CONFESSION: I hated Bill Belichick in 2000.  I didn't like Parcells, and considered Belichick his clone.  Then he began to do things I didn't like.  Then the team didn't win much.  I totally saw he went against what everyone SAID he should be doing, proving he was wrong.  Then 2001 happened.  I have given him the benefit of a doubt since.  He has ALWAYS rewarded me for that, in that I have a team continually in contention.  I think again, nothing he has done met peoples predictions, but NOW I see he is clearly dealing with areas of frustration.  And the first preseason game showed me he means it.  NO WAY LESS THAN 11 games won this year.  WE DIDN'T MOVE BACKWARD FROM LAST YEAR.  WE MOVED FORWARD.  Credible receiving threats opposite Moss, credible TE threats, (please don't tell me Crumpler isn't credible), and the subtraction of Mankins can be overcome.  Burgess was a nice surprise to have back, I'm good with all of it.

It is a tough schedule, sixth toughest by last year's records.
There will be many great games ie close...
Stuff happens...
To quote BB, "I just hope we can compete."
Every game is winnable and every game can be lost, that's why we watch.
So I say 19-0 and I am not wrong until the first loss.

WE DIDN'T MOVE BACKWARD FROM LAST YEAR.  WE MOVED FORWARD.

I'll second that.

Ronk,

We gained exp. in LB's and DB's not even in contention, do you agree?
 
On the D Line we went from and to-

Wilfork - Wilfork
Wright - Wright
T Warren - G Warren - New but veteran player
Green - Lewis - New but veteran player
Pryor - Pryor
Brace - Brace

Now these FA are first year players in this system but are veterans and while it is talked about how BB's schemes are complex ( and I agree ) the D line is less complex to step in and play then either DB or LB.

So thats 3 guys with more experience and are on the upside and two ( who you agreed were on the downside veterans who played like crap last year ) that are gone.

Do you agree with that?

In Response to Re: Thoughts on Pats Season Record::

yes I do. I have seen the light and now feel 12 wins is very reasonable. Thank you all for showing me the way

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Lol, sarcasm alert!   

10-6 sounds about right, give or take a game.

In Response to Re: Thoughts on Pats Season Record::

interesting thread

my worries:
-schedule
-DLine
-OLine
-injuries

i expect Spikes to contribute and Chung to play great,  ST will improve.

less than 9 wins would surprise me, 9 or 15 wouldn't

A few things I am not sure anyone has brought up...

I think that we have some great upgrades on our Offense, and that alone can help us win some of those hard games. Name an Off that we cant go head to head with our group of WR and TE, we can just play back and forth. Brady has always had the ability to get a TD fast, or slow if needed. One of the problems I think we had last year vs. our dominant 16-0 year was that we could not get the redzone plays to TD's. That will be improved this year.

The other thing that we havent really discussed is that assumption that this is a "hard schedule" A lot of these teams would look very different (including ours) if a key player or two went out. 6 weeks into the season we will all have a very different feeling about what teams will be difficult and what ones will be pushovers.

I think that a 13 or 14 win year is possible, with some of those wins coming against "hard" teams.

In Response to Re: Thoughts on Pats Season Record::


I was laughing too. He's called "The Mobile Troll". He looks pretty happy for a troll.

In Response to Re: Thoughts on Pats Season Record::

Lets put some predictions on catches by some of the newbies this SEASON:
Crumpler-huge asset in the run game. 18 catches for the year
Gronk-liability as a blocker. 11 catches for the year
Hernandez-non existant as a blocker.28 catches for the year
Tate-4th or 5th rcvd on the field depending on where Hernandez lines up. 14 catches for the year
Price-struggles to make the 45 man game day roster. 
Expect a lot of pitch and catch with Moss and Welker if they can stay healthy, and Edelman good for 40-50 catches depending on Welkers health.
Key to the season is Maroney/Morris and the OL. If the OL cannot get Maroney/Morris past the line of srimmage, Pats offense will look a lot like last year   

In Response to Re: Thoughts on Pats Season Record::


Lets put some prediction on this: You are a "little richard"

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Does this mean you work part time at the used book store?  heh

I am not saying you are not a Pats fan and a troll, Ronk, but are about one step away from one.   You have an incredibly skewed perspective on the 2010 Pats, so I am guessing your analysis with other topics/issues is also wildly out of whack.

Good luck.

In Response to Re: Thoughts on Pats Season Record::



Does the screen name Patstats ring a bell?

Is that him?

In Response to Re: Thoughts on Pats Season Record::


Tough to say but it's the same rhetoric. He's a pats fan but he has every stat in the world to tell you why they Sukkkk. I think most of these guys are the same person. Interesting thing is the first person they start arguing with is usually you which fits the pattern. You're like a magnet to them Russ because they all gravitate to you like a moth headed to the bug light.

