The Pounding Pats

[Simpelton]

Looks like we're going to be pretty run heavy this year, with a premium rushing QB who's really good at RPO offense we're going to be abusing any team with a vulnerable D line.

We're somewhat used to a finesse style offense, quick release surgical attack. Brady is the best in the world at that brand of football.

Now we're making a transition into a smashmouth offense and I love it.

Hopefully the OL holds up because we're going to be asking more of them than in years past. We got a taste of the blitz buffet we'll probably be enjoying for the rest of the year as teams hope that they can rattle Cam and keep him off balance. The OL is going to have to play outnumbered and still win fights a few times if we want Cam to dominate like he's capable of.

That said, we've got the personnel to do it. We've got a deep RB unit and enough veterans on OL to expect that unit to gel. We've got Cam, who's as good a general for a rushing attack as you could hope for. So long live the Pounding Pats. It's a style of offense we haven't seen in literal generations in New England, and I'm excited to see this new identity and how it plays out.

 

[203Pat]

Hoping that Harris takes Sony's snaps when he comes back. The only runner yesterday who wasn't efficient. Big surprise.

 

[Chevy]

Sony looked more aggressive. He was averaging 4.0 until his 1 yard TD brought it down to 3.7. I'd say he was efficient.

 

[farn]

The OL is very nice. Not one mention of Wynn. That’s a win. The RT position is more than adequate as well. I like them a lot. If the FB can last the year, NE will be a good to very good running team. That is a huge key.

 

[Simpelton]

I did like what I saw of the new Fullback. Seemed to be up to the task, although Develin is a hell of a tough act to follow

 

[203Pat]

Sony looked more aggressive. He was averaging 4.0 until his 1 yard TD brought it down to 3.7. I'd say he was efficient.

If our first round running back almost getting 4 ypc on 10 attempts is efficient then yeah he was a machine.

 

[Brewskies]

It is a different offensive strategy for us. It worked yesterday and can only get better with contact. Do we have the depth to continue to have this pounding offense? What I saw from Brady and TB was much of the same as we had last season.

Go Pats, pound away and win.

 

[sb1]

This is Cam with a good OL which he didn't have in Carolina.

 

[scott99]

Not trying to be a Debbie Downer

But I look at the SF 49ers. All is good and fine when they are smashing teams with the run, but what happens when they get behind. They were killing the Chiefs with the run in the SB, 141 yards and 6.4 yards per carry. But once they fell behind, and the Chiefs made adjustments vs the run, they didn't have the type of offense to adjust and come back. I wonder if the Pats can adjust if they get shut down run wise. We saw that in SB 50, Cam kinda imploded when he was down, only 7 points vs the Broncos. Wasn't horrible passing wise, but lost 2 key fumbles. It's what teams/QBs do when there is adversity, when they have to come from behind. It'll be interesting, I think we will see it this week, the Seahawks are a scary team, we most likely will be behind at certain points in the game, let's see what Cam and the offense does.

 

[203Pat]

I am happy with the win but a little nervous for a few reasons.

Is it realistic to expect that Cam running that much will be sustainable? He is coming off multiple surgeries and is now 31 years old can we really expect him to take that type of beating?

 

[sb1]

According to Belichick some of those 15 runs were options/RPO and he thinks that total is skewed. I wouldn't expect that many runs too often.

 

[Chevy]

If our first round running back almost getting 4 ypc on 10 attempts is efficient then yeah he was a machine.

Hmm .... Limited a bit in camp, offseason surgery, no pre-season, not the focus of the offense, only 10 carries so no chance to really get in rhythm, new offensive philosophy. Yeah, for week one I'm happy with 3.7 and a TD. He ran much more aggressively, something he really needed to do.

Now in 3 or 4 weeks, when the O is much more settled, I will expect more from him. We all will.

 

[Guts]

I liked what I saw yesterday and think it can be a good formula going forward, my only concern is the lack of explosiveness of our WR/TEs having a Brandin Cooks type player in this offense would do wonders.

 

[ivanvamp]

I agree with scott99 - this is all great if the Pats are within a score. But if they fall behind and need to play catch-up, they're going to struggle. They don't have the WRs, and Cam isn't that kind of QB.

But they are built to take a lead and hold it. So....just do that!

 

[sb1]

I'd be a bit more concerned about the Pats playing catch-up if Cam had no passing game yesterday. But 15-19 for 155, 8.2 YPA and 0 INT is promising in an RPO based offense. Especially for a guy that hasn't played one down of meaningful football in a long time.

 

[Conflicted Panthers fan]

Cam has plenty of come from behind wins and countless times he led the Panthers back at the end of games only to have the defense/coaching blow it at the end.

The narrative that Cam can’t play from behind is simply not true.

 

[203Pat]

Hmm .... Limited a bit in camp, offseason surgery, no pre-season, not the focus of the offense, only 10 carries so no chance to really get in rhythm, new offensive philosophy. Yeah, for week one I'm happy with 3.7 and a TD. He ran much more aggressively, something he really needed to do.

Now in 3 or 4 weeks, when the O is much more settled, I will expect more from him. We all will.

Always so many excuses for the guy. He's a JAG. I don't know why everyone keeps waiting for him to turn into a prime Todd Gurley or Leveon Bell. He has show us what he is. An average run of the mill running back.

 

[203Pat]

Cam has plenty of come from behind wins and countless times he led the Panthers back at the end of games only to have the defense/coaching blow it at the end.

The narrative that Cam can’t play from behind is simply not true.

What worries me about Cam not playing from behind is more about the supporting cast then it is about Cam. If we get down by 14 late in the third quarter do we have the horses to play catch up? We don't have anyone outside of Edelman (who only played about half the snaps yesterday) who can get open consistently and make chunk plays.

 

[Conflicted Panthers fan]

What worries me about Cam not playing from behind is more about the supporting cast then it is about Cam. If we get down by 14 late in the third quarter do we have the horses to play catch up? We don't have anyone outside of Edelman (who only played about half the snaps yesterday) who can get open consistently and make chunk plays.

This is a legit concern lol. Outside of a mid-season trade I don’t see those weapons either.

 

[BradytoMosstoGronk]

My concern with the passing game is weapons. If Edelman gets hurt or misses a few games, the aerial attack may be the least intimidating in the league. Cam obviously has lead comebacks, but this group of pass catchers isn't hyped up for a reason. His ability to get quick scores to compete with potentially explosive offenses is what is concerning. Seattle, for example, if they get a 21-7 lead on us Sunday, i don't see us catching up. Let alone a team like KC.