The Patriots play their fifth game of the season against the Jets at Gillette Stadium on Sunday October 9th at 4:15 PM.
I don't know how to put this, but... the defense... is not good. After all this talk about improved quarterback pressure, revamped defensive lines and 3 - 4 vs. 4 - 3, we still can't get off the field when we have to. This doesn't have the look of a team that looks like it's built to go deep into the playoffs right now. I keep reminding myself that it's early. There's still time.
The only bright spot the last few weeks was the emergence of Stevan Ridley. Hot damn, he's fast. I can't ever remember the Pats having a burner like that in the backfield.
Moving on to this week - I'm not as worried about the Jets as I was at the beginning of the year. Sanchez seems to have taken a step back.
(Now watch him throw for 425 yards this week. Ugh.)
Let's take a look at the leaders of the franchise. Here's five things I'll be watching for this week:
1) Tom Brady - That 4 INT game at Buffalo was UGLY. There's no way we're good enough to win games like that. Some semblance of a running game would only help him down the stretch.
2) Vince Wilfork - Vince is an INTERCEPTION MACHINE. I say we move him to safety. Or maybe even mix him in a bit at tight end with hands like that.
3) Wes Welker - He's on track to catch roughly 2300 balls this year. He's also finding the endzone a lot more this year. I like it. They better resign him after this season. ***shakes fist at sky***
4) Jerod Mayo - He's going to be out how long? A month? Yikes. This defense can't afford to get any worse.
5) Logan Mankins - I'm glad he's locked up long term. He's a difference maker, even if he's good for 4 or 5 unsportsmanlike conduct penalties a year.
YouTube Video of the Week: Holy crap, that's the best fake punt return play I've ever seen.
My prediction: Pats 34, Jets 21
Stay hydrated, my friends.
*****
This year, we're going to have regular contributions from Fake Bill Belichick for your reading pleasure. Here's this week's selection from Fake Bill Belichick's "Tales From a Life in Football":
By 1977, I was with the Detroit Lions. (Lots of good stuff coming out of Detroit at the time... Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, Grand Funk Railroad). They had me on special teams, receivers, tight ends. A little bit of everything. And we sucked.
Remember, this was Detroit in the 70s. It was pretty bad. Some of the guys that were trying out for the team were from the area. If they didn't make the team, they'd be back on the assembly line putting dashboards in Chevy Impalas the next day.
I had to cut one of these guys the second day of training camp. He just sucked. I tried to put it to him gently, but it didn't go over well. Instead of handing me his playbook, he throws it against the wall and walks out.
I head out to the parking lot that night... And he's actually waiting for me by my car. He sees me coming and he pulls a knife on me. "You wanna cut me, Coach? I'll show you what it feels like to get cut."
I assess the situation. You know, mentally "pause the tape" so to speak. And I realize he's holding the knife way out to the side like a total amatuer. Now keep in mind that, at this point, I'm only a few years away from my college lacrosse days. I'm still pretty quick on my feet. So I turn my shoulder, lean in to him and drive him back six feet into a concrete post. Ended up breaking two of his ribs.
Anyway, I gave him $20 out of my wallet and a ride to the emergency room.
True story.
I don't know how to put this, but... the defense... is not good. After all this talk about improved quarterback pressure, revamped defensive lines and 3 - 4 vs. 4 - 3, we still can't get off the field when we have to. This doesn't have the look of a team that looks like it's built to go deep into the playoffs right now. I keep reminding myself that it's early. There's still time.
The only bright spot the last few weeks was the emergence of Stevan Ridley. Hot damn, he's fast. I can't ever remember the Pats having a burner like that in the backfield.
Moving on to this week - I'm not as worried about the Jets as I was at the beginning of the year. Sanchez seems to have taken a step back.
(Now watch him throw for 425 yards this week. Ugh.)
Cover up that ball.
Let's take a look at the leaders of the franchise. Here's five things I'll be watching for this week:
1) Tom Brady - That 4 INT game at Buffalo was UGLY. There's no way we're good enough to win games like that. Some semblance of a running game would only help him down the stretch.
2) Vince Wilfork - Vince is an INTERCEPTION MACHINE. I say we move him to safety. Or maybe even mix him in a bit at tight end with hands like that.
3) Wes Welker - He's on track to catch roughly 2300 balls this year. He's also finding the endzone a lot more this year. I like it. They better resign him after this season. ***shakes fist at sky***
4) Jerod Mayo - He's going to be out how long? A month? Yikes. This defense can't afford to get any worse.
5) Logan Mankins - I'm glad he's locked up long term. He's a difference maker, even if he's good for 4 or 5 unsportsmanlike conduct penalties a year.
YouTube Video of the Week: Holy crap, that's the best fake punt return play I've ever seen.
My prediction: Pats 34, Jets 21
Stay hydrated, my friends.
*****
This year, we're going to have regular contributions from Fake Bill Belichick for your reading pleasure. Here's this week's selection from Fake Bill Belichick's "Tales From a Life in Football":
By 1977, I was with the Detroit Lions. (Lots of good stuff coming out of Detroit at the time... Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, Grand Funk Railroad). They had me on special teams, receivers, tight ends. A little bit of everything. And we sucked.
Remember, this was Detroit in the 70s. It was pretty bad. Some of the guys that were trying out for the team were from the area. If they didn't make the team, they'd be back on the assembly line putting dashboards in Chevy Impalas the next day.
I had to cut one of these guys the second day of training camp. He just sucked. I tried to put it to him gently, but it didn't go over well. Instead of handing me his playbook, he throws it against the wall and walks out.
I head out to the parking lot that night... And he's actually waiting for me by my car. He sees me coming and he pulls a knife on me. "You wanna cut me, Coach? I'll show you what it feels like to get cut."
I assess the situation. You know, mentally "pause the tape" so to speak. And I realize he's holding the knife way out to the side like a total amatuer. Now keep in mind that, at this point, I'm only a few years away from my college lacrosse days. I'm still pretty quick on my feet. So I turn my shoulder, lean in to him and drive him back six feet into a concrete post. Ended up breaking two of his ribs.
Anyway, I gave him $20 out of my wallet and a ride to the emergency room.
True story.
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