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Post by rkarp on Oct 28, 2017 5:25:51 GMT -5
count me is as one who would not mind a boring win. would like to see the Pats run the ball 30 plus times (of course with success)
-my limited looks at the Chargers, I see teams can run directly at Bosa. Bosa is great at getting up field. Chargers are not so great in back filling his empty lane
-would also like to see the Pats ride a hot hand at RB, rather than simply rotate. if that means a RB does not get his fair share that game. so be it. run Lewis or Burkhead 20 times, and if Gillislee does not get on the field, he will be that much fresher the next game.
-assuming health, I like Gilmore on KAllen Sunday. Allen seems to clearly be Rivers "go to" guy. I like Gilmore chances in that match up. the guy who will be a match up issue is Gordon against the Pats LB's. might we see Chung and Richards more in the box? Harmon/DMC stay safely deep and we again see bend but do not break. Rivers should be much, much easier than any QB seen this season to keep in the pocket. wait for the turn overs. they should be available. I mean, if there is a QB playing that is less a threat to run than TB, I think it is Rivers.
-I like the Pats RB's in the short passing game against the Chargers LB's. I would also like to see more jumbo TE with Fleming in line and Gronk either inline as well or split out wide depending on who is on the field.
-if we fans are thinking the bye week is coming at a good time for the team, are the players as well? BB has a tough task keeping the players from looking past this team.
-I see the Bills traded Darreus for a conditional 6/5th draft choice. no surprise. his mentor, Alan Branch finally got his act together as he got older. maybe Darreus will too
-I posted earlier I think the Pats can withstand not having Hightower on the field. can they in the locker room? while much was made of the miscommunication and newness of the players/schemes, some of my ex colleagues say there were some rare Pats media leaks regarding effort. we even had TB say it to the media in his TB- speak. but what changed was not TB talking at the media, but Slater, Harris, Hightower and DMC in peoples ear and face in the locker room. we are seeing improvements not due to better understanding, but better effort. with Hightower no longer, someone else will need to step up
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Post by patslifer on Oct 28, 2017 7:14:05 GMT -5
-I see the Bills traded Darreus for a conditional 6/5th draft choice. no surprise. his mentor, Alan Branch finally got his act together as he got older. maybe Darreus will too The Jags already have a very good defense. If Dareus gets his act together, that defense could be scary good. I posted earlier I think the Pats can withstand not having Hightower on the field. can they in the locker room? I imagine Hightower will be around the team, although not being the leader on the field is going to probably hurt this team more than anything else. Harris has those leadership qualities. Can he step up for the front 7 or maybe that role goes to Van Noy. |
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Post by muzwell on Oct 28, 2017 7:25:54 GMT -5
Running the ball is NOT boring. It's the essence of football, the best part of the game.
Big difference between Dareus and Branch is one of them has a $96 mil contract with $60 mil gtd and massive cap hits and the other one has an $8 mil deal with $3 mil gtd.
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Post by mthurl on Oct 28, 2017 7:52:27 GMT -5
I'm no type 100% sold on Hightower as a leader. I think he does his job, he is professional, but I don't see him as a leader. I certainly don't think he's a problem but he never struck me as a father the troops, keep them in line, type. This guy didn't even go to the parade last year. He was pretty upset from what I read about Collins being shipped. He has been a little vocal - and honest - about what it's like to play for Belichick and Saban. He gave it his all, he is tough, he is timely - we will really miss that - but I don't think the vibe in the locker room will change.
I think Harris brings the same qualities...maybe even more, but he's not the player Hightower was, that's where it'll really hurt. He can't run like Hightower because his legs are old, but he's smart and tough. The game I think slows down a little when it starts to get cold and most teams are out of it (at least until the second round of the playoffs). It's a more physical game, some teams try to run it more and play it closer to the vest. It's more physical as it gets colder - I think Harris may do well in that department - but we are losing something big. Hopefully they'll make a trade and hopefully McClellin will come back and be the player he was supposed to be when he was drafted high (not holding my breath). Honestly though, I'm having fun watching them like I always do...I won't be crushed if it's not our year...these things happen. But with a little luck, and a trade, it could be.
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gopats
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Post by gopats on Oct 28, 2017 8:17:10 GMT -5
It's water under the bridge, but I wonder what is behind the curtain with the CLong defection. The guy is a proven vet with outstanding leadership qualities. He got a ring and seemed to be set for at least another year. Moreover, he played a position of need here. I always loved Howie, a Southie guy, who would have been a great Pat. We got the next best thing, his son, and all of a sudden GLong walks away. Sure there was more money, I guess, but he just GAVE IT ALL AWAY! He just wanted to play football and we could use that juju right now. A pity. What if we see the Eagles in the SB? That would sting but good for him.
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Post by texaspat on Oct 28, 2017 8:24:35 GMT -5
It's water under the bridge, but I wonder what is behind the curtain with the CLong defection. The guy is a proven vet with outstanding leadership qualities. He got a ring and seemed to be set for at least another year. Moreover, he played a position of need here. I always loved Howie, a Southie guy, who would have been a great Pat. We got the next best thing, his son, and all of a sudden GLong walks away. Sure there was more money, I guess, but he just GAVE IT ALL AWAY! He just wanted to play football and we could use that juju right now. A pity. What if we see the Eagles in the SB? That would sting but good for him. It wasn't about the money. It was about Long wanting to see his role expanded, and get more playing time than he was getting in New England. For all you people who are complaining about the Patriots decision to sign the injury prone Dont'a Hightower to big money, Long also was labeled as injury prone when he toiled for so many years in St. Louis. The Patriots rolled dice on him as a role player in 2016, and it worked out. You never know. Every season is a war of attrition in the NFL. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2017 8:25:49 GMT -5
A little off topic here but, since its Saturdays observations, anybody notice Steelers at this point have the best Pass Defense in the NFL? And ranked #3 overall. If going by yards allowed. #3 if going by points allowed.
