The Game Ball Thread: Wk 8 vs Dolphins
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I'm trying so hard to savor every Tom Brady game at this point. When he finally retires in 2023 with nine or so rings, the rest of our football lives will be dull and meaningless and devoid of greatness. The sequence of him taking that sack late in the fourth quarter, up by 25 points, and pounding the ground in anger was just beautiful. The game was over. He was still pissed at making a bad play. Then, he throws a touchdown on the next play. He's the best.
Other game balls to Dion Lewis, Gronk, Edelman, LaFell, the entire defense, Ryan Allen and the coaches.
Fun team. Sucks it's now 10 days away from the next game.
Other game balls to Dion Lewis, Gronk, Edelman, LaFell, the entire defense, Ryan Allen and the coaches.
Fun team. Sucks it's now 10 days away from the next game.
Yeah a lot of the longer downfield routes were on PA with 6 or 7 guys blocking. Fleming made a couple bonehead plays but overall line play was pretty good given the quality of the Fins' DL.j44thor said:
Not that there's a good time to be shorthanded on the OL, but now that they are through this stretch of division games, they have some time and a cupcake home game to get some reps in before a tougher 3 game stretch. The road games at NYG and DEN are the ones where I fret about the OL, specifically cleaning up communication and penalties.
TheoShmeo said:
Yes, it was just an uniformed comment and that's OK, this isn't exactly a serious thread. I think there are certainly some spoiled fans out there but there is also an element on this board that has a "I'm better then you because I know more about football then you" attitude. It's good that the standards are high here and the discussion is generally awesome, but football will always lend itself to a some less thoughtful commentary. In certain threads/discussions it's not necessarily a bad thing.
I would add being able to watch Belichick coaching to the Brady appreciation comments. And watching them function together.
Being able to watch a coach prepare his team in all respects, develop brilliant game plans that are custom made for the opponent, and routinely make in game adjustments that work and solve problems is such a rarity.
When the Fins were stopping the Pats in the first half (after the initial scoring drive), my thought was "just get to half time without any damage and allow Bill and Josh to make the necessary adjustments."
So yeah, we're watching vintage Brady/Pedro right now, and it's such a massive treat. But we're also watching the best coach in sports, by far, and we should all be savoring that, too.
Being able to watch a coach prepare his team in all respects, develop brilliant game plans that are custom made for the opponent, and routinely make in game adjustments that work and solve problems is such a rarity.
When the Fins were stopping the Pats in the first half (after the initial scoring drive), my thought was "just get to half time without any damage and allow Bill and Josh to make the necessary adjustments."
So yeah, we're watching vintage Brady/Pedro right now, and it's such a massive treat. But we're also watching the best coach in sports, by far, and we should all be savoring that, too.
It's also noteworthy that they are halfway through the schedule against AFC East foes and that the DLine arms race between the Jets, Dolphins and Bills has not stopped or even slowed down the Pats.
There was preseason discussion here that the AFC East gap may have been squeezed a little closer due to the strength of those teams DLines. So far, that has not been true.
There was preseason discussion here that the AFC East gap may have been squeezed a little closer due to the strength of those teams DLines. So far, that has not been true.
A vintage comeback on Sunday and a vintage blowout last night. The team was suffocating last night in just about every phase. 7-0 is really hard to do in the NFL, and this team occasionally makes it look easy. It ain't.
UP -- instead of 3 up and 3 down, I think this win deserve 6 up:
- Brady. As others said, we're watching Bird in the 80s. In some future documentary one of the players on this team is going to talk about him pounding the turf up 29-7 and then throwing a perfect pass to Edelman for the TD on the next play. And that back shoulder throw to LaFell was about as perfect a throw as anyone has ever let fly.
- Dion Lewis: What a freaking player this kid is. Did anyone else notice him level a blitzing LB (#50)? Literally knocked him to the ground.
- Edelman: From the 2 TD catches to his brilliant decision to let that last punt bounce and block the Dolphins gunner so it would roll for a touchback, how can you not love this guy?
