The Game Ball Thread: Wk. 2 @ Pittsburgh

SeoulSoxFan

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Well, the bookmakers were right by favoring NE. I'm breathing a sigh of relief not falling to 0-2 to start the season.

The game ball goes to the OL & the the running backs, especially to that satisfying last drive to run out the clock.

It's the first game ball time of the season!
 

scottyno

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Cole Strange went up against one of if not the best d tackles in the league today and more than held his own
 

JOBU

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O-Line beasted quite nicely. Nelson and Myers had good games. Blocking and running on the last drive that sealed the win. Not pretty but effective.
 

heavyde050

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The running game, especially at the end of the game.
Agholor for the great catch.
Meyers for just being dependable.
Peppers and Judon.

Edit - Offensive line was great in the running game and pass protection, but way too many penalties - just need to clean it up a bit.
 
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Mooch

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Cole Strange went up against one of if not the best d tackles in the league today and more than held his own
He didn’t just hold his own, he flat out dominated most of the game.

Jabril Peppers gets my game ball on defense. Set the tone in the second half with some big, physical plays.
 

ragnarok725

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  • OL looked like the best unit on the team.
  • The secondary made Trubisky look like Trubisky. Peppers did a good job filling in for Dugger after injury.
  • Agholor made a great play, the kind of play that seems to get made against the Pats but never by the Pats.

Opposite of a game ball to the doomers who seem so eager to shit on this team, the coaches, and any coaching decision. The game threads are worse than usual.
 

IdiotKicker

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Last week the OL was my top goat. Today they were fantastic in pass-blocking and showed some improvement on the last drive in run-blocking. There are a lot of questions on offense, but if they can answer that one, it helps with a lot of the other pieces. I still don’t know what the offense is actually trying to do as there isn’t any clear game plan, but the OL was good, and Jakobi Meyers continues to show he’s a strong #2 option who is forced into a #1 role because the other skill guys are so iffy.
 

Eddie Jurak

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1. The offiensive line. Mac was not sacked. Harris and Stevenson combined to run for 118 yards on 24 carries.
2. Nelson Agholor. His best game as a Patriot. Six catches for 110 yards including a great contested catch on the 44 yard bomb at the end of the first half. This ball arguably could/should have been picked, instead it was a TD.
3. Matt Judon. A couple of mistakes, but also came through in a couple of key moments - once with a sack, another time in coverage.

Honorable mention: Gunner Olczewski and Brandon Schooler, who combined for a punt muff/turnover at a very opportune time for the Pats.
The running backs. Strong!
I assume you mean "the running backs were Strong" and not "The RBs. Pierre Strong!"
Jabril Peppers gets my game ball on defense. Set the tone in the second half with some big, physical plays.
I think of Kyle Dugger as maybe the best tackler on the Pats. Jabrill came in for him and didn;t miss a beat, with 2-3 key tackles right away.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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The OL

And I will be on the island here in that the coaching staff made some good adjustments - they clearly made some protection tweaks.

Gamethread jokes aside, Patricia almost certainly has to understand offensive concepts from a high level as a function of his experience. And he is clearly bright. Maybe he can grow into the job. Maybe he won't. However the offense showed clear progression from the first week.
 

BusRaker

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Cole and Andrews on O. That hole between those two was nice to see when the coaching staff was smart enough to exploit it.
1st half Dugger, Judon and McCourty (the fact that we haven't heard his name speaks volumes!!!) on D
ST was meh not sure you can credit them for Gunner's fuck up
 

Eddie Jurak

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Cole and Andrews on O. That hole between those two was nice to see when the coaching staff was smart enough to exploit it.
1st half Dugger, Judon and McCourty (the fact that we haven't heard his name speaks volumes!!!) on D
ST was meh not sure you can credit them for Gunner's fuck up
I thought Schooler was right there and in position to make the play on Gunner's muff, and he made it. I think it is fair to credit him on that one.
 

Dahabenzapple2

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Yeah probably for his thread, but he looks like he has no confidence at all like he has the yips
Overstatement. He doesn’t have the yips. Made a few bad throws. Looked OK. The overreaction on the game thread was over the top even for the regular doom & gloomers.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Overstatement. He doesn’t have the yips. Made a few bad throws. Looked OK. The overreaction on the game thread was over the top even for the regular doom & gloomers.
This.

My sense is if people can get past the few plays a game where he looks absolutely out of his depth physically and focus on the many things he does well, watching him will be easier. At present, he simply doesn't have the arm or athleticism to create something when things break down. However he also makes good decisions generally and had some nifty plays that were overlooked or negated by penalty.

Mac doesn't get a game ball but we still don't know what he is capable of in terms of what matters which is winning.
 

