Pass rush was the huge negative. They got pressure but were atrocious at contain which, given BBs history of defending mobile QBs, wed have expected to be a focus. Watson played a really good game for his second NFL start, but the defense is real worrisome, this is the worst start to the year they've had. Luckily BB still has a lot of time to fix it and they've found a way to win twice
The Goat Th... LOL NO -- The Game Ball Thread: Wk 3 vs Texans
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I don't know. I thought the front 4 were good - Watson rushed for 41 yards with a long of 7. I think he had a great game, but I thought the Pats rush mostly did its job.
Game ball to Brady, then Gronk/Cooks/Amendola.
Game ball to Brady, then Gronk/Cooks/Amendola.
Well, I don't know. What did he say? This is your first post ever without a link.
Yeah he's one nice piece for sure. I'm a little worried that he's not comfortable on the knee and it might effect his play for a bit. Posters mentioned he looked tentative before the injury in the opener, it bothered him enough that he went to see James Andrews, and he didn't play this week after getting in several limited practices. Obviously will be happy to see him back.
Really disagree that the front seven a good job, they lost contain on Watson a number of times and were middling against the run. Hopefully a better effort next week against the ghost of Cam Newton.
Really disagree that the front seven a good job, they lost contain on Watson a number of times and were middling against the run. Hopefully a better effort next week against the ghost of Cam Newton.
The defense will improve some because it can't get any worse. It reminds me of the early days of the 2014 season when they were playing really soft in the secondary. Then in the Bears game they started playing press man more and it took off from there. They can't be that aggressive with the coverages at this point because there isn't much of a pass rush to speak of and also Gilmore/Butler have mostly struggled. How can they get aggressive with M2M if they can't cover? Hopefully a couple more weeks of practice and game reps will make the communication better in the back end. When they dedicate themselves with personnel to stop the run they do so I'm not worried about that area. It's the short to intermediate routes with LB's on RBs/TE's that really scare me. Gilmore and Butler should be able to raise their level of play enough to improve the secondary.
That being said, Deshaun Watson is going to be a very good QB in this league.
That being said, Deshaun Watson is going to be a very good QB in this league.
Mark DanielsVerified account @MarkDanielsPJ 4h4 hours ago
Cooks on being booed for kneeling pregame: "I love them. I love my neighbor. That’s what the lord said to do, right?"
That is very well-spoken.
Mark DanielsVerified account @MarkDanielsPJ 4h4 hours ago
Cooks on being booed for kneeling pregame: "I love them. I love my neighbor. That’s what the lord said to do, right?"
Fair, but the other bit of context is that Houston scored 7 and 13 points in their previous two games. There were extenuating circumstances there (Savage started game one, Thursday game week 2), and credit to Watson for making plays, but this was a pretty disappointing setback after a much-improved defensive performance in New Orleans.
Specifically, it seemed like the edge rushers kept contain pretty well for the most part but the interior lost gap integrity a few times - I remember one play where Butler ended up on the ground and Watson ran for a first right through where he was. In the passing game, it seemed like they picked on Jonathan Jones a lot. Gilmore and McCourty both seemed up-and-down again.
But since this is the game ball thread, I thought Malcolm Butler was invisible for the most part (good for a corner) and he had a couple really nice physical tackles on Hopkins. Wise applied the pressure on the Gilmore INT. On offense, Brady obviously was great. I haven't been a big fan of the Cooks acquisition, but this is the kind of game they got him for - if teams are going to flood the middle, Cooks has to win deep, and he did multiple times. He also drew coverage that helped spring Hogan at times. And Gronk didn't have huge numbers, but he made some big catches at key points. They were also using him to chip Watt a lot.
I was at the game today and have the following thoughts:
1. Brady is truly otherworldly. He was seriously shaken up on the Clowney sack in the 2nd quarter. He was kneeling over for a long time on the sideline and to my eye, took about 4 plays to gather himself (was worried he broke a rib or hurt a shoulder, but it could have just been the hard hit and wind knocked out). Tough SOB
2. Gronk looked great. Did I discern him being a bit more careful at the end of plays, but really grinding it out when he needed?
3. Cooks is a real talent, but it's a limited one. He's a burner and he's got great hands even if he's no slot guy. I can only imagine how great this offense would be with a healthy Jules
4. The D-line actually played pretty well. there was pressure, or semblance of pressure, most of the afternoon. As noted above, Watson had a great game and he's an elite athlete. The did a decent job of holding him in check. And watson did get lucky, he floated 2 balls I can remember that were miracle completions (one completely across the field to his TE, the other falling down and praying).
5. Special teams were great. And Gostkowski's deep kicks, but not so deep that it forced Houston to return them, caused the texans to have lousy field postion on most kick offs. The punting was actually not bad at all, but for the one crappy kick from his goal line.
6. Curious why there were so few screens and misdirection throws today. That D-line of Houston can get after the QB, and moving the ball quickly sideways (the WR screens for example) used to be a staple.
7. Butler was super competitive today. Sure tackling too.
1. Brady is truly otherworldly. He was seriously shaken up on the Clowney sack in the 2nd quarter. He was kneeling over for a long time on the sideline and to my eye, took about 4 plays to gather himself (was worried he broke a rib or hurt a shoulder, but it could have just been the hard hit and wind knocked out). Tough SOB
2. Gronk looked great. Did I discern him being a bit more careful at the end of plays, but really grinding it out when he needed?
