The Game Ball Thread: Wk 8 vs Dolphins
- Thread starter SeoulSoxFan
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Lewis had the most catching yards by a [Edit: Patriot] RB in two decades: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000568761/article/what-we-learned-bradys-bunch-remains-undefeated?campaign=Twitter_atn
And Sheard has missed the last two games.SeoulSoxFan said:
Easley is giving them the Geno Atkins type presence they have never had.
They just need to be competitive at the CB position to have a dynamic D. They will give up chunk yards but will make enough big plays to more than make up for it.
Stitch01 said:
We were discussing the sacks so I just don't read those descriptors as anything other than judging pass blocking. It's incredibly rare that a QB doesn't get hit or hurried so that isn't fair to the OL.
A conversation about the line as a whole and how it has played this season is another thread.
This is a game ball thread so my game ball goes to:
OL
Brady
Lewis
High
Need to correct you sir. Worst snap of the year, and perhaps in the history of football, belongs to Indys special teams 2 weeks ago.j44thor said:
You're out of your fucking mind. There were quite a few plays designed longer than the typical Tom Brady 2-seconds, and Fleming held up against a premiere pass rusher.Ale Xander said:
You guys really are spoiled.
Great example of how smart, well prepared and well coached the pats are was the punt return where Edelman let it go, and then blocked the gunner to prevent him from downing it before it rolled into the end zone. Contrast that with the phins catching punts at the 5 yard line multiple times.
I don't follow as closely but if Suh could get middle pressure similar to Tuck, would it have been a different game? Or would it be Brady adjusting to the rush?Kenny F'ing Powers said:
Bill Belichick and the entire coaching staff for having the team ready in all respects in such a short week.
And the training staff for the same thing.
And the training staff for the same thing.
Going back to the Cowboys game, it feels like the opposing defenses have played pretty well.
The Pats have scored 30, 34, 30, and 34 points on offense in the last 4 games.
When the opposing D feels good about how it played and you still drop 30, you have yourself a juggernaut.
Hat tip to Matty P for shoring up the run D
The Pats have scored 30, 34, 30, and 34 points on offense in the last 4 games.
When the opposing D feels good about how it played and you still drop 30, you have yourself a juggernaut.
Hat tip to Matty P for shoring up the run D
I think the gameplan would have changed. The slants, in's, drag's, seams, and running back screens seemed to always be there for the taking. BB knew something we didn't (duh). Everyone thought the lines would be a mismatch, but McD had quite a few long developing routes. Obviously plenty of that was due to good coverage on the guys early in Brady's progression, but still.kenneycb said:
If the pocket was more of an issue, we'd have seen more screens, in's, rub routes, etc. It almost felt like the Patriots were seeing if they could add another dimension to the playbook.
I think Gostkowski deserves a shout out for that 52 yard FG into the wind. Did he basically kick that one deliberately wide and let the wind blow it back through the uprights?
tims4wins said:
I assume he meant 3 in a row overall, though it is clumsily worded if that is the case.
If I was grading the OL last night, I wouldn't give it an A, but I wouldn't give it a D either. Probably B-/C+ depending upon what the post-game film study reveals.
It is true that Volmer/Kline/Andrews/Wendell/Fleming last night were not as good as Solder/Connolly/Stork/Wendell/Vollmer were last season. However, Canon, Mason, and Stork should all be back in the next couple of weeks, and hopefully Tre Jackson's knee injury is not too serious (he was quietly having a nice rookie season on the inside).
It is true that Volmer/Kline/Andrews/Wendell/Fleming last night were not as good as Solder/Connolly/Stork/Wendell/Vollmer were last season. However, Canon, Mason, and Stork should all be back in the next couple of weeks, and hopefully Tre Jackson's knee injury is not too serious (he was quietly having a nice rookie season on the inside).
GeorgeCostanza said:
That one was terrible, no doubt. I can think of 2 worse ones right off the top of my head.
The 2004 AFC Championship when the Colts had to punt for the first time in the playoffs. The snap went over the punter's head, maybe for a safety. Of course, who could forget my personal favorite:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBP_t808xEI
kenneycb said:
Was Suh even in Foxboro last night? I don't remember his name being called all night, at least not after the introductions (0 tackles, 2 assists)
Guess he forgot about the NH primary coming up.Gorton Fisherman said:
EDIT: damn, gotta read to the end before replying. I may be stapled to the bench next week.
Penthouse:
Tom Brady - The guy doesn't age. Another ho hum 65+% completion percentage, 300+ yard, and 4 TD game.
