Ups and downs

Mike, You missed Kevin Faulk in the "ups". He had a huge game catching the ball and returning punts. He was a difference maker today.

Let's compare first starts:

9/15/08 -- M. Cassel: 16-23 165yds wins 19-10 over Jets

9/30/01 -- T. Brady: 13-23 168yds wins 44-13 over Colts

Kevin Faulk??? the human sparkplug!

I'd put Ellis Hobbs in the 'up' category. He looked fast and confident out there. Broke up a few passes, and I don't think he got burned at all. In general I thought the secondary was solid.

Down: Bruschi, Harrison

Doesn't matter what the stat sheet says after the game people, if you were watching and not wearing your Patriot-colored glasses you know these two are done and Guyton and Meriweather need to be starting over them. Old, slow, and the savvy is not making up the difference anymore.

No Ellis Hobbs ?? I thought he was great today

time to start sammy morris. larry is soft. sorry larry.

Faulk should have been on there. No doubt. Will be anxious to watch the game again and see if Hobbs stands out.
--Mike

Also give some credit to the OL for getting huge blocks with the screen plays..
[i.e Billy Yates block on the Kevin Faulk on a 20+ yard run, Matt Light also had one with the Wes Welker run.]

This is a great start for Cassel i hope he keeps this up?He can have a huge game with the FINS next week.

Also can i have an update on what happen to Terrence Wheatley being inactive for the game.

From all the Patriot's Fans in the Philippines, "the dynasty is not yet over this is just the beggining"

I agree, Ellis Hobbs was excellent.

I was also surprised by how well Hobbs played. It didn't look like the same dude who screwed up every play last year.

What about Meriweather for an up? He held onto one.

Owen, I disagree with your assessment of Rodney Harrison. He missed a tackle or so, but his number was there on all the others. He is a solid player who plays with passion. We will win our division with the same kind of experience and passion Bruschi and Harrison bring to every game. If you don't think sheer determination can win games, look to the Game Not To Be Mentioned in Feb. 08.

What about Sammy Morris? 8 Rushes 0 yards. The O-line didn't seem to run block for beans in the first half.

What a waste of the team's roster Maroney has turned out to be, after 3 years with the team. He just doesn't have the instincts to be a running back, and they just can't coach that no matter hard hard the PATs try. I think I figured out why he dances around behind the line, because he really doesn't have a clue of where to go and waiting for huge holes to miraculously open up.

Owen, did you miss when Tedy Bruschi decked Fahhvuuurah and then came back and tackled the ball carrier on the same play in the 4th quarter? When Guyton plays like that, I'll help Tedy to the bench. For now, he's the man.

Reza, you are right on regarding Maroney, he makes 8 moves before the line of scrimmage and the blocking constantly breaks down, very frustrating to watch. I wouldn't say he is a waste of a roster spot but he certainly isn't a supposed #1 back.

Mike-
I am disappointed in your "Ups and Downs." You and other people are putting Maroney in the down section, yet the O-line's blocking on his plays was horrible. Maroney's last carry was a perfect example. Just as he's getting the ball, Yates in being pushed into him. How is Maroney supposed to do anything with that?

The defense was excellent. Harrison has certainly slowed, but he made a big play on the goal line stand, stuffing the runner in the backfield. I want Harrison dropping back into coverage as little as possible, but he is still a beast near the line of scrimmage. Hobbs was excellent, O'Neal is solid, Mayo and Sanders are all over the field, the D line are monsters, Thomas and Vrabel are monsters on the outside, and Bruschi is still solid and savvy in the middle. On offense, use Jordan in the 1st half and Maroney in the 2nd; other than this, don't change a thing.

All I've got to say is Thomas' sack might have been my favorite sack of all time...I can't stand Favre and AD is a beast...not only does he not let Favre out of his grasp, he takes Washington down with him...MONSTER EFFORT!

I disagree NoNo. i think holding jordan out till the end realy saved the game. he was fresh fierce and ferocious, practically sealing the game by himself in the fourth. he wouldnt have been able to do that after an entire game against the tough jets D line... i think we should give Maroney a little more time before writing him off as a bust.
All in all - a good, tough, hard fought victory!

From what you could see on TV, Ellis Hobbs had an excellent game. Used good technique to break up catchable passes thrown his way, and must have played well in general because Favre didn't go his way that often. Only had one play (that I can think of) where he gave up easy yardage by playing off, but you can't even blame him for that. If the coaching staff didn't want him lined up 12 yards off the reciever, he wouldn't be. Let's hope this performance was a sign of things to come.

i question the run play calling, coaching, and blocking in regards to maroney. maroney has what it takes. he needs counters and outside hand offs and a few seconds to speed up

M, A, T, T, MATT MATT MATT!!!

The ups are right on, but add Hobbs.

DOWNS: Red Zone offense was only 1 for 5, caused, IMO, by some very questionable play calling. Team can not continue to squander TD's for FGs and expect to win.

You have to remember that Maroney is still only 24 years old

Give him another year or two
He was excellent in the 2nd half of last year

Gotta disagree on a down rating for Hanson.
While he sent a few kicks for touchbacks, he also had a whale of a field position punt when the pats punted from their own 14 or so...and the punt returner caught it going out of bounds at the Jets 22. That was a big play.
Brad

They have to get Moss involved more in the game. He is a game changer and don't tell me Cassel is too fresh to make the deep pass. He did it from his own endzone against the Chiefs and Moss took it for 51 yards.

Moss was double-covered all afternoon. That gave Welker the chance to get open.

1. Moss had TD written all over him if Casell threw the ball 5 yards deeper - give um a couple more weeks & they'll be shining.

2. Casell looked great & will look better as he gets more comfortable - ie: see #1

3. Maroney just ain't cuttin' it with his dancing technique...needs to learn how to drop that head/shoulder and plow through people like Dillon did & Jordan does. Time for more diapers in his locker while Jordan, Faulk, Morris & Evans show him the ropes once & for all...if he still doesn't "get-it" ...time for him to be traded, while he still MIGHT be worth something to another team.

4. Thomas is THE MAN! - the only thing better than the 20 yard "double" sack was knowing he gave Favre a mouth-full while he loomed over him. In the Pic I saw today, Brett looked like a TERRIFIED school kid laying helplessly on the ground under AT. Wish I knew what he said to him....how about trying to find out for us Mike...if of course, it can be repeated - LOL

5. Hobbs looked good as usual - get off his back people - he's a good corner & doesn't deserve the blame everyone is putting on his shoulders from the SB or most of the other catches he didn't suceed in defending against. For the most part, he gets the job done & when he dorsn't there are USUALLY other reasons contributing to the play, also.

6. 3 chhers for Merriweather - lets hope he's got the taste of blood on his hands after finally holding onto a pic!

I'm with Brad. That bomb of a punt more than made up for his inability to drop kicks inside the 10.