In Response to Re: Thoughts on Pats Season Record::


And Russ, you are one big bug light! I mean that with all due respect, you are the biggest Pats defender I have met. (That is a compliment) You make my behavior towards troll like underduck look nice. (I do appreciate that by the way.)

I am not a fan of ignorance and irrational behavior, lacking perspective.  If someone is that mouthy, you better have your premise in shape and your homework done.

In Response to Re: Thoughts on Pats Season Record::

Russ, I thought I explained my position on the Pats clearly and mostly on point. Not to be positioned on the band wagon, but have you bothered to check out Reiss, Breer, Bruschi, Finn B Williamson, M Sando or any other football journalist that covers the Pats directly, or the AFC East? They seem to concur that the Pats have major flaws on both lines, and zero depth. Everyone mentions the schedule as killer. You seem to disagree. I can't seem to draw it out of you why you disagree, other than because BB is the coach and Brady is the QB. And that last years team was good against the run. Some one else also chimes in that the Pats have not lost 8 games this decade (tell that last year to the Giants) 
Your buddy ewhite puts up nice pictures, but has no opinion on the Pats that he can muster....just pictures.
Lets ask again...why will the Pats win 10-12 games other than BB is coach, and Brady is QB? Can you offer something intelligent? Or simply post pictures, call me troll or misidentify me as some one else?  

I never said the schedule wasn't killer.  But, NY and Miami are in this same division.   Get it?

Miami plays @ GB and @ Minny. I am going to go out on a limb and guess they lose BOTH those games simply because they are playing two very good teams ON THE ROAD where NE plays those teams in Foxborough. 

NE also gets a BYE before playing Baltimore. They'll need it. That's another bonus.

Would you rather have Mark Sanchez and Henne or Tom Brady?  I cannot even believe I have to pose this question, but apparently I do, because that's how dumb some people are all of a sudden, just praying and hoping NE isn't starting to build towards more runs to the SB.

They just can't deal with that idea, can they?  That's really what this is all about. An insane jealousy to the point, they have to convince themselves division rivals are so much better off. lol

Miami has a totally new D Line and Front 7, minus a few returning starters AND a new defensive coordinator.

NY starts out under the spotlight against Balt, NE and then @ Miami.

All I ask is for some context, so it doesn't appear you and other trolls are just that, trolls.

All of a sudden Sanchez and Henne are better than Brady, NE has regressed from 2009 and BB's drafts have been terrible, right?

Mike Reiss is nowhere near as irrational as Albie Breer, Gasper, etc here, either.

To answer your question, I have already done so in the thread and in many other threads here for TWO MONTHS, at least.

I am not doing it again.

In a nutshell, there is no way NE loses 5 games this year by 7 or less points. That's for starters. 

NE lost at least 3, at least 3 games last year in a rebuilding year with no 3rd WR, no TE, a QB rebounding from a lost season, because of the OFFENSE.

That's fact.

In two games, they scored ZERO points in the second half on the road.

If they don't lay down in Houston, winn @ NY and @ Denver or even at Miami by simply kicking a FG, that's 3-4 games they simply THREW AWAY. THREW THEM AWAY.

I think it's HIGHLY COMICAL, trolls and dummies from other teams think those losses were directly due to a domination by the team they follow where that play was the reason why they beat the Pats.

Sure, those teams played well as it was their SB that week, but you'd have to be blind and dumb to think we'll see that again this year from this offense or see a red zone pass D as poor as that was last year.

Upgrades:  Pass rush, Secondary, Special Teams, Run Game, Playcalling, 3rd Option for Brady.

Question marks: Depth on the O and D Lines, health, consistency.

In Response to Re: Thoughts on Pats Season Record::
[ar. Upgrades:  Pass rush, Secondary, Special Teams, Run Game, Playcalling, 3rd Option for Brady. Question marks: Depth on the O and D Lines, health, consistency.
Posted by russgriswold[/QUOTE]
Where I disagree.
Upgrades: Pass rush. With Banta Cain and Wright playing MORE snaps than last year due to injuries and lack of LB depth, I see them not as effective. (Seems most journalists agree). I also see Warren and Lewis as brand new to the 3/4 techinique, and stronger against the run than pressuring the QB (most also agree). While everyone likes the potential of Spikes, Mackenzie and Cunningham, it is extremely difficult for a rookie to come into this system and not make mistakes (Mayo a notable exception). These 3 will see playing time, and mistakes are expected.
Run Game-assuming no Mankins, Kaczur and continued slippage by Koppen, and Morris, Tayler and Faulk all one year older, how does the run game improve? (Even with Crumpler)
Secondary-I thought Bodden played very well last year, and hopefully he can maintain that level. If Chung starts, what makes you think that he will play better than Macgowen played in the first half of last year? Hoping Butler, Chung improve, and Mcourtney is first year player. But 3 of the top 5 in the secondary are first or 2nd year players. Will they play better?
Question marks-we agree. I also would put a question regarding the schedule. I understand that the Dolphins and Jets play the same or more difficult schedule, that is why I mentioned 9 wins WOULD WIN THE DIVISION. 
Believe it or not, I actually think we are on the same page. You seem to think that the young players will come together sooner than I do. I see all these pluses and minuses as 7-9 wins. You see the same pluses and minuses as 11-12 wins. ewhite see's nothing and says nothing except puts up pictures.
Like I said yesterday. I am at every game sec 111 7 rows up. Come over in Dec and if 7-9 wins is in the cards, you owe me a beer. If 11-12 wins is happening, I will buy you a beer. in spite of the troll comments, I hope I am buying.

