Idle thoughts - the "GOAT" edition

[PatsDeb]

Great posts. My observations from the game:

1. I was really worried when they announced the inactives for the game. The O played really well (except for a bog-down in the 3rd) without Gronk and Sony, and at times, White. Several trick plays and still a WR at RB. Several Duane Allen and Philip Dorsett sightings. Amazing!

2. Nice adjustments by the D after getting burned by Jimmy Graham in the 1st half. You could see Rodgers was frustrated for much of the game, particularly the 2nd half, because nobody was open except for check-downs.

3. What the heck was JMcD doing on that goal line stand where we came away with no points?! 3rd and 4th down play calls (and why would you call a play on 4th down in a tie game rather than take the 3 pts? Maddening!!) were atrocious and we wasted a time out to boot. Even Brady looked like he was participating in those plays reluctantly because they were so dumb. Run your new toy (Cor-DA-Rell? Cor-DARE-ell? how do you say that man's name?) up the middle for cripes sake! He already scored that way once.

4. Luckily the D held and we did not get burned by the above.

5. Rodgers & his coach developed Andy Reid-itis in the 4th quarter. Even when they were moving the ball (before the turnover on downs) they were going S-L-O-W. That clock was ticking away and we were marveling that even if they scored one TD (which they didn't) they were going to run out of time to score a 2nd to tie the game.

6. There were tons of Packers fans there (surprisingly), including 4 next to us who had traveled from Texas to see the game. The Pats crowd was kind of dead, except on 3rd down, which was kind of a bummer. Too many TV time outs, night game, the first cold game, and the aforementioned well-represented opposing fan base probably contributed. The other fans were sometimes loud leading up to the 4th quarter when we got to say to them (like so many others), "thanks for coming!" as they filed out dejectedly while the Josh Gordon TD replays showed on the Jumbotron. Brady is so awesome.

 

[rochrist]

Hogan’s disappearance is puzzling. When Edelman was out it wasn’t surprising, but he’s still MIA, and I don’t think he’s hurt. Weird.

There's a reason why Hogan has never caught more than 41 catches in a season (and that many only once).

 

[maineman209]

There's a reason why Hogan has never caught more than 41 catches in a season (and that many only once).

Just speculating here, but there may be more than one reason for Hogan's perennially mediocre production.

In 2016, Hogan caught only 38 for 680 yds (17.9ypc) and 4 TDs, perhaps because he was new and still working to gain Brady's trust. Well, we've certainly heard THAT excuse before, haven't we?

In 2017, it's at least somewhat possible that Hogan caught only 34 for 439 yds and 5 TDs because he missed seven games due to that silly "shoulder injury." But still, y'know ... wimp.

In 9 games in 2018 so far, he's only caught 23 for 333 (14.5ypc) and 2 TDs. Once again, on a pace for only 40.9 catches, 666 yds and 4 TDs. Although some people subscribe to the "belief" that Hogan's terrible production is because was double-covered a lot during the first three games of the season, citing the "fact" there were "only" two other WRs active (Dorsett and Patterson), it seems pretty obvious that he's simply fallen off a cliff.

The bottom line is that Hogan's had 33 games in which to contribute something meaningful to the Pats offense, but has only managed to produce 95 catches for 1452 yds and 11 TDs. And the Pats have paid nearly $4M a year for that mediocrity!! Kraft seriously needs to consider relieving BB of his GM duties!

[/snark]