Game Day Thread Official Post Game Thread- Pats beat the Dolphins

[ashley]

Good article by my boy Zack: 5 takeaways from the Dolphins game:

Five Takeaways From Patriots' Season-Extending Win Over Dolphins

The Patriots needed to beat the Dolphins to keep their playoff hopes alive, and they did, winning 23-21 in a battle of injury-ravaged rivals.

nesn.com

 

[Real fan 02]

There is an even more likely scenario, and a better one for us.

If the Bills lose tonight to the Bengals, and the Chiefs win Saturday.

The Chiefs lock up #1 seed before our game. The Bills are more likely to rest players now that the bye is gone.

Best thing we can do is root for the Bengals and and Chiefs this week!

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Thornton had a good game yesterday, but he still is lacking in the fundamentals. I think yesterday was a damning indictment on Troy Brown. Thornton is still struggling with the basics that should have been coached to him.

In this play, Thornton is wide open running down the center of the field. Jones throws a ball to hit him in stride. But Thornton slowed up and turned around. He slowed down too much and had to make a circus catch which made him fall to the ground and not get any yards after the catch. If he just kept running, and even if he had to turn around to catch the ball, it would have been likely a TD rather than just a big gain.



In this play, he doesn't have awareness of the sidelines and gets lucky that the review could not definitively determine when he got possession. He is running parallel with the sidelines. Yes, the ball is slightly overthrown, but still catchable. But when he catches the ball, he turn his body towards the sidelines and has no awareness to even try to drag that back foot. He should have not turn his body at all and tried to recover and run down the sidelines. Or at the very least tried to drag the back foot.



Then there was the pass in the back of the end zone where he steps out of bounds. Yes, wasn't the best pass, but he needed to have awareness of where the back of the end zone was and looked to step out of bounds even before he struggled to catch the ball.

One other thing is he seems to make some easy catches look tough. Last week on the one he dropped, he dove for the ball while he could have easily tried to catch it in stride. Both the videos here he seems to lose control on each catch. Neither were easy catches (the second was because of his own doing), but good and great receivers are more in control of their bodies. That isn't coachable, but hopefully can be corrected with him doing offseason strength and conditioning.

Again, yesterday was a good day for Thornton, but it could have been a great day. All the talk about coaching letting Mac Jones down, I think Thornton has been let down by coaching just as much. Someone should be working with this guy to learn how to work the sidelines. Same with teaching him when he has a free release like that not to slow down and turn around.

I don't mean to trash the guy in arguably the best game of his young career, but I think the guy has far more potential if he is coached better and he gets stronger and has more control of his body.

Interesting take. Could mean that the future is bright if he can put it all together. I think it's clear that he has talent, but we haven't seen all the little details shine yet. Here's hoping for a monster, breakout game next week!

 

[Stu Pidassle]

Thornton had a good game yesterday, but he still is lacking in the fundamentals. I think yesterday was a damning indictment on Troy Brown. Thornton is still struggling with the basics that should have been coached to him.

I had to listen to yesterday's game on the radio. Zo's comments were very much in line with your point that Thornton has room to grow. There was another play where Mac overthrew him on a deep pattern because Thornton stopped running after contact with the DB. Being able to deal with physical DB's is another area of focus that should improve with awareness and additional strength.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

There is an even more likely scenario, and a better one for us.

If the Bills lose tonight to the Bengals, and the Chiefs win Saturday.

The Chiefs lock up #1 seed before our game. The Bills are more likely to rest players now that the bye is gone.

I was contemplating that one as well. Not quite sure how buffalo would react to #2 vs #3 as that may be at stake but yes it would make the game alot less meaningful to them. Either way the Saturday flex will help us as long as the kc result is the opposite of whatever buffalo does tonight.

 

[Real fan 02]

Good article by my boy Zack: 5 takeaways from the Dolphins game:

Five Takeaways From Patriots' Season-Extending Win Over Dolphins

The Patriots needed to beat the Dolphins to keep their playoff hopes alive, and they did, winning 23-21 in a battle of injury-ravaged rivals.

nesn.com

Just thought I'd mention. Beer reported, kraft has made his intentions known to the organization that changes will be made. According to breer RKK has said everyone on the offensive staff will be reviewed save for Caley!

 

[State]

Barmore’s been as advertised since his return. He’s making a difference vs. the run.

Not really. He’s had a quiet season. Plagued by injury.

But he showed up and dominated against Miami. It was a time where he finally shook off the nagging injuries. A very nice development because the other D linemen were quiet. DWise made a couple of plays tho.

 

[State]

Jonathan Jones showed heart, toughness, and big-play ability. He needs to be resigned.

