idle thoughts - the bye week boredom edition.\\

[ROHAN KLEMM]

NFL OBSERVATIONS: (Peter King gets paid for this ???)

ARE THE BRONCOS SCRIPTING THEIR PLAYS: Tebow back to pass, see’s no one open. Feels pressure scrambles (left), throw the ball out of bounds, repeat.

Do you go with Kyle Orton or Matt Cassell in Kansas City or get rid of both. Cassell unmovable both on the field and contractually.

Looks like Romeo is good fit in K.C. The offense looked dreadful vs Oakland and Denver. Maybe step it up to the Sixites style. Did not like the Jonathon Baldwin pick in first round, still don’t.

Do you take Mark Sanchez or Matt Moore, Tavaris Jackson, Blaine Gabbert, Jason Campbell, Ponder – insert name here.

Packers have quite a dilemna with Matt Flynn. Give him tons of dough, (franchise tag) which makes him unmovable or let him go free agent (compensatory pick in return – 3rd / 4th round). Teams will line up.

What is Pats plan with Mallett and Hoyer.

How about this: Colts release Manning then trade 1st pick to Cleveland for both firsts in 2012 & #1 in 2013 and Sheard or Hayden. Then trade acquired Cleveland 1st to Skins for #1 & #2 and Orakpo. Then sign Matt Flynn. Just an idea. Too bad they won’t get anything for Manning.

Under the radar. Good thing the Jets drafts are worse than the Pats. It does not get much attention but Kyle Wilson has been a huge disappointment, worse than Caison in S.D. Other bad drafters – Colts, SD, Jax, Miami (OK the entire AFC East).

All of a sudden the Jets have tons of holes to fill. Where do you start T, G, RB, WR, DE, LB, S, QB, another TE (one who can block and not get hit in the head with the ball on shallow crosses, (offensive coordinator).

Love what the Bengals are doing, young, big and fast. I did think Shipley would be the next Wes Welke, guess not. I thought Andy Dalton would struggle because of his height but he has been better than anticipated. I’m still no completely sold. Carson Palmer trade was a huge reach by Raiders. Just when the Raiders were headed in the right direction. What were they thinking? Just before that they drafted Terrelle Pryor (a round or tow too high of course). Sometimes teams have to be patient and stay the course and keep building. Heyward-Bey shockingly is coming close to his draft position.

Would like to see the Pats sign Calais Campbell (AR) and Brandon Lloyd (SL) although I wonder if the Pats consider WR a position of importance in their scheme. is WR PATS VERSION OF DODO BIRD. Pats Draft needs, as if you didn’t know, DE, LB, S, WR, CB, C/G, RB. For some reason I still like Derek Hagan for WR.

I still think Pats missed great opportunity in last years draft. JORDAN (DE), INGRAM (RB), SHEARD (DE), REED (LB), QUINTON CARTER (S), DONTAY MOCH, JUSTIN HOUSTON, DION LEWIS (RB).

Is Vereen going the way of Butler, Merriweather, Cunningham etc, etc. Ridley looks like a good workmanlike back, A young Sammy Morris and I think Dowling will be a player.

DO YOU TAKE ARIAN FOSTER OR YO ADRIAN PETERSON ?

DO PATS TRADE LOWER 1ST ROUND PICK FOR TEXANS MARIO OR VIKES PETERSON.

 

[Gumby]

....
1. You know for all the crap BB has taken for the failures of the Ocho and Haynesworth signings, .......

3.In the Felger "the cap is crap" thread the Boston media guy brought out a very insightful if painful point that hasn't been mentioned. He opined that if the Pats hadn't found it necessary to bring back Kevin Faulk in a mostly ceremonial role, they MIGHT have had room on the roster to keep Ras Dowling off the IR and he'd be ready to play now.

IF that's true, then its painful to think the Pats might have had a fast, big coverage guy who has played safety before ready to play instead of having to move McCourty there to play the same role. I have NO idea how true this might be, but the thought of it was painful. A healthy Dowling would have made as big an impact on the secondary as Chung's return did. Just as I know his addition next year will make a huge difference.

......
Who is your 5th receiver when you go to that formation, Ocho, Underwood, or Edelman? Say what you want about Ocho. He did beat his man deep vs Buffalo. And it wasn't the first time he's beaten his man deep. Brady missed him.

