The New official Patriots vs Steelers Post game thread.

[PittPatriot]

After today's game, 85 has no reason to be on this team. He might turn it around but how long would that take?
Owens is at least tall and physical

I just can't see TB getting along with a selfish guy like Owens. A guy I met on the airplane to Pittsburgh this weekend is a good friend of Bill O'Brien and he insists the Pats got rid of Moss because Brady and he stopped getting along. I think we are done with prima donna WR for a while now...

 

[ATippett56]

I don't think so. McCourty in the midst of a sophmore slump, Chung solid, then what? Arrington passable - maybe?

McCourty sophomore year = the second coming of the 2010 version of Darius Butler

 

[Deus Irae]

Ben attempted 39 passes within 10 yards today. He was averaging under 20 per game this season prior to today. Today, 78% of his passing attempts were within 10 yards. On the season, it has been 59%.

No matter which way you slice it, the Steelers today played like a different team than the Steelers of any time in the near past.

This was discussed before the game took place. The Patriots had Joe the plumber playing in the defensive backfield. They had to go into a deep shell with the linebackers falling way back, in order to defend against the deep speed of Wallace and company. The problem was that they went so far back that they couldn't get up when the underneath routes were used, and the Steelers did the smart thing and killed the Patriots with Miller & company.

It was a completely predictable result of having dog crap in the defensive secondary, and combining that with a weak linebacking corps.

 

[ATippett56]

After today's game, 85 has no reason to be on this team. He might turn it around but how long would that take?
Owens is at least tall and physical

Meanwhile the New England Patriots cut cornerback Leigh Bodden instead of wide receiver Chad Ochostinko!

 

[RayClay]

Re: Patriots are the Pig that built its House from Straw

I call BS. They were ALL coverage sacks after Ben held the ball for like 10 seconds.

lol. You're supposed to have some coverage sometime. So your saying our coverage is so outstanding it's forcing the defense to get sacks even though they suck? Interesting theory.

Our tremendous coverage forced the line and LBs to keep Rothlisburg in the pocket too, did you notice that?

 

[ATippett56]

It was a completely predictable result of having dog crap in the defensive secondary, and combining that with a weak linebacking corps.

Why is Rob Stinkovich on the 53 man active roster?

 

[bob85ne]

Brady and the offense have to play lights out at the moment, and if they are stalled or thrown off their game the defence can't get off the field.

Yeah the offense had big 3 and outs but the defense couldn't get them back on the field the majority of the time untill after a Pittsburgh score.

I know that what we see on TV doesn't always mean we know the play/scheme etc but the Steelers are all over the Pats receivers yet the Steelers receivers have acres of space.

If only the Pats had an average defence.

Bill Belichick the GM is not helping Bill Belichick the coach.

 

[ATippett56]

Brady and the offense have to play lights out at the moment, and if they are stalled or thrown off their game the defence can't get off the field.

2011 New England Patriots = 2004 Indianapolis Colts

 

[blackglass3]

If you guys want to see an actual ass-kicking, turn on NBC right now. WE had a bad game and lost by 8 to one of the top teams in the AFC. Its going to happen, chill the f out. They have 9 more weeks to work on this type of stuff. It's going to be a rollercoaster, either strap in and stop whining about the dips or exit the ride to your left.

 

[ATippett56]

If only the Pats had an average defence.

Bill Belichick the GM is not helping Bill Belichick the coach.

Drafting the Alabama Crimson Tide defense would be a good place to start for 2012.

 

[dhamz]

Re: Patriots are the Pig that built its House from Straw

lol. You're supposed to have some coverage sometime. So your saying our coverage is so outstanding it's forcing the defense to get sacks even though they suck? Interesting theory.

Our tremendous coverage forced the line and LBs to keep Rothlisburg in the pocket too, did you notice that?

I think what he was saying is that when the opposing QB fades back 53 times and 3 times he finds no one open and you get sacks because this QB simply never throws it away under any circumstances, neither your pass rush or your coverage have anything to brag about.

 

[Deus Irae]

If you guys want to see an actual ass-kicking, turn on NBC right now. WE had a bad game and lost by 8 to one of the top teams in the AFC. Its going to happen, chill the f out. They have 9 more weeks to work on this type of stuff. It's going to be a rollercoaster, either strap in and stop whining about the dips or exit the ride to your left.

They stunk. They deserve to be called on it. The team's in real trouble, in terms of the playoff potential. You're welcome to pretend that's not the case, although that didn't used to be your style.

 

[letekro]

Re: Patriots are the Pig that built its House from Straw

lol. You're supposed to have some coverage sometime. So your saying our coverage is so outstanding it's forcing the defense to get sacks even though they suck? Interesting theory.

