Better And Worse Than Expected

[mgteich]

BETTER
1) The passing game. They did nothing wrong and everything right.
2) The OL. They did more than we had any right to expect.
3) Lewis. WOW!
4) The TE play. Or should we just expect all the TD's in every game?
5) Harmon. He was our nickel and had the interception. Great job!

DEFENSE
6) The pass rush. We thought this was the strength of our defense. They didn't do much.
7) The secondary. Some was due to the lack of pass rush, but Fletcher and Butler were schooled.
8) the run defense. We just didn't manage the edges very well. Some of this was the result of scheme.

 

[patfanken]

OK, I'll get this started.

1. If there was any complaint about the Passing game its a nitpicking one. I hope that over the next few weeks, Brady will spread the ball around a bit more. I would have liked to see a few more targets go to Chandler and Dobson. I want to create the appearance that you have to do more than try and shut down Gronk and Edelman to stop the Pats passing offense

2. I think your comment that Butler and Fletcher got schooled was over the top. Certainly by the PFF numbers you can say Butler got schooled, but the reality, if you were watching closely was a lot better than the numbers seemed. For the most part, Butler was right in Browns pocket for most of the game (there were exceptions, but you'd expect them to be given Brown's abilities.) Many of the completions to Brown fall into that "perfect pass" category that no DB can cover. A few more were in the "he was in position to make a play", but didn't. The TD pass was a perfect example. This are things that Butler will improve on as he becomes more experienced at his craft. Neither Revis or Sherman became what they are in a year. Neither will Butler. He is going to have to cover everyone's best reveiver this year. Catches will be made, but after watching this kid in this game, I believe he will continue to grow. You can see he CARES. He was really bull **** after that TD pass. He has that unquenchable desire to be get better, so he will.

I tried to watch Fletcher. I know he got beat by Haywood-Bay. But like Browner, speed guys are going to do that to him, and the Pats have to prepare for it with help over the top. On the plus side I saw that several time in the red zone he was lcoked up with his man pretty well.

3. It sure looked like the DE's weren't doing a good job of setting the edge, but it looked like they were just a step away from making the play all night. I also noticed that there was very little run support by the DB's last night especially the CB's on the outside. A lot of that can be explained by the coverage designs, and from what I've read most of the time they were in a 4-2-5, and its hard to stop anyone's run game with only 6 men in the box.

Let's see how they do over the next few weeks before we pronounce the run D is a problem.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Butler was far from schooled

 

[The Gr8est]

Butler was far from schooled

Big Ben made some gr8 throws last night, but I'll take a performance like Butler had last night, every week.

If the QBs make less perfect throws than Ben did Butler will have a chance to make some plays on the ball.

 

[Bruins29]

This was Butlers first start and he was right on top of Brown most of the game, who happens to be one of the best WR in the game who had a great QB throwing to him. He is not a shutdown corner (yet) and cant expect to shut down Brown,

I would say given the situation he was adequate to fine.

Schooled=Arrington in the Super Bowl

 

[oldrover]

Plus side: Pats won.

Minus side:









....Still thinking.

 

[Oswlek]

Based on subjective expectations, Lewis, Harmon and Butler were all about where I expected. I agree the pass rush was uninspiring, but it tends to be early on and Easley going out didn't help things.

My biggest takeaways, good and bad, respectively, are Andrews and the run defense.

 

[venecol]

I wasn't impressed with Brown, he had a QBR of ZERO and he got sacked.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

I wasn't impressed with Brown, he had a QBR of ZERO and he got sacked.

And when the Steelers run that play again against the Ravens, Harbaugh will.claim he never saw it before.

 

[venecol]

Biggest surprise: Dion Lewis

Total Yards:
A. Brown= 133
De Williams= 132
D. Lewis= 120
J Edelman= 106
Gronk=97

 

[patsderoer]

Butler was far from schooled

He misread the trajectory of the ball time and again. But, he was in great position to defend the pass on many of the completions. That's very encouraging, improve on reading the ball trajectory and he will be a very good CB.

And Big Ben was amazing on those completions, he was throwing lasers out there. Not many QBs will be able to throw like that.

 

[alvinnf]

I look at it 2 ways, long term concerns and short term concerns.
ST- run d
ST- passing d scheme fit based on personel
LT- run game
LT- health

 

[mgteich]

OK, I'll get this started.

1. If there was any complaint about the Passing game its a nitpicking one. I hope that over the next few weeks, Brady will spread the ball around a bit more. I would have liked to see a few more targets go to Chandler and Dobson. I want to create the appearance that you have to do more than try and shut down Gronk and Edelman to stop the Pats passing offense

2. I think your comment that Butler and Fletcher got schooled was over the top. Certainly by the PFF numbers you can say Butler got schooled, but the reality, if you were watching closely was a lot better than the numbers seemed. For the most part, Butler was right in Browns pocket for most of the game (there were exceptions, but you'd expect them to be given Brown's abilities.) Many of the completions to Brown fall into that "perfect pass" category that no DB can cover. A few more were in the "he was in position to make a play", but didn't. The TD pass was a perfect example. This are things that Butler will improve on as he becomes more experienced at his craft. Neither Revis or Sherman became what they are in a year. Neither will Butler. He is going to have to cover everyone's best reveiver this year. Catches will be made, but after watching this kid in this game, I believe he will continue to grow. You can see he CARES. He was really bull **** after that TD pass. He has that unquenchable desire to be get better, so he will.

