When a team gets dominated up front, it’s so depressing. Guys were getting blown off the ball 4 yards. Ragnow and Glasgow completely beat the shit out of Brown, Guy, and Shelton. Their RBs aren’t getting touched 5 yards down the field. You can’t just look at film and fix that. It’s either you can do it or you can’t. That’s what feels so different than in years past when the D struggled. Last year it was miscommunication in the secondary which got straightened out. This year they can’t stop the run nor the pass so where do they start first?What grosses me out is how ineffective the run O and run D have been. They are returning 4/5 starters on the OL, the interior guys are in their primes, they used a first on a RB, and they can't pick up a 3rd-and-1 to save their lives. Detroit entered the game allowing 5.6 yards per carry and they dominated the Pats OL up front. It was embarrassing. And the other side of the ball was just as bad. They've invested resources in the interior DL - a third for (one year of) Shelton, a first on Malcom Brown, decent money to Guy, and they got blown off the ball by Detroit's pretty good OL. We know those guys can't pass rush, but if they can't defend the run either what are they doing on the team?
He really isn't that talented. When's the 4th or 5th option and people sleep on him, then he can be effective. A #1 WR, no way.3) WRs - what the hell is wrong with Hogan? He was running all around Philly in the SB and now can’t do shit against anyone. We know his limitations but he doesn’t even look like a functional WR anymore. Dorsett had his chance with Brady and it just isn’t working. Patterson is literally useless on offense. I sure hope Edelman is ok. Gordon will be helpful when Brady goes into “fuck it” mode. I’d be curious to see what Coleman has.
They signed Coleman to the practice squad after they cut him. Given the sorry state of the WR corps, I wouldn't be surprised if we see him back on the active roster at some point this season.He really isn't that talented. When's the 4th or 5th option and people sleep on him, then he can be effective. A #1 WR, no way.
Oh, and Coleman was dumped to make room for Gordon. I'd rather they cut someone else quite frankly.
Thanks! Missed that (and didn't think 3rd years were eligible anyway)They signed Coleman to the practice squad after they cut him. Given the sorry state of the WR corps, I wouldn't be surprised if we see him back on the active roster at some point this season.
And he looks really slow. It's been super surprising to me how bad he's looked.This is weird. It’s like watching another team. Michel has been disappointing; he looks like a boy among men.
It’s got to be the knee, right? If this is the extent of his physical ability, it’d be a huge miss.And he looks really slow. It's been super surprising to me how bad he's looked.
I think this is what it is. He's flashed some ability at times, and he missed most of camp and preseason. Of all of the things to be concerned about right now, this doesn't make my list.I wonder if the issue with Michel is that he just doesn’t have his timing yet after missing the summer. I can count a half dozen times where it looked like there was a hole forming, and he either didn’t read the block correctly, or just barreled into contact instead of sneaking through like you’d expect a competent back to do. Didn’t see any lateral agility to jump cut or stick his foot in the ground and change direction. Maybe it’ll come, but just strange to see.
Wise has a couple of good plays and at least showed some energy and emotion.Honest question. Did anyone besides Gilmore even look decent on the defense? The LBs looked wretched. The D line didn't look great either.
I fully disagree. If Edelman is ready, he makes all the difference in this offense. They can double team Gronk all day, get Edelman on the field, that frees up Hogan and Dorsett and the rest. If Gordan can make any difference, which I'm very much not counting on, this offense is completely reinvented in Week 5.A few years ago they were better without Brady, than without Edelman this year. I doubt JE will add as big a boost upon his return.
They are so slow. There were a few plays tonight that they were in the right place and made the right play they were just too damn slow to catch anyone.So, so many times the runner got the corner and turned upfield. Linebackers are just too slow to be competitive. Hightower just looked awful. Not sure how they fix that...
He was horrid in the first half and the play calling to him was just as bad. Josh throw that sweep play in the trash. He did have some good runs in third quarter though which was a plus.This is weird. It’s like watching another team. Michel has been disappointing; he looks like a boy among men.
His usage is a big concern. They are force feeding him the ball despite the fact he appears right now to be a jag as a runner and below average catching the ball. If he was a UDFA playing like that there is 0.0% chance he would be getting the touches he is. I can't recall another time the Pats forced a player to be used as much as they are with Michel.I think this is what it is. He's flashed some ability at times, and he missed most of camp and preseason. Of all of the things to be concerned about right now, this doesn't make my list.