I sympathize on the Ras I wishful thinking. It would be intriguing to see if he could have made an impact on some of that loose coverage. BB seemed right up against the roster limit the whole year and making creative moves every week to shore up depth in different phases every week. If he had one more spot could he have waited on Dowling??? Or better yet; a more flexible IR system that lets you bring guys back who get injured during the year.
A part of me agrees that it would have been better if Kevin had just retired. But if you have an epitome Patriot guy (Faulk, Brown, Tedy) I just dont see how you send them on the street if they aren't ready yet.

I dont want to hijack the idle thoughts into a retread Ocho segment; but sometimes I just shake my head trying to figure out where the Ocho deal went south. He has one of the highest YPC on the team; yet he also has the lowest catch per targets rate. Just incongruous with his career success, but also tantalizing with what could he have been this year.

One Brady comment from past 2 weeks that got me thinking it is part of the Ocho problem was how he discussed that he goes through his progressions & the receivers change their routes based on the coverage the D presents. TB then said when he goes through his progressions he throws to the FIRST GUY who appears to him to be open.

I think that could be part of Ocho's problem is that the progessions for most plays; go inside out and Brady is just too accurate. Brady starts inside and see a Gronk tight single covered and just throws it anyway cause he can squeeze it in there. Meanwhile 2 reads later; Ocho is open.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I think they will use Faulk against Pittsburgh (should they meet next week as most here think)as I think Faulk has had success against them over the years on those 3rd and 5 catches out of the backfield.

Against a team with a veteran defense like Pitt,you have to have some veteran knowledge of how to beat those guys on 3rd and short plays and Faulk is a smart player....albeit older now

Homer!!!

I hope you're right. The Kevin 'What The?" Faulk we all know and love was clutch!

 

[NEP4Life]

If the team had confidence in Ocho, they'd run more plays with him as the first read. They don't, because they don't.

 

[DaBruinz]

People have a hard on for Dowling because they don't want to believe that our secondary blows. Even when Dowling played, they were still getting torched by the QB bottom feeders of the NFL.

Same thing with Chung.

The general consensus around here is Chung, a guy that's always struggled in coverage, is going to change our pass defense around. When he played, they were bad, now that he's back, they'll still be bad in pass defense. The only thing he might do is have a positive impact on the run game.

Guess you didn't really watch the games much because Chung was instrumental in shutting down Antonio Gates and limiting Jason Witten.

Thinking that Chung will only have a positive influence in the running game takes away from your credibility because Chung is better than you are giving him credit for.

Also, you ignore that when Chung was healthy, he had to deal with Sergio Brown and Josh Barrett and a James Ihedigbo who didn't know the defense. Now, he's healthy again, but Barrett is gone, Brown has been relegated to special teams and Ihedigbo knows the defense. Plus they've added Sterling Moore.

Again, the fact that they haven't allowed a 300 yard passer in 6 of the last 8 games is pretty big and it's something you've ignored.

 

[grandpajim]

He's still shaking the rust off...

That's not rust, it's pizza & doughnut crumbs.

 

[BradyBranch39]

The Pats are 8-0 since Haynesworths departure and the Bucs are 0-8 since they have acquired Haynesworth .... Just an FYI

Love this so much; just as much as I hate Albert.

 

[BradyBranch39]

I don't want Jeff Fisher to take the Miami job. Not because I think he's a great coach but because I think he's a dirty one. Rodney, Merriman.....We don't need the extra injuries.

This.

Two days ago, I tweeted

https://twitter.com/patsfb/status/154086878495252480
glad Jeff Fisher is headed to the NFC... we'll have to face his dirty teams less often that way

Too bad that Rams report was untrue.

 

[supafly]

Pats Draft needs, as if you didn’t know, DE, LB, S, WR, CB, C/G, RB.

Is Vereen going the way of Butler, Merriweather, Cunningham etc, etc?

DO PATS TRADE LOWER 1ST ROUND PICK FOR TEXANS MARIO OR VIKES PETERSON.

1. First of all, Vereen should not be grouped in with any draft misses, mostly due to the fact that..he has not played yet. Belichick took him fairly high in the draft, and he was certainly one of the top few rated RB's.

A better question for you would have been, "how" would he have gotten touches? We are a dominant passing team with limited reps for RB's as it is. We have BJGE (1,000 yd rusher last yr + back to back 10+ TD's), Woodhead as a hurry-up and 3rd down back, the return of Faulk (good on blitz pickup + has experience in the system) from PUP, and rookie Stevan Ridley--who may have earned some reps over Vereen initally due to the injury that plauged Shane. How would you have blended Vereen into the offense, per se?

