What to watch for in Foxborough

Sunday night will mark the return of one Tedy Bruschi. At home, national audience, division opponent. If the Pats can't get fired up for this one they're dead. Those fans are going to go insane anytime Bruschi walks on the field. Two Pats to watch this week that Bruschi will have a direct effect on will be Eugene Wilson and Chad Brown. Bruschi can take the Defensive reads and calls away from Wilson and Brown will be able to be a role player again, playing only some on the inside, mostly on the outside as a pass rusher. He is a devastating pass rusher that has to be accounted for, but he hasn't been able to fill that role because he's had to be Bruschi in the middle.

The Bills are horrible against the run and they can't pass either. In their last 11 games they've failed to throw for 200 yards. It's been 37 games since they've thrown for 300. People are calling for JP Losman to be the starter over Holcombe, conceding this season and letting the kid learn on the job. That leads me to believe the key to the game for the Pats is to stack the line of scrimmage and stop McGahee at all cost. The Pats will once again play a soft zone D in the secondary, but against such a feeble passing attack that should be effective enough. The whole game will rest on the ability to stuff the run. On the other side of the ball, the experts are expecting this to be Dillon's break out game. The Bills are weak up the middle since the loss of Pat Williams and they have an undersized middle line backer. I've said this before and been completely wrong, but watch for Belichick to use Watson/Graham a lot this week vs the aging Lawyer Milloy. If Milloy has to worry about covering those guys, he can't be hovering around the line of scrimmage in run support.

The Pats should be able to score at will against this team, so it's really just a question of what the Defense will do. Buffalo is very strong on special teams, especially Terrence McGee. He averages 34.5 yds/return and could run one back any time. A bad special teams play could make the difference in this game if the Defense doesn't show up.

My pick is the Pats by two TD's 34-20. Dillon will have 80-90 yds and a TD. Branch will have 8-10 catches and two TD's and one of the TE's will have a TD.

ESPN Power Rankings...and a little rant...

#1 Colts
#2 Pitt
#3 Atlanta
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x
x
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#10 Giants
#11 Pats.

If the Colts are so high and mighty, and "by far the best team in the league" then why are the Patriots favored to beat Indy next week? As a matter of fact, one Vegas insider said that the Pats game is tho ONLY game all season in which the Colts will be underdogs. Frauds.

Dare I Question....

Something has been telling me not to write this blog. Maybe it won't be very well received, but I feel compelled to question the powers that be in New England. It's been a slow bye week for news anyway.

What happened to the 'genius' tandem of Belichick and Pioli? It looks to me that they happened to get lucky and had one great draft and have been suspect ever since. Mankins and Kaczur have been consistant performers from this years draft. Who else can you name from the draft? Matt Cassell? Do we need another QB? Here's the rest of this years class: Hobbs CB (IR) Sanders S(has to play ineffecrtive saftey due to injuries) Ryan Claridge LB(IR) Andy Stokes TE (released).
I really wish I could say better things about this years' free agents: Beisel and Brown have been disappointing. It would have been nice to see experienced, veteran guys be able to pick up Belichick's D. Maybe the return of Bruschi will allow for Brown and Beisel to perform better as 'role players' rather than as starters. Andre Davis has yet to get on the field. Duane Starks probably shouldn't be on the field either. Chad Scott played OK at best, but is also hurt. So far the biggest FA acquisition has been Tim Dwight. He's had 3 big catches and has really helped the punt return game.
You may be thinking that Belichick and Pioli had a down year. So what, right? They're entitled to one bad year. Doesn't this class reek like the 2002 FA class after the first SB win? A FA class that failed to make an impact and the team ended up 9-7? (see Donald Hayes and Steve Martin) Oh yeah, Bill and Scott messed that up too.
What about last year's draft? Other than having Vince Wilfork fall into their laps at #21 (he was SUPPOSED to be a top 10 pick), the Pats got Ben Watson. Ben Watson has had one good game so far in his career. Then they got Marquise Hill who is contributing a little this year, Guss Scott who was a disappointment at Safety before being placed on IR, Dexter Reid who got cut this year and plays for INDY, Cedric Cobbs-cut, PK Sam-practice squad, Christian Morton-cut.

Obviously, injuries and the sudden retirement of Ted Johnson were unseen, and unplanned for. I'm just saying that maybe these two guys have been a little over-rated around here for the last 4 years. Remember they've already traded away two of next years picks, so they are already at a disadvantage for next off season.

Maybe it was too much to ask for them to continue drafting the likes of Seymour money, Brady, Light, Koppen, Wilson, Wilfork, Green and Warren.

