Who starts on Thursday?
- Thread starter Salva135
- Start date
Play Zappe again and keep getting Cunningham QB reps in practice in order to give him in game opportunities to show something. Can't go back to Mac at this point.
The "package" for Cunningham is likely more of the rush-first offense that BB put out in the Cam Newton season. This requires a lot more from the OL to be effective, and should have a proper fullback. Pharaoh Brown is likely their FB if they try it, but now they're also without Rham, probably for the rest of the season. None of this adds up to use on a short week against a great defense.
Thus, Zappe starts, and we shrug. I'm just so happy I have tickets to a late comedy show so I don't have to watch the whole game.
Does it really. matter? The season is lost, and there is no magic QB sitting out there ready to take snaps. Let Zappe ride out the season and move on.
I’m free on Thursday night. Maybe what the team needs is an aging lefty who can’t throw more than 40 yards?
I'm seeing an O/U of 31.5 which is pretty fucking low, but at the same time I don't know how these two teams are going to combine for 31 points unless each defense scores a couple of times. It is going to be an ugly game.
Zappe scored zero points. He was 13/25 for 141. And was sacked 5 times. But no turnovers. He is every bit as capable at losing games as Jones just a hair less frustrating to watch.
Starting Zappe is a no-brainer. Maybe some other team sees something in him that causes them to part with a 4th round pick to acquire him or something.
There is really zero downside.
Starting Zappe is a no-brainer. Maybe some other team sees something in him that causes them to part with a 4th round pick to acquire him or something.
There is really zero downside.
There are no in pads practices before Thursday just a walkthrough which means they are installing basically the same game plan they had for this game. Zappe is obviously going to start. This thread is not really needed. If you want to debate who starts the game after this one that might be a more interesting discussion.
Zappe and I hope at least a little Malik. Mac is in the garage.
One thing that worked was play action. Zappe seems comfortable with those plays. Wonder if they run a bit more of them.
One thing that worked was play action. Zappe seems comfortable with those plays. Wonder if they run a bit more of them.
What is there to gain by starting Mac? We have a large enough sample to know he stinks. We're pretty sure Zappe stinks too but might as well give him full reps as the starter for a few weeks.
Also what message does it send? Mac was laregely benched because of turnovers. Then we're going to turnaround and bench Zappe after a turnover free game?
Also what message does it send? Mac was laregely benched because of turnovers. Then we're going to turnaround and bench Zappe after a turnover free game?
I think they play Zappe and I think that's OK. He wasn't good yesterday but he was marginally more dynamic than Mac has ever been, he is a touch more decisive and frankly more enjoyable to watch given his psyche isn't completely destroyed yet.
Zappe moves around in the pocket so much better than Mac. Granted his physical tools are terrible but at least he moves.
Zappe moves around in the pocket so much better than Mac. Granted his physical tools are terrible but at least he moves.
They both stink so I don't think it really matters but personally I have seen enough of Mac and hope he's played his last down as a Patriot. Zappe stinks too but I just can't take any more Mac.
What I am interested in is what they do with Stevenson and Douglas. If these are multi week injuries, they should put them on IR and just evaluate other players.
Zappe.
I think the Patriots are going to end up winning this game. I think they will run enough to avoid the plays that really screwed us -- sacks on third down -- and the defense is balling right now. 17-10. Sorry for the draft watchers. I've been rooting for the team to win all year, and I'm now finally on team tank. So, I'm sorry to say that means we're going to win.
I think the Patriots are going to end up winning this game. I think they will run enough to avoid the plays that really screwed us -- sacks on third down -- and the defense is balling right now. 17-10. Sorry for the draft watchers. I've been rooting for the team to win all year, and I'm now finally on team tank. So, I'm sorry to say that means we're going to win.
On the road, in a pretty must win game for the Steelers, who have a good defense, on Thursday night football.
If there was ever a game that a team could score negative points, it might be this one. I wouldn't bet the over if it was 20.5.
I think the Steelers are basically the Patriots except with lady luck shining down on them. Good defense, abysmal offense. 7-1 in one score games, 2 to 1 turnover margin, 7-5 despite a -37 point differential.
Yeah feels like the team that scores a touchdown will win. Maybe 7-6 in a call back to the 1997 playoffs. McSorely can be Kordell Stewart.
I know this makes me sound like a WEEI caller, but while I agree Zappe is who will and should start, the only decision that would get me to watch this game would be Cunningham at QB.
Watching the afternoon games yesterday I was struck by the fact that Joe Flacco, a literal street free agent who hasn't been in an NFL locker room in almost a year and wasn't on Cleveland's roster last Sunday, helped lead an injury decimated offense to 19 points.
The performance of this offense (with both Mac and Zappe at QB) has been historically bad. Even in a week where I am resigned to hoping the Patriots will lose, I would prefer to watch anyone else under center, for even fleeting moments of interest and the likely illusory hopes of "What if?" I'm almost certain Cunningham doesn't have the arm to be a successful NFL QB, but I'd be more interested to see him try than to watch more Zappe.
Fucking adorable that you think this team is suddenly scoring 17 points. I missed where they signed people who can throw and catch footballs!
Because aside from being as terrible as the alternative he was also a headcase? Starters don't lose their jobs just to get them back the following week, they went away from him for a reason and if Mac deserved 30 games of suckitude before being pulled, maybe extend the other guys a fraction of that rope.
Most of the Pats podcasts last week seemed to think Zappe was going to get at least 3 games. This week because it's a short week and against the Chiefs because making that Mac's first game back would be a tough assignment if you think he's broken and this is a mental break as well. That said, you have 3 extra days before that game, so maybe?
