Skip to main content

Five Things to Watch This Week - Week 1 (Game 1)


The Patriots play their first regular season game at LP Field against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday September 9th at 1:00 PM.

So... Um... Yeah.  Let's not get too hung up on how last season ended... It's a new year.  Like Coach Belichick says... We're focusing on next week.  We're moving on.

It's also an election year.  Republican or Democrat...  Liberal or Conservative...  Let's not lose sight of the one thing that unites us all...  That the Jets are horrible.



Gronk seems to be enjoying the benefits of being famous.

Let's dive right in!

The Patriots signed both Gronkowski AND Hernandez to long term deals (ed. note - phew) in the off-season.   They also added extra Tight Ends Jake Ballard, Daniel Fells, Michael Hoomanawanui and Visanthe Shiancoe. At this rate, we'll soon be fielding the NFL's first ALL TIGHT END OFFENSE!  (It's the logical next step in the evolution of the game...)

Josh McDaniels - Welcome back!  You'll get another shot at being the head coach someday... Probably!

I was lucky enough to spend a day watching training camp at Gillette Stadium this summer.  Here's a few quick thoughts:

  - Gronk jerseys.  Gronk jerseys everywhere in the stands.  Patriot Nation loves them some Gronk.

  - They're going to throw the ball.  A lot.

  - When they do run, it looks like Stevan Ridley is THE GUY.

  - Brady still loves throwing to Welker.  And I'm pretty sure I heard him call Welker "Big Guy".

  - I thought Stallworth looked really good, but apparently not good enough to make the team.  (Me = not a professional scout.)

  - On defense, Chandler Jones is going to be a MONSTER.


Hey Big Guy!

Here's five things I'll be watching for this week:

1) Brandon Lloyd - I'm honestly not sure what to expect here, but I'm intrigued.  At the very least, he should be an upgrade over Chad Ochocinco (and unless Chad catches on with another time, we'll have to retire "Did Chad Ochocinco have a catch last week?"  That breaks my heart.)

2) Rob Gronkowski - Gronk should see a lot more double coverage this year.  I can't see any way he comes close to putting up numbers like last year.  But it should free up everybody else at the very least.

3) Wes Welker - No long term deal for Welkah this off-season.  So sad.  I get it...  He's 31.  But it still kinda sucks.

4) The revamped Offensive Line - It looked... ah... pretty rough in the pre-season.  Yikes.  I'm not feeling real good about this group.

5) Michael Hoomanawanui - Probably the 3rd or 4th TE on the depth chart.  I doubt he'll make it onto the field...  I just like saying "Hoomanawanui" (huh-oh-muh-NOW-uh-noo-ee).  Plus, Viking Dave made me promise to buy his jersey if he sticks with the team.


My prediction (Game 1): Pats 27, Titans 16

My prediction (Season): 12 - 4

Nut up or move on.


*****


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 second book "My Patriot Years":

By now, you've probably seen the video of Mr. Kraft and his new lady friend Ricki Noel Lander working on her audition reel.

What you probably don't realize is that I was this close to getting into the movie business after I got fired in Cleveland.  I was an uncredited script consultant on JERRY MAGUIRE.  It was my idea to make the main character a wide receiver.  Wide receivers are always the nuttiest players on the team. That was an easy one, really.

I'm sure I could get Ricki on the picture with a phone call, but it's more fun to watch Mr. Kraft run around the office acting like a love-struck teenager.  It's much better than when he was all mopey after Myra died.  Apparently, some people get attached... to their spouses... I guess?  I dunno.  Seems like a waste of time to me.

Anyway... It'll all be in my screenplay COACH.

Someday.

(I've been working on it in the off-seasons for years.  It's been taking a lot longer than I thought it would.)

I've also dabbled in the direct to video market, but that didn't go as well.

True story.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Three Things to Watch This Week - Week 15

The New England Patriots play The Ben and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on Sunday December 16th at 4:25 PM. Plenty of positive takeaways from last week... well, until the last play (Gronk didn’t want to get in the way of a 69 yard touchdown). Gronk shouldn't have been out there on the last play.  There's no way a gimpy Tannehill was going to chuck one 70 yards.  Harrumph. Powers Power Rankings: 1) Boothe 2) Austin 3) Stephanie 4) Vested in me 5) Bleeding  6) (Irish whiskey) Here are three things I'm feeling good about this week: 1) Josh Gordon - Gordon has been better than expected so far.  Can you imagine the numbers Gordon could have put up if he had been here his whole career (and, well, sober)?  Guh. 2) James White - James White rules. 3) Jacob Hollister - I thought this was going to be Hollister's breakout year...  So far, he has 4 catches for the season.  There's still time! Did Rob Gronkowski play last week...
Post a Comment
Read more

Three Things to Watch This Week - Week 3

The New England Patriots play Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday September 23rd at 8:20 PM. Gordon Power Rankings 1) Cole 2) Flash 3) Kim 4) Levitt 5) Sumner 6) (Sesame Street) 7) Lightfoot 8) Shumway 9) Emily v 10) Hayword 11) the Big Engine 12) Jump 13) Josh (Who knew there were so many Gordons!) Here's three things I'm worried about for Sunday evening: 1) The secondary - Eric Rowe isn't making me forget about Malcolm Butler any time soon.  Assuming the Lions have changed their signals by now . Stafford might be able to throw all over the place on them.  Concerns.  I have them.  2) Tom Brady - TB12 got beat up pretty good last week, didn't he?  There was no rhythm (Did I spell that right?  "Rhythm"?  That doesn't look right.) .  I'd like to see some long sustained drives. 3) Sony Michel - With Jeremy Hill out on injured reserve, the Patriots started to work first round pick Sony...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five Things to Watch This Week.

By Patty O'Tool The Patriots play their fourth preseason game at home against the New York Giants on Thursday, September 3rd at 7:30 PM Oh man, do I hate the Giants. I still wake up thinking about how close we were to 19 and 0. I don't think I'll ever get over that. Here's five things I'll be watching for on Thursday: 1) Tom Brady. How well does he hold the clipboard on the sideline? Does he hold it with his left hand or his right hand? Will he be in uniform or street clothes? These are the big questions for #12 tonight. 2) Laurence Maroney . OK, kid. I've been apologizing for you for three years now. Show me something. 3) Joey Galloway. I have no emotional attachment to this guy. I could care less if makes the team. He looks like crap out there so far. 4) Linebackers. Bruschi's gone. We're young and fast now. But are we any good ? 5) BenJarvus Green-Ellis. This might be the last time we see him a Patriots uniform. If he gets cut, som...
Post a Comment
Read more