uglytuna Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 (edited) I actually had these thoughts last week before the Charger game but didnt get the time to post them. I am expecting that we win the SB. This team has IMO the most important quality of the teams that won the first 3 rings. It has no liabilities. Now (actually last week) is the first time I've honestly been able to say that since SB XXXIX. Last year we had immediately and severe secondary problems. The BB D got beaten deep more last year than by my memory any 2 or maybe 3 other years combined, including his DC and Cleveland years. Of course we also started the year with ILB problems, and spent much of it with running game weakness because of injuries to Dillon and a lot of the OL. Quite simply, the players we were forced to play were liabilities in the roles they had to play, making the overall units liabilities. Early this year our receivers seemed to be a liability. ---Let me stop and explain what I mean by liability. A lack of a liability means this: We can neutralize the other teams strength, no matter what area it is in. We won't lose simply because we cannot control their strength. We win the battle, if only slightly, in all areas they are average. We dominate in any area they are weak. If you look at this years Pats team, especially over the last 2 months or so, no team can beat us because they destroy us in what they are strong at. We can exploit any weakness they have and win because of it. Offensively, we can win by any method, any exploit whatever the weaknesses are, but more importantly, hold our own against their strength. Defensively, we will control their strength and totally shut down their weakness or expose it (ie exposing bad OLs so strong QBs or RBs do not do well) Until recently our WR corps was potential the liability. It is very clear, IMO, that this unit is good enough that we can throw all day against a weak pass D and win, but also make enough play against a strong pass D to keep balance and allow us to exploit a run D weakness. When you look at this weeks game from this perspective, it seems easy to see how we will win. The Colt D has looked good lately because the 2 playoff opponents have been determined to run, and exploit the weakness. THE WEAKNESS IS STILL THERE. However, it wasn't exploited because they were allowed to overplay the run. The Colt pass D is not exactly good, but when you run into a weak run D that overcommits to it, you throw into a pass D that has gotten to a down and distance to not worry about the run. What we WILL do is throw enough to keep the Colts form selling out against the run, and expose that weakness and gash them. The most basic, and frighteningly overlooked offensive strategy is that if a team is weak in an area, you donot attack it at a point they can reinforce it, but you attack when it is vulnerable. Example: If a team has the worst corner in the NFL, coming out and throwing at him every time means the defense will give him help. Throwing at the worst corner with doubleteam help from a safety equals throwing at a good corner. You must design a gameplan that will force them to leave him in man coverage, then attack him. This is what we will do Sunday. DEPENDING on how the Colts start out defending us we will either jam the run down their throat (if they are playing 'honest') and gash them or throw a lot early to make them play honest THEN gash them. The passing game is the key to this win, but not in making plays, but in forcing them to play honest to set up a great running game. I expect a minimum of 200 rushing yards UNLESS the Colts refuse to come out of run defense and give us the pass. They can pick their poison as far as Im concerned. Defensively, this means that the Colt O will make plays. But there is nothing for them to exploit. We will have to give them something, and they will have to take what we give them. But, here is the key: We are able to CHOOSE what we give them. There is nothing we must do to cover a liability. We can blitz and be exposed ot the big play, but the Colts will not win because they are completing long passes all day. We can 'bend but dont break' and make them have 14 play drives. But they will not consistently be able to string 14 effective plays together. By the way, THIS is where the BB PIOSTSEASON game planning and its difference fron regular season comes in. My expectation is that Manning will be 'taking what we give him' for a good part of the day. However, in certain circumstances, and especially late he will be taking what HE THINKS we are giving him, and we will have devised a game plan that disguises what we are giving him, and the result will be the typically Pats D vs Manning playoff results. The difference between regular season and post season game planning is significant. In the regular season you are game planning at least in part to have continuity, improve areas, and focus on the long term development of the team. In the post season you are gameplanning solely to win the game. BB will utilize schemes that Manning has not seen, that will be specificly designed to win this game, as opposed to also considering continuity, deveolpment, the big picture, and getting ready for the playoffs. While it may be somewhat subtle, it is proven. The BB D has had games in the regular seasons where it did not use creative schemes designed to neutralize a player, and good players have good games. I do not EVER remember a good offensive player having a career day and 'carrying' a team vs BB in the playoffs. In fact in some cases those good players have had good days, but in the end it was in spite of the overall offense, and did not translate to the scoreboard, that is, what the THOUGHT we were giving them was what we WANTED to give them, and it wasn't enough. Right now this team has the most important characteristics that were present in 3 SB Champs, that was not present in 2002 and 2005 (and far from it in 2000). Final thought. It just cracks me up every time I hear an 'expert' base their opinion or prediction on one or 2 players. Last week it was 'the Chargers have LT and Gates, you can't stop both'. You DONT HAVE TO. There are 11 players out there. You must only hold your own against the best ones, have somewhat of an advantage against the mediocre ones, and exploit the bad ones (or the bad ones it the situations they