Wonder if this continues? Did they see the Pats as their real obstacle?
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Post by rkarp on Oct 28, 2017 8:30:12 GMT -5
I do and have always like Long. He could prob be helping this right now.
I am prob in the minority, but I thought he was beliw average last year.
The Pats most likely said to him they were going to diuble dip in the draft if it presented itself, the the DL college class was strong enough to warrant udfa consideration. True enough Rivers, Wise and Butler, as well as Guy and eventually McClellin would be ahead of Long.
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Post by texaspat on Oct 28, 2017 8:32:36 GMT -5
A little off topic here but, since its Saturdays observations, anybody notice Steelers at this point have the best Pass Defense in the NFL? And ranked #3 overall. Wonder if this continues? Injuries can change everything. We're barely at the half way point this season, and look at all the injuries that have resulted in teams losing key players. It's not really about how well a team is playing now. It's all about how the team is playing in December. There's still a ton of football to be played. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2017 8:38:40 GMT -5
Agreed, but seems at this point if they do not get any major injuries, we should keep an eye on this. Pretty weak division too, as far as Offenses go. This week they play the Lions in Detroit, not the greatest of teams, but they do sling the ball around. Good game to gage them a little more.
Then maybe not, Lions ranked 26 in Passing Offense in the NFL.
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Post by muzwell on Oct 28, 2017 8:46:43 GMT -5
It's water under the bridge, but I wonder what is behind the curtain with the CLong defection. The guy is a proven vet with outstanding leadership qualities. He got a ring and seemed to be set for at least another year. Moreover, he played a position of need here. I always loved Howie, a Southie guy, who would have been a great Pat. We got the next best thing, his son, and all of a sudden GLong walks away. Sure there was more money, I guess, but he just GAVE IT ALL AWAY! He just wanted to play football and we could use that juju right now. A pity. What if we see the Eagles in the SB? That would sting but good for him. He wanted to play more, that's all. Maybe didn't like all the work in Foxboro, too, who knows? Lots of vets are set in their ways. He has two sacks, what'd he have last year, four? He's a great person and a serviceable DE, but his best playing days were years ago in St. Louis. And Howie was from Charlestown. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2017 9:00:30 GMT -5
Chargers don't run the ball that good ranked #27th in the NFL 79 yards a game. Thought they had a stud running back? It's all passing with them.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2017 9:15:32 GMT -5
BSJ asked San Diego beat writer Eric Williams, what weakness should the Pats exploit on Sunday, he said "It's easy, Chargers, are the 2nd worst in the League at Defending the Run"
"Put the Chargers Defense in passing situations, and usually good things happen".
He predicts 27-24 Pats win.
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Post by TFB12 on Oct 28, 2017 11:22:20 GMT -5
Chargers don't run the ball that good ranked #27th in the NFL 79 yards a game. Thought they had a stud running back? It's all passing with them. . They do have a stud running back. He can run and receive out of the backfield. Oh, and can pick up blitzes too, for those who like judging that. Gordon is a complete back. |
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Post by TFB12 on Oct 28, 2017 11:23:02 GMT -5
I'm no type 100% sold on Hightower as a leader. I think he does his job, he is professional, but I don't see him as a leader. I certainly don't think he's a problem but he never struck me as a father the troops, keep them in line, type. This guy didn't even go to the parade last year. He was pretty upset from what I read about Collins being shipped. He has been a little vocal - and honest - about what it's like to play for Belichick and Saban. He gave it his all, he is tough, he is timely - we will really miss that - but I don't think the vibe in the locker room will change. I think Harris brings the same qualities...maybe even more, but he's not the player Hightower was, that's where it'll really hurt. He can't run like Hightower because his legs are old, but he's smart and tough. The game I think slows down a little when it starts to get cold and most teams are out of it (at least until the second round of the playoffs). It's a more physical game, some teams try to run it more and play it closer to the vest. It's more physical as it gets colder - I think Harris may do well in that department - but we are losing something big. Hopefully they'll make a trade and hopefully McClellin will come back and be the player he was supposed to be when he was drafted high (not holding my breath). Honestly though, I'm having fun watching them like I always do...I won't be crushed if it's not our year...these things happen. But with a little luck, and a trade, it could be. . Good post mthurl, I agree with a lot of what you wrote here. |
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Post by jri37 on Oct 28, 2017 11:51:09 GMT -5
Chargers don't run the ball that good ranked #27th in the NFL 79 yards a game. Thought they had a stud running back? It's all passing with them. . They do have a stud running back. He can run and receive out of the backfield. Oh, and can pick up blitzes too, for those who like judging that. Gordon is a complete back. I wouldn't deny he's a 3 down back but watching the Bronco game it was interesting that he came off the field on most 3rd down situations unless they were down inside the 10. I was surprised how many snaps Oliver got. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2017 11:51:18 GMT -5
Gordon averages 3.4 yards a carry this year, and 3.7 for his career. That's not a complete back. So-so runner. Close to the overrated point for me. Isn't he a 1st Rounder?
Babe would have a Field Day with these averages.
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Post by nflpatsfan on Oct 28, 2017 13:50:03 GMT -5
BSJ asked San Diego beat writer Eric Williams, what weakness should the Pats exploit on Sunday, he said "It's easy, Chargers, are the 2nd worst in the League at Defending the Run" Oh no. Now, Josh McD will pass and pass, even on 3rd and 1. Rats. Way to jinx the play calling by this Williams guy.  |
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