Cunningham should get the start versus the NYJ though.
Cunningham should get the start versus the NYJ though.
Putting aside the snark, I think it's quite possible that 17 won't be needed to win this game. The Steelers have been outgained in all but one game this season, and even in the one game had trouble scoring points. The Patriots, meanwhile, have shown (if nothing else) that they can defensively clamp down on offensively-challenged teams. Combine all that with Trubisky starting on a short week, and this could easily be a 10-7, 13-10 type of game -- one in which the Patriots could find a way to win, even with their own offensive struggles.
My only hedge is that it's in Pittsburgh. At home, I'd be confident of victory.
Last edited:
they’ve scored 17 or more in half their games this year despite not having “people who can throw and catch footballs”
Rham being out is an issue. But Trubisky is horrendous.There’s a chance the Pats offense gets some shorter fields if they win the field position battle or get a couple of INT.
Pittsburgh’s D is very tough obviously but, like the Pats, they’ll give up some points if their offense is consistently putting them in holes. They’ve given up 17+ to the Raiders, Rams, Packers and Cardinals.
not saying it will happen, but it’s certainly within the realm of realistic outcomes.
Pats could easily put up three scores, assuming two come from the D either scoring on its own or giving the O a very short field.
That said, I could say the same for the Steelers D against our O.
This game has 13-13 written all over it.
That said, I could say the same for the Steelers D against our O.
This game has 13-13 written all over it.
The guy who scored 17 points is gone. The new guy scores 0 points. Gonna need a better argument why this team can win a game.
The only game i can see is the Jets because they are in a super special place that, while not exactly the same, is pretty close. They might be capable of out dumpster-firing us.
Pittsburgh basically has the same inept offense as New England. 4.9 yards per play vs. 4.7. It's going to be a snails race to 10, maybe less.
The argument would be that Mac’s problems can (but haven’t and likely won’t) be corrected while Zappe’s can’t. There is evidence that Mac, albeit broken, has successfully run an NFL offense. No such evidence exists for Zappe.
I mean clearly he isn’t the answer at QB but also clearly nobody else on the roster is. So yeah it would be weird to go back to Mac but sure they could do it.
Is it possible for you to discuss things without: 1. using snark and being ridiculously condescending to others. 2. using over the top EEI level hyperbole and nonsense. 3. repeating yourself over and over and over?
I think I know the answer(s) but just checking the boxes.
To me, only in the case of injury. I don't think they'd bench him with any intention of having him play again this year. But who knows, this whole organization is a clusterfuck, maybe he's out there again for whatever reason.
When your arguments are based on a sample size of one, they're not likely to be very good arguments.
The Pats scored 29 and 38 in the two games he started last year. The idea that they *might* score 17 in a game this year really isn't that stupid.
It's extremely unlikely that the Pats continue to perform as poorly as they've done on offense in the last three games, and we know this because NFL teams just don't perform that poorly over long stretches. At some point they're going to get a break or two, successfully make a field goal, convert a 4th down that turns into points. All of this stuff will happen. Maybe not this week, but it will, and pretending like they're going to score 0 every week from now until Bill is fired is getting really boring for the rest of us.
It's a shite state of affairs when you reach the point where you have to say something like, "It's not like they are going to get shut out *every* game. They might actually score points at some point."
All of this is a brag about the defense. I don't see any argument in favor of this team scoring points.
You being confident in a victory for a team who can't score points, even if this game were played on Mars is a fun but bold choice.
That's not it at all, it was an answer to your point about scoring 17 points. All I'm saying is I think it's possible they can win this game without having to score 17 points
A minus-37 point differential is 69 points better than the Pats. Also, the Steelers’ offense has looked markedly better in the two games since they sacked Matt Canada — 400+ yards last week, and 300+ in a downpour yesterday. They’re still struggling to convert those yards into points, but they’re a cut or two above the Pats.
On the other hand, the Steelers have been outgained in 10 of their 12 games. Pats meanwhile have actually outgained their opponents in 6 of their 12. But the Steelers have won a lot of close games (7-1 in one-score games) while the Pats haven't (2-7). So the Steelers are perhaps getting a bit lucky turning yards into points, and a bit more lucky turning points into wins. While the Pats are the opposite.
DVOA thinks both teams are actually better than their records, somewhat surprisingly in Pittsburghs case (so perhaps they haven't been lucky after all, though I think the Pats have clearly been unlucky resultswise - they're bad, but they shouldn't be 2-10)
Steelers Overall 10th Offense 18th Defense 6th ST 18th Estimated wins 8.1
Pats Overall 26th Offense 28th Defense 11th ST 31st Estimated wins 4.0
Looks well set for a 41-39 Pats win to me with a last second 62yd field goal to steal the victory. Though if anyone else thinks 10-14 is more probable I wouldn't call them an idiot.
I don't think the Patriots are better than the Steelers, it's more that I think the Steelers are smoke and mirrors and Patriots win on Thursday wouldn't surprise me. I think the gap between the two teams closer than 2-10 vs 7-5 looks like on paper. As noted above, the Steelers have been outgained in 10 of 12 games and are 7-1 in one scoree games which usually is unsustainable.
Both offenses aren't very good at moving the ball. The main difference between the two is the Steelers have avoided turning the ball over, they are tied for the fewest giveaways in the NFL this season while the Patriots are 26th. They are now turning to Mitch Trubisky who has historically been a turnover machine. It wouldn't surprise me if it's a punt fest and Mitch turns it over one too many times and the Pats win 12-9 or something stupid.