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2015 New England Patriots Thread
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Post by izzy on Oct 27, 2015 6:47:20 GMT -5
Yeah I have no idea why we were getting headlines two weeks back comparing this team to 2007. It makes zero sense to me. How many of these games so far have felt like coin flips? I'm genuinely curious what games felt like a coin flip to you? By midway through the 4th quarter did you feel the Pats were going to lose any of these games? The Colts, Bills, and Steelers games were all less competitive than the final score showed. They killed the Jags and Cowboys and the Jets needed an onside kick and twelve drops just to lose by a touchdown. |
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Post by jimed14 on Oct 27, 2015 7:33:29 GMT -5
The Pats would have easily won that Jets game by 20+ points without 10+ drops. That normally never happens.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Oct 27, 2015 13:37:00 GMT -5
Eh, I don't know about that. I might take Denver's CB group over the Jets'-- Revis is the best of the bunch, but Chris Harris is chronically underrated, and Talib is a good bit better than Cromartie. I give LB and edge rusher to Denver as well, and interior defensive line is closer than you think. Fair points, Denver might have as talented of a defense, and they might cause more protection problems for this o-line. Perhaps I'm overstating the importance of Wade Phillips, but in the last three Houston games he basically trotted out the same game plan each time and Brady torched his squads three times. This Denver squad is better than any he had in Houston, but I just can't imagine the Phillips/Kubiak duo neutralizing this Patriots offense all game. Even before Houston I remember Brady torching Phillips in Dallas and San Diego, the only game the Patriots struggled against a Wade Phillips led defense was the 06 divisional playoff matchup. I was probably reacting more to the potential "disaster game" quote, Denver is certainly capable of winning the game but I don't think they are built to win in a rout. I don't know enough about the Bowles regime, but they already strike me as a tougher matchup than the current Denver/former Houston regime, and that's really the bigger difference for me than any gap in talent. |
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Oct 28, 2015 14:38:52 GMT -5
Yeah I have no idea why we were getting headlines two weeks back comparing this team to 2007. It makes zero sense to me. How many of these games so far have felt like coin flips? I'm genuinely curious what games felt like a coin flip to you? By midway through the 4th quarter did you feel the Pats were going to lose any of these games? The Colts, Bills, and Steelers games were all less competitive than the final score showed. They killed the Jags and Cowboys and the Jets needed an onside kick and twelve drops just to lose by a touchdown. "coin flip" was poor wording. I should say that the games I've seen haven't felt like they were blowing the other team out. Maybe they pull away by the end, sure, but it wasn't like these have all be drubbings. The 2007 team played what, four games that weren't blowouts, maybe five? I haven't felt that, in the games I've watched, they've been blowing the other team out more often than not. Of course, I now realize this may be in part b/c I'm out of market and haven't seen every game, and now that I look, they did run off a few in a row that were easy. |
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Post by Don Caballero on Oct 28, 2015 23:46:38 GMT -5
I have a theory that the hoodie is just toying with other guys, they are taking the foot off the pedal just to screw with fools. Except against the Jets, where they were off to begin with and couldn't afford doing that.
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Post by mgoetze on Oct 30, 2015 7:57:43 GMT -5
Well Hatfield, you wanted a blowout, you got a blowout.
