Where do you think this team is going?

[O.Z.O.]

There seems to be a lot of expectation that the Pats will be back next year and competing for a championship. In my first post SB thread (other then that viscious, tear-filled thing I posted right after the game), here are my thoughts:

1). The defense sucks. They couldn't get to and stop punk-ass, 20 INT throwing Eli Manning on a drive to close out a win. Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, and Green are great players, but (and I know this may sound like blasphemy but let's call a spade a spade) Tedy and Junior are old and tired. The secondary is pretty much non-existant. A$$ante is gone, Rodney needs to retire, Hobbs was undressed more then a hooker on an oil rig, and Merriweather needs more seasoning
2). adjustments- where exactly were the vaunted 'half-time adjustments' that the Pats' coaching staff is so famous for?
3). pass protection- 3 O-linemen are starters in the Pro-Bowl this year? Really? Which 3? Nobody I saw on Sunday was worthy of that diSTINKtion. Seriously, the Giants looked like the '85 Bears...they spent more time in the backfield then Maroney did.

Personally, I believe that there needs to be significant change, especially on the defensive side of the ball, for this team to compete again at this level. Yeah, they'll win the division next year because the Jills, jesters and 'fins are going to suck like an Electrolux, but what beyond that? I think the Colts learned a huge lesson. Jacksonville may be readcy to take that next step. Maybe the Bolts will finally get their act together.

I'm just not convinced, at this point, that the Pats can get back. Maybe this is just a product of where I am now, I don't know. Maybe I need to let things play out a little more. Maybe I'm just tired of seeing cheery posts about being on a mission next year and playing with a vengeance and all that other bullcrap.

Feel free to chastise me with where you think I may be wrong, just make sure your points are well thought out, because if they are I may buy into them.

[Michigan Dave]

One inch here or there and despite how bad we played we're talking about "Can we go 38-0?"

This team didn't go from GOAT to nothing in 1 day. I fully expect a return trip to finish what we started. There are 2 areas of need: 1 (possibly 2) linebacker spots, and a corner opposite Hobbs assuming Asante leaves.

[Brady's Bunch]

Why all the hate on the Defense??? They were 4th in the league and held the giants to 17 points...its the offense we should be pissed at for losing this game

Ok i agree we need to get younger at MLB but if Rosie stays healthy next year and Junior and Bruschi dont retire, we'll be fine at that position, though i'd like to see them draft a LB to ease into the role

[3 Point Stan]

The defense sucks?

I think you're really looking at things in a vaccum here, amigo.

[O.Z.O.]

...that's why I qualified this thread with the phrase "that's where I am right now"...

I'm sure you guys are right and I'll see things differently later on.

[Akrobatik]

did you even watch the game? our defense did all they could. it was our offense that didnt get it done. our o-line didnt show up and they got there asses handed to them. brady got killed because of them. thats why we lost. if we cant block we cant pass or run the ball.

[#12PF]

Originally posted by Michigan Dave on 02-05-2008 at 02:55 PM
One inch here or there and despite how bad we played we're talking about "Can we go 38-0?"

This team didn't go from GOAT to nothing in 1 day. I fully expect a return trip to finish what we started. There are 2 areas of need: 1 (possibly 2) linebacker spots, and a corner opposite Hobbs assuming Asante leaves.

I think this is something we all need to realize. We are still a dominant force and are not going to disappear bc of a close loss. That's not what this team is about, they will look to improve and if they do, well damn thats a scary thought for every other team out there.

[Patriot Reppa]

Yeah we really suck now, we need a complete overhaul. We should first trade brady for 2 first round picks for his inability to score mroe than 14 points. Serves him right for laughing at plaxico for only giving them 17 points in his 23-17 prediction. I think his exact quote was "only 17 points? what is he playing defense" i guess he isnt laughing anymore.

then we need to get rid of that hooded bum belicheck he looks horrible on the sideline and just makes our organization look homeless. Obviouly we need younger LB's, i think we can get connor's for the 49er pick. fortunately they didnt take that pick for or whole spygate thing, i guess its true that cheaters dont win, and does anyone think that this is the reason we beat those explosive rams in the 2001 season?

