Patriots Pregame Thread Titans Fire Head Coach Brian Callahan / Week 7 Pregame Discussion

[BobDigital]

Something i think is interesting worth pointing out. What is the deal with Vrabel and lack of games balls for Drake? Like during week 6 when he made his speech, he just skipped the game ball thing entirely. First time he has done that during a win i think. I think he skipped it because he would have had to give one to Drake. Can't give one to Boutte and Douglas and ignore Drake. It would just come off as a joke. And everyone knows Drake was the key to that win... The best player on the field that day. So he seemed to just decide not to give a game ball at all rather than give one to Drake.

I mean, i get the idea behind it... but come on now. When the whole team knows what you're doing they will start to roll their eyes at the whole thing.

 

[TommyD4207]

Winning 3 in a row in the playoffs is probably more impressive, and they've done that.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Something i think is interesting worth pointing out. What is the deal with Vrabel and lack of games balls for Drake? Like during week 6 when he made his speech, he just skipped the game ball thing entirely. First time he has done that during a win i think. I think he skipped it because he would have had to give one to Drake. Can't give one to Boutte and Douglas and ignore Drake. It would just come off as a joke. And everyone knows Drake was the key to that win... The best player on the field that day. So he seemed to just decide not to give a game ball at all rather than give one to Drake.

I mean, i get the idea behind it... but come on now. When the whole team knows what you're doing they will start to roll their eyes at the whole thing.

Week 6, so last game?
I watched the speech, he gave everyone on the team a game ball, I watched it.
Additionally, Drake seems like the type of leader that doesn't want the attention. It wouldn't surprise me at all to find out later that Drake intentionally told Vrabs to not give him game balls, give it others. He seems like that kind of leader already.

 

[BobDigital]

Week 6, so last game?
I watched the speech, he gave everyone on the team a game ball, I watched it.

That is the same as giving no one the game ball and you know it : P

So back on track for this week... Calvin Ridley is out. That is their best offensive player. So now the worst offense in the league just got worse. I never want to overlook any opponent, but my gosh. I keep looking for ways to lose this game for the Pats. It's hard to see without a complete meld down like AZ had.

 

[Mack Herron]

Winning 3 in a row in the playoffs is probably more impressive, and they've done that.

On the road, 1985, Jets, Raiders, Dolphins.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

That is the same as giving no one the game ball and you know it : P

So back on track for this week... Calvin Ridley is out. That is their best offensive player. So now the worst offense in the league just got worse. I never want to overlook any opponent, but my gosh. I keep looking for ways to lose this game for the Pats. It's hard to see without a complete meld down like AZ had.

It is tough to picture a loss.
Only way is if Tenn runs the **** out of the ball and we have a bunch of self inflicted wounds.

 

[mike_usagisan]

On the road, 1985, Jets, Raiders, Dolphins.

I think I read it was done in 1961, as well.

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Well….thats starting to shift past 12 noon here, just checked. I do not want to sit in the rain, d%#*!@t.

Got to win the toss and defer

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Week 6, so last game?
I watched the speech, he gave everyone on the team a game ball, I watched it.
Additionally, Drake seems like the type of leader that doesn't want the attention. It wouldn't surprise me at all to find out later that Drake intentionally told Vrabs to not give him game balls, give it others. He seems like that kind of leader already.

Just like when he scores a running TD
He gives the ball to an OLmen to spike

 

[Mack Herron]

I think I read it was done in 1961, as well.

Indeed, and that was regular season so the original post is wrong.

1961 Boston Patriots season - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[PScottman]

Don't laugh too hard. Some of us are right there...

Only some? Don't make me get my walker to come after you....

 

[PScottman]

I want them to be "the surprising Patriots" again.

Motivation and hunger are significant factors in the NFL and should not be ignored. Teams that get comfortable and believe their press clippings get their butts kicked regularly.

I'm taking nothing for granted tomorrow. They're STILL a young inexperienced team overall finding their way. They'll have ups AND downs this year both at very unexpected times.

And they've been relatively injury free in comparison to some teams.

 

[BobDigital]

When clearly much worse teams upset clearly better teams usually 1 or more of 4 things happen.

#1 Mistakes/Flukes. Penalties, Turnovers, super weird plays,
#2 Domination in the Trenches
#3 DBs get absolutely smoked when they shouldn't
#4 One QB massively outplays the other.

Usually it is some combo of these but typically one sticks out as the linchpin for the upset. So i am asking myself which of any of these can i see the Titans pull off?

Domination in the trenches is very unlikely in this case. Usually the seeds need to be there in same way before the game even starts. It is a very reliable way for an underdog to win as it is effort and practice based (an OL which was not focused all weak and not ready to give max effort can be pushed around by a less talented DL that was ready to go on snap 1 and is absolutely laying it all out there). But the problem is talent exist. And the Titans OL has been and is SO and our DL is pretty damn talented. I could see our OL losing badly to their DL. That is possible, but our DL losing to their OL? I don't buy it. And for this to be a good path they need to really win both strongly enough to take over the game. I don't think they can with that OL.