When Shane Vereen has not played again most of next yr, and is not injured etc--then I think it's okay to start questioning the pick. But at this point in time, I'm not sure that is too fair to lump him into a group of draft misses.

2. Another subject that I disagree with would be the 'need' of RB in the upcoming draft. I think that need was adressed with the choice of 2 high round pick RB's in April. We still will have Woodhead and Polite on the roster, and may even extend BJGE (depending on his asking price). I don't think that this is a positional need by any stretch, and that the team will not have a hard time with a low-level free agent signing or addition by other teams' cut.

3. Trade one of our first round picks for Adrian Peterson? Again, see the above 2 reasons... I'd much rather have a solid defensive player with any proposed trade in round one.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

1. First of all, Vereen should not be grouped in with any draft misses, mostly due to the fact that..he has not played yet. Belichick took him fairly high in the draft, and he was certainly one of the top few rated RB's.

BB spoke very highly of Ridley and Vereen on his weekly radio spot, he said he's learned a lot this year and with a full training camp next year he expects he'll play a bigger role next year. As you mentioned his missed time and injury has him slotted at the back of the pack at the moment.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

I am still not ready to write off Denver. Pittsburgh wants that win badly, but they still have to play the game, and despite the last three losses, Denver doesn't seem to have had any morale let down, and THEY certainly WANT to put an L on Pittsburgh's playoff season.

So many folks are saying that Pittsburgh is going to light up Denver, but I see a real dogfight of a game, an old-fashioned smash-mouth football game, and Denver may well be able to win that, especially if the game comes down to a final series in the 4th quarter to pull out a win.

Let me preface this post by saying it is eminently fair to believe the Steelers will win this game given Denver's struggles to score. With that said, I don't entirely disagree with you from these standpoints: A) IF in fact Ben is hurting to the point it markedly affects his game B) IF Denver plays stingy defense like they numerous times have shown they can C) IF McGahee can have a decent game D) IF Tebow doesn't turn the ball over E) IF Tebow's running can generate some trips into FG range.

It is a lot of "IFs" but the only one that seems a long shot is Tebow's running doing much against Pitt's tough D. But if he can come through on that, I believe Denver will be within a score at the end of the game (that is about as good as it will get for Denver).

 

[Fencer]

Just a few miscellaneous observations that have no particular import or meaning except to pass the time this off week.

1. You know for all the crap BB has taken for the failures of the Ocho and Haynesworth signings, it's kind of slipped under the radar that the FO did a little better on some other signings. Can someone give me another example where a team's off season FA additions included TWO first team all pro signings and other double digit sack getter. Did ANY other team even get CLOSE to this kind of FA haul this year....or ever?

Drew Brees by himself.

 

[Fencer]

While they weren't both FAs, I do recall a team once acquiring Wes Welker and Randy Moss in the same offseason.

Similarly, there once was a team that grabbed both Rodney Harrison and Ted Washington.

 

[Kulko]

6. When assessing our chances for this playoffs its important to know that as bad as our defense has been, the offense has, not just been very good, its been HISTORIC. In fact there have been 3 HISTORIC offenses this season. Fortunately only one is in our conference.

I am not so happy, that we will face only defensive teams. After ball what is Rodgers supposed to do, thats worse than what fitzpatrick did? Score twice per drive? On the other hand tha games against Giants, Cowboys or recent playoff losses to Jets and Ravens show, that a good defense can slow Brady considerable, while our defense has somtimes problems stopping the mediocre offenses these team employ.

9. Other personnel questions that should be wide open for discussion are:

Who is your first running back - BJGE or Ridely? To me its the old, ball securtiy vs ypc debate. Which is more important in the playoffs? Let the debate begin.

Definitely the Law Firm. Big Plays in the running game are not really important unless the Defense just cheats too much. And BJGE has shown that he can consistently churn out the 4 yds, with almost no risk of a turnover. (Of course there will be a first time for him too.)

10. I said it a few weeks ago. I said at the start of the year. NOTHING that is accomplished this season means a thing until the Pats win that first playoff game a week from Saturday night Its all been fun, but unless we want to become the 2010's version of the last 2 decades Dallas Cowboys, we HAVE to win that game. All other discussion is essentially just air.