[Claremonster]

Originally posted by Patriot Reppa on 02-05-2008 at 12:12 PM
Yeah we really suck now, we need a complete overhaul. We should first trade brady for 2 first round picks for his inability to score mroe than 14 points. Serves him right for laughing at plaxico for only giving them 17 points in his 23-17 prediction. I think his exact quote was "only 17 points? what is he playing defense" i guess he isnt laughing anymore.

then we need to get rid of that hooded bum belicheck he looks horrible on the sideline and just makes our organization look homeless. Obviouly we need younger LB's, i think we can get connor's for the 49er pick. fortunately they didnt take that pick for or whole spygate thing, i guess its true that cheaters dont win, and does anyone think that this is the reason we beat those explosive rams in the 2001 season?

Well... man, you are so transparent. You're like "Hollow Man"...

[O.Z.O.]

Originally posted by Akrobatik on 02-05-2008 at 03:10 PM
did you even watch the game? our defense did all they could. it was our offense that didnt get it done. our o-line didnt show up and they got there asses handed to them. brady got killed because of them. thats why we lost. if we cant block we cant pass or run the ball.

no, of course I didn't watch the game....I'm talking completely out of my ass here

if you had read my bstarting post more carefully, you would see that I ripped the O-line the well deserved shiny new anus they deserved. The source of my dissapointment with the defense come in them allowing the Giants to drive 85 yards with less then 2 minutes on the clock, something I'm just not used to seeing.

[Brownfan80]

Originally posted by Bradys Bunch on 02-05-2008 at 02:58 PM
Why all the hate on the Defense??? They were 4th in the league and held the giants to 17 points...its the offense we should be pissed at for losing this game

Ok i agree we need to get younger at MLB but if Rosie stays healthy next year and Junior and Bruschi dont retire, we'll be fine at that position, though i'd like to see them draft a LB to ease into the role

The defense is a goat for me in that game because A) they had multiple opportunities on 3rd and 4th downs to make a play to END the game. B) They allowed the winning TD leaving only 30whatever seconds on the clock.

So not only did they have chance after chance to END the game as a win and blow it, they also allowed the worst possible outcome with so little time left that Brady couldn't do anything.

To be honest though, I didn't like how the offense used their remaining time in that last 'drive'.

I thought it was still realistic for them to set up a tying FG, but they were bombing for the win over and over.

[Brady's Bunch]

Originally posted by Patriot Reppa on 02-05-2008 at 03:12 PM
Yeah we really suck now, we need a complete overhaul. We should first trade brady for 2 first round picks for his inability to score mroe than 14 points. Serves him right for laughing at plaxico for only giving them 17 points in his 23-17 prediction. I think his exact quote was "only 17 points? what is he playing defense" i guess he isnt laughing anymore.

then we need to get rid of that hooded bum belicheck he looks horrible on the sideline and just makes our organization look homeless. Obviouly we need younger LB's, i think we can get connor's for the 49er pick. fortunately they didnt take that pick for or whole spygate thing, i guess its true that cheaters dont win, and does anyone think that this is the reason we beat those explosive rams in the 2001 season?

AC?

[O.Z.O.]

Originally posted by Brownfan80 on 02-05-2008 at 03:15 PM
The defense is a goat for me in that game because A) they had multiple opportunities on 3rd and 4th downs to make a play to END the game. B) They allowed the winning TD leaving only 30whatever seconds on the clock.

So not only did they have chance after chance to END the game as a win and blow it, they also allowed the worst possible outcome with so little time left that Brady couldn't do anything.

exactly.

[SenatorChivas]

If football analysts were asked what teams would you expect to play in Super Bowl XLIII the Patriots would be one of the teams chosen. They do need help defensively at linebacker, cornerbacks and safety. Lets wait till free agency is over and then the draft. Belichick may be a curmudgeon but he's also one of the best football minds in the game, and he's our curmudgeon. I expect they will be a better team next year and all the motivation they'll need is a memory of this years Super Bowl debacle.

[Michigan Dave]

Originally posted by Brownfan80 on 02-05-2008 at 03:15 PM
The defense is a goat for me in that game because A) they had multiple opportunities on 3rd and 4th downs to make a play to END the game. B) They allowed the winning TD leaving only 30whatever seconds on the clock.

So not only did they have chance after chance to END the game as a win and blow it, they also allowed the worst possible outcome with so little time left that Brady couldn't do anything.

To be honest though, I didn't like how the offense used their remaining time in that last 'drive'.

I thought it was still realistic for them to set up a tying FG, but they were bombing for the win over and over.

After the first play, they had to go deep to try and get a FG shot.