Idle thoughts - the preseason CONTINUUUUUUUUUUES

[luuked]

He has been used in the pa game as pass blocker. Good block on Jamal Adams yesterday on the pass to Izzo.

PA is different than going into a passing set, changing to something else, still knowing the responsibilities when an audible happens and picking up the right rusher but still good point.

 

[luuked]

Basically, I wish we could get vintage Blount right now, as he is multi-dimensional compared to Michel.

Are you kidding ? Seriously are you a troll ?

 

[luuked]

Whatever they are doing with Burkehead is working. He's producing more than Michel right now.

He is facing lighter boxes because you don't want him matched up on your LB which makes the job easier for the OL in terms of blocking.

 

[Doctor DDS]

Pats thrive in the middle of the field and often struggle when Jules is not available. His ability to get open quickly helps move the chains on 3rd and short. Besides Brady he is the one player they team cannot afford to lose and I think the offense will struggle if he is out for any length of time. Hard to know if the team went a little more conservative in the 2nd half once they had the lead and knew that the Jets offense would not be able to mount a comeback.

I thought Bailey was incredible and can really be a weapon. I liked Allen but Bailey is clearly an upgrade.

 

[SBLIII]

Pats thrive in the middle of the field and often struggle when Jules is not available. His ability to get open quickly helps move the chains on 3rd and short. Besides Brady he is the one player they team cannot afford to lose and I think the offense will struggle if he is out for any length of time. Hard to know if the team went a little more conservative in the 2nd half once they had the lead and knew that the Jets offense would not be able to mount a comeback.

I thought Bailey was incredible and can really be a weapon. I liked Allen but Bailey is clearly an upgrade.

Bailey legit flips the field. It's incredible to watch.

 

[Kontradiction]

The flipside is that they might still not feel comfortable with him as a pass blocker. Especially with the patchwork OL as it is.

If he can't do that he will not be used much in the passing game for the same reasons Blount wasn't.

He was good in blitz pick-up the one time he had to do it yesterday (I’m relatively certain it was the Dorsett TD). Recognized the free rusher, got in position, and stonewalled him.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Are you kidding ? Seriously are you a troll ?

He did average 0.5 catches per game.......
LeGarrette Blount Stats | Pro-Football-Reference.com

 

[patriot1136]

No Brown after Friday practice

Then there's........

I'd like to know what hair product Brady uses to hide his gray. I want it
I'd like to know why Jonathan's wife isn't allowed to sit in the front row with her husband during games.
My "A" and "B" keys are worn out on my laptop for some reason
I'd be pissed shelling out big bucks to attend these D2 games.
Back in the day, spicy chicken wings were free at bars to get you to drink more.
And today I spent $14 for 12 Buffalo WildWings wings.
Fu*%ing Goodell

Serious question: Wings used to be free at bars?

 

[borg]

Serious question: Wings used to be free at bars?

Happy hours used to be all about free food and chicken wings were considered nothing more than bones that belonged in the dumpster. Splashing hot sauce on a zero cost product was an easy way to induce patrons into a bar and get them to drink more.
With a little local knowledge and a strong liver, experienced liquor heads ate free on most weeknights.
The good ole days
Who says we are advancing as a culture?
One generation’s garbage is this generation’s delicacy

 

[venecol]

1. General offensive thoughts - Suddenly after scoring TD's on their first 3 drives, something happened and they pretty much managed just one real scoring drive after the middle of the 2nd quarter. And that is DESPITE often having very good field position to start drives.

3. OL - Really glad Cannon played. Newhouse did a solid job in pass protection, though I won't know until we look at the tape to see how/if the Pats schemed to help him.

5. WR's - Dorsett is going to do fine as the "scheme" guy. He's the guy who isn't going to get open on his own, but gets open running the pattern. Dorsett's stats thus far are 13 catches 190 yds and 3 TD. Nice job for a guy a lot of people wanted gone.

Thanks Ken,

1. On the offense, is it possible that after being up 20 to 0, they were just trying some plays or working on some things instead of them just being shut down by the Jets?

3. OL - Dante Scarnechia is a God amongst men.

5. WR - Dorsett on track for a 1,000 yard season. Good for him.

 

[Krepoort]

Great review as always, Ken.

Teams are just selling out to stop the run when Michel is in the game. They’ve got to play him more and pass it when he’s out there. The one time they ran play action with him today resulted in a wide open receiver. More of that is necessary, and, with White out, an opportunity was missed to do it more today.

But what if that IS the plan? Give teams film all season to make defenses over commit to the run when they see Michel in the backfield and during critical drives late in the season or in the post season, break out a play action for a 30 yard gain.