Roster moves, Injury updates and the Colts

Tedy Bruschi was activated and practiced today. According to all accounts he looked just fine. It was a non-contact practice.

Among other roster moves, Guss Scott has been placed on IR. Wesley Mallard was released, CB Hank Poteat and WR Andre Davis were re-signed. Davis may be an indication that Troy Brown is hurt pretty badly. Brown did not practice today as well as Dillon and McGinnest. Seymour money returned to practice and the pats were in the 3-4 defense STILL!!

ESPN's power rankings for this week:

1 Colts "Clearly number one...established themselves as the league's elite team...defense leading the way. FRAUDS

2 Broncos

3 Cincinnati

4 Atlanta (Hey, didn't the Pats beat Atlanta? AT Atlanta?)

5 Tampa Bay (They don't even have a starting QB)

6 Philli

7 Dallas

8 Pittsburgh (Hey, didn't the Pats beat Pitt? AT Pitt?)

9 San Diego

10 Jacksonville (They're kidding, right?)

11 Seattle (If I could revise my NFC Champion pick, I'd pick Seattle)

12 Patriots

Do you think the ESPN guys know something that we don't? Are they the 12th best team in the league? I for one certainly don't think so.

Why does it irk me so much that the Colts are everyone's darling this year? Because they are frauds. Ever since Peyton Manning has been in the league, they've tried to get him a superbowl ring. The Pats beat the snot out of the Colts, so the league changes the rules to allow receivers to run free. Manning can't beat the Pats in Foxborough, so the league gives the Pats the hardest 6 game start it can find, while the Colts play nobody's. Now Peyton can have his home field in the AFC Championship v. the Pats. Of course, the Pats will still win (ask the Steelers) only this year Peyton won't have the weather as an excuse. Here's a quick look at Peyton's Pathetic path of pansies so far this season.

Baltimore, 2-3 22nd in O 2nd in D
J'ville, 4-2 25th in O 4th in D
Cleveland 2-3 26th in O 27th in D
Tenn'see 2-4 19th in O 20th in D
San Fran 1-4 31st in O, last in D
St Louis 2-4 3rd in O, 26th in D (3 possesions 3 scores b4 Bulger hurt)

And THIS weeks MONSTER opponent?

Houston 0-5 32nd in O, 29th in D (whats the spread, 100 pts?)

That's a combined record of 13-25. Yeah, OK ESPN guys, I'd say you're right, the Colts are the best team in the league. I'm sure they'll come up with some perfectly legit excuse for Peyton after he loses at the Pats. Oh, did I fail to mention that poor Peyton has to come here to play? The league hooked him up there too. He comes here after his bye week.

In an unrelated story, the NFL announced it will be changing it's name to WLP starting in the 2006-2007 season. (We Love Peyton)

Foxborough...we have a problem....BUT

The Patriots finished the toughest 6 game schedule in league history at 3-3. If you consider the strength of opponent, being on the road and all of the injuries, I think 3-3 is about the best they could have hoped for. If they had, say Indianapolis' schedule, they'd be 5-1 and the talk around the league would be three-peat. Instead, we have to hear about how good the Indianapolis Frauds are and how 'superbowl caliber' their defense is. That's BS.

Once again 3-3 going into the bye is just like starting the season over at 0-0. They have an extra week to get some guys back (Poole, Seymour money, McGinnest, Beisel, Scott, Dillon, Brown, etc and BRUSCHI). They should also get back to the drawing board. Even with all of the injuries, they stayed in a 3-4, plain coverage, almost prevent defense so they wouldn't get burned on the long play. How'd that work for'em? It is time to get back to the 4-3 and utilize the strength of this team, the D-Line. Take the reigns off these guys. Typically, in BB's defense, the D Line hit the O Line and watch to see where the play is going and then fill the gap to either side of the O line guy. (2 gap system) Forget it Bill, you're getting torched that way. Not that I would attempt to hold a candle to BB's knowledge, but if that hasn't worked AT ALL, why not try something different. Here's an idea: Let them play!!!! Go to the 4-3, and let Seymour, Green, Wilfork and Warren get upfield on the snap, let them penetrate, let them get into the backfield and get some sacks and tackles for a loss. Maybe the pressure might even lead to, of all things, a TURNOVER! If the cover guys can't cover anyway, why not attack? What's the worse thing that could happen, they give up one or two big plays a game? They're already allowing that!

Here's some of the uglilness so far this season, the Pats are:

30th in takeaways with 3. Only Houston and Washington are worse.

