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Before this game I posted that if the Pats were truly progressing they would score 30+ points and hold the Titans to no more than 13 points. Well 10 minutes into this game it didn't look like the Pats were doing ANY progressing and my hoped for score wasn't going to happen. Who knew they were never going to score again, and we would score on defense to get the 30 number.
https://www.patsfans.com/new-englan...atsfans-com-patriots-fan-forum.10/post-thread. It went exactly as planned, I guess, but it didn't really.
It's really late so I'll make this a short one which will gladden those with attention spans of gnats (which is pretty much everyone under 65). No that I've managed to insult the vast majority of the board, lets start to break down what I thought were the key lessons to learn from this game.
1. We only allowed 13 points and we ARE currently #10 in scoring defense, but I wonder if we are running into a reaction of losing our DC and having to hand it over to a relative inexperienced kid who I believe is doing a great job GIVEN the circumstances. BUT this slow start on defense seems to be a trend and as our schedule starts to toughen up the effects of these slow starts on defense are going to cause more issues.
It seems like we always come out VERY vanilla and suss out what their game plan is, while they steadily drive down the field and score a few times before we start to stem the tide. That's exactly what happened AGAIN in Tennessee. They score on 3 of the first 4 drives while we give them nothing but basic defensive looks will no blitzing on the first 3 drives and only late on the 4th. Later (2nd quarter on) we gave them lots of looks blitzing/dropping LB's and DB's all over the place and what do you know, they never score again (though they get into FG range a couple of times)
I'm not sure what I hope to see. It isn't like there is anyone out there who could come in and do much better without a major disruption. But I WOULD like to see at least some acknowledgement that there HAS been an issue at the start of games. They recognize it, and are doing something different to try and combat those slow starts.
2. Another OUTSTANDING performance by Maye. He showcased another star quality today. The man is FEARLESS. He is throwing that ball where others fear to tread. That throw to Boutte on the sideline had about a 3-inch margin of error. The one to Hollins on the other sideline had less. The TD to Hooper is another example of an extremely tight window.
Think about it. It's not like he is going to have to be wildly inaccurate for these unbelievable throws to turn into disasters. Literally just a matter of inches over 20-30yd throws. I think we need to get ready for that outcome to happen eventually. And how he response to that kind of inevitable adversity will be just another test he will have to overcome. Eventually Brady never let the picks bother him.
But right now, he is a pleasure to watch. 76 yd rushing, 91% completion percentage, especially with that wind blowing. WTF. But THIS week will be the real test (at least on one side of the ball). The Browns have one of the best defenses in the league and is the #1 in scoring. We have one of the more efficient offenses, though I'm not sure where our place is. I'd bet its top 10 and Cleveland's isn't, not close.
So, if we expect to actually get into the playoffs, and THEN to do more than just "participate" we are going to have play against good defenses.
3. Well, we FINALLY saw what a functional running game actually looks like. Just over 30 carries, close to 5ypc; Rham making cuts/running to daylight and using his vision finally and suddenly it looked like we had a professional running attack that had to be respected. Now we need to see the same jump from Henderson, who will be getting even more attention, since his running mate from OSU is doing so well in Cleveland.
4. Four sacks is a lot, especially to an undermanned squad who were missing their top 2 rushers after Simmons went out. They did do a lot of stunting and stemming with DB's as well as LBs coming at Maye and giving him a lot of attacking looks throughout the game. On the one people are blaming Wilson about most which Maye was hit hard by the DE who looped inside Campbell and ran by Wilson who was already engaged with someone else and didn't rub off to stop the DE. Campbell ended up pretty much blocking no one on that play.
Check it out if you recorded the game. It was a very good scheme design and well executed and it confused the rookies. A few plays later I saw Wilson get confused again and blocked no one, but Maye managed to get the pass off despite the non-block. Not Wilson's best day and he will have a bigger challenge this week. It will be interesting to see how he responds to the challenge.
BTW- it should be noted that one of the sacks was on a Maye rollout where he didn't pass and ran out of bounds about a foot behind the LOS, which makes it a sack..
5. I hope this game will end the WR discussions for this trade deadline. Our WR's are very good and all are starter quality with the exception of Williams and Chism. That are developing that all important "connection" with Maye that is SO important to a good passing attack and it will only improve. What a catch both Pop and Hooper made. They were extraordinary. When you are completing 90% of your passes your receivers are doing the job. Is a new WR going to do BETTER than 90%. The only thing it does is set back William's development. We have other more pressing needs.
Sorry if I offend those who believe ALL football problems can be solved by adding a WR and any WR who is available we should get.
6. Last week Chism looked painfully slow, but somewhat effective in that he got the ball over the 30 most of the time on KO's. Today, he looked painfully slow and was ineffective, and what was more troubling was that I didn't see the twitch I expected to see while he cut. Welker was slow too, but he flashed that short area "twitch" that was visible, so was Edelman. I just don't see in Chism so far. Maybe when he runs some routes.
