2019 Game Ball Thread: Wk. 2 at Dolphins

SeoulSoxFan

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Jun 27, 2006
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A Scud Away from Hell
A complete* effort from the Pats. A hallmark of a great team is the number of blowouts in a season, more so than a close win against better teams.

It's Game Ball Time!
  • Burkhead: fully healthy, seems to have the extra gear back from his Cinci days
  • Defense: what more can you say?
  • BB: Brown signing pays immediate dividends
A baby goat goes to Ghost but given his struggles in Miami, not too concerned yet. Bring on the Jets!
 

Bosox1528

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Dec 22, 2017
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Entire Defense
Brady
Brown
Burkhead

I know this is just Miami, but wow, incredible performance by the defense. Shutout. 0 TDs allowed in 2 weeks. 2 defensive touchdowns. 4 picks. 7 sacks. Wow.

This team is going to be something to be reckoned with
 

McDrew

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The D is in midseason form. Admittedly this was not fair competition, but their ability to cause systemic mistakes in the other team's offense that can be exploited is huge.
 

Seels

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The entirety of the defense looked good.

The Pats have a point differential of 73 through two games. I'd guess maybe 3-4 teams even score that many points in the first two games..
 

ZMart100

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BB - running up the score is a healthy way to take some attention from the WR
 

DeadlySplitter

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JC Jackson had the defensive play with the highest leverage. Ghost had just missed a FG and Miami was about to be in the red zone only down 7-0, but he broke up the pass.
 

Brand Name

make hers mark
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Moving the Line
Scar. Honestly, given what the line went through, between Wynn and Cannon? And they looked genuinely competent? I know it's Miami, but this man is a miracle maker.

That was thoroughly enjoyable as a regular season game can get.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Shoutout to Phil Dorsett who looked strong again and may become a lot more important in about 48-72 hours.
 

SMU_Sox

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Defense hasn’t given up a TD since AFC Championship game. That’s ridiculous no matter who you play. Game ball to Jon Jones again. I will carry his water all year. He had another good day at the office
 

DJnVa

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Whatever poster said that the Pats defense would outscore the Miami offense.
 

lexrageorge

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D put an all around beat down. Front line, linebackers, and secondary. D allowed the offense to have one of their typical Miami games.

Still, nice games on the offense from Brady, Edelman, Michel (who set the tone early with some strong runs, but see below), Burkhead, Dorsett with the huge 3rd-and-long pickup. And LaCosse picked the right game to have his first 2 catches.

Mini-Goat Dishonorable Mentions: injury luck. Hoping that Wynn is not hurt long term, as OL still appears to be a potentially fatal weakness. Mason also did not have the best game, which is something to watch given that Brady's kryptonite is inside pressure. Good news is that Cannon was reportedly close to playing. Michel will hear from the coaches about that fumble. Brady and Gordon seemed to have trouble connecting at times; ditto with Brown. Given Gordon's abbreviated preseason and Brown's half week with the playbook, and the issues at the OL, it's understanding.

And Ghost picked the correct game to miss kicks.
 

Jimbodandy

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Defense across the board was awesome, and the offense and JMC switched gears well after Wynn went out.

Gilmore and Dorsett are mine, but you could legit name any one of 20 other guys.
 

Cotillion

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Jun 11, 2019
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Just run the offense. Throw to the guy that is open. We haven’t changed that in 20 years.

Bill Belichick for that answer.
 

bigq

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Jaime Collins Sr led the defense with 5 tackles, 0.5 sack, 2 passes defended, 2 INT, 1 TD. That is a hell of a game and I am thrilled to see him back in a Patriots’ uniform.

Game ball also to Gilmore. 3 passes defended, 1 INT, 1 TD, and one phenomenal assist on Devin McCourty’s INT.

Also an honorable mention to the RB by committee group that accounted for 116 rushing yards, 66 receiving yards and 2 TDs.
 