- Patricia: Early on the Dolphins tried to run a screen... And like when the computer guesses the play in Tecmo Super Bowl, the Pats defense literally ran the play with the Dolphins, because they had obviously seen it enough, even in a short week with only 1 real practice. Patricia has those guys playing at a high level.
- The entire defense, especially Pat Chung, Hightower, and Chandler: Chung was everywhere last night.
- Gostkowski: One of the most underrated players in the NFL. Congrats to him on the Pats record.
UP -- instead of 3 up and 3 down, I think this win deserve 6 up:
- Brady. As others said, we're watching Bird in the 80s. In some future documentary one of the players on this team is going to talk about him pounding the turf up 29-7 and then throwing a perfect pass to Edelman for the TD on the next play. And that back shoulder throw to LaFell was about as perfect a throw as anyone has ever let fly.
- Dion Lewis: What a freaking player this kid is. Did anyone else notice him level a blitzing LB (#50)? Literally knocked him to the ground.
- Edelman: From the 2 TD catches to his brilliant decision to let that last punt bounce and block the Dolphins gunner so it would roll for a touchback, how can you not love this guy?
- Patricia: Early on the Dolphins tried to run a screen... And like when the computer guesses the play in Tecmo Super Bowl, the Pats defense literally ran the play with the Dolphins, because they had obviously seen it enough, even in a short week with only 1 real practice. Patricia has those guys playing at a high level.
- The entire defense, especially Pat Chung, Hightower, and Chandler: Chung was everywhere last night.
- Gostkowski: One of the most underrated players in the NFL. Congrats to him on the Pats record.
DrewDawg said:
Part of the gameplan. Blount saw a bunch more carries which usually means he has Lewis's spot and the extra TE (Chandler/Williams) took Danny's spot.
DrewDawg said:
Seems like he's still the 3rd or 4th option (Edelman, Gronk, Lewis). Last week Lewis was out and the Jets did a good job on the others, and Amendola really performed.
LaFell has stepped right in and become the #2 WR in the offense behind Edelman. Amendola did a trememdous job filling in and will be called on again to make some plays but LaFell should be getting more snaps over him.DrewDawg said:
I don't mean to quibble (OK, maybe I do just a little), but my point isn't so much that less thoughtful commentary is OK...it's that being wrong doesn't necessarily mean that you are spoiled.( . ) ( . ) and (_!_) said:
I guess the underlying premise is that when Ale Xander pokes at the play of Fleming and Vollmer, it means to some folks that he expects perfection and that makes him spoiled. And they'd be right if that's what Ale Xander's comment means.
I just think that the much more likely explanation is that he was wrong in this instance and that he probably well understands how lucky he is to be rooting for this team.
I also think that most Pats fans get how lucky we all are. That's generally what I get from what I read here, and from the fans I interact with otherwise.
Tom Brady missed a wide open Lafell deep in the Miami secondary on a broken play when he couldn't deliver the ball long (Lafell was interfered with). Could this be the first sign of TB12's decline? Yes, I'm bullshitting. Tom Brady is fucking epic!
Ed Hillel said:
Why bring that up?
That was a Gronk who couldn't run or jump well due to his ankle injury. A healthy Gronk makes that catch or breaks it up.
In terms of the spoiled stuff, it is my own issue but I have to avoid the game threads as much as humanly possible. Sure, the offense wasn't firing on all cylinders last night, but they scored on the first possession, had a 9 point lead in the first quarter, 19 point lead at the half, and the game was really never in doubt after the coin flip. Oh yeah they are defending World Champs, 7-0, lead the league in point differential, and just flayed a divisional rival who came into the game hot on national TV. But in the game thread, when a Pats drive ends in a punt it is like the end of the fucking world. Brady misses a throw and he's "off". Blount gets stopped for no gain and McDaniels is an idiot. And God forbid the other team make a play and score points. But again, mainly my own issue, I understand people get worked up, and I should just avoid going in there during games.
Having said that, I think for the most part the commentary in the main BBTL threads is great and balanced, and people find a way to talk about the stuff that isn't working as well on the Pats without coming across as fans that lack perspective.
