It's time to open up the offense

[Dagg]

If by open up the offense you mean run more then I agree. I would love to see us pound the rock consistently for once. Blount is running well and Ridley is coming on as well.

Best way to fix our oline issues is to run more. Keeps def off balance so they cant pin their ears back and wears them down.

 

[condon84]

Can't run it if the patchwork offense can't handle it.

They can't handle what? That they're going at a faster pace? We've done in in spurts when they've needed to come from behind.

 

[captain stone]

I fully disagree with this and would say the Patriots actually did what you want yesterday - - and it was strategically disastrous.

The Patriots did not run ENOUGH yesterday. As I wrote before the game in the game thread, McDaniels should have gone heavy run all game long in 86 degree weather so as to help our D not fatigue down the stretch (which, unfortunately is precisely what happened).

Look up the stat line. The Pats offense was 55 pass-22 run even though the running game averaged 4.4 ypc. Running more often would have allowed our D not to get gassed playing in the dark unis in the heat (The Phins know what they are doing with that).

It was patently obvious. McDaniels was being a stubborn $%**# trying to prove something with Brady throwing 55 times to a WR corps made up of 1 good pass catching RB, 2 slot receivers and ????????.

Eggs-actly, Batman.

I've said it before in other threads, and I'm saying it again here:
Skippy's play-calling in Goal-to-Go situations this season has been utter garbage,
and was the primary reason why we lost yesterday.

 

[chicowalker]

If by open up the offense you mean run more then I agree. I would love to see us pound the rock consistently for once. Blount is running well and Ridley is coming on as well.

Best way to fix our oline issues is to run more. Keeps def off balance so they cant pin their ears back and wears them down.

Downside is also lessened, since a mistake by the line on a running play doesn't get Brady hurt.

I think the running game also has been underutilizing Vereen, especially near the goal line. Maybe that's due to his injury. But I've thought for a while that vereen is a good option deep in the red zone, and with Gronk out again he could be even more valuable. Goal line aside, though, 2 carries for Vereen simply isn't enough.

(btw, was Bolden active yesterday? I don't think he had any carries, and I don't remember seeing him)

 

[SalemPats]

If by open up the offense you mean run more then I agree. I would love to see us pound the rock consistently for once. Blount is running well and Ridley is coming on as well.

Best way to fix our oline issues is to run more. Keeps def off balance so they cant pin their ears back and wears them down.

I think the opposite, i want to see us move the ball downfield, we have the best QB and fast WRs. Enough of 3rd and 5 every time and punt.

 

[shmessy]

I think the opposite, i want to see us move the ball downfield, we have the best QB and fast WRs. Enough of 3rd and 5 every time and punt.

A pass-run ratio of 55-22 with no Gronk and no #3 and #4 WR isn't enough for you?

Okkeedokee.

 

[SalemPats]

A pass-run ratio of 55-22 with no Gronk and no #3 and #4 WR isn't enough for you?

Okkeedokee.

What i'm trying to say, is that in the 1st half we were running a predictable offense and not going for the win. If you watched what Payton did to the fish earlier this year, he used 3/4 WR sets and killed them with screen, slants and wheel routes. And then when it opened up they went downfield. Josh ran a plain offense and then when we needed it the 2nd half Tom took over. It's time to start playing aggressive from the beginning.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

They can't handle what? That they're going at a faster pace? We've done in in spurts when they've needed to come from behind.

Exactly. Can't handle the pace. You answered your own question.

 

[shmessy]

What i'm trying to say, is that in the 1st half we were running a predictable offense and not going for the win. If you watched what Payton did to the fish earlier this year, he used 3/4 WR sets and killed them with screen, slants and wheel routes.

1)
First half: NE-10 Mia-7
Second half: Mia-17 NE-10

What was it about the first half that was the problem?

2)
Manning had the depth of personnel to do that with - - including a true weapon pass catching TE. I'm sorry, but you are completely ignoring who was on the active roster yesterday for Brady to throw to in your proposed 4 WR sets. It literally was "Edelmanola and Pray for Rain". It was a miracle (and testament to Brady's greatness) that they came so close to winning while McDaniels was committing football homicide.

 

[varjao]

I'm missing the no huddle , Brady is a master on it.

Definitely the running game needs more touches, at the same time, I really don't wanna see Ridley carrying the ball unless we are 15 points ahead.

 

[SalemPats]

I'm missing the no huddle , Brady is a master on it.

Definitely the running game needs more touches, at the same time, I really don't wanna see Ridley carrying the ball unless we are 15 points ahead.

Agreed it's week 16, i know Gronk is out, but Edelman, Vereen, Amendola and the rooks should know where to go and where to be. I would love to see more no-huddle and Vereen in all 3 downs and running more often

 

[condon84]

Exactly. Can't handle the pace. You answered your own question.

So you're saying they're out of shape?

 

[FirstAndGoal]

So you're saying they're out of shape?

Nope, played enough ball to know that it isn't easy to do. Too many new parts is my guess. Two minute drills are a different animal than playing at the fast pace. It's about mental errors. These guys can't even get it right when they're huddling up and you want to ask them to remember a sequence of plays/snaps/adjustments/audible all while trying to get in the right formations as fast as humanly possible....just not enough experience/time working together is my guess.

 

[Deus Irae]

Given what this team has gone through (injuries, #81, etc.) this season, and given what you just listed above, anyone that takes a crap on this team should be flogged. They're playing a ton of guys hurt right now because everyone else is out or on IR (so they're *really* out). Just a couple of weeks ago they had to start 5 rookies on defense. And yet this team is in every game, winning (or losing) in the most exciting/excruciating fashion imaginable.

How anyone could be a fan of the Patriots and not appreciate what this particular team has done this year is beyond me. They've given us everything they possibly can.

There's still stuff to "crap" about. There pretty much always is, because true perfection is unattainable. This year, it's a few specific players, and the half-ass job BB did in the offseason that would seem to be the fairest targets.

 

[condon84]

Nope, played enough ball to know that it isn't easy to do. Too many new parts is my guess. Two minute drills are a different animal than playing at the fast pace. It's about mental errors. These guys can't even get it right when they're huddling up and you want to ask them to remember a sequence of plays/snaps/adjustments/audible all while trying to get in the right formations as fast as humanly possible....just not enough experience/time working together is my guess.

You're making it sound like they're the bad news bear out there lol.

We have employed the up-tempo offense in the middle of the game or to start the game earlier in the season. Against ATL in the 3rd quarter, against the Jets second game on the first 3 drives come to mind quickly. Both times we moved the ball well and scored TDs.

Why we don't do it often is a mystery, but I don't think your reasoning - because they're inexperience or out of shape - is the reason.

Consider that all the linemen have been here since last year minimum. Even our rookie WRS received significant playing time when we ran uptempo offense with success against ATL and second JEts game.

Coincidentally, when we slowed it down against the Jets is when our offense bogged down and we lost momentum.

We still have Ridley and Vereen, both of whom were great running the ball in an uptempo offense.

I think this is probably a philosophical change more than anything. Control the game with a ball control offense.