 

[slam]

Getting big gains off play action to Michel has been happening all season. There were at least two yesterday.



Link: Ryan Izzo sells play-fake for sneaky 41-yard catch and run

 

[Doctor DDS]

Excited to see what this defense can do against some of the better offensive teams. First time since the early 2000's that the defense is the best unit on the field.

 

[SBLIII]

But what if that IS the plan? Give teams film all season to make defenses over commit to the run when they see Michel in the backfield and during critical drives late in the season or in the post season, break out a play action for a 30 yard gain.

On average Michel is not facing stacked boxes according to Nextgen stats.

 

[zydecochris]

I have a feeling we as fans are going to be very frustrated all year if the run game continues to struggle and Harris doesn't get any playing time.

Harris not getting any playing time has been a real surprise to me, I expected big things from him as someone who could get hard yards at the goal line, be a tough runner on running downs, and be effective in the passing game either as a receiver or a pass blocker. I thought he would take all of Burkhead's snaps, but Burkhead has looked pretty good this year, I guess Burkhead had other ideas.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Great review as always, Ken.

Teams are just selling out to stop the run when Michel is in the game. They’ve got to play him more and pass it when he’s out there. The one time they ran play action with him today resulted in a wide open receiver. More of that is necessary, and, with White out, an opportunity was missed to do it more today.

This. Until Josh and Tom make a concerted effort to throw Sony the ball, he will be going against a tougher run defense than Rex and James White, if for no other reason than the fact that defenses will be reading run first. Of course, that was the case in the Steven Ridley days, and he routinely ran for 4+ ypc.

 

[Kdo5]

Kudos as usual PFK...

Not sure what is up with Michel, too early to throw in the towel, but he seems to have lost some quickness that we are accustomed to, maybe it is as simple as his lack of confidence after knee surgery.

I think it is as simple as when the blocking is good he succeeds, when blocking is subpar he doesn’t have the moves or agility to make something out of nothing.

He is what he is. A decent, albeit one dimensional running back. He is going to struggle if they don’t integrate him somewhat into the passing game. He is probably not the first round quality we hoped for but sufficient.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Newhouse only had 2 bad plays in pb.

True, but he looked all but lost blocking in the open field. He was literally spinning around in a circle looking for someone to block on a WR screen that went for nothing and was jumping up-and-down clapping like a delighted child when he successfully kicked-out the DB on Burkhead's rushing touchdown. (Gordon's block on the OLB was crushing on that play.) Don't get me wrong, his enthusiasm is appreciated, but 300-pound men who act like that deserve a little good-natured heckling.

 

[patfanken]

Harris not getting any playing time has been a real surprise to me, I expected big things from him as someone who could get hard yards at the goal line, be a tough runner on running downs, and be effective in the passing game either as a receiver or a pass blocker. I thought he would take all of Burkhead's snaps, but Burkhead has looked pretty good this year, I guess Burkhead had other ideas.

Harris is a GREAT prospect, but right now there is only room for 4 RB's on the game day roster and Boldin is getting the nod because of the special teams reps he gets in addition to the occasional run.

Again another First World problem. So Harris sits....and waits for the inevitable injury to someone, and then he will be ready, fresh, and prepared to go. An NFL season is a battle of attrition as we all know too well. It is good to have a player of the caliber of Harris waiting in the wings. Plus you never know who's wife will deliver THIS week.

 

[patfanken]

I think it is as simple as when the blocking is good he succeeds, when blocking is subpar he doesn’t have the moves or agility to make something out of nothing.

He is what he is. A decent, albeit one dimensional running back. He is going to struggle if they don’t integrate him somewhat into the passing game. He is probably not the first round quality we hoped for but sufficient.

That is a Volin-like take on Michel. Here's why. On at least 2 impact plays the Pats used the run tendency that they have with Michell in the game to make big plays on play action passes, including the TD to Dorsett.

One of the things the Pats do better than most is self scout. And part of self scouting is using that info to set teams up and BREAK tendencies that they find in previous games. Sony CAN catch the ball. He did it very well in college, and we've seen enough at TC to confirm it. Don't be impatient, His time will come.

Also remember that ALL RB's need good blocking ( besides Earl Campbell) Just look at Bell's results (35yds). He's one of the best (top 5) RB's in the league. No blocking no yards. It's as simple as that. If you can find a clip that shows Michel missed a hole or had space to run, feel free to show it.

BTW- 8 of those 35 yds came on a draw on 3rd and 21 against 7 DB's
.