I can agree with Amendola, but if we're turning to Bolden that's a huge issue. I get he was good on special teams, but he's had 14 carries and 3 catches since the start of the 2016 season. He's gained 99 yards total in the same timeframe. He also has a total of 83 yards in his playoff career. He hasn't been a factor in years.It’s almost like spending all offseason trying to figure out whether your two best players might retire isn’t good for the team.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence a lot of the glue guys like Bolden and Amendola left this offseason. These weren’t elite players and certainly would be worse on other teams. But they were reliable in ways the team could depend on when they needed them to be. A clutch third down conversion, a few snaps at RB when they needed a push or an unexpected wheel route. That they both left for the proverbial greener pastures says something.
Bill has his work cut out for him.
What is your assessment whether this front office is up to a rebuild? Cuz that’s what we’re looking at, at the end of this season if not as soon as the end of next month.The front seven, wide receivers, both lines actually. They can’t defend the run or the pass. Shelton used to be good against the run too, at least he did that. Slow, big but not dominant, and lack of talent. Ooph. I say this to blow off some steam but it’s easier to find top tier talent if we end up picking closer to the middle.
Are you talking about Lewis? Bolden didn't leave; he was cut.It’s almost like spending all offseason trying to figure out whether your two best players might retire isn’t good for the team.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence a lot of the glue guys like Bolden and Amendola left this offseason. These weren’t elite players and certainly would be worse on other teams. But they were reliable in ways the team could depend on when they needed them to be. A clutch third down conversion, a few snaps at RB when they needed a push or an unexpected wheel route. That they both left for the proverbial greener pastures says something.
Bill has his work cut out for him.
He made some pretty bad throws, agreed. Two balls to Dorsett - the one behind him on third down and the pick - were flat out terrible. The pass to burkhead inside the ten may/may not have been poor, as its hard to know if there was miscommunication on the route or Brady fucked it up.At the risk of triggering people, Brady was a significant part of the problem last night.
He was missing throws early, taking a long time to get rid of the ball all night. Those things we could see from the broadcast feed.
It would be interesting to see the coaches' film, because Gronk was doubled all night and the Lions didn't get consistent pressure on Brady. I get that Hogan and Dorsett aren't Rice and Taylor, but someone had to be open on some of those plays and Brady stopped even attempting to get the ball to the WRs in the second half.
We've seen Brady bounce back from down stretches before, so maybe he will again. At some point he's not going to bounce back, though.
Bolden had been cut multiple years in a row only to ultimately re-sign once things shook out. This year there was some surprise when he chose to leave.Are you talking about Lewis? Bolden didn't leave; he was cut.
I think it has a lot more to do with the team not having a slot guy to use in Edelman’s absence. From Troy Brown to Welker to Edelman to Amendola last year, other than 2006, Brady has always had an outlet in that position to unload the ball if the other guys can’t get separation. Matthews was maybe supposed to be that guy but Hogan def. isn’t. Without it, he’s going to hold the ball longer looking for somebody to get open.He made some pretty bad throws, agreed. Two balls to Dorsett - the one behind him on third down and the pick - were flat out terrible. The pass to burkhead inside the ten may/may not have been poor, as its hard to know if there was miscommunication on the route or Brady fucked it up.
In fairness, on several replays where he got sacked/hit guys were flat out covered.
He’s not been his usual self, and it’s compounded the obvious issues at WR.
Yes, mid-season Van Noy was an effective player last year, but we really haven't seen that guy again since he came back from his injury.Another thing on Van Noy--he looks much worse since coming back from injury last year--and bigger/slower.
No, we aren't sure of anything other than Brady trusts him and will throw him the ball. Some of the guys the Pats might dress have a less than 10% chance of getting a ball thrown to them in coverage.Are we even sure Edelman is going to be good? He's 32 years old coming off a major injury.
I walked away from Jax willing to give them a pass and call it like the other years and not panic.These struggles seem different. Maybe someone can tell me why the things we saw in other seasons that caused freakouts were just like this and we'll be okay. But I don't know.
Not with a bang, with a whimper...