A few positive tidbits from yesterday

[BTTA]

From reading Jeff Howe at the Athletic. They continue to impress the heck out of me; if you have a little extra $$ for sports entertainment/journalism, highly recommended.

• Mason bounced back with a clean sheet on pass blocking
• Gilmore pitched his second shutout of the year. On balls thrown to the receiver he is covering this year, 18 have been caught, and he's intercepted or broken up 13. Think about that.
• They've figured out how to scheme Hightower out of pass coverage after the bad showing in Baltimore, and it worked.
• Van Noy had nine disruptions as a pass rusher, one of the best the writer (Jeff Howe) had ever charted.
• All three of the DT's graded out very well, promising good things as the weather changes.
• Sanu appears to have learned all the formations, positions, and motions a WR is asked to do. Quick learner, quick trust.
• Harry's rookie debut was impressive in the number of formations he participated in, and the number of routes he ran. Slater has taken him under his wing.

 

[102 Pat]

From reading Jeff Howe at the Athletic. They continue to impress the heck out of me; if you have a little extra $$ for sports entertainment/journalism, highly recommended.

Matt Chathams's podcasts are also worth the price.

 

[jimnance]

Can't believe how many fans still underrate van noy. He's a probowl level player. Period.
Gilmore deserves dpoy right now.
But probably won't get it. Pretty rare a DB gets it. Usually front 7.
But I would argue that in today's NFL a shutdown cb like Gilmore is maybe the single most valuable player on a defense.
Dude is just sick this year.
Maybe the best 2 year run of any Pats cb.
And Haynes and Law are hofers

 

[Captain Cliche]

They won.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

Love our Defense.

Worry about our offense.

A lot of pressure, but we need Harry to become an impact player in the redzone ASAP

 

[captain stone]

Re-watched the game...encouraged I suppose by the 4th-quarter drive which started at our own 2, went 37 yards in 4:11, and helped the defense get just enough distance & rest for Philthy's last best chance to tie.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Not sure if this point was raise.

While I think our offense has looked average lately, I want to focus on one very important part of our offense. They tend to not put the defense in too many bad positions. Meaning, while they may not be making as many points - they get enough yards to allow the punter to change field position and require the opposing team offense to make long drives.

I'm sure there are stats to back this up, but I haven't looked for them...yet. Though part of this can be said that the defense is putting the offense in a good position too (so you'd have to look at average drive length when the team starts within it's first 25 yards)?