Here’s the Tommy Touchdown Pats fans want to see Sunday (via @NFL) #Patriots
https://www.patspropaganda.com/lolpats-heres-the-tommy-touchdown-pats-fans/
On to the Vikes…
Why does it seem like everyone is panicking about the loss? Yes they played bad but last time I checked one loss is one loss even if it’s in the division and it’s week one with plenty of time to iron out things before it’s time to get serious, so why the noise about one loss?
It’s just what a large segment of the fan base does. I’ve tried to get used to it but I gave up trying to talk people off the ledge every single week, even after wins that might not have been perfect enough.
There’s also an element now that the bottom is going to fall out on Brady at some point in the not-too-distant future, and when it’s the first game and there are all kind of stats you can drum up to make it out to be one of Brady’s worst games ever, it only throws gas on that fire.
It’s also impossible for a lot of fans to grasp the fine line between winning and losing in football. That was as sloppy of a game as you’ll ever see out of a BB-coached team, and what hurt them the most (tackling/penalties/failure to get off blocks) are things that can be easily cleaned up and quickly sway how good a team can look.
The big thing for me is that every year is a season-long process for how Bill Belichick grooms his team for the playoffs. Early in the year there are a number of guys rotating in and getting chances and the schemes are extremely simple.
Slowly the personnel gets narrowed down (often by injuries) and the schemes and gameplans become more complex, but the Patriots never jump right into ‘here’s what the 2014 Patriots are’ right off the bat.
But talk show hosts and writers need things to talk about and the “stay-the-course, it’s just the first game of a long season” angle is boring.
“The Patriots are doomed! They’re playing the wrong scheme! They’ll never block anyone ever again!” are the loudest voices in the room and the hardest to ignore, but that’s what I try to do.
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Any Given Sunday: Dolphins over Patriots
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Any Given Sunday: Dolphins over Patriots
Nice recap from FO, and yes, this is it, the Patriots dynasty is finally over!
Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower Solid Vs. Pass In Patriots’ Week 1 Loss | New England Patriots | NESN.com
Some interesting nuggets throughout this one, including Dont’a Hightower shedding a Charles Clay block by throwing him five yards downfield.
Maybe it’s generalizing a little too much too early, but it seems the Patriots defense has fully shifted to one that is focused on stopping the pass instead of the run.
Every personnel shift, from moving Mayo back inside, to putting Chandler Jones more inside, to Hightower playing in over Ninkovich, to Jamie Collins playing strongside inside linebacker seem aimed at pass defense.
3 GIFs That Defined Patriots’ Loss to Dolphins
On Tuesdays this season I’ll feature a few GIFs that sum up how the game went. Whether they’re big plays or forgettable ones, I’ll try to capture the spirit of the thing.
This first one comes in the third quarter with the Pats holding a lead. Hoomanwanui whiffs as Cameron Wake explodes off the edge, Ridley can’t get over the pick him up and the late rusher makes sure Brady has nowhere to go. For all the criticism and focus on the interior of the line, they weren’t very good on the edges either.
On this next one the Pats are already in a hole on second down. 2nd-and-20 is never an easy down and distance but Devey and Solder are beaten cleanly right away and Brady doesn’t even know what happened.
Finally, one play to sum up the defense’s struggles is this one. Wilfork and Siliga have him the backfield and a stop here would’ve given Brady the chance for a game-winning touchdown drive, but they can’t stop him and the game was effectively sealed.
As much as I would’ve loved to include Brady’s TD pass to Gronk or the long pass to Edelman those were just quick glimpses of what this team is capable of. I’m sure there will be plenty more of those this season and I hope to be GIFfing all of them.
Sub: 42 of 74 (41 in nickel, 1 in dime)
Base: 31 of 74
Heavy: 1 of 74
3 WR/1 TE/1 RB – 49 of 86
2 WR/2 TE/1 RB – 14 of 86
2 WR/1 TE/1 FB/1 RB – 13 of 86
3 WR/2 RB – 6 of 86
3 WR/1 FB/1 RB – 3 of 86
1 WR/2 TE/1 FB/1 RB – 1 of 86