Can Cam outplay Maye massively? In a one game sample everything is possible. But all things being equal seeing were Maye is and Cam is... I don't see it. Cam has been arguably the worse QB in the league and nothing shows he is ready to play at even a decent level consistently. A few big passes? Everyone in the league can have a couple in a game. But can he string a bunch of plus plays together, play clean, stay accurate and create for 60 minutes with practically no let down? As best he can be solid. Maye however is capable of laying a massive egg, as is any QB. However even on a really bad day he will find a way to make some big plays i believe. Can the difference be big enough that everyone else being relatively equal this can swing it the Titans way? I don't feel like it can be.

Can our DBs be smoked? This has nothing to do with their WRs. Yeah our CBs are better... but that isn't so much the point. The point is not who is better, but can our CBs in general allow a number of broken plays to swing a bunch of points the Titans way? I think this group is too good and in sync for that. They may allow 1-2 big broken plays. But not enough to to give the Titans enough 'easy money' to swing things.

This leaves mistakes/flukes... ala the Steelers game. A complete collapse. Penalties, turnovers, big swing plays, ect... This is always possible.. but they had a game like it not like ago. And they don't tend to strike twice much with competent teams. I don't believe the Pats let this happen again. They may lose the turnover battle and may commit more penalties... but it won't be the collapse needed to swing the contest.

So since none of these can be the main driver in any reasonable likelihood (If the Steelers game didn't happen I'd believe the fluke game would be more possible) then that means it needs to be some combo of them without one single thing having a huge impact. This may seem more likely to happen but it is actually less likely. It is more likely for 1 thing to go really badly and few others to go a little bad than for multiple things to go pretty damn bad all at once.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

Something i think is interesting worth pointing out. What is the deal with Vrabel and lack of games balls for Drake? Like during week 6 when he made his speech, he just skipped the game ball thing entirely. First time he has done that during a win i think. I think he skipped it because he would have had to give one to Drake. Can't give one to Boutte and Douglas and ignore Drake. It would just come off as a joke. And everyone knows Drake was the key to that win... The best player on the field that day. So he seemed to just decide not to give a game ball at all rather than give one to Drake.

I mean, i get the idea behind it... but come on now. When the whole team knows what you're doing they will start to roll their eyes at the whole thing.

No big deal; in fact, I’m actually in favor of this logic. This is sort of the same psychological approach that BB had with Brady. Not too much praise; even when he may actually deserve it. Keeps him on the toes, mentally sharp & hungry for more success. Besides, Maye doesn’t necessarily strike me as the type to want the proverbial “pat on the back/attaboy” validation. Additionally, I heard somewhere that Vrabel is waiting for Maye to win his first playoff game before giving him a game ball. Allegedly..

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

No big deal; in fact, I’m actually in favor of this logic. This is sort of the same psychological approach that BB had with Brady. Not too much praise; even when he may actually deserve it. Keeps him on the toes, mentally sharp & hungry for more success. Besides, Maye doesn’t necessarily strike me as the type to want the proverbial “pat on the back/attaboy” validation. Additionally, I heard somewhere that Vrabel is waiting for Maye to win his first playoff game before giving him a game ball. Allegedly..

I don't mind the thought of "treat everyone the same", no special treatment. But BB took that too far with Brady and basically refused to give him much credit ever, and that wore thin. There have been many reports that was one of the reasons Brady had enough of BB.
I don't think Vrabs is to that extreme at all.
As I stated earlier, it would not surprise me one bit if Maye actually told the coaching staff to not give him game balls. Praise him one on one, but in front of the team, put everyone else above him, including doling out game balls. He really seems like that kind of a leader.

 

[Zuma]

 

[Mike the Brit]

Something i think is interesting worth pointing out. What is the deal with Vrabel and lack of games balls for Drake? Like during week 6 when he made his speech, he just skipped the game ball thing entirely. First time he has done that during a win i think. I think he skipped it because he would have had to give one to Drake. Can't give one to Boutte and Douglas and ignore Drake. It would just come off as a joke. And everyone knows Drake was the key to that win... The best player on the field that day. So he seemed to just decide not to give a game ball at all rather than give one to Drake.

I mean, i get the idea behind it... but come on now. When the whole team knows what you're doing they will start to roll their eyes at the whole thing.

That is a pretty far-fetched criticism. In fact, Vrabel explained during the week that he wanted to get the team on the plane and on the way home as fast as he possibly could so that they could get as much rest as possible, so he didn't want to waste time on game balls for some people and not for others. That's a caring, thoughtful coach, not one whose team will "roll their eyes" at him.

 

[PatsfanTN]

Alright @turkeyneck , that’s not photoshopped either lmao. Just before kickoff.

 

[Tunescribe]

I don't mind the thought of "treat everyone the same", no special treatment. But BB took that too far with Brady and basically refused to give him much credit ever, and that wore thin. There have been many reports that was one of the reasons Brady had enough of BB.
I don't think Vrabs is to that extreme at all.
As I stated earlier, it would not surprise me one bit if Maye actually told the coaching staff to not give him game balls. Praise him one on one, but in front of the team, put everyone else above him, including doling out game balls. He really seems like that kind of a leader.

I highly doubt Maye told Vrabel not to give him game balls, it would be perceived as presumptuous. Since he's always the focal point of the offense, Drake likely is held to a higher standard than other position players. He'll get a game ball at some point.