Game Thoughts: I'm ready to put the BS behind us and focus on football edition

IcyPatriot said:

On a night where FoxSports stats show Brady with a 143.8 QBR
http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/boxscore?id=7373

ESPN shows Brady with a 91.2 QBR
http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=400791485

Butt hurt is festering .... pandemic perhaps.

checked another source for accuracy ... NBC has him at 143.8 also.
http://scores.nbcsports.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=5228&fn=Tom&ln=Brady&team=17

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ESPN is just trying to get people to use their stupid own metric rather than the QB rating. This time they are not trying make Brady look bad. They are just trying to make their bad QB metric look good and relevant.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

The Steelers become the 20th team in a row with a lightbulb moment during film session that you can shutdown Gronk by jamming him at the line. And for some reason, all of these guys feel compelled to tell the media about how easy it will be.

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Kinda hard to jam Gronk when there were times that they have no one covering him (like on the first TD). I think jamming Gronk on the line is the only way to stop him and a few teams have done it with some success. But the Steelers talked a good game about doing it and the barely touched him off the line.

KontradictioN said:

Bradley Fletcher looked every bit as bad as he did in Philly last year. In saying this, I'm expecting some to come to his defense because he happened to be in position a couple of times but he got burned 3 times last night and should have gave up the TD that could have at least tied the game had DHB had any clue about his spot in the end zone. The less he sees the field, the better. Butler, by comparison, was in position much more often. He still has a ways to go but he was scrappy against one of the harder covers in the league. Even in spite of Brady's brilliance, this could have easily been a loss had the Steelers not shot themselves in the foot. The defense needs to do a better job of getting off the field.

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1 or 2 more games like that Fletcher is gone.

Not sure how much of it is related to speed, missing the jam or with the coverage lackadaisical over the top help.

Butler got a little picked on but he was facing a elite receiver. Not sure how much better Revis would have done.

Pass rush was sub-standard. Part by design and part because they didn't get any pressure on Ben when they tried.

robertweathers said:

1 or 2 more games like that Fletcher is gone.

Not sure how much of it is related to speed, missing the jam or with the coverage lackadaisical over the top help.

Butler got a little picked on but he was facing a elite receiver. Not sure how much better Revis would have done.

Pass rush was sub-standard. Part by design and part because they didn't get any pressure on Ben when they tried.

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The whole reason I'm not slamming Butler as hard is because he was usually in good position on the play. He wasn't 3-5 yards behind his man like Fletcher found himself being. I understand why they couldn't keep Arrington, as his contract was atrocious (which is Belichick's fault in the end), but I missed him a lot last night too. He's much better than Fletcher. Butler will grow from this. He may have even needed it.

As for the pass rush or lack thereof, I don't think as much of that was by design as is being let on. The Patriots were definitely coming after Roethlisberger a lot last night, especially through the A and B gaps. They just weren't getting there. That's alarming as well when you have a secondary that's still trying to find it's way.

KontradictioN said:

As for the pass rush or lack thereof, I don't think as much of that was by design as is being let on. The Patriots were definitely coming after Roethlisberger a lot last night, especially through the A and B gaps. They just weren't getting there. That's alarming as well when you have a secondary that's still trying to find it's way.

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In defense of the Patriots defense, the team doesn't usually gel until mid-season (though that can be said of most teams, but seems especially true for our guys because they jump about 10 places in team defense)

KontradictioN said:

The whole reason I'm not slamming Butler as hard is because he was usually in good position on the play. He wasn't 3-5 yards behind his man like Fletcher found himself being. .

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Butler was in great position for 3 picks last night. I agree. Overall he was in great position most of the night.

That OL with 3 rookies in the interior getting it done......

I heard that Wendell wasn't hurt - - just a healthy scratch??? Could this have been a move by BB to throw the kids right into the frying pan to give them a big test at the very beginning of the season (may not do that later on). I must say, pre-game I was a bit worried about exactly who the C would be if Andrews flubbed or got hurt.

Rob0729 said:

Possibly, but he is not a very good QB. Belichick may think he may crumble under pressure.

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Unlikely. The greener they are, the more vanilla Bill plays it, particularly early in the season. I expect to see mostly a contain approach.

