If Bill doesn't care about preseason games...

[Pats67]

Re: If Bill Doesn't Care About Preseaon Games...

Thing is Bill knows this kid well enough now to realize that he only plays one way - like the season is on the line and his hair is on fire. Part of a HC's job is to protect these guys from themselves.

He played him in Tampa and somehow Welker avoided injury there. I'm simply saying the player - their best and most experienced punt returner - made an especially bad choice that left him vulnerable due to the placement and height of the kick. I said that before I realized he was hurt (I was worried about the ball more than him at first).

I think it's after the fact second guessing to blame that on Belichick.

 

[Metaphors]

Re: If Bill Doesn't Care About Preseaon Games...

Does Bill care about poor tackling? Does Bill care about the O Line not opening any holes? Does Bill care about poor special teams coverage? Does Bill care that his supposed backup quarterback can't run a team? These are just some of the things he'll see on film. But then again, if he doesn't care, maybe he won't even watch the film, right?

He cares about all these things. The point of the preseason is to prepare for the regular season (Brilliant observation, I know). You can do this in a variety of ways. You seem to want the Pats to execute plays that put them in the best position to win the game. Belichick doesn't work that way. You can agree with his approach or not, but the regular season results have been beyond questioning.

If the Pats want to work on a formation but they know it won't work well against the opposing team, should they scrap their plans and run other plays just to be more successful in the preseason? I think they should focus on plays and formations that:
1) They are trying out to see if they fit with the personnel
2) Put players in situations where they need experience
3) Provide situational work that are hard to try out in practice

If you know the team is successful with a certain play or formation, why continue to go with it in a preseason game? It wastes valuable opportunities to get better in other areas. Preseason is about evaluation, teaching and identifying/correcting problem areas. Any thoughts about the quality of execution needs to be considered in this context. If you are preparing for a test, do you study and practice the areas where you already do well? That is good for an ego boost but won't serve you well when it counts.

So go ahead and disagree with Belichick's approach to preseason. That is fair game. Reacting to the Pats preseason performance in the same way you react to regular season football seems a bit silly.

 

[Pats726]

Re: If Bill Doesn't Care About Preseaon Games...

If Brady did not have an injury and he played behind this line testing roster players and personnel groupings and we lost him for substantial time when it matters you would all be calling for Kraft to fing a rational HC... I think Tom's psyche hurts more than his foot right about now. I know he wants to play, even if he is dinged a little, but playing with this mishmash would be folly at 110%...

I have a feeling Bill believes Neal and/or Light will return in 16 days or so. KC may be the preseason game for Brady and his metaphors.

Firstly, please refrain from telling me what I would think or say about a given situation. Thank you. Stick to what you think but please do not speculate or assume. Brady has played in other years in th preseason and I would expect him to play if healthy. I agree, given the line situation and his injury it made no sense. I don;t know about Light or Neal returning that quick...If both were coming back for the first game..or second, I think they would need to keep 10 linemen starting off. Having 2 linemen inactive for injury with only 9 is a bit dicey. And this also assumes that O'Callaghan, Hochstein and Yates (if not cut) are healthy as well. I agree Btady's )preseason) will be teh real thing KC..and there's really not a big problem with that this year.

 

[PatsFanJess]

Re: If Bill Doesn't Care About Preseaon Games...

He cares about all these things. The point of the preseason is to prepare for the regular season (Brilliant observation, I know). You can do this in a variety of ways. You seem to want the Pats to execute plays that put them in the best position to win the game. Belichick doesn't work that way. You can agree with his approach or not, but the regular season results have been beyond questioning.

If the Pats want to work on a formation but they know it won't work well against the opposing team, should they scrap their plans and run other plays just to be more successful in the preseason? I think they should focus on plays and formations that:
1) They are trying out to see if they fit with the personnel
2) Put players in situations where they need experience
3) Provide situational work that are hard to try out in practice

If you know the team is successful with a certain play or formation, why continue to go with it in a preseason game? It wastes valuable opportunities to get better in other areas. Preseason is about evaluation, teaching and identifying/correcting problem areas. Any thoughts about the quality of execution needs to be considered in this context. If you are preparing for a test, do you study and practice the areas where you already do well? That is good for an ego boost but won't serve you well when it counts.

So go ahead and disagree with Belichick's approach to preseason. That is fair game. Reacting to the Pats preseason performance in the same way you react to regular season football seems a bit silly.

Excellent post and great analogy with the test.

 

[Gwedd]

I have to tell ya: I am starting to believe that the chief cause of global warming is all the hot air generated in these discussions by feint-hearted fans who think the Patriots are doomed because of a few pre-season games.

Geez, you naysayers would've had your heads explode if Hugh Millen was the QB.

I haven't seen so many deranged posts since, well, since last year at this time.

Respects,