are bad). The fact of the matter is when any offense and defense line up against each other the result has an awful lot less to do with the 2 best guys on either side of the ball than it does to do with the 2 worst guys on either side of the ball. Ultimately our championships are not born by winning plays because the best 2-3 guys we have on the field for a play outplay their best 2-3, but because our WORST 2-3 far outplayed their worst 2-3. Look at it this way: Before almost every playoff game, you hear things like 'how will they stop this guy' or 'who do they have to cover him, or who can get open against him, or how can you run on them, pass on them etc'. Can anyone remember a time when we lost, or almost lost a playoff game because the 'great' guy on the other team dominated us? I can't. And it has never mattered what position that guy plays. Pass rusher, RB, QB, WR, etc, etc. We are not putting players on the field who will be dominated, and most teams are based on their guy dominating. Look at the Chargers. How could we stop them? If LT doesnt dominate, Rivers and Gates will, or Merriman will, and so on. Oneof them dominates every week. Why? Because every week their is a liability in the team they are playing. Good players are great when lined up against a scrub. Against us they are no more than good because they aren't lined up against a scrub. Wow, this went longer than I intended. Any way, for those not sold on the Patriots finishing the job, reread this post. See the similarities, and ask yourself whathas made this team 'clutch' or 'winners' and just a cut above the rest of the league for 5 years. This is the best answer I can see, and after going away for a while, that quality is back in Foxboro. Ugly Tuna Edited January 19, 2007 by uglytuna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moss6 Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 Thank god you are back - the plants were all dying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBalata Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 I am expecting that we win the SB. Really?? Who woulda thunk that? Now, the real question.....where did you cut and paste this long piece from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retrograde assault Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 See ya again in a couple years tuna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunther Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 Like a bad habit you just can't kick... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGrunt Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 .......... Final thought. It just cracks me up every time I hear an 'expert' base their opinion or prediction on one or 2 players. Last week it was 'the Chargers have LT and Gates, you can't stop both'. You DONT HAVE TO. There are 11 players out there. You must only hold your own against the best ones, have somewhat of an advantage against the mediocre ones, and exploit the bad ones (or the bad ones it the situations they are bad). The fact of the matter is when any offense and defense line up against each other the result has an awful lot less to do with the 2 best guys on either side of the ball than it does to do with the 2 worst guys on either side of the ball. Ultimately our championships are not born by winning plays because the best 2-3 guys we have on the field for a play outplay their best 2-3, but because our WORST 2-3 far outplayed their worst 2-3. Look at it this way: Before almost every playoff game, you hear things like 'how will they stop this guy' or 'who do they have to cover him, or who can get open against him, or how can you run on them, pass on them etc'. Can anyone remember a time when we lost, or almost lost a playoff game because the 'great' guy on the other team dominated us? I can't. And it has never mattered what position that guy plays. Pass rusher, RB, QB, WR, etc, etc. We are not putting players on the field who will be dominated, and most teams are based on their guy dominating. Look at the Chargers. How could we stop them? If LT doesnt dominate, Rivers and Gates will, or Merriman will, and so on. Oneof them dominates every week. Why? Because every week their is a liability in the team they are playing. Good players are great when lined up against a scrub. Against us they are no more than good because they aren't lined up against a scrub. Wow, this went longer than I intended. Any way, for those not sold on the Patriots finishing the job, reread this post. See the similarities, and ask yourself whathas made this team 'clutch' or 'winners' and just a cut above the rest of the league for 5 years. This is the best answer I can see, and after going away for a while, that quality is back in Foxboro. Ugly Tuna :readingreadingreadingreading: :readingreadingreadingreading: :readingreadingreadingreading: :readingreadingreadingreading: :readingreadingreadingreading: Ah! There it is... I knew it was gonna happen sooner or later, and I noticed it through out the read in small spurts, but I found your most severe homer-flaw [in bold]. You seriously cannot point out a single so-so starter, or as you put it, 'scrub player' on the Patriots? Manning will read through your defense and take care of business like he should have years ago. The best part going for the Colts isn't even that Manning will call your 'bluff' defensive scheme. It's that Marvin Harrison will also read the the exact same defensive scheme, know where all of the Patriots 11 players are going to go, and then telepathically communicate with Manning so they can decide the best route Harrison should take. It's that simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMD Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 I could have sworn I killed you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackshi17 Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 (edited) I could have sworn I killed you... Edited January 19, 2007 by jackshi17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABearWithFurniture Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 I could have sworn I killed you... I think you missed and axed Carl instead... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duchess Jack Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 welcher!