Couldn't help myself but to break down this point by point. Once I found that this guy was a Steelers fan, it all made sense. Just another bitter, bitter guy.
The Giants showed how to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowls. By putting constant pressure on Brady, the offense becomes only very good, not incredible as it was for much of the 2007 season. I'm sure every team who was scheduled to play the Patriots last year were going to try to copy the Giants playbook, and apply maximum pressure on Brady.
This is a ridiculous reason for a couple of reasons. First of all its EVERY defense's goal to put the maximum pressure on the opposing QB. This jamoke is trying to tell us he discovered the key to the treasure trove, instead of proving he has a "keen sense of the obvious"
The other major reason was already pointed out earlier, that the Giants had a special DLine, and not many teams could have pulled off what they did.
FInally, I'm sure he's forgotten all those time those top rated Pittsburgh defenses who led the league in QB pressures where shreaded by the Pats spread offense.
However, the Patriots' offensive line played significantly worse in 2008 compared to 2007. They gave up 48 sacks last year compared to 21 in 2007.
As proof of his disengenuous reporting, he corrrectly gives the right reason for all the sacks and summarily chooses to dismiss his own analysis.
or maybe the fact that defenses for the first time had radios in their helmets so the Patriots could not steal their signals? We may never know,
As proof of his disengenuous reporting he throws in a "spygate" jab. Which would be just like me dismissing ALL of the Steeler Lombardis because most of their team were steroid freaks. Very weak....his black and gold is starting to bleed into his blog.
Whether the line plays like it did in 2007 or 2008 is unclear, but it does return the same 5 starters who have been playing together for 4 years. That in itself is a strength.
As proof of his disengenuous reporting he once again ignores his own analysis. BTW I'm getting very good at typing disengenuous
New England's weakness is its defense. Can we please put to rest the myth that Bill Belichick is a defensive genius. Since becoming the Patriots' head coach in 2000, his defenses have been ranked: 20th, 24th, 23rd, 7th, 9th, 26th, 6th, 4th, and 10th in total yards for an average ranking of 13.3. Consider that is with an offense that not only holds the ball, but also scores in bunches and usually gains the early lead so the defense can concentrate on the pass. Compare that to the Steelers who had an average ranking of 4.4, and the Ravens with an average of 4.9 over that same period. Neither of those teams has an offense which helps the defense like the Patriots.
As proof of his disengenuous reporting he completely ignores the fact that outside the rebuilding year of 2000, the Pats defense has been one of the top ten scoring defense all but one year...including last season (as reported by an earlier poster...much to my surprise)
He is right that the Pats do usually take the lead in game, and it is good coaching to exchange yds for minutes when you have the lead. The only REAL measurement of a good defense is scoring, because thats how you determine the winner, not by who has the most yards (see I too have a "keen sense of the obvious")
They traded away, their best pass rusher, and heart of their defense, Mike Vrabel to Kansas City.
Yeah Bill how are we ever going to replace those FOUR huge sacks we got from Vrabel last season. Are you in a time warp thinking last season was 2007. You clearly aren't paying attention to reality, hence I get to use the word disengenuous again.
He will be replaced by either Shawn Crable, Tully Banta Cain, or Pierre Woods, none of whom have shown that they can consistently apply pressure on the QB.
TBC had around 8 sacks when he was a situational rusher and injury fill in his last season with the Pats. BTW does that make him TWICE as good as Vrabel. It was a while ago, but it does show he COULD consistently apply pressure on the QB. Of Course Crabel or Woods has shown they can apply pressure, neither played enough to determine it. Neither had James Harrison before he actually had the chance.
Their other starting OLB, Adalius Thomas is also past his prime. As a middle linebacker, Mayo may be a tackling machine, but he is a liability in coverage, and does not get many opportunities to pressure the QB. Last year, this defense ranked only 14th in sacks with only 31.
Jees, where we as high as 14th. I didn't thing we were that good. I don't think he watch Mayo, but most thought he did pretty well in coverage for a rookie, and his dismissing Thomas as over the hill smacks of a similar lack of any thought. Do I hear a disengenuous coming on.
At safety, Brandon Meriweather has not proven to be the impact player befitting his first round status.
I guess he was watching a different Brandon Merriweather who started to come into his own and was our best DB last season
Rookie Patrick Chung is expected to take his place. While this secondary may be better than last year's, unless the front 7 can find a way to get more pressure on the QB, it will still be exposed.
I guess he doesn't know about James Sanders, and forgot that despite a horrible secondary, injuries galore, and little QB pressure we did win ELEVEN GAMES without Tom Brady. Can I get me a "disengenuous" from the congregation....amen
Lost in the accolades for Matt Cassel last year was the fact that the Patriots played the easiest schedule in recent memory. They played the laughable AFC and NFC west as well as the weaklings in their own division.
I guess he thinks playing in a division with 2 teams that won 19 games and another who managed 7 composes a weak division in his WEAK mind. I guess he doesn't know the meaning of Weak. (though he was right about the AFC and NFC West)
One further point about the NFL's “model franchise”. Belichick and his former sidekick, Scott Pioli, are always mentioned as draft geniuses, but this is not reflected in their starting lineup. Of the 11 projected starters on offense, only 6, the entire offensive line and Brady were originally drafted by the Patriots. Two more may start, Maroney and Watson, but with new acquisitions Fred Taylor, Chris Baker, and Alex Smith, those two will probably be in a rotation. None of their starting receivers were originally drafted or signed by the Patriots.
I can hear the collective "SO WHAT!" come from football fans all over. Was it just an oversight he doesn't mentiont that both Welker and Moss CAME to the Pats as the result of trading draft picks. Its allowed ya know. And I know it might be inconvenient to his arguement but until we see differently both Maroney and Watson ARE starters.I know, even I'm getting tired of calling this dude disengenuous.
On defense, three starters, Adalius Thomas, Leigh Bodden, and Shawn Springs were not drafted by the Patriots. That is 8 of 22 starters who were not originally drafted or signed by the Patriots. Again, compare this to the Steelers where only starters Justin Hartwig, James Farrior, and Ryan Clark were not originally drafted or signed by the Steelers.
Again. so what. If the Steelers don't want to or don't have the skills to us FA as a tool, why should they be lauded. We all have the same cap number. BTW nice of him to play HC and give both Bodden and Springs the starting positions. I think Willhite, Weately and Butler might have a different thought....but then again, admitting that wouldn't make his arguement worth sh!t. Oh oh, Im starting to feel the D word coming....
Even with the improvement of Miami and Buffalo, the AFC East is still a relatively weak division so the Patriots should have no problem making the playoffs, but with their tougher out of division schedule, I doubt that they will be able to gain the top seed in the playoffs. I see a divisional round playoff loss. New England fans will be crying in their chowda come February.
Maybe he should be worrying about his own team who won the superbowl by a last second TD DESPITE the fact they got every bounce, call, and break, over a team that was summarily beaten by the "weak" AFCE...usually by 30 points or so. The Pats might not win the Superbowl, but the fact remains, they are the team his Steelers LEAST want to meet in the Playoffs. When they do meet ITS the STEELERS who will be crying come February.