Al Zarilla

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1. The offiensive line. Mac was not sacked. Harris and Stevenson combined to run for 118 yards on 24 carries.
2. Nelson Agholor. His best game as a Patriot. Six catches for 110 yards including a great contested catch on the 44 yard bomb at the end of the first half. This ball arguably could/should have been picked, instead it was a TD.
3. Matt Judon. A couple of mistakes, but also came through in a couple of key moments - once with a sack, another time in coverage.

Honorable mention: Gunner Olczewski and Brandon Schooler, who combined for a punt muff/turnover at a very opportune time for the Pats.
I assume you mean "the running backs were Strong" and not "The RBs. Pierre Strong!"
I think of Kyle Dugger as maybe the best tackler on the Pats. Jabrill came in for him and didn;t miss a beat, with 2-3 key tackles right away.
Yes, The running backs were strong. We have a guy named Pierre Strong?
 

Gash Prex

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This.

My sense is if people can get past the few plays a game where he looks absolutely out of his depth physically and focus on the many things he does well, watching him will be easier. At present, he simply doesn't have the arm or athleticism to create something when things break down. However he also makes good decisions generally and had some nifty plays that were overlooked or negated by penalty.

Mac doesn't get a game ball but we still don't know what he is capable of in terms of what matters which is winning.
The funny part is that Mac’s scramble to pick up the first down was one of the biggest plays of the game. He made some bad decisions and missed some plays - but the Steelers defense is pretty good (see Burrow, Joe).

I thought from a decision making it was one of Mac’s worst (from the broadcast) I’ve seen. My untrained eyes tell me that Mac thinks something pre snap and doesn’t adjust well when the defense rotates or disguises coverages. The pre read decision to throw to Smith on 3rd and 2 when he thought it would be a blitz, but instead dropped into coverage and Meyers was wide open.

However, I’m very confident Mac will adjust - just needs some time. New coaches, offense etc… if the offense line comes together like today, Mac will figure it out
 

Euclis20

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Whatever the opposite of a game ball is after a win, it goes to the offensive playcalling. Repeatedly calling for passes on 3rd and short in the 4th quarter when:

-You want to run the clock down
-The running game is more effective than the passing game
-Coming up short on a 3rd down run sets you up nicely for a 4th down attempt in PIT territory

is beyond idiotic. That sequence of failed 3rd downs right up until Mac scrambled for the 1st was incredibly painful to watch.
 

The Mort Report

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Overstatement. He doesn’t have the yips. Made a few bad throws. Looked OK. The overreaction on the game thread was over the top even for the regular doom & gloomers.
Agreed. I know it's gamethreading, but it's amazing to me how many people are already souring on him. He just played his 2nd game of his 2nd season!! Most QBs don't really "put it all together" until their third year at least. All you want for the first couple years is to not get them killed or stunt their development. If he looks like this in the middle of next year sure, let's worry. It's waaay too soon
 

cornwalls@6

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Offensive line and backs- good all game, and a clutch, physical drive to close it out.
Agholor- tremendous catch on the TD, and productive all day.
Judon -Active all day in pursuit and coverage.
Phillips- Another good tackling day for him. Made some good stops all day, minimizing YAC.

Coaching staff- After a flat, listless effort last week, team seemed much focused and aggressive today. Bill & Co. obviously got their attention during the week.
 

Bowhemian

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I thought the entire team, especially the O line bounced back nicely after last weeks mess. With that said, Miles Bryant does not get a game ball.
 

McBride11

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Mac’s arm sure sucked on the Agholor TD.

did he miss a few plays? Sure. I could see them from the 500 section. Why cant he be perfect! Oh there are 300 lb monster men rushing at him? Got it.
 

riboflav

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Overstatement. He doesn’t have the yips. Made a few bad throws. Looked OK. The overreaction on the game thread was over the top even for the regular doom & gloomers.
OMG it was embarrassing. One poster has the Pats ceiling at four wins and declared in the first half that that was too optimistic. We go through this every Sept.Pats posters are the worst ones among us on SoSH.
 

riboflav

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Agreed. I know it's gamethreading, but it's amazing to me how many people are already souring on him. He just played his 2nd game of his 2nd season!! Most QBs don't really "put it all together" until their third year at least. All you want for the first couple years is to not get them killed or stunt their development. If he looks like this in the middle of next year sure, let's worry. It's waaay too soon
We just went a week through posters wanting the coaching staff fired. This is who we are or who we have become after the 20-year run.
 

NortheasternPJ

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OMG it was embarrassing. One poster has the Pats ceiling at four wins and declared in the first half that that was too optimistic. We go through this every Sept.Pats posters are the worst ones among us on SoSH.
It’s worse than it’s ever been. It’s basically Jim Murray takes on Felger and Mazz over and over. I get the team isn’t the best and there’s a lot of issues Including the coaching staff being unorthodox.