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 Really?? Who woulda thunk that? Now, the real question.....where did you cut and paste this long piece from? He probably stole it. He says this team has no liabilities? I guess losing Rodney Harrison doesn't matter then. We'll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menudo Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 I actually had these thoughts last week before the Charger game but didnt get the time to post them. I am expecting that we win the SB. This team has IMO the most important quality of the teams that won the first 3 rings. It has no liabilities. Now (actually last week) is the first time I've honestly been able to say that since SB XXXIX. Last year we had immediately and severe secondary problems. The BB D got beaten deep more last year than by my memory any 2 or maybe 3 other years combined, including his DC and Cleveland years. Of course we also started the year with ILB problems, and spent much of it with running game weakness because of injuries to Dillon and a lot of the OL. Quite simply, the players we were forced to play were liabilities in the roles they had to play, making the overall units liabilities. Early this year our receivers seemed to be a liability. ---Let me stop and explain what I mean by liability. A lack of a liability means this: We can neutralize the other teams strength, no matter what area it is in. We won't lose simply because we cannot control their strength. We win the battle, if only slightly, in all areas they are average. We dominate in any area they are weak. If you look at this years Pats team, especially over the last 2 months or so, no team can beat us because they destroy us in what they are strong at. We can exploit any weakness they have and win because of it. Offensively, we can win by any method, any exploit whatever the weaknesses are, but more importantly, hold our own against their strength. Defensively, we will control their strength and totally shut down their weakness or expose it (ie exposing bad OLs so strong QBs or RBs do not do well) Until recently our WR corps was potential the liability. It is very clear, IMO, that this unit is good enough that we can throw all day against a weak pass D and win, but also make enough play against a strong pass D to keep balance and allow us to exploit a run D weakness. When you look at this weeks game from this perspective, it seems easy to see how we will win. The Colt D has looked good lately because the 2 playoff opponents have been determined to run, and exploit the weakness. THE WEAKNESS IS STILL THERE. However, it wasn't exploited because they were allowed to overplay the run. The Colt pass D is not exactly good, but when you run into a weak run D that overcommits to it, you throw into a pass D that has gotten to a down and distance to not worry about the run. What we WILL do is throw enough to keep the Colts form selling out against the run, and expose that weakness and gash them. The most basic, and frighteningly overlooked offensive strategy is that if a team is weak in an area, you donot attack it at a point they can reinforce it, but you attack when it is vulnerable. Example: If a team has the worst corner in the NFL, coming out and throwing at him every time means the defense will give him help. Throwing at the worst corner with doubleteam help from a safety equals throwing at a good corner. You must design a gameplan that will force them to leave him in man coverage, then attack him. This is what we will do Sunday. DEPENDING on how the Colts start out defending us we will either jam the run down their throat (if they are playing 'honest') and gash them or throw a lot early to make them play honest THEN gash them. The passing game is the key to this win, but not in making plays, but in forcing them to play honest to set up a great running game. I expect a minimum of 200 rushing yards UNLESS the Colts refuse to come out of run defense and give us the pass. They can pick their poison as far as Im concerned. Defensively, this means that the Colt O will make plays. But there is nothing for them to exploit. We will have to give them something, and they will have to take what we give them. But, here is the key: We are able to CHOOSE what we give them. There is nothing we must do to cover a liability. We can blitz and be exposed ot the big play, but the Colts will not win because they are completing long passes all day. We can 'bend but dont break' and make them have 14 play drives. But they will not consistently be able to string 14 effective plays together. By the way, THIS is where the BB PIOSTSEASON game planning and its difference fron regular season comes in. My expectation is that Manning will be 'taking what we give him' for a good part of the day. However, in certain circumstances, and especially late he will be taking what HE THINKS we are giving him, and we will have devised a game plan that disguises what we are giving him, and the result will be the typically Pats D vs Manning playoff results. The difference between regular season and post season game planning is significant. In the regular season you are game planning at least in part to have continuity, improve areas, and focus on the long term development of the team. In the post season you are gameplanning solely to win the game. BB will utilize schemes that Manning has not seen, that will be specificly designed to win this game, as opposed to also considering continuity, deveolpment, the big picture, and getting ready for the playoffs. While it may be somewhat subtle, it is proven. The BB D has had games in the regular seasons where it did not use creative schemes designed to neutralize a player, and good players have good games. I do not EVER remember a good offensive player having a career day and 'carrying' a team vs BB in the playoffs. In fact in some cases those good players have had good days, but in the end it was in spite of the overall offense, and did not translate to the scoreboard, that is, what the THOUGHT we were giving them was what we WANTED to give them, and it wasn't enough. Right now this team has the most important characteristics that were present in 3 SB Champs, that was not present in 2002 and 2005 (and far from it in 2000). Final thought. It just cracks me up every time I hear an 'expert' base their opinion or prediction on one or 2 players. Last week it was 'the Chargers