Here are the facts of the last 4 seasons 48-16 regular season 0-2 playoffs

Hard to explain, harder to defend. Nothing but a win begins to erase the stain. That's a lot of pressure, but a lot of pressure on a team that seems to thrive on it. Its going to be hard to wait another 10 days before the team we root for gets a chance to cleanse themselves. In the mean time all we can do is wave our "LACK OF RESPECT Cards" proudly and make Rodney proud

Yes lets just embrace it, as silly as it is. and let the wait be over soon.

 

[Deus Irae]

Due to either size or ability, Faulk's the only running back on the team that can be counted on to pick up the blitz. That's a critical function against some teams. In the AFC, Pittsburgh, Houston and Baltimore come immediately to mind.

 

[Wretch]

Due to either size or ability, Faulk's the only running back on the team that can be counted on to pick up the blitz. That's a critical function against some teams. In the AFC, Pittsburgh, Houston and Baltimore come immediately to mind.

In my mind this takes on additional importance because a RB being able to pick up the blitz allows the TEs to be used as receivers rather than blockers.

 

[ROHAN KLEMM]

[b


i can't believe there are other people who think about this stuff.

Final exams start next week. I hope our d can get off the field.

I would love to know the actual patriot analysis on shane vereen is now. They watched him on tape and see him every day. I think if he was that impressive, he would see the field. Is he a red shirt? All we heard was how well taylor price was doing and then he is gone. I don’t think the talent level in the pats backfield is that great and can’t be cracked part time. Does he have ball security or blitz pick-up issues? I know we stockpile draft picks, let’s not do it with draftees. As bill parcells says you are what your groceries say you are.
I have not given up on vereen but thought he would have some role this year. We did take him earlier than ridley. What i’ve seen so far, (small sample) has not been impressive. He does not seem to be the dynamic, quick back indicated by his draft position. I was thinking he would at least be a great reciever out of the backfield, a young kevin faulk. Because for the most part, running backs have a short shelf time, i’m skeptical. It’s too late this year but it’s sink or swim next fall.

I was posing the question of trading the lower #1 for adrian peterson or mario williams. I would not be in favor of either move. I would prefer signing calais campbell and brandon lloyd, (age issues), since it’s not my money and we keep the picks.

Can someone explain the hoyer / mallett situation. Is hoyer a free agent / if not what is his trade value – options. Is he good enough to play elsewhere as a starter.

Patriots have the most volatile (high turnover) personnel situation in the nfl.

Brady + solid o-line + great control passing game + no welker injury = wins.

Looks like next year pats have plenty of tackles seabass, solder (the twins) and cannon, so don't draft another.

Does waters come back and i hope mankins stays his entire career.

Pittsburgh / baltimore / new orleans or green bay. If pats win 2 of 3 i will never question a patriot draft again. Unless …..

Questions: Who would you sign (free agent) for pats this off- season? (only 1 player allowed.

Do the patriots think wide receiver, (not slot) is an important position?[/b]

 

[RodThePat]

Just a few miscellaneous observations that have no particular import or meaning except to pass the time this off week.

1. You know for all the crap BB has taken for the failures of the Ocho and Haynesworth signings, it's kind of slipped under the radar that the FO did a little better on some other signings. Can someone give me another example where a team's off season FA additions included TWO first team all pro signings and other double digit sack getter. Did ANY other team even get CLOSE to this kind of FA haul this year....or ever?

Uhm...which two first team All-Pro players did we sign in free agency?

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

i kind of hate the bye week

all of these thoughts are going on in my head

Today i thought about what if they lose their first home playoff game..again?

What changes will be made and how bad will it hurt mentally to the players..i really hope it doesn't come to this. Another 1st round loss would kill the players mentally...as well as us fans..

Again i hope it doesn't happen..but what if? I feel like if we lose the 1st game..it will be because of the D...not the O

 

[Deus Irae]

...Today i thought about what if they lose their first home playoff game..again?

What changes will be made and how bad will it hurt mentally to the players..i really hope it doesn't come to this. Another 1st round loss would kill the players mentally...as well as us fans..

Again i hope it doesn't happen..but what if? I feel like if we lose the 1st game..it will be because of the D...not the O

I'll tell you one thing that would happen. If the Patriots lose their first playoff game again this year, there's no way BOB is coming back next season!