Our tremendous coverage forced the line and LBs to keep Rothlisburg in the pocket too, did you notice that?

I have no theory. I'm pointing out facts obvious to anyone that watched the game--the sacks were all of the coverage variety. That doesn't mean the coverage was good throughout the game, because it obviously wasn't. But the pass rush or lack thereof was complicit in the breakdowns.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Bill Belichick the GM is not helping Bill Belichick the coach.

i agree with this. parcells had a big hand in drafting the guys for our past success. i don't think parcells is as good a coach as belichick, but as a talent evaluator he's far better.

sometimes i can't figure belichick out. our secondary sucks, so he cuts meriweather, sanders, page and bodden????? somehow antoun molden is supposed to save the day?????? our secondary was not nearly as bad last year as they were able to come up with turnovers. it just doesn't make any sense to me. my only guess is that he wanted to make room for washed up guys like faulk, who is his favorite.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

also the defense was on roll for the past couple weeks and then the buy week messed things up. it took any continuity away from this unit.

the players were so arrogant as to not want any more 2 a day practices and demanded the 5 day off bye week in the new CBA. this is what you get, guys. good job.

 

[blackglass3]

They stunk. They deserve to be called on it. The team's in real trouble, in terms of the playoff potential. You're welcome to pretend that's not the case, although that didn't used to be your style.

Deserve to be called out? God yes. Bad tackling, coverage head scratches, using Faulk over Ridley and Wood head...bad stuff. Threads about Belichick on the hot seat and people wanting to pack in the season? No, it's knee jerkery at its finest.

I refuse to go crazy over one loss, is all. I didn't put them in the Super Bowl after the comeback against Dallas, I refuse to put them in the 8-8 category after one loss.

 

[RayClay]

Re: Patriots are the Pig that built its House from Straw

I think what he was saying is that when the opposing QB fades back 53 times and 3 times he finds no one open and you get sacks because this QB simply never throws it away under any circumstances, neither your pass rush or your coverage have anything to brag about.

what I'm saying is, the element of actually covering receivers factors into almost all sacks. There was very little coverage going on in that game, almost painful to watch. When they contain rothlisburg in the pocket most of the game and sack him five times, that part of the defense is having at least an adequate game.

This myth of the ultimate sacker that destroys QBs on 3 step drops in 100ths of a second is just that, a myth.

 

[Deus Irae]

Deserve to be called out? God yes. Bad tackling, coverage head scratches, using Faulk over Ridley and Wood head...bad stuff. Threads about Belichick on the hot seat and people wanting to pack in the season? No, it's knee jerkery at its finest.

I refuse to go crazy over one loss, is all. I didn't put them in the Super Bowl after the comeback against Dallas, I refuse to put them in the 8-8 category after one loss.

They are the New England Patriots. It's not about 8-8. Those days are gone. It's about championships. Or, rather, it used to be. Those days seem to be gone, too. Now it seems to be about regular season division titles. Talking about that steaming pile of dung the Patriots called a game today is not knee jerkery. We've been talking about this team's problems since 2009, and they are largely the same now as they were then, at least when it come to the defense.

 

[ATippett56]

The team's in real trouble, in terms of the playoff potential.

The New England Patriots defensive secondary has been essentially reduced to Arrington, Chung, McCourty.

The New England Patriots wide receiver corps have been essentially reduced to Branch, Welker.

Never would I have thought the New England Patriots would be so thin at talent in the two aforementioned positions.

 

[FCB02062]

i never thought the pass defense would be this bad. It's an indictment on this teams drafting and free agents signings of corners and safeties. It's been terrible. but wait, there was a lot of "value" in all those third round corners, right, and first rounders from schitty football schools?
The Pats have 9 games left, five of which are against average or better than average quarterbacks. Arians did what anyone with brain SHOULD have done from day one against this piss poor defense - throw, throw, and throw some more. I fully expect every team the Patriots face to do the same. Manning'll have 400, Sanchez 275, Cassell 325, Vick 350, then Fitzpatrick will finish off the season with about 350...
I just can't believe there are people (fanboys) that want to dismiss this garbage as "it's just one game", etc....this team is not that good, and unless their defense shows they can stop someone they will not win another playoff game. This team needs to put the kibosh on the NYG, KC, NYJ, PHI, or BUF in the season ender to show they can actually stop a good team. They need to hold a good team with a good qb under 20 points, because lately the patriots have shown THEY have a hard team scoring more than 20 in the playoffs.
I was slightly impressed with the3 performance against Dallas, then I turned on the game tonight....