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Okay had time to reset, ready for my usual long ass post full of game thoughts (you knew it was coming)
#1 I said at some point early this year, Elliss is the only bad contract signed by Vrabel after a pretty subpar start to the year. But right now that 2 year 13.5M contract is looking pretty good. While this year has had its ups, downs and missed games right now he is playing like a player worth every penny and probably more.
#2 A lot has been said about the draft class, but this free agent class has been even better. It isn't just the quality of players, but the contracts. There isn't one big contract they missed on. Yeah you can point out the Epps or Schweitzer contracts if you want to nitpick, but they are small potato take a shot contracts. Nothing much lost. Anything they actually extended on has worked out. The worst contract right now is Dobbs as the back up QB, but we didn't think Tommy D would fall into our laps either. Oh and the thing about those small take a shot contracts... if you hit on one, it more than justifies all the others. That 650K lost on those 2 misses allowed us to sign Gibbens to to a 1.3M contract. Seeing what he offers depth wise, he is well worth the 2M price tag and hopefully he is here as a long term back up for years to come.
#3 I know we all want Henderson to play more. The dude is electric and is always a threat to break a big one. But right now we need to shift our way of thinking. We are not playing for the regular season only. We need to consider the post season and potentially a deep run. Henderson is still pretty fresh with 129 carries and 32 catches for about 160 touches. I know he is on the field more than that, but that is also an indicator of hits taken. We will need Henderson if we want to make a run. Play him vs the Bills, but after shut him down whenever possible and limit his snaps... it may hurt production, but a Henderson not hitting the rookie wall with still 3-4 games in the tank come playoff time is essential.
#4 I don't know what to think about the OL overall outside of it was good back up play and good enough overall. Clearly they pass blocked well... Clear the power run blocking was bad. Kind of par for the course with this unit all year. They either open up big run lanes or seem to give up deep penetration for negative yards. Overall i am please with how this unit played. But they need to set up some short yardage play designs.
#5 Drake Maye is sensationa. but i see a minor hole in his game in the red zone. He seems somewhat uncomfortable making that tight quick reads in the red zone where you need to just sling it it. He is better when he puts air under it than just pure zip no arc. He has had some very accurate balls when he goes over the top and lays it down but has had issues just shooting it in their actively. This i think is part of the reason the red zone O isn't good. That and the short yardage run game.
#6 Short yardage run game will not be fixed this year, they lack strength. he only thing they can do is QB sneak and try to get off the line early. But no more running on 2nd or 3rd and 1 up the middle for this team please. We don't do it well.
#7 Anyone else surprised Maye out ran Carter to the side line? Maye isn't THAT fast. Carter is really trending towards a bit of a bust right now... not saying he will be out in 4 years... but clearly he isn't living up to expectations.
#8 Williams with another huge play on another call without much understanding of the system involved. He is good for 1 big play a game if they find a way to use him well. They need to find ways if he isn't picking it up. They need that big play when facing the big boys. I hope they have a number of designed plays ready to go for him in case he isn't ready without them.
#9 Woodson is looking like one of the steals of the draft. If we redraft right now how is he not a first round pick? What a player and find.
#10 no turnovers... but also important only 3 penalties... I know this was a swallow the whistle game for the refs but this is good news. Another solid game of low both. If the Pats continue the trend of not beating themselves, they will be hard to beat.
#11 Dart with a 99.1 QB rating looks good, but he only got 4.5 YPA. Not good for the Giants.. Also many of the passes made were very good passes.
#12 2 scores on 2 defensive break downs... yeas they drove, but both actually scoring plays, ugly execution. DC needs to fix it. Or the sick DC needs to come back.
#13 to those who care about MVP it is up to Stafford... it can do well next week and take the lead back, or stumble again and really put Maye in the lead.
#14 After a slow start on the mini bye the start after the real one will be vital. And very very important. Not just for that game, but if they get the bye, we want to see proof it won't mess them up.
