Game Day Thread Official Post-Game Thread: Week 1 - Pats lose to Dolphins 17-16

[Pats2000]

I think that Patriots fans have a lot to say "Yeah, but this!" about. On the other hand, I think they also should have a lot of questions and concerns.

1. One example of the former is being beaten to death: Mac-10 mostly looked good in his NFL debut.
2. One example of the latter is the need to wonder why the hell a team with this run game was putting so much into the hands of that debuting rookie QB.

Two running back fumbles could be a reason for that. The fact is, Mac could handle putting the game on his shoulders.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

We wouldn’t have won that Rams super bowl without our overrated OC coming up with a out of the box series at the end.

This is true. Kudos for 1 good play design after being stymied all game long. And also the defense having the fewest points given up, ever, in a Superbowl game. And basically perfectly executed by the goat QB and goat TE. Not a good sign when we gotta bring up something from 3 years ago to justify the last 3 crappy years since.

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[zydecochris]

I think that Patriots fans have a lot to say "Yeah, but this!" about. On the other hand, I think they also should have a lot of questions and concerns.

1. One example of the former is being beaten to death: Mac-10 mostly looked good in his NFL debut.
2. One example of the latter is the need to wonder why the hell a team with this run game was putting so much into the hands of that debuting rookie QB.

On the first point, this should be the take-home message and the source of great optimism. Just look at what other teams give up or get a SHOT at a decent QB (in the last year, San Fran, LA Rams, Chicago, etc.). I am beyond excited with Mac’s performance as a rookie QB starting in the first game of the season. He had bad plays, but only one real bonehead one (the back lateral), and that was early in his first pro start.

On the second point, this team overall has decent but not great talent, certainly not like the Patriots of the first Brady year before he became Brady, I think THAT is why they were putting so much on Mac’s plate. It isn’t like we were blowing them off the line on offense.

 

[nabwong]

This is true. Kudos for 1 good play design after being stymied all game long. And also the defense having the fewest points given up, ever, in a Superbowl game. Not a good sign when we gotta bring up something from 3 years ago to justify the last 3 crappy years since.

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the truth is somewhere in the middle. Is he the best ever OC? No. He’s also not below average. He pretty good but not perfect. I’d rather have him than a lot of other OCs. Of course if there’s a chance to upgrade, then sure, go for it. But BOB is not that much better.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

 

[PP2]

We wouldn’t have won that Rams super bowl without our overrated OC coming up with a out of the box series at the end.

You talking about the Hoss Y Juke they ran right prior to the run TD?

 

[thecore762]

Turnovers is what lost us the game, the team got to be better at taking care of the ball. Lastly we have to score TD’s.

 

[dtbrks]

Algolar showed up and was the best receiver for the pats. Good sign I guess.
still not happy. Lol

 

[bormio]

I think that Patriots fans have a lot to say "Yeah, but this!" about. On the other hand, I think they also should have a lot of questions and concerns.

1. One example of the former is being beaten to death: Mac-10 mostly looked good in his NFL debut.
2. One example of the latter is the need to wonder why the hell a team with this run game was putting so much into the hands of that debuting rookie QB.

We do not have a bruising back like in years past - especially the early dynasty. Stevenson won the backup role over Michel. He simply has to play (or Taylor). Harris cannot run 25 times a game week in and week out. Miami clamped on the run on early downs to put Jones behind the chains.

 

[Drunken Cicerone]

Nobody whos honest with themselves sees this team as a Super Bowl contender. The most important thing by far today was to see how Mac Jones played. And he was efficient. Got rid of the ball quickly, made adjustments when he had to and had no problem finding his second and third reads. I'll take a week one loss with the way the team looked.

Stevenson looked lost, i dont expect him to stay lost. He's an Ironhead Hayward and I'll be happy with that. Should have probably held onto Michel.

 

[venecol]

One thing I forgot to mention is I think the loss of Trent Brown was important early.Hopefully, ,he'll be back next week.

Didn't catch most of the game. What happened to Brown?

 

[DropKickFlutie]

the truth is somewhere in the middle. Is he the best ever OC? No. He’s also not below average. He pretty good but not perfect. I’d rather have him than a lot of other OCs. Of course if there’s a chance to upgrade, then sure, go for it. But BOB is not that much better.

You're right. I do have a tendency to immediately throw the remote when the idiot OC goes to his 2005/2006 playsheet and call shotgun-spread for 10 times in a row.

But OBrien was a much better OC. Brian Daboll as well. O'Brien groomed Gronk/Hernandez/ Edelman. His downfall was Easterby showing up and destroying the Texans roster. the current OC has never, ever developed a good TE and with 2 good TE free agents seems to want to use them as wide receivers. The offense in the 1st quarter was on fire, the Dolphins could not stop anything when the Pats were in 12 personnel and under-center.

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[DropKickFlutie]

Didn't catch most of the game. What happened to Brown?

Left early in the 1st quarter. Terrible Herron played. In response the OC did the sensical thing and had both TEs stop playing in the same packages and put them out wide so Mac could take multiple viscious hits.

 

[ashley]

Didn't catch most of the game. What happened to Brown?

calf injury, went out early and was questionable to return but never came back. Herron had some issues in his place.

 

[Deus Irae]

Not if Gilmore played too

Very likely true. The Gilmore absence is going to be a potential problem for a while.

 

[Joker]

I'm watching the DVR right now...Brown has been an injury machine the past few years. Herron is absolutely THIRD string. Has too little meat in the seat to start in the NFL on any O line. Number 1 priority this season...keep Mac healthy. The Herron issue HAS TO BE resolved. Unacceptable

 

[Patriot Missile]

Stevenson didn’t fumble though. And why didn’t Bill challenge it?

He fumbled, maybe not clear enough on our replay but give me a break. Hold onto the ball at all times. All the way to the ground. Don’t give the refs a ******* chance to be involved with the outcome. Who knows why he didn’t challenge it? Possibly his people told him not to challenge it? Maybe he is going to use the fumbles as a teaching lesson to the team this week? Importance of holding onto the ball? More importantly he almost singlehandedly ended Mac Jones season with a fairy block that went south in a bad way. This enormous man got destroyed in pass protection because his technique sucked. He’s gonna get better, maybe even the lead back before we know it, but this week he was a liability early and often in his limited snaps. Love the upside of this guy , just needs to work on the little things.

 

[ashley]

I'm watching the DVR right now...Brown has been an injury machine the past few years. Herron is absolutely THIRD string. Has too little meat in the seat to start in the NFL on any O line. Number 1 priority this season...keep Mac healthy. The Herron issue HAS TO BE resolved. Unacceptable

Wonder if Brown can't go next week if we see Cajuste at RT. He played very well in the last two preseason games. Something worth monitoring, especially after the way Herron played today.

 

[TomPatriot]

The Silver Lining Playbook for this game was Mac Freakin’ Jones.

 

[Deus Irae]

If we didn't fumble in the redone, if Trent Brown didn't go down in the 1st qtr, or if the refs would have been consistent, we probably would have won by 14....

Instead of reflexively white knighting, particularly in a game where the opponent could make the same kinds of claims, just look at the post to which I was responding.

They have legit playmakers at WR. The big plays to Parker and Waddle were great plays that had pretty good coverage. RB's are pretty good, and Tua looked better than last year (I was really down on him coming into this season) . Holding that offense to 17 despite a drive starting in our territory is a pretty good outing.

I wasn't bagging on the team. Because of Gilmore's injury, and the suspect CB situation, the Patriots caught a huge break by facing Miami in week one rather than week two.