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wcp3
Veteran
Posts: 3,860
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Post by wcp3 on Oct 30, 2015 8:53:15 GMT -5
I'm genuinely curious what games felt like a coin flip to you? By midway through the 4th quarter did you feel the Pats were going to lose any of these games? The Colts, Bills, and Steelers games were all less competitive than the final score showed. They killed the Jags and Cowboys and the Jets needed an onside kick and twelve drops just to lose by a touchdown. "coin flip" was poor wording. I should say that the games I've seen haven't felt like they were blowing the other team out. Maybe they pull away by the end, sure, but it wasn't like these have all be drubbings. The 2007 team played what, four games that weren't blowouts, maybe five? I haven't felt that, in the games I've watched, they've been blowing the other team out more often than not. Of course, I now realize this may be in part b/c I'm out of market and haven't seen every game, and now that I look, they did run off a few in a row that were easy. I don't think this team is in the same stratosphere as 2006, but aside from the Jets, there haven't been any coin flips. They were up 14 agains the Steelers and 13 against the Colts, before those teams scored garbage time TDs to pretty up the final scores. And they had an enormous lead against the Bills before completely taking their foot off the pedal. Again, not the same level as the '07 team in my opinion, but they've been clearly better than every opponent so far aside from the Jets. |
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Post by philarhody on Oct 30, 2015 9:40:53 GMT -5
One real area of strength this year is the front seven. This team just absolutely shut down a Miami running game that ran roughshed over a Watt/Clowney/Wilfork/Cushing led defense last week. I cant recall a team having 13 starting caliber players on their front seven (Easley, Branch, Siliga, Hicks, Grissom, Jones, Ninkovich, Sheard, Collins, Freeny, Mayo, Hightower, Bostic).
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Post by jmei on Oct 30, 2015 10:00:02 GMT -5
Chandler Jones has really impressed me this year (and last night in particular). If he can consistent get pressure, it really takes a load off the secondary. The run defense has been very good, but a strong, consistent pass rush would really ameliorate a lot of my concerns about this team.
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Post by Nick Rabasco2 on Oct 30, 2015 12:56:03 GMT -5
"coin flip" was poor wording. I should say that the games I've seen haven't felt like they were blowing the other team out. Maybe they pull away by the end, sure, but it wasn't like these have all be drubbings. The 2007 team played what, four games that weren't blowouts, maybe five? I haven't felt that, in the games I've watched, they've been blowing the other team out more often than not. Of course, I now realize this may be in part b/c I'm out of market and haven't seen every game, and now that I look, they did run off a few in a row that were easy. I don't think this team is in the same stratosphere as 2006, but aside from the Jets, there haven't been any coin flips. They were up 14 agains the Steelers and 13 against the Colts, before those teams scored garbage time TDs to pretty up the final scores. And they had an enormous lead against the Bills before completely taking their foot off the pedal. Again, not the same level as the '07 team in my opinion, but they've been clearly better than every opponent so far aside from the Jets. Agree. I've watched every snap of every game so far and the only games I've been stressed at certain points were the Colts and Jets. Steelers they led 21-3 at one point, Bills they led 34-13 at one point, Jags was over before it started, Dallas was a 24-point win and were in control most of the game, and obviously last night was easy. Colts game they were down 21-20 at half and the Jets led 20-16 in the 4th quarter. Really the only two games, for me at least, that caused any kind of stress for more than like the first quarter. And even the second half of the Colts game was pretty stress-free when they went up double digits. Garbage time scores what made the Colts, Steelers, Bills games closer than they were, as you noted. |
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Oct 30, 2015 14:14:32 GMT -5
Aight, aight, I give. Sheesh.
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Post by rjp313jr on Nov 3, 2015 10:11:22 GMT -5
Everything in football is baring injury, so with that in mind...
This front 7 is real good, maybe the best in football good when you. There are better defensive lines but there may not be better linebackers. It's hard to designate what linebackers are these days so this can be a tricky discussion but the Pats basically play 2 for the most part and 54 & 91 are two of the top ones in all of football. The defensive line is only getting better with Sheard coming back and Easily and Browns seemingly continued progression each week.
The secondary had been light years better than we ever could have hoped. It's not a weak group it's just the weakest spot on the team. Ryan's play has been utterly shocking to me. I felt he sucked last year and now he's a solid corner. Butler has been competitive and while his numbers don't look good he passes the eye test and doesn't worry me. Coleman has been good as well and not in a "for an Undrafted rookie" sorta way. The safety play of Mccourty and Harmon has been the strength of the unit though. They are basically both free safeties with good speed and range who may not hit hard but they tackle well. Hard hitting safeties are a thing of the past anyways. Clean hits are flagged if they look too violent. Chung is barely a safety, he's really a linebacker at this point. Covers TEs and plays the run. He's hardly ever back in coverage, which is good.
Kudos to this defense... So far it's looking better than last years group.
