- Joined
- Jul 11, 2005
- Messages
- 15,517
- Reaction score
- 27,504
Like the great majority of you guys, I had little hope for this game as soon as I heard Cam wouldn't be playing. In fact let's list the obstacles this team had to over come.
a. They lost their starting QB and the key factor in their offense just a day before the game was originally going to be played.
b. Their facility was shut down, so there were no meetings, let alone walk throughs prior to the game
c. They had to fly out THIS morning to KC and played just 3 hours after they landed in KC
d. Oh and about that offensive line we were so happy about in game 3. Well only ONE guy was playing in the same position for this game. (Wynn). Mason and Elumanuer miss the game entirely, Oweneu had to move to RG, Thuney back to LG, Fertentz is comes up from the PS to start at C ( Thank GOD Jones was hurt) and some guy who had Herren on the back of his jersey was playing RT (did anyone else go "who is Herren" when they saw this?
e. And then during the game I find out Sony Michel (who just had his best game as a Patriot) is now on IR
f. Your QB didn't know he was starting until Saturday, got NO starting snaps all week (even after he knew he was starting)
Then you add the adversity they had to overcome DURING the game.
a. TWO dropped picks (and I mean EASY picks) led directly to 10 KC points
b. Your supposed second best offensive player decides THIS is the game he would have his WORST game as a Patriot with 2 drops and a pick 6 to his credit.
c. The refs make one of the WORST calls I have ever seen. A call that not only took away possession, but cost them a TD by negating the run. Sterrattor was desperately back peddling trying to explain it before they mercifully went to commercial before his tongue was tied in knots.
d. Then you lost 6 points when your 12 year veteran QB made 2 rookie mistakes.
So in the end. Instead of thinking that they just had a "moral victory", I NOW have to believe that the team we put on the field tonight despite ALL the factors written above WAS capable of beating the Chiefs tonight had they played a smarter, more precise and better executed game. We might not win every game we play the rest of the year. BUT, after watching this game, they won't face a team that they CAN'T beat. So lets break it down quickly since I have to be up early tomorrow (so my opinions will be less fact based, than gut based and hopefully my gut will be vindicated when we see the rewatch thread and get all the "grades" later in the week.
1. Offense
a. General thoughts - I would have liked to have seen just a few deep throws. Too many of the throws tonight seemed to go LESS than 10 yds beyond the LOS. My other general thought was that TE's we've never heard of are catching balls all over the league. Good teams, bad teams, it doesn't matter. Cmon Bill. We drafted 2 TE's in the first 3 rounds. Isn't it time they got some targets??????
b. QB - This wasn't the ideal situation for Brian Hoyer to get his first start as a Patriot, to say the least. Like its not like he's the most athletically gifted QB to begin with, but LORD, what I didn't expect was the mental errors that proved so costly.
On the other hand, Jared Stidham may have wound up with a horrid statistical game, but I LIKED some of what I saw. I liked the way the ball came out of his hands. I LIKED that he threw it downfield to a guy who got behind the secondary. and yes, it was picked off, but he will get better at it. It will be pointed out that the pass had to be released earlier and have more loft. I liked the velocity and zip I saw on his ball.
Clearly he needs to learn to step up in the pocket and set his feet better, but it took Cam Newton 9 years to start to learn those things. Stidham missed most of TC how could he NOT make mistakes. Bottom line here: If Cam is unable to start next week, I want Stiddie to be our QB vs Denver.
BTW- as badly as the QB's played tonight, they only threw for only 45 yds LESS than the best QB in the league. Think about that.
c. OL - Anyone know what happened to Mason and Elumaneur. I don't remember hearing anything during the week. Well regardless, the offensive line played pretty well IMHO, given the fact they were a patchwork group. Only 2 sacks and a half dozen hurries. Add to the fact they were part of another 180" yd running attack. Whoever the 2 guys who are coaching this group, who names I can't remember. I need to know more about them because they are doing one HELL of a job each and every week, especially given all the changes they are having to go through so far. And while I STILL don't know who Herren is, he wasn't horrible enough that I could pick out his flaws.
BTW- When I saw Ferrentz was starting at C, I never thought we'd move the ball at all. I NEVER liked him as an OLman. I always figured that this would be a nice gig for the kid before he gave it up and went back to the family business (coaching). I REALLY didn't think he was any good. That being said, like Herren, he wasn't awful such that he stood out. I thought he didn't allow much up the middle in the pass rush, and while he wasn't blowing people out or getting to the 2nd level much, he also wasn't getting pushed back much either. Good for him, but I can't wait for him to go back to the PS and Andrews comes back.
