The Official Patriots/Bills Postgame Thread

[Patspsycho]

BB kept Meriweather in even after his mistake on the Spiller TD, so I think he'll be okay. Meriweather is head-and-shoulders better than Sanders or Page at this point, and I'm sure BB is well aware of it.

I think it's just a matter of trying to get Meriweather to rein in his freelancing. Sometimes you can get away with a little freelancing, but most of the time you have to stick to your AOR, your assignment, and play fundamental football, e.g., over the top, not inside and underneath as he did on that Spiller TD.

 

[apple strudel]

I don't know....name one above average player on this defense not named Wilfork.

Meriweather, Mayo, a healthy Warren, possibly G Warren, possibly McCourty.

 

[patsfan13]

Well they are not a good D yet.

2 turnovers isn't bad,

I liked what I saw from Mayo, Brace, McCourty and Chung.

BJGE was terrific in the 2nd half.

 

[apple strudel]

It would help if we have a consistent pass rush. We could protect our young guys back there if we have individuals who can generate consistent pressure or have a blitz package that can keep QBs off balance. We don't have any of that. Fitzpatrick had time to throw the ball back there. Even if we had Ty Law and Tyrone Poole, if the pressure isn't getting to the QB, they're going to complete passes.

Sure. In terms of priority and not counting injuries the defensive problems are 1) RCB, 2) pass rush, 3) communication/youth. Before the Bodden injury, pass rush was still obviously the number 1 problem.

 

[JackBauer]

I think it's just a matter of trying to get Meriweather to rein in his freelancing. Sometimes you can get away with a little freelancing, but most of the time you have to stick to your AOR, your assignment, and play fundamental football, e.g., over the top, not inside and underneath as he did on that Spiller TD.

I agree. I think the issue is even more acute with the young and inexperience on the defense. Can't really afford Meriweather going off to do his thing because it's not like we're ready to leave McCourty and Butler unassisted.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

The Bills probably won't put 30 points on the board in the next 3 games.

Another poor defensive effort showing the youth continuing to try and figure out NFL offenses

Comparing the offense and defense to this team its like putting real nice looking makeup on a gosh damn ugly girl.....she looks pretty good with all that stuff on, but take off that makeup and shes ugly as hell - the offense is the makeup,the ugly girl is the defense.

 

[JMarr]

McCourty, Mayo, TBC, Meriweather, Chung. All above average, to varying degrees. None of them are elite, though, that's the real issue. Not having Bodden and Warren hurts, it's quickly becoming apparent how little depth we had behind them.

Fair enough. And no elite players are stepping through the door [although I have high hopes for Spikes and Chung to become studs by the end of the year].

So with that in mind, scheme and cohesion are the only things that are going to save our D.

 

[Deus Irae]

I don't know....name one above average player on this defense not named Wilfork.

Meriweather and Mayo are above average. The rest aren't, although Spikes, McCourty and Chung all have shown that sort of potential through 3 games, and Brace might become a very solid force against the run.

You're right though, in that there aren't ballhawks or sackmasters.

 

[JackBauer]

Fair enough. And no elite players are stepping through the door [although I have high hopes for Spikes and Chung to become studs by the end of the year].

So with that in mind, scheme and cohesion are the only things that are going to save our D.

That's the thing, though.

There are guys with that kind of potential. It just takes time. Spikes, Chung, Cunningham, McCourty. I would say Mayo, too. I still think he has a lot of potential on this defense.

 

[JackBauer]

TBC might be above average as a 3-4 OLB.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Fair enough. And no elite players are stepping through the door [although I have high hopes for Spikes and Chung to become studs by the end of the year].

So with that in mind, scheme and cohesion are the only things that are going to save our D.

Stepping through the door over what timeframe? Chung, Spikes, whatever DE we use Oakland's pick on, and McCourty could all potentially develop into elite players over the next few years.

 

[stcjones]

Bodden and Warren, but they're both injured.