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Post by texs31 on Nov 3, 2015 10:38:36 GMT -5
I'd like to feel more comfortable about the secondary. Much of the success of this group is tied to the pressure that the front 7 is getting (which is often the way it works but, this year, we seem to be getting to the QB more often). If, for whatever reason, we lose that pass rush (Sheard continues to be injured, Jones/Nink wear down, etc) then I'm worried about the secondary holding up throughout the tail end of the year.
LOVE to see an upgrade here.
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Post by chavopepe2 on Nov 3, 2015 14:19:00 GMT -5
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Post by texs31 on Nov 3, 2015 16:19:06 GMT -5
Looks like no trades for NE
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wcp3
Veteran
Posts: 3,860
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Post by wcp3 on Nov 3, 2015 17:09:16 GMT -5
The NFL trade deadline is zzzzz.
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Post by mgoetze on Nov 3, 2015 20:38:20 GMT -5
Pats were reportedly interested in Jason McCourty but couldn't get it done. Too bad really, another cornerback really would have helped me feel better.
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Post by FenwayFanatic on Nov 3, 2015 22:48:05 GMT -5
Sounds like it was the Titans nixing that one though. At least Denver didn't get Joe Thomas.
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Post by jmei on Nov 8, 2015 15:09:06 GMT -5
...injuries.
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Post by mgoetze on Nov 8, 2015 17:06:49 GMT -5
Next man up. Remember when we were all worried because Dante Scarnecchia retired? Dave DeGuglielmo not only has an even more difficult name, he's done a truly excellent job coaching up these O-Linemen. Making it work with Fleming and Stork at tackle has proven him a worthy successor.
I remember some people on this board calling for Brandon Bolden to be cut around this time last year. He remains a fine special teamer, and today he showed he can get it done at RB in a pinch.
Somewhat surprising to me that Mayo was still marginalized even with Collins out. Freeney apparently the clear top backup option.
And today Brady threw his first real interception of the season. One more in week 17 and then none throughout the playoffs, that would be acceptable to me.
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Post by rjp313jr on Nov 9, 2015 12:35:06 GMT -5
The Mayo situation has surprised me as well, but I caught a snipit in an article a few weeks ago that suggested pectoral tears are actually one of the worst injuries for a football player to return from. Seems weird as the mobility shouldn't be affected as far as covering ground but if you can't get off blocks anymore then you are screwed. Unfortunately, Mayo may just be a shell of his former self. Freeney certainly isn't a great player.
I hear u on Bolden but Lewis is a major loss. There is no replacement for what he does. He's special, but we may have just experienced his fragile body.
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Post by texs31 on Nov 9, 2015 13:39:18 GMT -5
Ugh. Globe reporting Lewis is, indeed, out for the season with an ACL tear
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Post by jmei on Nov 9, 2015 14:26:28 GMT -5
There's a pretty big dropoff from Lewis to Bolden/White. Having a legitimate receiving threat at RB is huge in their offense since a decent chunk of the quick passing game goes through that guy. Remember, one of the reasons Brady has been so successful this year despite a mediocre-to-bad offensive line is by spreading out the defense, identifying a mismatch, and getting the ball to that player as quickly as possible. Losing Lewis makes finding that mismatch at RB that much more difficult.
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Post by mgoetze on Nov 9, 2015 14:39:40 GMT -5
There's a pretty big dropoff from Lewis to Bolden/White. Having a legitimate receiving threat at RB is huge in their offense I've always thought the same and was surprised when the Chargers and Giants were able to pluck away Woodhead and Vereen for such moderate prices. And I would love to have 2 of those guys on the roster... not just for depth but because you could just stick them both on the field at the same time and take whatever the defense is giving you (base defense? We'll go 5 wide. Sub package? Have one of them block for the other one. Or run a reverse. Or a jet sweep.) However, Bill Belichick doesn't seem to think it's such a big deal. He's willing to toss unproven guys in there and hope it works out. Well, I hope so too... |
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Post by jimed14 on Nov 9, 2015 14:47:03 GMT -5
BB will probably find then next Lewis on a practice squad somewhere.
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