RB- Damian Harris had a good night with 100 yds to his credit. But we have to temper any hype just yet. I thought he left more than few yds that he could have made with better reads. He certainly runs with power, but I think he has the speed to bounce it out more. But given how few practice reps this kid has had, it was a good showing. I'm only pointing out the negatives to emphasize how much upside is left.
The other RB's also averaged over 4ypc and it was good to see James White back (though he looked rusty.)
WR's - Harry showed real athleticism on his TD catch. He also showed some run after catch ability on his 3 catches. We KNOW he is capable of making the tough catch. We need to see him learn to separate better so he can get some easy ones. You don't necessarily need great speed or quickness to separate. The greatest WR in NFL history (Jerry RIce), was not particularly quick OR fast. Cmon Troy - Teach this kid how YOU did it when you weren't quick fast, OR big.
I mentioned Jules early in the post so I won't belabor his most forgettable game as a Patriot. Nice catch by Gunner on his first drop though.'
Meanwhile Byrd is very quietly piling up the catches
TE's They didn't do anything again except block well. The WR's ALSO did a great job blocking on the run.
2. DEFENSE.
a, General Defensive thoughts - and because I've been at this for 2 hours and its now midnight, I'm just going to give you my general thoughts and leave it like that.
The most important thing I felt this defense did well was the top 3 things it needs to do. 1. stop the run. 2. contain the QB and 3 create turnovers. They did about 2 and a half of those things. They held the KC RB's to 66 yds and 92 when you add Mahomes' total. They front 7 contained Mahomes and didn't let him extend plays to the point where our defenders could no longer cover their receivers. Finally they would have gotten stars for all three categories had they gotten the correct call, and hadn't dropped 2 easy picks, which would have left them with FOUR turnovers, added 7 points to the Pats and taken away 10 from KC, and you can see where we might have had a different result
So overall. Kudos to the Pats defense. IMHO they played well enough to win this game and were let down by the offense. The ENTIRE offense.
b. I STILL worry that a big physical team like the Titans or Ravens could overpower our front seven in the playoffs. But to date, the front 7 have improved every game.
3 ST's - Folk's FG's and extra points looked as solid and straight as they've had all season. Baily's punts were as good and well placed as we've seen. and coverage was fine.
Final thoughts : If we get to meet KC in the playoffs, I will respect them, but I won't fear them....at least as much as I feared them prior to this game. Also I think this a better team than I gave them credit for, and if it keep up it will be one of Bill's better jobs of his long tenure.
I know I'm leaving out a lot, but I'll try to do better next time.
a. They lost their starting QB and the key factor in their offense just a day before the game was originally going to be played.
b. Their facility was shut down, so there were no meetings, let alone walk throughs prior to the game
c. They had to fly out THIS morning to KC and played just 3 hours after they landed in KC
d. Oh and about that offensive line we were so happy about in game 3. Well only ONE guy was playing in the same position for this game. (Wynn). Mason and Elumanuer miss the game entirely, Oweneu had to move to RG, Thuney back to LG, Fertentz is comes up from the PS to start at C ( Thank GOD Jones was hurt) and some guy who had Herren on the back of his jersey was playing RT (did anyone else go "who is Herren" when they saw this?
e. And then during the game I find out Sony Michel (who just had his best game as a Patriot) is now on IR
f. Your QB didn't know he was starting until Saturday, got NO starting snaps all week (even after he knew he was starting)
Then you add the adversity they had to overcome DURING the game.
a. TWO dropped picks (and I mean EASY picks) led directly to 10 KC points
b. Your supposed second best offensive player decides THIS is the game he would have his WORST game as a Patriot with 2 drops and a pick 6 to his credit.
c. The refs make one of the WORST calls I have ever seen. A call that not only took away possession, but cost them a TD by negating the run. Sterrattor was desperately back peddling trying to explain it before they mercifully went to commercial before his tongue was tied in knots.
d. Then you lost 6 points when your 12 year veteran QB made 2 rookie mistakes.
So in the end. Instead of thinking that they just had a "moral victory", I NOW have to believe that the team we put on the field tonight despite ALL the factors written above WAS capable of beating the Chiefs tonight had they played a smarter, more precise and better executed game. We might not win every game we play the rest of the year. BUT, after watching this game, they won't face a team that they CAN'T beat. So lets break it down quickly since I have to be up early tomorrow (so my opinions will be less fact based, than gut based and hopefully my gut will be vindicated when we see the rewatch thread and get all the "grades" later in the week.