Mayo
Meriweather
Chung as he's played so far

There are others but that's based a lot on potential than anything else.

Mayo (since this game) Wilfork, Meriweather (here and there), Chung (looks really promising so far).....that is about it for our "all stars" on D. Now Spikes and Cunningham will have great moments this year.....and G Warren has proven to be our only pass rush threat (which is sad) but he is not going to be a consistent pressure guy.......That is about it.....the rest are either a work in progress....or a bunch of busts.....

 

[JackBauer]

Mayo (since this game) Wilfork, Meriweather (here and there), Chung (looks really promising so far).....that is about it for our "all stars" on D. Now Spikes and Cunningham will have great moments this year.....and G Warren has proven to be our only pass rush threat (which is sad) but he is not going to be a consistent pressure guy.......That is about it.....the rest are either a work in progress....or a bunch of busts.....

??

After Brace and Crable, I'm not writing anyone off as a bust until they're cut from the team.

The defense has been entirely transformed and two of your best veterans are on IR. People were complaining that our defense was old and slow, and now it's young, fast, and inexperienced. There are still pieces to add but most of all it's the kind of squad that needs patience to see how it all unfolds.

 

[upstater1]

Post your reactions to today's game here.

Wooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Patspsycho]

I agree. I think the issue is even more acute with the young and inexperience on the defense. Can't really afford Meriweather going off to do his thing because it's not like we're ready to leave McCourty and Butler unassisted.

Exactly. He's not playing with Bodden underneath him anymore (for this year).

 

[condon84]

Sure. In terms of priority and not counting injuries the defensive problems are 1) RCB, 2) pass rush, 3) communication/youth. Before the Bodden injury, pass rush was still obviously the number 1 problem.

I'm not giving up on Butler yet. His confidence is shot but hopefully he'll get it back.

He played well in the first half against the Bengals when he pressed his guy. Then they switched to zone in the second half against the Bengals and Palmer started completing passes his way which probably hurt his confidence. Then we go up against the Jets and start in a zone and the Sanchez gets in a rythm, gets some lucky PI calls on underthrown balls to Edwards with Butler covering him and next thing you know, everyone is jumping on how awful he is. You can't blame him for PI calls when the balls are underthrown. It's impossible to defend against that.

Butler plays better when he's pressing his guy. He's got the speed and the ability to change direction to run with receivers.

 

[Patspsycho]

I'm not giving up on Butler yet. His confidence is shot but hopefully he'll get it back.

It's not about his confidence. I think he's fine. He is just relying too much on his athleticism, which will only take you so far in the NFL. He has to learn proper technique, and stop being so impatient, and let the game come to him.

 

[ahmed]

The offense was great except for a few penalties. Hernandez is amazing and Gronk has the softest hands I have ever seen. I will be shocked to see him drop anything.

Defense was bad, you can slice it any way you want but it is bad when you allow a team that scored a combined 17 points in its previous two games to put 23 point on the board.

I want to see Hernandez and Gronk more involved in the passing game.

 

[mb6592]

Meriweather and Mayo are above average. The rest aren't, although Spikes, McCourty and Chung all have shown that sort of potential through 3 games, and Brace might become a very solid force against the run.

You're right though, in that there aren't ballhawks or sackmasters.

Hate to say it, but the jury is still out on almost all of these guys.

 

[mgteich]

You're complaining because we only have four stars on defense, plus developing players Cunningham and Spikes (and McCourty and Brace)? Banta-Cain and Sanders are not all-stars, but cerainly have played reasonably well.

Mayo (since this game) Wilfork, Meriweather (here and there), Chung (looks really promising so far).....that is about it for our "all stars" on D. Now Spikes and Cunningham will have great moments this year.....and G Warren has proven to be our only pass rush threat (which is sad) but he is not going to be a consistent pressure guy.......That is about it.....the rest are either a work in progress....or a bunch of busts.....