Having said that, I think for the most part the commentary in the main BBTL threads is great and balanced, and people find a way to talk about the stuff that isn't working as well on the Pats without coming across as fans that lack perspective.
It's just the play that immediately came to mind last night. Brady somehow escapes a sack and then heaves a floater downfield. He doesn't have too many of those so they stick out.loshjott said:
Obviously Gronk doesn't let that happen healthy, I just saw the comparison in the plays. Last night was clear PI, too. I'm unsure how an NFL official misses that.
ESPN just can't stop hating on the Pats. Which dead American was greater than Brady? Needless qualification used only to bring Tommy down.DrewDawg said:
I know we've all come to realize we have an absolute steal in Dion Lewis.
...but if he continues to play like this, it could be one of the all-time great steals in league history. He isn't just "pretty good," he's quickly turning into one of the best playmakers in the league. He has plenty more to prove, but how can you not be absolutely blown away by what you see?
...but if he continues to play like this, it could be one of the all-time great steals in league history. He isn't just "pretty good," he's quickly turning into one of the best playmakers in the league. He has plenty more to prove, but how can you not be absolutely blown away by what you see?
Agree to disagree. You guys need to watch the film. Fleming was beaten very often.
But yes I am spoiled, and yes I am grading on a curve of the past 15 years, and also compared to a couple players near him with less pro experience that did better.
But yes I am spoiled, and yes I am grading on a curve of the past 15 years, and also compared to a couple players near him with less pro experience that did better.
H78 said:
But I mean...he was a 5th round draft pick.
That's not as much of a steal as, say, a 6th-round draft pick might have been....
One of the guys on CSNE, probably Koppen because he played center, said there's an interactive thing where if the right guard sees something, he taps the center on the butt and then the C is supposed to snap the ball. The RG did that, no snap, couple of seconds later, he tapped Pouncey again, couple of seconds, then he snapped the ball. I'd never heard of any of that kind of protocol, but it all happened like Koppen said. Meanwhile, Tannehill was unconscious throughout the whole thing. Wonder if any reporter asked Campbell to explain who really was at fault.j44thor said:
I thought the announcers did a pretty good job of shoing that pretty much the entire team moved as the ball was snapped, except for the QB. Whatever their protocol was, it seemed like everyone else was on board.Al Zarilla said:
simplyeric said:
I was wondering if they were going off the play clock. I believe one of the camera angle showed the ball being snapped just as the play clock ticked down to 4 secs. Do teams do that ever?
( . ) ( . ) and (_!_) said:
Yuuuuuuuup. (you get one more u)
They're called game threads. As an extension of a game thread, the standards in this thread are a little lower than in other BBtL forum threads. For everyone.
Ralphwiggum said:
And this is why there's occasionally some friction. Game threading outside the game threads is discouraged.
Ale Xander said:
You can go even further back - Bruce Armstrong was damned good too. There's no such thing as an unspoiled Boston sports fan, it is our collective burden to bear for being so successful.
I hope KFP has time to watch the film. That might be fun.
Just the one planted foot towards the middle, and the defender bit 100% on that.Old Fart Tree said:
I said it last week and it was true again this week, but Ryan Allen is doing an outstanding job punting the ball right now. 6 punts last night, landing at the 9, 7, 23, 26 (52 yds), 12, and 5 yard lines. His distance control is really, really strong right now, and he's helping to give the defense an edge having teams backed up and needing to put long drives together to get anywhere.
Question to those with more knowledge. On those silent shotgun snaps, how are the offensive players deciding when to move? Are they just looking at the ball for the snap or is there something?simplyeric said:
Yes, Armstrong was fantastic. I must be the only one with fond memories of Pat Harlow and perhaps it is affecting my opinion of Fleming's performance. We will need to improve RT play should we oppose GB or Carolina or AZ in Levi-land. And certainly for Denver.soxfan121 said:
A couple of posters mentioed Edelman calling for a fair catch on a punt and then blocking as a good play. I thought doing that was a penalty and was surprised when he wasn't flagged.