Sniff Sniff..I smell Varmint Poooontang

Maybe because Chung played at Oregon and not Maine, and was the #34th overall pick in the 2009 draft?

All of a sudden a Bears cast off in McGowan is so good (even though he lost his job to Sanders), but one dimensional play here last year in a half of season is not going to be surpassed? This is your logic? You expect Chung, one year in, as the #34 overall pick in 2009, a highly rated Safety, to only HOPE to match McGowans's starts in half the season last year?

Sorry, not buying that analysis. 

This is where I think you are a troll. 

Of course, we don't know, but Chung showed me more quickness, athleticism and versatility last week alone than McGowan did all year last year and that is without gameplanning!

Chung actually looked good understanding concepts in his role, as limited as that was last year. He had an INT, blitzed some and learned.  I expect his mind to catch up with this body this year.

Pass rush wise, TBC played all 3 downs last year on the right side for the most part. He proved he could be a good starter in this league last year. Forget about trying to play troll on that one, because it won't work.  He produced more than Pace in NY or Suggs in Baltimote last year and TBC wasn't considered be on a better D than Pace or Suggs in a 3-4. You lose here.

As for Wright, this just comes down to how you feel about Jarvis Green.   Clearly, if Green is the starter, BB felt he would produce. Green was hurt a lot last year (an ankle I believe), which hurt  his leverage on the edge.  Mike Wright is a big boy, actually with a better body type for leverage on the edge.

I have no issue with Wright here and don't see it as a downgrade.  At best, this is even.  There is a reason why Green wasn't a starter here or only used as a sub rusher, and that is not a knock on what Green did here.

Depth is an issue in this area, no question, but I am not buying this will be a regression as compared to last year. Heck, even Wilfork had health issues last year which was rare for him.

You other failure here is you don't get what a 3-4 is and what it means to have players be versatile, know the system and how that ties into scheming easier.  This equates to more of a pass rush.

BB didn't scheme more from 2003-2007 because of talent, he did so because of familiarity with personnel. This is the point.

Do you know why BB schemed so well in 2001?  He had guys who had played with him before!

Ty Law, Milloy, McGinest, Bruschi, Pleasant, Hamilton, Otis Smith. See?  He brought back Otis my Man, signed Terrell Buckley, Pleasant and Hamilton specifically because he knew he could call plays where they'd know what to do.

This is the point. Continuity.  They had a lot of turnovers that year.

Note how when BB opened this up in New Orleans, the new players playing with one another, failed.  They failed because it was new and because New Orleans was really, really good.

He then started Sanders for McGowan, Springs for Butler and although their D remained vanilla,  it kept them in games.

Finally, Dean Pees is no longer here. Only someone who didn't see Pees here would pretend BB overseeing Patricia on every play call is WORSE than defaulting to a failed Dean Pees here again in 2010. Him being let go is an upgrade in itself.

I don't live in the area anymore, so I only get up to maybe 1 game per year via my uncles seats down low.  Just hang around here during the season and don't run away.

I stand by my comments. My concerns as always revolve around health and the hopes they can get lucky with injuries, because they sure didn't last year.

Or the year before. This explains the 10+ wins, where it may have been 12 or more, especially in 2008 without Brady there.

I am shocked that you attend 8 home games per year and think a Brady led team is worthy of a .500 season.

In Response to Re: Thoughts on Pats Season Record::

I dont get it. We are having some fun going back and forth with some Pats banter. Agreeing to disagree, sometimes getting hot under the collar with passion. I understand you have absolutely nothing to say and you cannot lend any intelligent credence to the conversation. Why come to these boards to post pictures? WHat am I missing that a person would read these posts and say nothing but post a picture? If you have nothing to say, don't you have anything to do?  

In Response to Re: Thoughts on Pats Season Record::


Go get your shine box!