actually look at what happened.

But whatever who cares what happens on the field if you can just read the stats sheet. To paraphrase Talib.. why care about the music if you can just look at the notes.

 

[Brady6]

Except this is not true. Maybe you should watch games instead of looking at stats. DMac has been used all over the place and apart from last week look fine.

And last week was mostly a technique issue where it is even unclear how much of it is on him. But that would require you to actually look at what happened.

But whatever who cares what happens on the field if you can just read the stats sheet. To paraphrase Talib.. why care about the music if you can just look at the notes.

Once again you’ve provided nothing of substance you just write a bunch without ever really saying anything.

You got me I spend my time on a Patriots forum for the last 6 years but nope I don’t watch the games. I’m really starting to consider blocking you.