I found it. "...A player who signals for a fair catch is not required to catch the ball. However, if a player signals for a fair catch, he may not block or initiate contact with any player on the kicking team until the ball touches a player. Penalty: snap 15 yards...." from http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/faircatch
I found it. "...A player who signals for a fair catch is not required to catch the ball. However, if a player signals for a fair catch, he may not block or initiate contact with any player on the kicking team until the ball touches a player. Penalty: snap 15 yards...." from http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/faircatch
I could be mis-remembering or remembering a different play but I don't think he called for a fair catch. I think he made the safe / penalty declined motion with his arms to signal to his team he wasn't going to try to catch it.MalzoneExpress said:
there was no way he called for a fair catch. If anything, he would probably try to fake the defensive guy into thinking he was going to return it.MalzoneExpress said:
Even if it was a penalty it was a good one to take. If he had not blocked the guy, it is possible the ball gets downed inside the 5. With the penalty, it is at the 10 with it being half the distance to the goal. (A 15-yard personal foul is half the distance to the goal from the 20, right?)Toe Nash said:
This is correct. He waived the return off which means nothing officially. He can waive his hands down low and then still field the ball if he was so inclined.Toe Nash said:
This is correct, although I can't find the video to confirm it.Toe Nash said:
It was such a heads up play by Edelman, the kind of tiny little moment in a blowout that will help win games that are closer.
Three of the 14 slots are taken by Marshall Faulk's '99, '00, and '01 seasons... another reminder of the brilliance of the Super Bowl 36 game planToe Nash said:
Most likely he did play the wind there. On longer kicks, you absolutely have to take it into account. I think it may have been a little further outside than he wanted, as you'll typically target an upright so that if the wind dies down in flight you still have a chance, but he definitely played the wind there. Beautiful ball.Section15Box113 said:
I remember him signaling for the fair catch. He then stepped up and did the "sweeping/get away from teh ball motion". He then blocked the guy.
They even showed him talking to the two officials (one ran up to the other) that were having a discussion right before the cut to commercial. CBS never really talked about it. I thought it was going to be a penalty.
They even showed him talking to the two officials (one ran up to the other) that were having a discussion right before the cut to commercial. CBS never really talked about it. I thought it was going to be a penalty.
By the time you get to the next day, there's not much left to say in the gameball thread that hasn't been said. I'd just echo Edelman -- his numbers from the mid-point of last season are basically elite, top-10 NFL receiver numbers. Also, Gostkowski just keeps getting the job done, without much fanfare and without hardly anyone noticing.
It wasn't always easy to tell who was covering whom on the broadcast, but I'm not sure we heard Malcolm Butler's name once from Simms and Nantz, which perhaps means he was just quietly doing his job?
I guess one of my game balls goes to the entire defense on third down. Miami converted on their first third down of the game, and then they were 1 for 10 after that, following a not-so-great-performance against the Jets. The box score has some anomalies in it. Miami had 16 first downs through the air, which is a little surprising, and I guess means they were doing ok on first and second down, but when it came time for the defense to make a play on third down, they were really good. Patriots were a surprising 3-12 on third down, which is not what I was expecting to see, but again I suppose that means they were getting a lot done on first and second down.
It wasn't always easy to tell who was covering whom on the broadcast, but I'm not sure we heard Malcolm Butler's name once from Simms and Nantz, which perhaps means he was just quietly doing his job?
I guess one of my game balls goes to the entire defense on third down. Miami converted on their first third down of the game, and then they were 1 for 10 after that, following a not-so-great-performance against the Jets. The box score has some anomalies in it. Miami had 16 first downs through the air, which is a little surprising, and I guess means they were doing ok on first and second down, but when it came time for the defense to make a play on third down, they were really good. Patriots were a surprising 3-12 on third down, which is not what I was expecting to see, but again I suppose that means they were getting a lot done on first and second down.
This post would be a lot better if I could remember some specific examples other than the fielding of punts by both sides already mentioned, but all game it seemed that the Patriots were doing all the little things correct and the Dolphins doing a lot of the little things poorly. I guess this isn't surprising, as the Patriots have an all-time great - and arguably the GOAT - coach, while the Dolphins have an interim coach. I'm just a little surprised that it was so noticeable.