Content Post Idle thoughts: The "dose of reality" issue

[Joey007]

I keep hearing people say "yeah, well, Buffalo was missing people too", but that's the point of this. We don't yet have the depth to cover for those injuries. We'll get there, hopefully. Being able to patch up injuries was a major, and underrated, factor in our dynastic run.

That’s what hopefully loads us up for next season. That’s what this offseason will be all about.

 

[SVN]

about the 2nd half adjustments, i dont think the pats have been good or better in the 2nd half all year.

Heard this stat today. Last 4 games we avg 21 pts in the first half and 8 in the second.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Heard this stat today. Last 4 games we avg 21 pts in the first half and 8 in the second.

Their overall performance this season has been very good, but they have been inconsistent in all 3 phases of the game throughout the season. They can be great and they can be terrible, but that not surprising for a team that plays so many rookies and new players. They still need at least one more offseason to get the depth and experience needed to become a team that performs at a consistently high. I appreciate what Vrabel and Co. and Drake Maye have accomplished this season, it's been a big leap forward, and I believe that this franchise is going to contend for titles for the rest of Drake Maye's career, and if that isn't good enough for the LEGION OF MISERY then they can go **** themselves. We know who they are, and we can tell them to pound sand when they start winning Lombardi's.

 

[everlong]

I disagree with having Drake running the ball more. I think that needs to be reserved for key situations. I've been critical of how the Bill's have managed Josh Allen in this regard. At some point in time all of those hits are going to catch up to Allen and like Cam Newton before him he's going to fall off the cliff. Maybe not to the same degree as Newton since he's a superior passer but nonetheless I think you're devaluing a valuable asset.

Against our offense the Bills were over pursuing on everything. You saw it on the Henderson touchdown in the second half but Josh ran come counter plays and they were all successful. I don't know why we didn't run that every single play. They were so focused on stopping the run let them get in the gap, seal them and they've lost leverage on their own.

Against our defense the adjustment the Bills made was double teaming Barmore and sealing him. When that happened there was always someone who didn't control their gap and Cook exploited it. As Ken correctly points out this was exacerbated by Spillane not being their to clean things up. I thought Williams was our best player before he went on IR and even with Maye's ascension he's probably a close second when he comes back.

 

[jal]

I think there's a danger of over-responding to the most recent datapoint:

1) Our run game isn't necessarily out of the woods - Buffalo is awful against the run, period. I am very encouraged by using Drake's legs more in the red zone which is absolutely a schematic / tactical change that should have durable benefits. I do think ironically our backup O-Lineman seem better at run blocking than our starters (particularly Jared Wilson), but again that has come against a couple of really bad run defenses (Giants, Bills). The most encouraging thing has been Henderson seemingly improving his vision a bit and if that continues it will absolutely be a big boost to the run game / offense overall.

2) The passing offense is still the strength of this team. In fact I think because we were so explosive in the running game (and our defense kept giving up long drives), we essentially put ourselves in the position that our Brady-era Patriots often put other teams in - our passing game was completely out of rhythm due to not getting many opportunities. The Bills also have a very good pass defense, but that's not going to change in the postseason as we will likely have to play 1-3 games against the Bills, Texans, and Broncos so we better buckle up.

As for run defense troubles, that's more than a single datapoint - we are bad defending the run right now. Whether that's injuries, wear and tear of the season on a team with poor depth even for defenders that are still out there, or something schematic, I can't say. Williams and Spillane being back will certainly help but I'm not sure that's the only answer. Against Buffalo a lot of the issue was simply missed tackles. James Cook is an elite running back but good lord, I don't know how many times we fought the blocking to a relative standstill (0-3 yard gain) and Cook managed to turn plays into 7-10+ yard runs. Regardless, we have to get it fixed to a degree where we can be at least league average.

On special teams - this hasn't generally been an issue for us but I'm surprised on Sunday they didn't start instructing Borregalis to just kick the ball into the endzone and give the 35 rather than continually giving up 50+ yards. 35 isn't great but it's manage-able. Giving Josh Allen a start in Patriots territory is not manage-able.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

The Pats were slaughtering them in the first half… then got complacent. It wasn’t a lack of talent… more experience.

I think we’re a better team than Buffalo but sometimes experience can win out. I don’t think we are that much better than Buffalo to win three games against them but we can win 2 of 3 and win in a rematch come playoffs.

 

[n1997y]

Heard this stat today. Last 4 games we avg 21 pts in the first half and 8 in the second.

They’ve been winning the first half decisively and coasting home in the second half. Josh morphs from a winning play caller into a turtle, going into a shell to survive until the game is over. Worked last game, against the Giants. This time it didn’t work against the Bills.

