How do the Pats try to peak in December?

[BlitzFritz]

BB has always said its about getting better every week, getting better faster than the competition, so that you are rolling by December.

What are the things that will or could make us better by December?

1. The education of Matt Cassel (shaky but possible IMHO)
2. The education of Kevin O'Connell (probably too soon)
3. The return of Stephen Neal (critical it appears)
4. The emergence of Shawn Crable
5. The gelling of our defense (?)

What do you think?

 

[Kontradiction]

Well, we need our front three on defense to not be pushed around at all so that the LBs can apply a little more pressure on the QB than what we've seen in the first three games (with the exception of the Dolphins game, the pass rush has not been that bad but also not where we want it to be). Our secondary needs to learn and learn fast in order to be competitive in December. Remember our secondary is young so that's imperative. Also, Maroney needs to get healthy to join Morris and Jordan in order to get our running game off the ground. Those three factors, if firing on all cylinders, will ensure our presence in December despite the fact that we'll still be missing Brady. That, and what you've mentioned in your list.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

If our "developers" start to really pick it up I think as coaching develops more and more confidence, it will step it up too.

 

[signbabybrady]

When BB speaks of this I think he is more speaking of the fact that the more the season goes on the more you have had time to fix problems, the more familarity/improvement with the players and system and thus you should be playing your best ball at the end of the year and if your not you are going the wrong direction. You seem to be asking what can be done to get that unexplainable magic that takes teams like the Giants and 01 Pats to the top and I am not sure that is quite what BB speaks of.

 

[pats_premi]

Here is my take
1) Pass defense in base 3-4 scheme needs to improve. I noticed that Patriots can stop the run in their base defence (other than Miami game), but they get torched in the passing game. I think they need more speed and hard hit-ing from LB and safety position. During the 2003/2004 season Bruschi and Harrison did this and the offenses appears to be afraid to throw the ball over the middle of the field. Since both Bruschi and Harrison are at the backend of theie footbal career, I think Crable and Meriweather needs to step-up their game. AD probably needs to line-up next to Mayo in base defense.

2) QB play needs to improve. I am not sure if Cassel can get it done. He appears to be too slow at reading defenses and delivering the ball to the receivers. I appears that the ball seems to be come out of O'Connell hand lot faster than Cassel's. Hopefully, O'Connell would be able read defenses.

 

[ScottieC]

BB has always said its about getting better every week, getting better faster than the competition, so that you are rolling by December.

What are the things that will or could make us better by December?

1. The education of Matt Cassel (shaky but possible IMHO)
2. The education of Kevin O'Connell (probably too soon)
3. The return of Stephen Neal (critical it appears)
4. The emergence of Shawn Crable
5. The gelling of our defense (?)

What do you think?

I think they can start next week by throwing Randy the damn ball!

 

[Jimke]

I think they can start next week by throwing Randy the damn ball!

First, the offensive line has to keep Cassel upright so

he can throw the ball.

 

[JR4]

This is a mystery.

Why should it take until Mid November to peak? I mean it isn't
like there are 4 or 5 new starters on the Defense?
Most of these guys have been playing in BB's Defense for years!

There are probably some good explanations here are some possibilities.

1. BB has installed a lot of new stuff and even the experienced Vets will
take time to execute the new stuff to perfection.

2. Even two new guys ( Mayo and AD instead of Colvin) makes a difference
in the front seven.

3. This group of guys depends on their smarts, depends on knowing their opponent.
They do a lot better when they have a lot of film on their opponent.

4. The older Vets are pacing themselves knowing this is a long season
and won't be putting out 110% out until November.

 

[PATRIOT64]

How do the Pats peak in December? - When you can tell the starting QB is just shaking from freezing and not shaking looking at the defensive line player then you know Cassel is not what he is now and that is a QB with eyes like a deer in headlights and the rest of the body just as nervous

 

[mgteich]

SPECIAL TEAMS
They are fine now, except that I'd like someone other than Hobbs returning kicks.
==================================
DEFENSE
Why should the front seven take time to gel? Mayo has strongly replaced Seau and Seymour is healthy. The front seven is one of the best in the league. The DL has fine backups. There is a weakness ILB depth; Alexander and Guyton just don't do it for me. As long as the top 5 are healthy, this isn't much of an issue since the top 5 LB's usually get almost all the reps.

We have great personnel for our 3-4 two-gap.

O'Neal/Sanders is arguably as good as Samuel/Gay. Hobbs is playing at least as well as last year.

In addition, we do have rookies who MIGHT help in December, or not: Crable, Wheatley and Wilhite.
===================================
OFFENSE
As in 2006, we are talking about developing timing in the passing game. We may also get upgrades to the OL when Hochstein, Neal and Ross are healthy.

So, yes this might take time. The WRONG answer is to take the best passing unit in the league and try to make them into a running team. The RIGHT answer is to develop Cassel, and game plans around Cassel. We have upgraded the team at RB, but we are still a passing team, with Brady or with Cassel.

And yes December is likely to be critical. We could very well need to win all four to make the playoffs; against the hawks, the raiders, the cards and the bills.