1. Offense
a. General thoughts - I would have liked to have seen just a few deep throws. Too many of the throws tonight seemed to go LESS than 10 yds beyond the LOS. My other general thought was that TE's we've never heard of are catching balls all over the league. Good teams, bad teams, it doesn't matter. Cmon Bill. We drafted 2 TE's in the first 3 rounds. Isn't it time they got some targets??????
b. QB - This wasn't the ideal situation for Brian Hoyer to get his first start as a Patriot, to say the least. Like its not like he's the most athletically gifted QB to begin with, but LORD, what I didn't expect was the mental errors that proved so costly.
On the other hand, Jared Stidham may have wound up with a horrid statistical game, but I LIKED some of what I saw. I liked the way the ball came out of his hands. I LIKED that he threw it downfield to a guy who got behind the secondary. and yes, it was picked off, but he will get better at it. It will be pointed out that the pass had to be released earlier and have more loft. I liked the velocity and zip I saw on his ball.
Clearly he needs to learn to step up in the pocket and set his feet better, but it took Cam Newton 9 years to start to learn those things. Stidham missed most of TC how could he NOT make mistakes. Bottom line here: If Cam is unable to start next week, I want Stiddie to be our QB vs Denver.
BTW- as badly as the QB's played tonight, they only threw for only 45 yds LESS than the best QB in the league. Think about that.
c. OL - Anyone know what happened to Mason and Elumaneur. I don't remember hearing anything during the week. Well regardless, the offensive line played pretty well IMHO, given the fact they were a patchwork group. Only 2 sacks and a half dozen hurries. Add to the fact they were part of another 180" yd running attack. Whoever the 2 guys who are coaching this group, who names I can't remember. I need to know more about them because they are doing one HELL of a job each and every week, especially given all the changes they are having to go through so far. And while I STILL don't know who Herren is, he wasn't horrible enough that I could pick out his flaws.
BTW- When I saw Ferrentz was starting at C, I never thought we'd move the ball at all. I NEVER liked him as an OLman. I always figured that this would be a nice gig for the kid before he gave it up and went back to the family business (coaching). I REALLY didn't think he was any good. That being said, like Herren, he wasn't awful such that he stood out. I thought he didn't allow much up the middle in the pass rush, and while he wasn't blowing people out or getting to the 2nd level much, he also wasn't getting pushed back much either. Good for him, but I can't wait for him to go back to the PS and Andrews comes back.
RB- Damian Harris had a good night with 100 yds to his credit. But we have to temper any hype just yet. I thought he left more than few yds that he could have made with better reads. He certainly runs with power, but I think he has the speed to bounce it out more. But given how few practice reps this kid has had, it was a good showing. I'm only pointing out the negatives to emphasize how much upside is left.
The other RB's also averaged over 4ypc and it was good to see James White back (though he looked rusty.)
WR's - Harry showed real athleticism on his TD catch. He also showed some run after catch ability on his 3 catches. We KNOW he is capable of making the tough catch. We need to see him learn to separate better so he can get some easy ones. You don't necessarily need great speed or quickness to separate. The greatest WR in NFL history (Jerry RIce), was not particularly quick OR fast. Cmon Troy - Teach this kid how YOU did it when you weren't quick fast, OR big.
I mentioned Jules early in the post so I won't belabor his most forgettable game as a Patriot. Nice catch by Gunner on his first drop though.'
Meanwhile Byrd is very quietly piling up the catches
TE's They didn't do anything again except block well. The WR's ALSO did a great job blocking on the run.
2. DEFENSE.
a, General Defensive thoughts - and because I've been at this for 2 hours and its now midnight, I'm just going to give you my general thoughts and leave it like that.
The most important thing I felt this defense did well was the top 3 things it needs to do. 1. stop the run. 2. contain the QB and 3 create turnovers. They did about 2 and a half of those things. They held the KC RB's to 66 yds and 92 when you add Mahomes' total. They front 7 contained Mahomes and didn't let him extend plays to the point where our defenders could no longer cover their receivers. Finally they would have gotten stars for all three categories had they gotten the correct call, and hadn't dropped 2 easy picks, which would have left them with FOUR turnovers, added 7 points to the Pats and taken away 10 from KC, and you can see where we might have had a different result
So overall. Kudos to the Pats defense. IMHO they played well enough to win this game and were let down by the offense. The ENTIRE offense.
b. I STILL worry that a big physical team like the Titans or Ravens could overpower our front seven in the playoffs. But to date, the front 7 have improved every game.
3 ST's - Folk's FG's and extra points looked as solid and straight as they've had all season. Baily's punts were as good and well placed as we've seen. and coverage was fine.
Final thoughts : If we get to meet KC in the playoffs, I will respect them, but I won't fear them....at least as much as I feared them prior to this game. Also I think this a better team than I gave them credit for, and if it keep up it will be one of Bill's better jobs of his long tenure.
I know I'm leaving out a lot, but I'll try to do better next time.