I tried to watch Fletcher. I know he got beat by Haywood-Bay. But like Browner, speed guys are going to do that to him, and the Pats have to prepare for it with help over the top. On the plus side I saw that several time in the red zone he was lcoked up with his man pretty well.

3. It sure looked like the DE's weren't doing a good job of setting the edge, but it looked like they were just a step away from making the play all night. I also noticed that there was very little run support by the DB's last night especially the CB's on the outside. A lot of that can be explained by the coverage designs, and from what I've read most of the time they were in a 4-2-5, and its hard to stop anyone's run game with only 6 men in the box.

Let's see how they do over the next few weeks before we pronounce the run D is a problem.

=======
We just have different definitions. I also believe that Butler will be a good corner.

SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS
"A few more fall into the "he was in a position to make a play", but didn't.
Revis and Sherman were great in their first year of starting.
I believe that he will continue to grow.
You can see that he CARES.
He has that unquenchable desire to get better, so he will.

To me, none of this is inconsistent with a rookie doing the best he could in his first start against a top corner. Also, for me, none of this is inconsistent with him being schooled by one of the very best receivers in the NFL.
========
It is NOT a credit to our DE's that they were always a step away from setting the edge. I also can understand the yards up the middle when we are in a 4-2-5, without Mayo.
=======
I am not suggesting that anything is a problem. I also did not state any concerns, just comparisons of performance to my expectations.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Butler wasn't close to being schooled...one of the best WRs in the game..made 2 amazing catches on him in PERFECT coverage ect.

If anything Butler learned a greattt deal from last night and will only make him better. He never gets down or stops being aggressive. Love that about him

 

[mgteich]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...ts_2_minute_drill_ups_and_downs_from_win_over

For those who missed Howe's fine analysis.

His conclusion is that Butler "got a useful tutorial" from Brown. He also gives much detail to support his conclusion.

 

[patsfan13]

Considering the Butler was left on an island with an all pro WR speaks volumes about how BB views Butler.

He did well under the circumstances. He played a lot of press man which we were told was impossible sans Revis and Browner.

I am not sure how the interstate the problems with the run D, the game plan was reminiscent of the Bronco game where we dared then to run


We may lead the league and could have a D as good as last year by the end of the year. BB will have a lot to work on in the next 10 days. The game plan could have 8 in the box instead of 6. We'll have a better measure of the run D after we see Rex ground and pound. The Bills Colts will be interesting Sunday.

 

[BradyFTW!]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...ts_2_minute_drill_ups_and_downs_from_win_over

For those who missed Howe's fine analysis.

His conclusion is that Butler "got a useful tutorial" from Brown. He also gives much detail to support his conclusion.

He also states that Butler didn't have a bad game, which echoes the sentiments of pretty much everyone who's disagreed with the original post. From what I've seen, nobody's claiming he had a great game. Most people are acknowledging that Brown outplayed him, but don't really have a problem with that since it's Antonio Brown. Brown has made some really good corners look a lot worse than Butler looked last night.

 

[mgteich]

He also states that Butler didn't have a bad game, which echoes the sentiments of pretty much everyone who's disagreed with the original post. From what I've seen, nobody's claiming he had a great game. Most people are acknowledging that Brown outplayed him, but don't really have a problem with that since it's Antonio Brown. Brown has made some really good corners look a lot worse than Butler looked last night.

I didn't suggest that I had any problem with Butler, nor did Howe. And yes, Brown had made some really good corners look worse than Butler looked last night.

We have a lot improving to do on defense. And, I have every confidence that this will happen. With the short pre-season, we should not be expected to be in mid-season form, unit, well, mid-season.

Brady, the TE's and Edelman played lights out football last night. That cannot be counted on for every game.

 

[50-yard-line]

Biggest surprise: Dion Lewis

Total Yards:
A. Brown= 133
De Williams= 132
D. Lewis= 120
J Edelman= 106
Gronk=97

Gotta disagree and give that title of biggest surprise to Andrews. I love the guy - his attitude is pure FU...he seems like a perfect fit for NE...but I thought he'd need a year in NFL training-level weight room to be serviceable and maybe, someday, a decent center.

He played incredibly well last night - watch the tape! He held up his guy repeatedly, then flashed off and hit a second guy over and over again.

Praying Stork comes back and this OL is turning into a deep and powerful unit.

ps. But yeah, Lewis was really good...better than I thought possible.

 

[BTTA]

Re: Butler's night.

If you post that he learned a lot, by definition you are saying he "got schooled." That's what the term means.

Punk culture has added an aspect of "being made to look bad" to the term, as if getting schooled is somehow humiliating or a failure.

The Pats won the game, and Butler had a huge learning opportunity while making some good plays and juuuusssstttt missing on a few others. That worked out just about perfectly.