The defense has been “gashed” according to the game threads and gave up 27 points combined in 2 weeks

Just wait until they face a real QB!!!! Tua threw for 469 yards against Balt today alone and Miami scored 42 points. I don’t think the Pats are world beaters or that 2 weeks means a ton but it seems Like many are rooting for them to fail.

We’re on the verge of some starting to call this a “fake win” that doesn’t count.
 

Cellar-Door

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Overstatement. He doesn’t have the yips. Made a few bad throws. Looked OK. The overreaction on the game thread was over the top even for the regular doom & gloomers.
He's completing 65% of his passes with the yips?
Yeah yips is the wrong term because it implies missing on throws, wildness. I more meant that he's in his head, he had incredible protection today, and I thought there were a lot of time he made terrible decisions as if he was under pressure (one that stood out was that key 3rd and 2 where he tried to force it to Jonnu who was doubled when he had all the time in the world). I think it's been a kind of consistent thing this year (season and pre-season) that he's struggling to identify when he's going to be under pressure, from where, and if he is under pressure. Not sure if it's overthinking it, not having McDaniels in his ear, or what, but he seems to be playing as if he was behind a terrible line not a pretty good one. He wasn't catastrophic, but he was not good. I doubt it means much for him long-term hopefully, but it's a concern short term, especially since he didn't have that problem as rookie (and many rookies do).
 

SMU_Sox

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Cole Strange, Damien Harris, and Rham. Cole Strange was a beast in pass pro and as a run blocker. He’s having a really good start to the season.
 

ZMart100

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Strange and Peppers for the game balls.

I thought the game was a step back for Mac from last week, but also he has been the best QB on the field in both games so far.
 

Eck'sSneakyCheese

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I thought Schooler was right there and in position to make the play on Gunner's muff, and he made it. I think it is fair to credit him on that one.
This is where I’m at. Biggest play of the game for me. I get the feeling we’re going to see Schooler in the right position to make the play a lot on ST as the year goes on.
 

Jimbodandy

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Mac, who doesn't have enough arm.
The OL, who lost too many quality players and is coached by people with no business coaching OL.
Agholor, who is overpaid and easily replaceable.

HM: the commentariat
 

RedOctober3829

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The offense showed some growth today. The OL was much maligned in the run game all summer, but looked great especially to end the game. Harris looked pretty explosive and Rhamondre was himself. Agholor and Meyers were tremendous.

The hatrid for Mac around here is an awful look. He has his faults, but it’s clear he has the respect of his teammates and coaches.Tough kid too. If there’s the same issues in January and there’s no progress, sure.
 

MuppetAsteriskTalk

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Not sure if there's any hate for Mac - I think people where just hoping for more. For me, it's disappointing that he hasn't seemed to grow any from last year to this year. I've been firmly in "he's the guy" territory since game 1 last year, but man he seems to be throwing more ducks and making more mistakes this year than last. Maybe it's a bad read on my part, but my faith is wavering at the moment that he can become anything more than pedestrian. But I'm not ready to write him off quite yet.
 

j44thor

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Will be interesting to see the grades for this game but I don't think it is a stretch to say Strange was the best player on the field today for either team. OL was the difference in this game minus a few penalties. Mac had all day and then some back there. RBs ran hard and made a few extra yards but nothing crazy. Agholor with the co-play of the game along with Gunner and Jakobi looked like his usual self. A Parker sighting would be nice doesn't seem to be on the same page with Mac thus far.

Tough to learn much from this game given PIT was missing their defensive MVP and their offensive is terrible, esp their OL. Would have liked to see a bit more pressure on Trubisky who seemed to run himself into sacks more so than get pressured a ton.

A road win is always well earned, feel a bit neutral after this one. Sky isn't falling but I won't be buying playoff tix yet either.
 

chilidawg

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Maybe a little off topic here, but was watching the highlights and on Schooler's fumble recovery the reason he was right there was that there was no one blocking him as gunner. Two guys on the other side, but no one on Schooler. They could have thrown him the ball and he'd of had an easy 30 yards.

From the highlights:
Wilson
Agholor
O Line.
 

tims4wins

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BaseballJones

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It's just two weeks but....

Miami scored 42 against Baltimore (who had allowed only 9 the week before). But NE's defense held Miami to 13 points (7 came on the fumble return for the TD).

Pittsburgh scored 23 against Cincinnati (who allowed just 20 this week). But NE's defense held Pittsburgh to just 14 points.

So Pats' opposing offenses have scored 65 points in two games against non-Pats defenses (32.5 ppg), but only scored 27 points against NE's defense (13.5 ppg).

Currently, NE is ranked #8 in points allowed (that includes the fumble return for a TD) and #4 in yards allowed.