OK it's 3am and I'm falling asleep at the key board. So I'm stopping here. I have some more thoughts. I'll just add them to the thread tomorrow. G'night
https://www.patsfans.com/new-englan...atsfans-com-patriots-fan-forum.10/post-thread. It went exactly as planned, I guess, but it didn't really.
It's really late so I'll make this a short one which will gladden those with attention spans of gnats (which is pretty much everyone under 65). No that I've managed to insult the vast majority of the board, lets start to break down what I thought were the key lessons to learn from this game.
1. We only allowed 13 points and we ARE currently #10 in scoring defense, but I wonder if we are running into a reaction of losing our DC and having to hand it over to a relative inexperienced kid who I believe is doing a great job GIVEN the circumstances. BUT this slow start on defense seems to be a trend and as our schedule starts to toughen up the effects of these slow starts on defense are going to cause more issues.
It seems like we always come out VERY vanilla and suss out what their game plan is, while they steadily drive down the field and score a few times before we start to stem the tide. That's exactly what happened AGAIN in Tennessee. They score on 3 of the first 4 drives while we give them nothing but basic defensive looks will no blitzing on the first 3 drives and only late on the 4th. Later (2nd quarter on) we gave them lots of looks blitzing/dropping LB's and DB's all over the place and what do you know, they never score again (though they get into FG range a couple of times)
I'm not sure what I hope to see. It isn't like there is anyone out there who could come in and do much better without a major disruption. But I WOULD like to see at least some acknowledgement that there HAS been an issue at the start of games. They recognize it, and are doing something different to try and combat those slow starts.
2. Another OUTSTANDING performance by Maye. He showcased another star quality today. The man is FEARLESS. He is throwing that ball where others fear to tread. That throw to Boutte on the sideline had about a 3-inch margin of error. The one to Hollins on the other sideline had less. The TD to Hooper is another example of an extremely tight window.
Think about it. It's not like he is going to have to be wildly inaccurate for these unbelievable throws to turn into disasters. Literally just a matter of inches over 20-30yd throws. I think we need to get ready for that outcome to happen eventually. And how he response to that kind of inevitable adversity will be just another test he will have to overcome. Eventually Brady never let the picks bother him.
But right now, he is a pleasure to watch. 76 yd rushing, 91% completion percentage, especially with that wind blowing. WTF. But THIS week will be the real test (at least on one side of the ball). The Browns have one of the best defenses in the league and is the #1 in scoring. We have one of the more efficient offenses, though I'm not sure where our place is. I'd bet its top 10 and Cleveland's isn't, not close.
So, if we expect to actually get into the playoffs, and THEN to do more than just "participate" we are going to have play against good defenses.
3. Well, we FINALLY saw what a functional running game actually looks like. Just over 30 carries, close to 5ypc; Rham making cuts/running to daylight and using his vision finally and suddenly it looked like we had a professional running attack that had to be respected. Now we need to see the same jump from Henderson, who will be getting even more attention, since his running mate from OSU is doing so well in Cleveland.
4. Four sacks is a lot, especially to an undermanned squad who were missing their top 2 rushers after Simmons went out. They did do a lot of stunting and stemming with DB's as well as LBs coming at Maye and giving him a lot of attacking looks throughout the game. On the one people are blaming Wilson about most which Maye was hit hard by the DE who looped inside Campbell and ran by Wilson who was already engaged with someone else and didn't rub off to stop the DE. Campbell ended up pretty much blocking no one on that play.
Check it out if you recorded the game. It was a very good scheme design and well executed and it confused the rookies. A few plays later I saw Wilson get confused again and blocked no one, but Maye managed to get the pass off despite the non-block. Not Wilson's best day and he will have a bigger challenge this week. It will be interesting to see how he responds to the challenge.
BTW- it should be noted that one of the sacks was on a Maye rollout where he didn't pass and ran out of bounds about a foot behind the LOS, which makes it a sack..
5. I hope this game will end the WR discussions for this trade deadline. Our WR's are very good and all are starter quality with the exception of Williams and Chism. That are developing that all important "connection" with Maye that is SO important to a good passing attack and it will only improve. What a catch both Pop and Hooper made. They were extraordinary. When you are completing 90% of your passes your receivers are doing the job. Is a new WR going to do BETTER than 90%. The only thing it does is set back William's development. We have other more pressing needs.
Sorry if I offend those who believe ALL football problems can be solved by adding a WR and any WR who is available we should get.
6. Last week Chism looked painfully slow, but somewhat effective in that he got the ball over the 30 most of the time on KO's. Today, he looked painfully slow and was ineffective, and what was more troubling was that I didn't see the twitch I expected to see while he cut. Welker was slow too, but he flashed that short area "twitch" that was visible, so was Edelman. I just don't see in Chism so far. Maybe when he runs some routes.
OK it's 3am and I'm falling asleep at the key board. So I'm stopping here. I have some more thoughts. I'll just add them to the thread tomorrow. G'night
