this should be a shorter version of my usual diatribe. This game was kind of an uneven effort. Its kind of hard to explain, but somehow this 35-7 effort left me feeling like I just ate Chinese food. The meal was good, but srangely left me feeling unsatisfied.
That feeling is there because you're spoiled 'cause you've eaten more prime rib the last decade than you used to...
1. The thing that REALLY jumped out to me was the speed of our secondary. I'm talking about closing speed. Even when the DL/LBs were creased by the Bucs running attack, what used to be 10-14 yd gains were cut short to 6-8 by a fast closing secondary. Compared to what we've seen for the past recently the comparison is startling. It was also good to see Pat Chung get some playing time. Between McGowan, Merriweather, and Chung, the Safety position is fast becoming a defensive strength on this team....and makes a very serviceable guy like James Sanders a bench warmer. That's not a bad thing.
I like this secondary better EVERY GAME. Merriweather is becoming the big play guy the Pats hoped he'd be. McGowan has been a revelation, Butler is improving every game. Boddin has been like a rock, and Whilhite hasn't embarrassed himself either. Only Wheatly remains somewhat a disappointment.
Even on the TD pass, Butler was in pretty good position (though he lost track of the ball). That TD was simply the product of a good route and a perfect pass...it happens
The secondary is shaping up to be a strength going forward, although Bodden may not remain as a result.
2. Brady still hasn't regained his full form, though I don't have any doubts that he will get there by the end of the season. Like I said, the guy throws 3 TD passes and he left me wanting more. Go figure. :rolleyes
Brady HAS regained his form. I don't know what some of you are looking for, 2007 perhaps, but that ship sailed.
3. Here's what has me disturbed about Brady. Remember back when he was having his best years. EVERY game by half time Brady had completed passes to 6 different guys. The ball was spread around. Now it seems like he looks to Moss or Welker or..... who?. That 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th guy hasn't been getting much play, and I wonder if its all the receivers fault. Its not like we have had a who's who of WRs here, and Brady STILL managed to spread the ball around. His seemingly total reliance on Moss and Welker worries me a bit...especially if one or both get hurt. We saw the results of not having Welker in the Jet game and it wasn't pretty. Also teams are going to start FORCING the Pats to look elsewhere, and I want to be ready...perhaps we will.
Brady has said they gameplan to get the ball to the best players. All teams do. We didn't have the level of seperation in talent in years past that we have had since 2007. You go where you anticipate completions and big plays, you don't go elsewhere first unless you have rocks in your head. If they stop it THEN you look elsewhere. Real games aren't extended practices even when you're playing ofer teams. They're trying to build execution from the top down, not the bottom up.
He also doesn't yet seem quite comfortable in the pocket. Its not that he's less mobile, but in prior years, when he moved around in the pocket he was still able to maintain his focus down field better. Now he "seems" to have to REFOCUS when he moves and find his receivers all over again. Its only an extra second, but the D now has a better chance pressure him and react to the ball.
Maybe its me, but there is a lot less of the drop back 3/5/or7 steps and release the ball in Rhythm, like we saw in 07. Maybe its Brady, or perhaps the loss of McDaniels. The receivers aren't getting as open, or open as quickly, or the timing is somehow JUST a little bit off. Or maybe I'm just asking too much too soon.
This OL remains an inconsistent emigma is all it is. They were rough out of the gate, not sure they were prepared for Tampa's DL to put up much of a fight. They got it together as they usually do, only to have the penalty bugaboo resurface. Vollmer got caught holding after he got dinged up. That's excusable. Mankins has no excuse and is likely getting reamed even as we speak. They do some things well and others only in spurts. That's why BJGE was this weeks recipient of the .9 YPC honors.
4. It was good to see Tate in the line up. I'm surprised because I was certain we was going to be red shirted this season. He didn't do anything special, but he got a KO return, a pass and a run, and didn't embarrass himself in any of them. Welcome to the NFL Brandon.
5. You know we are now very blessed with OTs. When Volmer went down, and Lavoir went in, there wasn't a drop off in play. For most teams having your 3rd string LT in the game would be a disaster. That being said, I was more impressed with Volmer's play today than in the snow vs the Titans. The results weren't as good, with the Penalties and all, but it was against faster people in better conditions. He is showing he can run with the big dogs, and will get better with more experience, but the fact remains...Matt Light is the best LT we have right now. We are fortunate to have Lavoir and Volmer in the wings.
6. We didn't do much in the running game, though I thought Moroney ran very hard. Frankly it seemed like the Pats coaching staff decided that the Passing game was the way to go, and even though they were playing against something like the 26th rated run defense, the Passing attack was where we would make our biggest impression...despite the fact that we ended up being fairly balanced (60/40) balance.
7. And Oh, I can't help myself. It was probably a good thing the they DID resign TBC. He had his best game of the season.
Finally, I'm happy we got out of this scrimmage with a win. I'm hoping that Warren just has a sprain and will be back in a couple of weeks, and the same for Volmer. The NEXT month will give us a MUCH better idea of what kind of a team we have. It will be fun.
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