 

[neuronet]

We ran the ball three times in the second half. Vrabel needs to have a sit down with Josh about this

 

[TommyD4207]

At least one X poster (forget who) identified the culprit in KO coverage as Caleb Murphy.
He was cut on Mon, 15 Dec 25 at 4pm.
circumstantial evidence; but seems 'consequential rather than coincidental"

Particularly, since they replaced the LB with another LB on 16 Dec with the second transaction.






[ps/edit: it may not have been tape study; but rather just piss-poor execution by a guy who didnt deserve to be off the PS, apparently.]

He wasn't great either, but scapegoated by people.

The real culprit on Sunday was Brandon Schooler, your core special teamer who's making a pretty damned good check for 8 snaps a game or whatever, who overran every single play he was in for. Completely undisciplined, missing tackles, was brutal.

 

[SVN]

They’ve been winning the first half decisively and coasting home in the second half. Josh morphs from a winning play caller into a turtle, going into a shell to survive until the game is over. Worked last game, against the Giants. This time it didn’t work against the Bills.

Sometimes the players have to make plays. If we get a RZ TD in the bengals game after 10 tries from the 2 yard line then this line is different. I dont think McDaniels coasts in the 2nd half. Our execution has left a lot to be desired. The team needs to get used to playing 60 mins.

 

[jal]

Sometimes the players have to make plays. If we get a RZ TD in the bengals game after 10 tries from the 2 yard line then this line is different. I dont think McDaniels coasts in the 2nd half. Our execution has left a lot to be desired. The team needs to get used to playing 60 mins.

Yeah instead of 1st half vs. 2nd half, I think it's more that our team hasn't played a complete 60 mins. "Taking a nap" as Vrabel puts it - which is a symptom of a very young team playing lots of rookies and 2nd year players. That drive to put your foot on the throat isn't quite there yet. Most of the time it doesn't cost them but against the Bills it did, and it almost did a few other times (Atlanta, Cincinnati). I don't think it's schematic, it's just execution

 

[p8ryts]

We ran the ball three times in the second half. Vrabel needs to have a sit down with Josh about this

It might have been more problematic with execution rather than play call.

 

[n1997y]

It might have been more problematic with execution rather than play call.

Can’t execute if the play isn’t called. Three runs in 2nd half is about not calling runs not about failing to execute runs.

 

[imahobgoblin]

Heard this stat today. Last 4 games we avg 21 pts in the first half and 8 in the second.

It isn't a stat that shows there is a problem. We ripped off 10 wins and were in cruise control often in the second half.The fourth quarter has been a clock killer, and not as competitive as the first half. We are ranked 3rd in the league for win margin.

 

[imahobgoblin]

We ran the ball three times in the second half. Vrabel needs to have a sit down with Josh about this

I don't disagree, but Josh's running game has always included the little dink dunk stuff to the backs. We need the big bruiser back to knock the snot out of the D in the second half. Rham is supposed to be that guy, but they clearly do not trust him anymore.

 

[mgteich]

ISSUE ONE
We can't defend against a good run game effectively with both Williams and Spillane out.

ISSUE TWO
We can't be effective running the ball if we call 3 running plays in the 2nd half.

ISSUE THREE
We need to learn to finish:
A) to play the 2nd half after the opps have made adjustments
B) to score more touchdowns in the red zone
C) to defense not only between the 20's but also in the red zone, and finally
D) Drake needs to lead us to score in the last key drive

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Fair criticism. Although they flip side of that is, their secondary is depleted, their pass rush is opportunistic at best (most pressure was due to Maye holding the ball and not being decisive), and if your QB is actually an MVP candidate, you have to feel secure enough to put it in his hands.

You do have a point though, what's to say Henderson doesn't rip off another 70 yarder.

... which could leave too much time for Allen to come back. But we did force a punt at the end.

 

[PatsFan2]

He wasn't great either, but scapegoated by people.

The real culprit on Sunday was Brandon Schooler, your core special teamer who's making a pretty damned good check for 8 snaps a game or whatever, who overran every single play he was in for. Completely undisciplined, missing tackles, was brutal.

I thought he was a ST's Ace: last Sunday he played like waste.

 

[DaBruinz]

The only dose of reality that I took away from the game is that the NFL has it's thumb firmly on the scales against the Patriots Organization still. 5 years of mediocrity wasn't enough for that S**THEAD Goodell and the other owners.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

The only dose of reality that I took away from the game is that the NFL has it's thumb firmly on the scales against the Patriots Organization still. 5 years of mediocrity wasn't enough for that S**THEAD Fraudell and the other owners.

fify