Open up the checkbook.

 

[Real fan 02]

Not really. He’s had a quiet season. Plagued by injury.

But he showed up and dominated against Miami. It was a time where he finally shook off the nagging injuries. A very nice development because the other D linemen were quiet. DWise made a couple of plays tho.

He came into the league with a knee injury and he was on maintenance when we drafted him.. he's explosive, disruptive the guy gers doubled and trippled.. his presence allows judon, wise and uche to make plays.. he aggravated the knee Injury earlier in the season and still working his way back.. if we can get in the dance we are likely to see KC or Buffalo we'll need him!!

 

[Real fan 02]

Jonathan Jones showed heart, toughness, and big-play ability. He needs to be resigned.

Open up the checkbook.

Spot on! He's ending a 3yr 21 million deal he signed in 2019..

 

[State]

The play of the offensive tackles has mightily improved. Trent isn’t sick and is adequate at LT. The new guy at RT is a breath of fresh air after the failed Wynn experiment.

McDermont plays like he actually cares. And, while he is best as a backup, he is a big reason this season can end well and we make the playoffs.

 

[ashley]

Just thought I'd mention. Beer reported, kraft has made his intentions known to the organization that changes will be made. According to breer RKK has said everyone on the offensive staff will be reviewed save for Caley!

Yes, that's the word going around. Don't expect Matt to back as OC.

 

[State]

Yes, that's the word going around. Don't expect Matt to back as OC.

The most fascinating thing of Belichick’s tenure is the dramatic personnel decisions like benching Malcolm Butler in that SB or the infuriating curtailment of Kendrick Bourne’s snaps this season when he is clearly our most explosive WR.

Will we find out the behind-the-scenes details someday? I’m curious.

 

[RIpats88]

I had to listen to yesterday's game on the radio. Zo's comments were very much in line with your point that Thornton has room to grow. There was another play where Mac overthrew him on a deep pattern because Thornton stopped running after contact with the DB. Being able to deal with physical DB's is another area of focus that should improve with awareness and additional strength.

Thornton seems to have a problem where he just stops running. Think he did it last game as well.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

Yes, that's the word going around. Don't expect Matt to back as OC.

If BB really needed RKK to tell him to make coaching changes on the offensive side of the ball, he should just retire now to protect his legacy.

 

[RIpats88]

If BB really needed RKK to tell him to make coaching changes on the offensive side of the ball, he should just retire now to protect his legacy.

The sad thing is, everyone could've predicted this in March when everyone even RKK was puzzled by replacing mcDaniels with Patricia/Judge. It was media talk for awhile. Even RKK said he "didn't agree with it but Bill deserves the right to see if it works" if any other coach handled their offensive coaching positions like this they would be fired.

Had bill hired a real OC instead of his buddies who got fired This season might have been totally different. and that's what's sad. Took a lost year for bill to realize "maybe you need to hire an offensive coach to coach the offense, not anyone can do it!"

Just an average offense and we probably get 10-11 wins this year. And we should have 10 right now except we threw the last 2 games away

 

[Sect140]

I thought broken clavicle as well. Until he moved it full rotation. Could just be that he fell on it awkwardly or Could be a separation.

My concern was the whole time he was down on the field the receiver on the play was on one knee behind the trainers which made me think it’s a serious injury. I sure do hope I’m wrong.

 

[ashley]

If BB really needed RKK to tell him to make coaching changes on the offensive side of the ball, he should just retire now to protect his legacy.

We all know that's not happening. He's still very passionate about the game and I think is motivated by passing Shula who he didn't have a good relationship with.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

The sad thing is, everyone could've predicted this in March when everyone even RKK was puzzled by replacing mcDaniels with Patricia/Judge. It was media talk for awhile. Even RKK said he "didn't agree with it but Bill deserves the right to see if it works" if any other coach handled their offensive coaching positions like this they would be fired.

Had bill hired a real OC instead of his buddies who got fired This season might have been totally different. and that's what's sad. Took a lost year for bill to realize "maybe you need to hire an offensive coach to coach the offense, not anyone can do it!"

Just an average offense and we probably get 10-11 wins this year. And we should have 10 right now except we threw the last 2 games away

I agree with your point, even BB seemed to acknowledge that it was unorthodox. BB has gone against the grain before and proven everyone wrong, which is probably why RKK let it happen. While it seems like total sh-- now, it will be interesting to see how the team, especially Mac, applies the lessons learned next year. Pushing Mac to the point of meltdown may have long term benefits for his development.

 

[Sect140]

Mac on third down today, 6 for 10, 97 yards and two touchdowns.