3. Cooks is a real talent, but it's a limited one. He's a burner and he's got great hands even if he's no slot guy. I can only imagine how great this offense would be with a healthy Jules
4. The D-line actually played pretty well. there was pressure, or semblance of pressure, most of the afternoon. As noted above, Watson had a great game and he's an elite athlete. The did a decent job of holding him in check. And watson did get lucky, he floated 2 balls I can remember that were miracle completions (one completely across the field to his TE, the other falling down and praying).
5. Special teams were great. And Gostkowski's deep kicks, but not so deep that it forced Houston to return them, caused the texans to have lousy field postion on most kick offs. The punting was actually not bad at all, but for the one crappy kick from his goal line.
6. Curious why there were so few screens and misdirection throws today. That D-line of Houston can get after the QB, and moving the ball quickly sideways (the WR screens for example) used to be a staple.
7. Butler was super competitive today. Sure tackling too.
That throw to Amendola on the final drive was just ... wow. Brady a hair from being hit, thrown absolutely to the one spot only Amendola could get it, for a huge gain that put them in striking distance for the eventual game-winning throw. Wow.
Isn't that the most underrated aspect of Brady's game?
He got walloped just as he threw the first bomb to Cooks too.
True. It was depressing to see Roberts still in the midst of conversing with his defensive partners all over the field with the ball already snapped by the Texans.
Gronk did pretty much everything yesterday. All but one snap and he was needed to support the offensive line. Allen only had 17 snaps -- down significantly, though part of that is having Amendola back. Hollister showed some toughness. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get more PT, though I would guess his blocking probably needs some work.
Edit: Edited to add that Chung made a few plays, including on the big third and one at the end.
Need Hi back with the green dot.
Edit: Edited to add that Chung made a few plays, including on the big third and one at the end.
Game ball to Hollister for giving me a heart attack on the clothes line catch. Big white dude with number ending in 7, I thought it was gronk initially.
Van Noy was super frustrating watching him fail to set the edge multiple times as noted up thread, only to be juked as the runner bounced it outside. There was one running play where Chung did a great job setting it and Van Noy still managed to shoot the wrong gap and got blown by. Need Hi back with the dot is right.
Van Noy was super frustrating watching him fail to set the edge multiple times as noted up thread, only to be juked as the runner bounced it outside. There was one running play where Chung did a great job setting it and Van Noy still managed to shoot the wrong gap and got blown by. Need Hi back with the dot is right.
I only saw Redzone footage after the game had ended and thought the same thing. Saw that 7 and, oh no, not Gronk again! However, I'd read most of the gamethread first and didn't see mass hysteria. Still, my heart sank for a second.
Brady is the man, and he needs a very big room for all these gameballs. Also, Alex Guerrero should be getting rings. Is he?
Brady, for not getting killed by Nate Solder's many whiffs and somehow having just enough magic fairy dust once again.
The Clock combined with a rookie QB on the other side?
I think there is a ton to worry about with this team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Houston is a team that has already exhibited a pretty middling offense and they looked like world beaters there for a while.
Oy vey...
I think there is a ton to worry about with this team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Houston is a team that has already exhibited a pretty middling offense and they looked like world beaters there for a while.
Oy vey...
Seriously, how lucky is Brady with strip sacks? He had one early in the game where I think it was Clowney sacked him from behind and Brady somehow managed to keep possession of the ball as he went down and then Cannon falls on another one later in the game. If either goes Houston's way, the Pats probably don't make that comeback.
Off topic but I was surprised to read after the game that the line on this one was 13.5. I knew the Pats would be favored but 13.5? It's not like the Pats were tearing it up and the Texans were crap. I would have figured 3-4 on a neutral field so 6-7 pt favorite at the blade.
On topic: GOAT gonna GOAT he's the dreamy hero
On topic: GOAT gonna GOAT he's the dreamy hero
Im kind of fine with that throw. It was 2nd and 18 with a minute left no timeouts and he had Cooks one on one deep. I didnt think it was a worse decision than the two low probability passes they completed on the next two plays. Gonna be hard to just grind down the field at that point and the Pats had gotten their production in big chunks all day
Reminded me of the drop by Landon Collins in the 2015 NYG game. Easier catch though for Collins.
Brady.
The one thing that stood out to me while he was getting harangued and harassed, especially toward the end of the game, is he wasn't seeing ghosts like he sometimes does. I recall him ducking for cover early at times against tough pass rushes in the past. I would actually say he may have stood tall a hair too long sometimes with those fumbles, but the Patriots needed every second for him to throw on that last drive.
I hope he doesn't continue to take hits like that all season.
The one thing that stood out to me while he was getting harangued and harassed, especially toward the end of the game, is he wasn't seeing ghosts like he sometimes does. I recall him ducking for cover early at times against tough pass rushes in the past. I would actually say he may have stood tall a hair too long sometimes with those fumbles, but the Patriots needed every second for him to throw on that last drive.
I hope he doesn't continue to take hits like that all season.