Wow. What happened to this thread?

At any rate ... in no particular order.

1.) Yeah they ran the ball effectively, they've done that most of the year. 

2.) They will face better defenses later on, that has nothing to do with my post, for the person that said that. When they face great defenses .... they aren't going to score 45 no matter what they do. They could draw defenses in the playoffs that a spread matches well against though, and they could draw defenses that have a better look for the 2TE that Obrien ran, or something else entirely. But who knows who will be in there come january. It's too early to tell. 

3.) This was the first game they implemented that wide open 'spread' that they ran in 2007 all season. They've had that look before, but always just motioning people out. The spread is a look everyone in the NFL can give these days, but few teams still come out and just spread it wide open from the get go. New Orleans kind of does. The Pack is more of a traditional single back outfit. 

I thought it was interesting to say the least. Some of those plays were right out of the 2007 playbook, with Lloyd running Moss's routes. They certainly gashed the Rams real good.

When it works it's fun to watch, and it was nostalgia inducing from that undefeated season. 

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In response to Neal Page's comment:

They had 15 carries for their lead back yesterday. 

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In response to Neal Page's comment:

I think matchups are more important than 'greatness.' 

Yeah, the Rams defense is average. 

There are 'great' defenses where spreading it out is a good option. The Steelers and Bears, for instance, who rely on 'blitzes' to get pressure are great teams to spread it out against. I'd pass all over them in the playoffs or regular season. NE carves those defenses up. 

Passing numbers (total attempts) always favor the losing team .... because they are passing more to catch up. So ... no I won't bet that if they pass a lot they will lose, because if they are losing .... they will naturally be passing a lot to catch up. 

I'd bet based on first half numbers though. 

Their first half pass vs run ratios are almost identical every week. What happens in the second half (and 4th Q in particular) is determined by the score at half time. If they are down ... they pass more to preserve time etc. If they are up they run more ... the kill off the clock. 

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In response to zbellino's comment:

What happenedtoo this post is Russ and phatrex hijacked it once again to have one of their typical pis5ing contests. A good post gets turned sideways so they can use it as a forum to bash one another.

To my fellow posters...don't be baited by phatrex, Hess and the others jest trolls. Let them postoff they will and p,ease set to them to ignore or ignore them all together. Let's for once try and keep these posts from turning into a bashing session and focus on the topic at hand...

 

Not sure about Houston. 

They've played one good offense. GB. 

They got shredded alive. Rogers threw six TDs, I think they ran the ball just 20 times or something like that. Terrence Cody is a bear to run at, but that is all. He is a pantload when it comes to getting pressure and has been since college. 

JJ Watt is great. But who do they have that can bring inside pressure? 

Joseph is great, but I don't like Kareem Jackson (as I've said). 

So we'll see. 

I don't see a team in the AFC New England shouldn't beat if they execute well.

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Yes, I agree with PatsEng the pats simply owned the rams yesterday and couldn't keep up their adjustments..seemed like our o was always a step ahead of them. Just when they did adjust, josh comes out after halftime in the heavy package to run, play action, etc...somedays it's just not your day..yesterday was like that for the rams.

Yes, Ridley had some nice runs and the run was mixed in effectively. What was interesting is that without Hernandez and fells not playing a big part, the pats were in 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB sets a majoritand their snaps and still ran well without the extra blocker. 

I will say that Gronk yesterday looked like he did last year. Heseemed until yesterday to be a bitsluggish due to injury, but yesterday he had an extra spring in his step. 

I would like to see vereen used more in the screen passing game. Like Edelman, he iselusive in the open field. I hope josh works him in more.

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In response to zbellino's comment:

Amen - despite the weak D the Pats trot out there -when the Pats play to their strength on offense - which is to run Brady out of the shotgun and use the pass to set up the run the Pats are unstoppable

 

Rusty - If Ridley ever develops the ability to catch the ball dependably the Pats will be be unbeatable on offense - plain and simple - you say the Pats are predictable on offense when they are in the shotgun - I say they are predictable when they have Ridley in the single back classic set - everyone in the world knows they are running - if Ridley could develop the Kevin Faulk - ability to catch they could crucify D's with the play action

 

As much as I love what Ridlely does with the football I'd love to see Vareen get more reps - he can catch it - and can also be a feature back - a Ridley/Woodhead mix

In response to Neal Page's comment:

Russ, i would love to ban all these morons like phatrex. Maybe dottie can do it, but they will get a new handle and show back up harass as usual. I am not going to respond to any of their posts.eventually they will dry up and go away just like the jests will..

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Nice thread Z till rusty dropped major stupidly on it.  What everyone but the run at any coster's get is that our spread is unstoppable.  It always has been. Our pass sets sets up our run.  No "elite" defense can stop our Spread offense.  

I don't even know what the hell crusty sock means by STOP.  Is that when our D gives up more points the our O scores?  Crusty Logic states is such situations you automatically blame Brady an call for Mallett to start.

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In response to tcal2-'s comment:

All offenses 'stop' at some point man. Look at the Saints' Superbowl ... tehy are kicking FGs and sucking wind. 

They got a HUGE special teams play that netted them a critically short field, and a HUGE pick 6. 

New England doesn't have a complete team, and they haven't in 7-8 seasons. 

On big fumble recovery, INT, KR TD totally swings that game and makes it a win. Heck, a few 3 and outs, or a really long KR for a short field would have swung that game. 

This team, like or not, lives and dies by how it's offense performs, because none of the other phases are good enough to make that play when it counts. 

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In response to Neal Page's comment:

Put that aside. 

Why can't the defense make a play? OR win a game outright that is low scoring?

Other teams win that way.

The fact I am pointing out ... is that if the offense is not there ... New England loses. End of story. 

You don't win Superbowls with a team that is that unbalanced.

The Pats scored 17 ... the Giants a miserable 21.

The Giants have a defense that can hold a team to 17 points. New England doesn't.

New England's offense was productive. 

They had 8 drives. 

That is a terrible defense. The defense gets the ball for the offense. 8 drives is a terrible performance. What's worse is the Giants scored 21 points on just seven drives.  

Whats worse than that is that the special teams contributed absolutely nothing. 

If the offense doesn't win it... New England loses. 

In response to bobbysu's comment:

So i had to listen to NFL radio with STL announcers. Demarco Farr had a great take. The main announcer asked why Brady was still in game with 35-7 lead?  Farr said " why not , he is probably safer in the pocket than on the bench!"

Definite kudos for the OL

In response to zbellino's comment:

Your not going to get through to him but thanks for trying been an interesting read.

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I love how this game was supposedly all about the "spread" offense, while the I formation and single back three tight end sets which drew the defense in gets zero mention. 

The offense ran against the Rams was varied, Pro sets, 3 tight end formations and yes spread out formations and shotgun, but this wasn't a Run And Shoot offense.  Much like 2007 the pass was open because the defense had to respect the run and play action played a large part in it. 

Gronk took time to mention that both of his TD's were the result of play action. This was a well balanced attack before the Pat's broke it wide open. McDaniels is the heir apparent to Charlie Weis, he is the master of the Ernhardt-Perkins offense.