#15 speaking of slow starts. The Pats bucked the trend. 3 points... punt, return TD, punt. D held early. That was huge. Need them to do that 2 weeks from now too. The Bills have a lower margin for error. Overall lots of really good trends. Nice to have an comfortable win vs a bad team
#1 I said at some point early this year, Elliss is the only bad contract signed by Vrabel after a pretty subpar start to the year. But right now that 2 year 13.5M contract is looking pretty good. While this year has had its ups, downs and missed games right now he is playing like a player worth every penny and probably more.
#2 A lot has been said about the draft class, but this free agent class has been even better. It isn't just the quality of players, but the contracts. There isn't one big contract they missed on. Yeah you can point out the Epps or Schweitzer contracts if you want to nitpick, but they are small potato take a shot contracts. Nothing much lost. Anything they actually extended on has worked out. The worst contract right now is Dobbs as the back up QB, but we didn't think Tommy D would fall into our laps either. Oh and the thing about those small take a shot contracts... if you hit on one, it more than justifies all the others. That 650K lost on those 2 misses allowed us to sign Gibbens to to a 1.3M contract. Seeing what he offers depth wise, he is well worth the 2M price tag and hopefully he is here as a long term back up for years to come.
#3 I know we all want Henderson to play more. The dude is electric and is always a threat to break a big one. But right now we need to shift our way of thinking. We are not playing for the regular season only. We need to consider the post season and potentially a deep run. Henderson is still pretty fresh with 129 carries and 32 catches for about 160 touches. I know he is on the field more than that, but that is also an indicator of hits taken. We will need Henderson if we want to make a run. Play him vs the Bills, but after shut him down whenever possible and limit his snaps... it may hurt production, but a Henderson not hitting the rookie wall with still 3-4 games in the tank come playoff time is essential.
#4 I don't know what to think about the OL overall outside of it was good back up play and good enough overall. Clearly they pass blocked well... Clear the power run blocking was bad. Kind of par for the course with this unit all year. They either open up big run lanes or seem to give up deep penetration for negative yards. Overall i am please with how this unit played. But they need to set up some short yardage play designs.
#5 Drake Maye is sensationa. but i see a minor hole in his game in the red zone. He seems somewhat uncomfortable making that tight quick reads in the red zone where you need to just sling it it. He is better when he puts air under it than just pure zip no arc. He has had some very accurate balls when he goes over the top and lays it down but has had issues just shooting it in their actively. This i think is part of the reason the red zone O isn't good. That and the short yardage run game.
#6 Short yardage run game will not be fixed this year, they lack strength. he only thing they can do is QB sneak and try to get off the line early. But no more running on 2nd or 3rd and 1 up the middle for this team please. We don't do it well.
#7 Anyone else surprised Maye out ran Carter to the side line? Maye isn't THAT fast. Carter is really trending towards a bit of a bust right now... not saying he will be out in 4 years... but clearly he isn't living up to expectations.
#8 Williams with another huge play on another call without much understanding of the system involved. He is good for 1 big play a game if they find a way to use him well. They need to find ways if he isn't picking it up. They need that big play when facing the big boys. I hope they have a number of designed plays ready to go for him in case he isn't ready without them.
#9 Woodson is looking like one of the steals of the draft. If we redraft right now how is he not a first round pick? What a player and find.
#10 no turnovers... but also important only 3 penalties... I know this was a swallow the whistle game for the refs but this is good news. Another solid game of low both. If the Pats continue the trend of not beating themselves, they will be hard to beat.
#11 Dart with a 99.1 QB rating looks good, but he only got 4.5 YPA. Not good for the Giants.. Also many of the passes made were very good passes.
#12 2 scores on 2 defensive break downs... yeas they drove, but both actually scoring plays, ugly execution. DC needs to fix it. Or the sick DC needs to come back.
#13 to those who care about MVP it is up to Stafford... it can do well next week and take the lead back, or stumble again and really put Maye in the lead.
#14 After a slow start on the mini bye the start after the real one will be vital. And very very important. Not just for that game, but if they get the bye, we want to see proof it won't mess them up.
#15 speaking of slow starts. The Pats bucked the trend. 3 points... punt, return TD, punt. D held early. That was huge. Need them to do that 2 weeks from now too. The Bills have a lower margin for error. Overall lots of really good trends. Nice to have an comfortable win vs a bad team
