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12 Quick Thoughts on Patriots Re-Watch

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Obviously you miss a ton of stats and angles when you’re at the game and not watching it on TV so a quick re-watch this morning was vital. Here are 12 quick-hit thoughts on what I picked up this time through.

  1. I realized the Chiefs did exactly what I said I’d do if I was attacking the Patriots’ defense. Go after the size and inexperience on the edges and target the linebackers in coverage. The high-priced secondary didn’t really matter once the Pats lost the edges of their defense and could’t get the check-downs tackled.
  2. The one long bomb to Cooks was beautiful, but was it worth the multiple deep incompletions? Deep threats only work if they’re a threat, and the Chiefs didn’t play them like they were.
  3. Yeah, Richards being out there at linebacker wasn’t exactly inspiring, and he was part of the soft edge problem, but he did make a nice play forcing a fumble and drawing a holding penalty. Kyle Van Noy is basically the heart of the defense now and I never thought I’d have to type those words.
  4. I wonder if it’s going to be hard to find a rhythm with the running backs? Lewis just can’t seem to break free, I wonder if he’s going to be a kickoff returner and specialist back, while the bulk of the load goes to Burkhead early.
  5. Yes, most yards and points allowed under Belichick, but it can’t be stated enough how much this is everything he DOESN’T coach. There’s no way to sugar coat it. I’m vaguely reminded of 2005, when Bruschi and Phifer were out early and, despite a strong front and secondary, and eventually getting Bruschi back, they were the worst defense under BB.
  6. Very curious to see the A22 because it seemed like they ran three verticals a bunch of times. They almost seemed too intent on proving they had a deep game and it fizzled.
  7. James White could emerge as a pivotal player this season in replacing Edelman. What the team needs now more than anything is a Kevin Faulk-ish presence out of the backfield who can be counted on in the critical moments. They also seem intent on showing they’re not afraid to hand the ball off to White anymore.
  8. Who’d have ever thought the quick, shifty receiver cupboard could become so bare so quick?
  9. I find it totally disturbing how Cassius Marsh looks like Belichick merged Shea McClellin with Punk Macklemore then added just a sprinkle of high motor, then spit him back out on to the field. If Hightower misses time he’s next up at SDE.
  10. Wow David Harris must’ve fallen off a cliff. Two running-down snaps and no special teams. Wonder if he’ll be another hidden former-Jet presence like Shaun Ellis in 2011.
  11. I can’t say enough about how quick and disruptive Adam Butler is. He’s a load for anyone to block and I’ve never seen his energy drop. He had 20 snaps, Wise had 17, getting their feet wet on third down. Both showed up even more on the broadcast.
  12. Not Brady’s best game, and it was eerily similar to 2013 when things just weren’t clicking. Just remember Julian Edelman emerged from that season as his new “sonar” buddy as Edelman put it. Might be a grind at times this year, third down evolution will be an interesting thing to track.

Pats Posits: We’re Not in 28-3 Land Anymore

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The electric celebratory atmosphere inside Gillette Stadium was slowly strangled to death before our very eyes on Thursday Night as the Chiefs poured in on late to blow out New England 42-27. The Patriots asked fans to get there early for the celebration, and well they left early too and even I, someone who yelled at people for walking out of the 2009 opener, hit the exits early.

I’m not sure what’s worse, that the Patriots laid a total team turd or that two critical players who couldn’t get hurt, got hurt. The injuries make the second blowout loss in four seasons to the Chiefs taste even worse than the original in 2014.

This one was historically bad with the most points the defense has given up under Belichick. Yes, it’s still only week one and my golden rule is to never overreact to a game in September, but there were certainly some cold hard truths revealed on Thursday Night — they miss Edelman, and without Hightower the defense was lacked both rudder and tooth.

The two players that had to go the distance this year were Danny Amendola and Hightower. The game was competitive when they were upright. When both were lost, the offense and defense were lost.

What’s clear is this team has no identity yet, and they’ve lost much of what’s made the tick the last few seasons. New players must emerge but it’s going to take time.