Dion Lewis - The offense certainly missed him. Jitterbug (this is my preferred nickname btw) just made plays. It's kind of cliche to say that a player adds another dimension to an offense, but Lewis does that with his running and pass catching ability.
Julian Edelman - You can't really ignore a 2 TD performance from Mr. Reliable.
Rob Gronkowski - He is fun.
Stephen Gostkowski - Best kicker in the game. As someone who has a lot of friends who are Lions fans, I know how bad a kicking situation can get. The Patriots don't have that because Gost is automatic. He does not miss. That 52 yarder was beautiful.
Chandler Jones - 2 sacks leading a Pats' pass rush that may be on its way to a record number of sacks.
Duron Harmon - 2 passes defended and a pick. If I had to single out a guy in the secondary, I'll give him the nod.
Not sure anyone is deserving of the doghouse, so....Dog house:
Third down offense - 3/12 on third down is not good. Lots of drives stalled due to the execution on third down. Part of this might have more to do with getting in manageable situations on third down too. I felt like there were a lot of third and long situations early. The Pats were more efficient in the second half.
Discipline - Part of the reason for those long yardage situations was discipline. 8 penalties for 69 yards (nice) really hurt them early. I have not looked at the stats to compare but this seems like a more penalized Patriots team than years past. Of course, the referees didn't help either...but that's another story.
Tom Brady - The guy doesn't age. Another ho hum 65+% completion percentage, 300+ yard, and 4 TD game.
Dion Lewis - The offense certainly missed him. Jitterbug (this is my preferred nickname btw) just made plays. It's kind of cliche to say that a player adds another dimension to an offense, but Lewis does that with his running and pass catching ability.
Julian Edelman - You can't really ignore a 2 TD performance from Mr. Reliable.
Rob Gronkowski - He is fun.
Stephen Gostkowski - Best kicker in the game. As someone who has a lot of friends who are Lions fans, I know how bad a kicking situation can get. The Patriots don't have that because Gost is automatic. He does not miss. That 52 yarder was beautiful.
Chandler Jones - 2 sacks leading a Pats' pass rush that may be on its way to a record number of sacks.
Duron Harmon - 2 passes defended and a pick. If I had to single out a guy in the secondary, I'll give him the nod.
Not sure anyone is deserving of the doghouse, so....Dog house:
Third down offense - 3/12 on third down is not good. Lots of drives stalled due to the execution on third down. Part of this might have more to do with getting in manageable situations on third down too. I felt like there were a lot of third and long situations early. The Pats were more efficient in the second half.
Discipline - Part of the reason for those long yardage situations was discipline. 8 penalties for 69 yards (nice) really hurt them early. I have not looked at the stats to compare but this seems like a more penalized Patriots team than years past. Of course, the referees didn't help either...but that's another story.
Haven't seen Ryan Allen mentioned yet for this week. It's easy to underappreciate him because this team honestly doesn't even really need a punter.
However, in the first half, when the offense was having trouble getting things going, it really helped having every Miami possession start from their 5-10 yard line.
However, in the first half, when the offense was having trouble getting things going, it really helped having every Miami possession start from their 5-10 yard line.
I really hope everyone appreciates what they're watching with Brady and not taking it for granted. This is Pedro in the 90's, Bird in the 80's, and Orr in the 70's. Enjoy it now and remember it for your conversations with your grandkids when talking about the greatest players you ever saw play.
The only mention I heard was speculation that he'd stepped on Tre when he went down.Lose Remerswaal said:
Game ball to Suh for not deliberately injuring someone in the 4th quarter when the outcome wasn't in doubt.
The Pats fans are spoiled stuff meme is overstated, in my view.
Ale Xander was simply wrong. It was an understandable mistake to make regarding Fleming in that he was penalized a few times and made a silly mistake on that illegal man down field. I have no idea what the beef re Vollmer was. But either way, those comments scream "wrong headed" rather than spoiled to me.
Ale Xander was simply wrong. It was an understandable mistake to make regarding Fleming in that he was penalized a few times and made a silly mistake on that illegal man down field. I have no idea what the beef re Vollmer was. But either way, those comments scream "wrong headed" rather than spoiled to me.
I'd have to rewatch the game to be certain but I'm fairly sure that a lot of those longer pass plays they kept a te in to block. On the play wake ruptured his Achilles Williams had him one on one. I don't think Fleming had wake one on one too many times.Kenny F'ing Powers said:
BB is a step ahead with the mind games. He coached the interior OL to not only double Suh, but also express their genuine admiration for him between plays in order to get on his good side.8slim said: