Brevity is NOT your strong suit.   So, BB went "name"?  Is that the gist of it?
Posted by Davedsone

I love how Mt. Hurl claims that is "wonderfully written". This Mt. Hurl character wouldn't know  the directions to a History 101 course if it was tatooed on his panties. I feel like Mt. Hurl never had a quality education. Ugh. I get Laz's premise without even reading his insanely convoluted post, but it doesn't change the fact that the offense is asleep at the wheel. All of our losses, to varying degrees, are rooted in the offense, not the defense.
Posted by RidingWithTheKing

How is BB attempting to 'fix' it?
Posted by chuchos

Laz and Rusty - I can only agree from what I'm reading.  It's BOTH sides of the ball.  You have a convert here in me. My other concern is not so much tactical, but "psychological" for lack of a better word.   It is very uncharacteristic of a BB/TB led squad to play this lousy 3 games in a row.  After a narow escape from the Cowboys, a by-week and an ugly loss in Pitt, you'd think they'd just get it done.  The D was fired up, but to put up ZERO points in the 1st half...... The O can't help the D when the D is playing well and vice-versa.  It's becoming the story of this season..... But, Laz, at this point in the season what are the solutions to righting this ship? The New Jersey Jests next week is as big a regular season game as they get.
Posted by ipot

ALL: I started several posts on other people's threads, but after ZERO power in my condo for a week coupled with numerous BDC Board problems as of late, I've just been quitting my posts halfway through and not sending them at all...  I'll try to be brief (for me).  We'll go from there. ~I've seen NUMEROUS threads & posts discussing certain areas around this issue (I'm about to explain):  Rusty's takes on Patriots Offense, and establishing a run game.  Russ's and several others notions which I HAVE also hit upon (AB-solutely correct notions btw)- detailing how the problems witth NE's Defense is less the specific play of NE's Cornerbacks, and far more- A larger issue with The Defensive Line's ability to pressure QB's, collapse the pocket, coupled with NE's total inexperience & lack of even average NFL quality skill/vet prescence at The greater Safety positions.  I ALSO just today, saw a thread soooo cllose on nailing down what I personally deem to be the crux issue, the worm at the core: A thread talking about how "THIS could be, or could have been , The 2011 Patriots Defense."  The broader notion here on this 1 (as well as those others), is absolutely correct, but it leaves off in defining the theory within the larger #1 Idea, imo.  Here's the issue in a nutshell (god grant me brevity for the 1st time in my life): Bill Belichick has largely created this problem, HIM-self (but as I've said, just looking at the boxscore today <although that's all />, BB appears to have seen some clarity here in what to do).   Ready?  Here goes, in its most simplistic terms:      /> />For an NFL Coach (Belichick), whom has spent the greatest pasrt of his doctrine & sets his roster during his coaching career, under the regard of: "I do not play favorites ," -More & more (and more...as time has worn on) Bill Belichick IS "playing favorites."  This IS, especially evident during this current 2011 NFL Patriots Season.  And this IS, the core problem.  Know this:  Doing so, has limited NE's scheme versatility & the very quality of executing with-IN a specific on-field scheme being run during a given time... Quickly let me explain, "Playing Favorites."  So many of us ALL- Well, we just hate the very notion OF  "Favoritism."  It exemplifies ALL that we often despise, whether it be individual opportunities of "moving up the ladder" (which really, who gives a sh#t about this right here in this instance), BUT it ALSO exemplifies, choosing whatever individual/group or what-have-you, AS the chosen "participates", BASED not on production, quality and/or amount of production, But based or at the very least incorrectly "skewed/inclined" towards a million of the myriad of seperate factors, A-part from the greatest factor: Produceable Results.  O.k.?        But again, just as we totally despise being subject to (or subject of) the general definition in "Favoritism", ONCE that "favoritism" takes an actual specific shape, design, or=Specific real-life Individual's Name...staying clear & totally washing-your-hands- WITH such an anti-favorites mind-set, suddenly ain't as easy to do. Here goes the bombshell: The 2011 NE Patriots PreSeason illustrated to each And ALL, that: The '11 Patriots Team REALLY had something going...on BOTH sides of the ball...  And it was tangible & clearly evident (so long as BB wasn't simply playing back-ups later in games, and/or such total garbage preseason games <even FOR preseason-Game #3, late in game #2, very late in game #4 for instance).  Needless to say, The 2011 Patriots schemes, 2011 NE Patriots Players (nudge-nudge), often didn't simply LOOK decent...but they often looked almost dominant, scary. ...but not ALL of them looked good. ...AND (gulp): Once the Rosters were trimmed down, and after the rosters were set, and as the actual 2011 NFL Season began, and as it HAS continued, (Ready?!?)- Far too many Players whom looked good (i.e. B-E-T-T-E-R) than other Pats Players, Were NOT either: The same ones whom actually MADE the roster (vs. practice squad and vs. cut altogether and even vs. and under the notion of potentially being IR'ed just a bit too quickly), AND (if said players whom DID play better during preseaon DID trully MAKE the roster of 53)- These players, whom had actually performed BETER than other Pats Players, were NOT the same players more often taking the field...they were riding the pine, as it goes (reduced to smaller roles, and once in, they were coming off the bench cold). />>>Al-righty, here's the sickeningly, gut-wrenchingly tough part to come to personal terms with as long-time Pats Fans, and as long-time NFL Fans...  It's the "personal-part."  The actual personal, themself: <Here, I'll attempt to lessen the bl0w- /> <As of: THIS, The 2011 NFL Season > Matt Slater is better than Chad Ochocinco. Gerrard Warren is better than Shaun Ellis. Darius Butler is better than Antwaun Molden. Tracy White is better than Mark Anderson. Dane Fletcher is better than Gary Guyton. Brandon Tate is better than Julian Edelman. Daryll Richard (/Kade Weston/Brandon Deadrick) is better than Albert Haynesworth. Landon Cohen (/Nick Koutovides) is better than Eric Moore. Will Yeatman is better than Dan Gronkowski. Richard Medlin is better than Kevin Faulk (yeh, I coulda used BJGE OR Woodhead <easily />-but let's just keep with the "wow factor"). Brandon Meriweather showed significant imporovement on NE, AND overall Brandon Meriweather taking 1 or 2 bad angles on the ball, and/or going for the knockout hit, rather than the form-tackle <thus subsequently missing 1-2 tackles in a game />, AB-solutely beats having a replacement Safety whom isn't anywhere NEAR the played ball, as much as BM was.   James Sanders showed that although Sanders, Never (and I mean: NEVER)- was a big impact "playmaker", AB-solutely has subsequently shown that yes, indeed, Simply having his mistake-free Vet savy leadership as the last line of Defense on the field for NE, actually WAS worth paying such an extremely "NON-huge Impact play, playmaker" 4 and 1/2 MILLION Dollars this year alone.    ~Lmao.  Look, Do what'cha want & say what'cha want, But come back with stats.  Look back into PreSeason (BOTH Practice Reports as well as the 4 boxscores of those games <fyi-BDC's preseason stats don't show half the guys any longer, so check SI.com, ESPN.com, NFL.com />).  And yes, I went extreme in the parallels (but sadly, not too much so).        Some don't match-up in 100% iron-clad precise positional terms, comparison-wide...  Some decent players even GOT injured, OR were injured but came back...<so Belichick should get a pass, right? />        Well, Here's an example:  Tough to knock on Kevin Faulk, considering he was injured during training camp/preseason/early on, And subsequently even though someone like Shane Vareen showed exceptional skills during preseason (practice/game), His injury issue was almost immediately present & factorable...  Well, RE: Vareen=Yes.  Faulk, though...hmmm?   By placing Kevin Faulk back into the lineup during the last Pittsburgh loss, and just cutting down BJGE down to something crazy like 6 or less carries, Woodhead down to 1 or 2, and Ridley down to 0...was the result Worth It?  Worth it, in terms of the EXTREMELY limited skill-set Faulk brings currently more than ever, to NE's Offensive Schematic Table.  At 1st glance Faulk's average was up, but looking back now, I see that Faulk acquired his 2 largest carries of the day, 17 yards in total, on a 2nd and just over 10 to go, and on a 3rd and 17.  Is it worth it...?  Worth absolutely hamstringing the success factor & threat factor of keeping Faulk in during NE's very best, O set-up's- i.e. the variability offered during 2 TE schemes.  1st down, Brady directly under center.  Power Run OR Pass with mismatched TE's???  Well, ya put Faulk in...suddenly that true 1st and 10 running threat, HAS been=Almost entirely negated.    Look, as a final thought you NEED to come away thinking about this:  ~In 2011, on the NE Patriots Football Team=By playing either all-pros, SEVERAL YEAR all-pros, just double digit sum total numbers of guys with pro-bowl bids, and even by playing long-time Patriot Players...guys who've broken their backs and dropped blood for The Pats Franchise for 10 or more Seasons... ...NE Players & NFL Stars (long-time, or even briefly), such as: Shaun Ellis, Mark Anderson (see great Bears rookie year), Albert Haynesworth, Kevin Faulk, Chad Ochocinco, Andre Carter... DID YOU (adressed to Coach Belichick)- even just a little bit, Cut a player whom might have currently (2011) offered a chance for better results (ON New England...their scheme, their team, THIS very season), OR even offer less playing time to one of these guys (prior to THIS NY Giants Game, mind you), OR even already go in with some semblance that due to how they already HAD performed (or often "failed to" in some degree, large or small-see Sanders/Meri argument)- Did you, perhaps then, Decide to terminate their 2011 Pats Employment, a bit too hastily, weighed just a bit too much on past under-productions (and not preseason 2011 improvements on productions)?  Are the players you've given more field time towards, limiting schematic versatility, given their either- Lacking current skill-set, and/or VERY specialized 1-sided skill-set....?  
Posted by LazarusintheSanatorium

Umm, Brady threw two INTs, had one fumble, we stopped running the ball and Edelman fumbled. We basically handed the game away on a silver platter. Brady is the main reason for this, so I don't get your post, PatsEng. When you turn it over 4 times, it has nothing to do with drafts or whatever other delfections you're choosing this week. NE lost the last two games due to an inept offense.  Everyone was raving about Gronk, Hernandez, re-signing Welker, BJGE's NFL leading TD streak, how Ridley can look, etc, and now it's drafts? Come on, dude. Give it a rest.
Posted by RidingWithTheKing

In Response to Re: Patriots Lost, YET what I saw tells me Belichick has both defined the TRUE problem, and he's attempting to fix it : Rusty it's a commentary on everything wrong with the Pats so far this season. You can't tell me that the coaching and player development have been great You can't tell me that the D  didn't bite the bit at the end of the game You can't tell me that Brady didn't force balls which lead to turn overs You can't tell me that all those JAGs and reclamation projects haven't affected the game play Those are all things they have lead up to this lose and the other loses. Face it, if Brady didn't feel he had to win the game himself do you think he'd be forcing the ball into places he shouldn't resulting in turnovers? And, if BB was comfortable with the D and the players on the D he would have kicked it away last week? It's not just 1 simple thing but a whole bunch of things built up on each other that's lead to this. Back in 01'-05' I had no doubt in my mind that with under 2 mins left of the clock the D would hold, yesterday I thought 1:38 is way to much time left on the clock. Also in those years that last drive with 3:00 left I would have no doubt that they'd use up almost every second and still score a TD. Yesterday there were times I was begging them to stay inbounds and just march down the field for first downs instead of going for deep plays. This team is much different from the SB teams. The only things that have changed are the coaches under BB, the player acquisition staff, the drafting philosophy, and the quality of the players themselves. So, it's logical to point to the coaches, the lack of player development, and the players they are signing and drafting as the root cause as to why there is such a huge gap between the 01-05 years and the 08-present years.  Notice how I left out 06 and 07. That happens to be the epicenter of where the older vets retired and a number of the former staff left. Not a coincidence imo
Posted by PatsEng