DeadlySplitter

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oh yeah, LaCosse looked useful today. maybe just the level of competition, but Izzo had a penalty as well. they are competing for who stays at the end of the month, so...
 

InstaFace

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To Belichick for coaching up a team that can produce actual serious posts such as the following, thereby giving me the giggles:

Like I said, defense has been nothing short of spectacular. Offense has been very good, but with all the weapons this offense has, they should be better.
yeah, what have you guys done for me lately?
 

5dice

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So, you get signed midweek, learn a whole new team, play for Cannon on the right, then switch to cover the blindside mid-game when Wynn goes down, play in 90 degree heat/humidity and keep Brady alive, and you get a “down”?
What’s the matter with you?
 

RedOctober3829

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So, you get signed midweek, learn a whole new team, play for Cannon on the right, then switch to cover the blindside mid-game when Wynn goes down, play in 90 degree heat/humidity and keep Brady alive, and you get a “down”?
What’s the matter with you?
He got a couple penalties and got beat badly by McMillan who smashed Brady into the turf. Not many downs for the team today but he was one of them.
 
Apr 24, 2019
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Lots of game balls to go around. Some of the lesser lights...

Gunner for keeping the punts from doing any damage whatsoever.
Winovich for making some plays - love the energy, blah blah blah.
Butler quietly had a monster-ish game.
Burkhead is playing so consistently well that he almost doesn’t deserve to be in the group of lesser lights.
 

MuppetAsteriskTalk

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So, you get signed midweek, learn a whole new team, play for Cannon on the right, then switch to cover the blindside mid-game when Wynn goes down, play in 90 degree heat/humidity and keep Brady alive, and you get a “down”?
What’s the matter with you?
I agree with you. Sure he took a few penalties and gave up a hit or two on Brady, but it could have been much worse out there. At least they were able to have a mostly normally functioning offense.
 

BigSoxFan

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This is a great point. If anything he seems to have improved while he was gone. He's a heat seeking missile right now.
Yup. He looks great. I don’t know what happened towards the end of his first stay here but this kind of feels like another Chung situation where the player comes in a little humbled and the Pats probably have a better idea how to use him. Hopefully it lasts.
 

RetractableRoof

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Yup. He looks great. I don’t know what happened towards the end of his first stay here but this kind of feels like another Chung situation where the player comes in a little humbled and the Pats probably have a better idea how to use him. Hopefully it lasts.
I'd also add that with the quality of defensive players that is currently on the team, they are able to rotate players and keep them fresh. I haven't looked at the snap counts to see what his are, but if they aren't as high as previously - then he doesn't have to hold anything back.

Longer term this year, that rotational depth should mean a player doesn't have to play dinged up either, which should pay off later in the year when players are traditionally wearing down.
 

TheoShmeo

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It would be easier to identify who should not get a game ball. And other than Gost, I really can't single out anyone.

Give credit to Tom and Josh for orchestrating an offense that has made us not remotely miss the best TE of all time. Gronk did not put up huge regular season receiving numbers last year but his blocking was immense all season, and particularly when they committed to the run down the stretch, and we all know about his receptions in the last two games. To have that kind of force go out and the offense perform this well...give it up to the guys running the show.

That having been said, they need to convert TDs in the red zone at a higher percentage. In doesn't matter in blow out wins but that's the kind of thing that could haunt them in a close game. See Baltimore, Houston and KC on your schedules.
 

tims4wins

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They do have a very real chance of starting 8-0. But no way they get through that @BAL, @PHI, DAL, @HOU, KC stretch unscathed.
Fully agree, and I don't think I really have any interest in chasing 19-0 again.

That said, this offense is more dynamic than the 2007 offense IMO, and this defense is much better. The 2007 defense was aging and front-running. This defense is just better and deeper front to back.

The O line, however, will likely hold this team back, and may well end up being the fatal flaw, should this team not win it all.