After a season where the team really didn’t face much adversity until 28-3, the 2017 Pats got an instant dose of drama at the outset.

Thoughts on how it’s all going to turn out in the Posits.

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Belichick Hoodie Report: Will the Hot Jacket surpass the Hoodie in 2017?

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If you saw the Hoodie Report on Patshow #104 you’d know this could be a pretty monumental year for Bill Belichick and his hoodie!

The Hot Jacket, introduced in 2013, is just nine games behind the cut-off gray hoodie that Belichick is famous for. You know the one.

The Gray hoodie’s win percentage is an impressive 76.2 percent, while the Hot Jacket stands at 71.4. But if the Patriots start 8-0 under the Hot Jacket, it will take over both wins and win percentage. Is it time to rename the Belichick HOODIE database!?

 

Patshow Episode #104!

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In case you missed it live yesterday, here’s our latest episode of Patshow! In it we discuss the “final” 53-man roster, the trades from last weekend, all the best Pats social media from the last week and a preview of tonight’s season kickoff against the Chiefs. Seriously it’s going to be a long day waiting for kickoff and there’s no better way to kill 45 minutes of it than hanging with me and Nick as we talk Pats!

10 Posits on America’s Game 2016 Patriots

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwZo1Qh7h9g

America’s Game: 2016 New England Patriots premiered last night (embedded above until the NFL kills it), marking the final bit of Pats porn that comes as a bonus to winning the Super Bowl. Previously we’ve gotten Three Games to Glory 5 along with Do Your Job II, which were both excellent, revealing so much from behind the scenes about the magical journey that the 2016 Pats had.

America’s Game has turned into the fluff piece of them all. Of course I enjoyed it, but nowhere near as much as I did Do Your Job II. The America’s Games used to have every bit as much unseen behind the scenes stuff as DYJ II, but it was far more down the middle, focused more on the players talking about the team than the team itself. We didn’t learn a lot of new information, but of course it was fun to hear the perspectives of Julian Edelman, LeGarrette Blount and Dont’a Hightower.

Here are 10 Posits on what I liked and what I missed.

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Patriots Gameplan: Week 1 vs. Kansas City Chiefs

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And just like that another season is upon us! On Thursday night the Patriots will raise their fifth banner (and I’ll be there to see it) as the incredible run continues. I think we’re long past the “just happy to be here” phase and firmly in the “squeeze every last record out of TB and BB before it’s over” mode. It’s amazing how fast it’s all going by yet seems impossibly long ago when the duo won their first together.

Now we’re off on the 2017 season, which will have its own set of challenges, and the first opponent is one who has always scared me a bit. I know that might sound silly — being afraid of Alex Smith!? But in a conference where there really aren’t many contenders to the Pats’ dominance, the Kansas City Chiefs are just the kind of team who can steal a game from New England.

In an oft-fluky first game of the season, the low mistake Chiefs have the playing style and pieces to make this a close game. Let’s face it, no matter who the opponent, the Patriots’ September clashes always seem to be more interesting than expected. And that’s even when they’re playing shitty AFC East teams! Imagine what could happen when they’re playing a well-coached, well-prepared team that play clean football.

It should be a good, competitive game. Yes, the fifth banner will be revealed, but also to be revealed is the Patriots true plans for a dynamic new offense that is dripping with speed, even without Julian Edelman.

Here’s the gameplan for knocking off the Chiefs on opening night.

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Brady and Cooks Primed to Shine

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After completing the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, it wasn’t a surprise that the New England Patriots were heavily favored the win the Super Bowl for a second consecutive season. With most of the team, including future Hall of Famers Tom Brady and Bill Belichick coming back, it’s hard to bet against the Pats.

Check out the Patriots odds offered by major sportsbooks if you want to put your money where the expectations are.

But those hopes took a hit during the preseason, when wide receiver Julian Edelman tore his ACL and was lost for the season.  Edelman came through time and time again in the most biggest moments and replacing that kind of production won’t be easy.

With the game on the line Tom Brady knew he could trust Edelman to be right where he expected him to be, and that made the Patriots’ offense almost impossible to stop.

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