25th in run defense. 125 yds/game

32nd (LAST) in red zone Defense. 19 trips, 15 TD's and 4 field goals

31st in first down Defense. They allow 6.4 yds/play on 1st down.

Here's some of the bright spots (Tom Brady):

3rd in passing offense, 295 yds/game

8th in first downs gained with 120

2nd in sacks allowed, only 7 sacks in 232 pass attempts - but that's ALL on Brady getting
rid of the ball, because you will never convince me that they've protected him this year.
How many times did you wince last week when Brady got hit? How many times have you
seen a blitzer come through untouched this season?

It HAS been pretty bad this year, but with the competition in the division being so bad, the Pats could probably go 9-7 and still win the division. I'm looking for a big turn around after the bye. With the remaining schedule they should only have a MAX of 3 more losses. MAYBE at Kansas City, MAYBE one division game, and VERY MAYBE to Indy, but I think that will be a statement game for the Pats. IF they do lose three more that still puts them comfortably in the playoffs at 10-6. So fear not Pats fans, it's bad but it can only get better.

I believe we have a faithful reader that is a Doctor. Hey Bryan, can you give us some medical insight on what's going on with Bruschi?

Almost Another Fantastic Comeback

Go on, admit it. You just knew that Tom Brady was going to lead them back for another fantastic come from behind win. I know I did. But don't go blaming Brady for this loss. He showed just how great he really is: on the road, in a hostile stadium, taking hit after hit, with barely any running game to speak of, with the defense knowing he was going to pass, with no Troy Brown, no starting left tackle and he STILL would have won the game had it not been for a drop. There should be no doubt who the best player in the NFL is.

So we have to cope with another tough loss. I believe the game would have had an entirely different outcome if it weren't for 4 plays.
The first play happened on the Pats 1st posession. They are driving and come up just short of the first down. Brady lines them up to go for it on 4th and we all know the play the Pats use on 4th and short and so did Denver. Brady gets to the line, the backfield empties, the TE's split wide, Brady's going to sneak for the first down. Only Denver knew it too and as soon as the Pats motioned to an empty backfield one of the Denver outside linebackers went running to the middle, right over the ball waiting for Brady. Brady called timeout and they kicked. Had they gotten a first down it may have meant 7 points instead of 3.
Second, Vinatieri missed a field goal wide right. Add those 3 points to the 4 from play one and you're only down by one.
Third, The bomb to Ashley Lelie. I know, what about the bomb to Rod Smith, right? Smith's caught the Pats off gaurd. The Lelie bomb was the EXACT SAME play as Smith's. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Belichick/Mangini should have shown the secondary why/how they got beat so it wouldn't happen again. I know, what about Tatum Bell's 65 yard run, right? That's just what Bell does. He did it twice last week.
Fourth, David 'butter fingers' Givens dropping the pass on the final drive. Not only was he open, not only did Brady lay it out there perfectly, not only did he have 20 or 30 more yards to run, but he also took away the Pats momentum on that drive. The next play was the intentional grounding, which Givens and Branch ran the same route and one of them should have been where Brady threw it. Then it was 3rd and 20 and Brach dropped his ball, but at least he had some semblence of an excuse for dropping his. (And in my humble opinion that play should have been reviewed because it sure looked to me like he caught it, tucked it, got hit and then it came out AFTER he hit the ground.)

That's it. 4 plays.

Hat's off to Patrick Pass who played a terrific game.

Since Rodney Harrison has been with the Pats, their longest run allowed was 33 yards against San Fran last year when the backups were in. The next longest run was in 2003 and that was 19 yards. How good is Rodney Harrison?

I'm not going to tell you what you already know about Tedy Bruschi.

The trade deadline in the NFL is week 6 (tomorrow). Rumors are flying, I'll see what I can come up with.

Thanks for waiting for me to return, I'll try to make it worth your while.

Time Out

Patriots Report is going on vacation starting now. It's my 5th annivesary and we're going away. Apparently, the way the Pats are playing right now it's a good time to be away.

I get the strange feeling watching this years team. It kind of feels like 2002, the year after they won their first superbowl. Do you know what I mean? Where you have very high expectations, but for some reason that no one can put a finger on, they just don't win. Remember that 9-7 year? I do and I'm praying that this is not a repeat.

I don't know when I'll get to post again, maybe prior to the Bronco's game.

See you in Jamaica!

PS - Feel free to fill the comments log with your opinions of the Falcons game so I can get a feel for what happened. PLEASE?