The Game Ball Thread: Week 2 @ Vikings

[Stitch01]

Not sure their contracts are comparable enough to say they chose one over the other.

 

[dcmissle]

Absolutely agree with you.  Better defenses are going to take Edelman and Gronk out of the picture completely.  Who steps up from there?  Amendola has been utterly invisible, LaFell's role has been a glorified blocking TE on the outside, and Dobson is just getting back into the mix but only was targeted twice. Out of Brady's 20 targets that stood, 13 went to Edelman and Gronk.  Amendola got 1 target, but it was nullified by a penalty.  LaFell was not targeted once.

Amendola through 2 games -- 6 targets, 3 receptions, 16 yards. Is this correct?

 

[tims4wins]

 
Tyms4Wins

I endorse

 

[tims4wins]

Amendola through 2 games -- 6 targets, 3 receptions, 16 yards. Is this correct?

Well he did have a big catch wiped out by a pick play. But the point mainly stands.

 

[jsinger121]

They tried to sign Sanders in 2013 but Pittsburgh matched the offer sheet, so they clearly like him, or did. I'm guessing they felt that Sanders was redundant with Amendola and Edelman (who hadn't broken out at that point), whereas LaFell gives them size, especially in the red area. He's been pretty useless so far, but he's kind of a trick-or-treat player anyway; if he catches 6 touchdowns I think it's a win no matter what his other numbers look like.

 
The offer sheet to Sanders was a total joke. A 1 year deal that was easy for Pittsburgh to match. If you are going to make an offer make a real offer for multiple years and one that the Steelers couldn't have matched.

 

[Super Nomario]

 
The offer sheet to Sanders was a total joke. A 1 year deal that was easy for Pittsburgh to match. If you are going to make an offer make a real offer for multiple years and one that the Steelers couldn't have matched.

I think the one year was sort of a poison pill thing - Pittsburgh could match, but if they did Sanders would be gone after the year (which is what ended up happening). At any rate, there was interest there then, but this past offseason they didn't seem to pursue it. I'm guessing that's because they were looking for something different.

 

[Stitch01]

In addition to Edelman breaking out, they also had spent 2nd and 4th rounders on WR and had Thompkins make the team since they tried to get Sanders. I don't think they were looking to spend that much on a other wideout.

 

[RedOctober3829]

This play by Easley deserves a game ball.  A man that size shouldn't have that athleticism.  Yet he does.
 

 

[soxfan121]

He gets as far up field as the 30 and then makes the catch at the 35 less than two seconds later. Amazing.

 

[Ed Hillel]

I didn't notice during the game, but looks who makes a quick stunt and gets right in Cassel's face again.

 

[Super Nomario]

I didn't notice during the game, but looks who makes a quick stunt and gets right in Cassel's face again.

Nicely timed blitz by Mayo, too, occupying the LT and LG to help Jones get that free release. They got a ton of pressure in the second half; I'm not sure how much it was on straight-up rushes and how much on stuff like this. These sorts of "games" can leave the defense vulnerable to the outside run, but obviously that wasn't a concern with the score being what it was.

 

[Super Nomario]

Snap-by-snap breakdown of how Jones was used and where he lined up in different fronts: http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2014/09/on-the-edge-tracking-the-alignment-of-patriots-pass-rusher-chandler-jones-vs-vikings.html
 
A lot of 4-2 DE, but also some 3-4 OLB and 3-4 DE.

 

[Super Nomario]

I just realized that Jones beat Kalil for the blocked FG as well. Somewhere on "Sons of D.J. Dozier" Kalil is getting flamed in the "Goats of the Game thread." I don't normally call out a player's heart, but his effort on that field goal can only be described as "shameful." He oléd on the block and then didn't even bother trying to chase down Jones.

 

[Stitch01]

The Patriots give black jerseys to the practice players of the week, which signify the players who best prepared the team leading up to a victory as determined by the coaching staff. Tight end Tim Wright, wide receiver Josh Boyce, running back Jonas Gray, defensive lineman Joe Vellano and linebacker Ja'Gared Davis all wore black jerseys Wednesday.
 

Glad to see Boyce and Wright show up on there.