Canuck said:

4 TD and all by TE. Looks like Dobson isn't going to be LaFells replacement.

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To be fair, no one was LaFell's replacement. Were you expecting Aaron to suddenly be targeted a dozen times?

Sticky Caulk said:

Does this need to be a thing for every player that has injury issues? It's as if some of you guys believe that it's some negative issue these guys have personally, like they are making some mistake by not staying healthy. Injury prone players are going to happen in a violent sport. Not everyone can be Welker and get knocked around to the point of brain damage with a smile on his face. He didn't blow coverage or give a poor effort. He went down in pain because something went physically wrong with him. It just seems dumb to mock anyone that plays pro football for getting hurt when most of us posting on football forums would literally die from one big hit, never mind doing this stuff day after day.

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Agreed. The level of personal offense fans take to player injuries is absurd. Newsflash, it's a violent game.

Marinlik said:

Dion Lewis look more like Woodhead than Vereen.

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Agreed. He's like a more powerful, slightly shiftier Woodhead. Great find. Assuming he stays healthy, he'll be a fan favorite in no time.

RelocatedPatFan said:

I loved the goal line stand that forced a FG. The Steelers had 6 plays run within 8 yards of the goal and 3 plays were after Chung got penalized for DPI. That's some real positive that the team can build on.

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And that shift to draw the offsides penalty brought back memories of 2003-2004 when the team always had a rabbit to pull out in big moments.... the whining about it made it feel even more so.

robertweathers said:

1 or 2 more games like that Fletcher is gone.

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I'm not sure I'd go that far, but he wasn't very good.

RelocatedPatFan said:

In defense of the Patriots defense, the team doesn't usually gel until mid-season (though that can be said of most teams, but seems especially true for our guys because they jump about 10 places in team defense)

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Absolutely. The run defense was disappointing, but the Patriots always take time to ramp up. I was expecting a little more dominant performance largely because I thought an electric atmosphere would lead the charge. But that was pretty much what you expect out of an early season Patriots team, excellence by the elite guys, lots of rotating along the lines, a few coverage mishaps and a win that wasn't quite as convincing as you hoped it would be. I expect more of the same next week.

Oswlek said:

Unlikely. The greener they are, the more vanilla Bill plays it, particularly early in the season. I expect to see mostly a contain approach.



To be fair, no one was LaFell's replacement. Were you expecting Aaron to suddenly be targeted a dozen times?



Agreed. The level of personal offense fans take to player injuries is absurd. Newsflash, it's a violent game.



Agreed. He's like a more powerful, slightly shiftier Woodhead. Great find, assuming he stays healthy, he'll be a fan favorite in no time.



And that shift to draw the offsides penalty brought back memories of 2003-2004 when the team always had a rabbit to pull out in big moments.... the whining about it made it feel even more so.



I'm not sure I'd go that far, but he wasn't very good.



Absolutely. The run defense was disappointing, but the Patriots always take time to ramp up. I was expecting a little more dominant performance largely because I thought an electric atmosphere would lead the charge. But that was pretty much what you expect out of an early season Patriots team, excellence by the elite guys, lots of rotating along the lines, a few coverage mishaps and a win that wasn't quite as convincing as you hoped it would be. I expect more of the same next week.

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Not many snaps for Mayo, who has always been a tackling machine. I have to wonder if that wouldn't have helped the run defense a bit, at least so far as minimizing some of the gains.

Oswlek said:

Agreed. He's like a more powerful, slightly shiftier Woodhead. Great find. Assuming he stays healthy, he'll be a fan favorite in no time.

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One more fumble and......

Rob0729 said:

Possibly, but he is not a very good QB. Belichick may think he may crumble under pressure.

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I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Taylor. He had a fantastic preseason. Sharp passing, good decisions, and effortless mobility. Knowledgeable Buffalo friends are very excited about his potential.

teamplay said:

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Taylor. He had a fantastic preseason. Sharp passing, good decisions, and effortless mobility. Knowledgeable Buffalo friends are very excited about his potential.

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And Brady sucked in the preseason. It means nothing.

I don't put any stock in the preseason. Vanilla defenses. No game planning.