have LT and Gates, you can't stop both'. You DONT HAVE TO. There are 11 players out there. You must only hold your own against the best ones, have somewhat of an advantage against the mediocre ones, and exploit the bad ones (or the bad ones it the situations they are bad). The fact of the matter is when any offense and defense line up against each other the result has an awful lot less to do with the 2 best guys on either side of the ball than it does to do with the 2 worst guys on either side of the ball. Ultimately our championships are not born by winning plays because the best 2-3 guys we have on the field for a play outplay their best 2-3, but because our WORST 2-3 far outplayed their worst 2-3. Look at it this way: Before almost every playoff game, you hear things like 'how will they stop this guy' or 'who do they have to cover him, or who can get open against him, or how can you run on them, pass on them etc'. Can anyone remember a time when we lost, or almost lost a playoff game because the 'great' guy on the other team dominated us? I can't. And it has never mattered what position that guy plays. Pass rusher, RB, QB, WR, etc, etc. We are not putting players on the field who will be dominated, and most teams are based on their guy dominating. Look at the Chargers. How could we stop them? If LT doesnt dominate, Rivers and Gates will, or Merriman will, and so on. Oneof them dominates every week. Why? Because every week their is a liability in the team they are playing. Good players are great when lined up against a scrub. Against us they are no more than good because they aren't lined up against a scrub. Wow, this went longer than I intended. Any way, for those not sold on the Patriots finishing the job, reread this post. See the similarities, and ask yourself whathas made this team 'clutch' or 'winners' and just a cut above the rest of the league for 5 years. This is the best answer I can see, and after going away for a while, that quality is back in Foxboro. Ugly Tuna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T_bone65 Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McBoog Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 I actually had this thought last week but, now living in Virgina, I din't call anyone in California I knew to hook me up with a ticket. I thought that the winning Lotto Numbers were going to be, 18 46 16 07 29 with a Mega Number of 19. Turned out I was right . I guess if you don't tell anyone ahead of time, everyone thinks you are full of doodoo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gdawg Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 Fingernails on a chalkboard Just like herpes, some things never go away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 All that typing and writing and more typing and analysis and then more commentary and continued typing and more opinion and conjecture and more typing .......and yet Colts will win this weekend ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 UT = the ultimate bandwagon fan. Where were you when your team was stinking up Foxboro? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 "We"? What number are you, UT? I'll look for you on Sunday. I assume from the comments above that we'll see UT crawl back into the woodwork when IND beats NE this weekend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Cid Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 :readingreadingreadingreading: :readingreadingreadingreading: :readingreadingreadingreading: :readingreadingreadingreading: :readingreadingreadingreading: Ah! There it is... I knew it was gonna happen sooner or later, and I noticed it through out the read in small spurts, but I found your most severe homer-flaw [in bold]. You seriously cannot point out a single so-so starter, or as you put it, 'scrub player' on the Patriots? Manning will read through your defense and take care of business like he should have years ago. The best part going for the Colts isn't even that Manning will call your 'bluff' defensive scheme. It's that Marvin Harrison will also read the the exact same defensive scheme, know where all of the Patriots 11 players are going to go, and then telepathically communicate with Manning so they can decide the best route Harrison should take. It's that simple. Just put down the keyboard and back away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 I wasn't really rooting for anyone in this game...but now I am a Colts fan so UT will crawl back in Tom's hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 "We"? What number are you, UT? I'll look for you on Sunday. I assume from the comments above that we'll see UT crawl back into the woodwork when IND beats NE this weekend? Ask UT about Mankin Logans. And yes, when the Pats lose, the little turd will be gone again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 I never really minded the Pats until this Megan Fox bag came along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charty Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 (edited) Let's just see if "uglytuna" and "allthingsbillbelichick" are in the room at the same time. If not, here's their first meeting: atbb: Hey, I heard you were ut: No, I did a to a and spent some time being subjected to after the judge did this atbb: Jeez, that's too bad. Can we be Pats homer friends forever? ut: Friends!!! Edited January 19, 2007 by charty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caveman_Nick Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 This team has IMO the most important quality of the teams that won the first 3 rings. It has no liabilities. Now (actually last week) is the first time I've honestly been able to say that since SB XXXIX. Last year we had immediately and severe secondary problems. The BB D got beaten deep more last year than by my memory any 2 or maybe 3 other years combined, including his DC and Cleveland years. Of course we also started the year with ILB problems, and spent much of it with running game weakness because of injuries to Dillon and a lot of the OL. Quite simply, the players we were forced to play were liabilities in the roles they had to play, making the overall units liabilities. Early this year our receivers seemed to be a liability. ---Let me stop and explain what I mean by liability. A lack of a liability means this: We can neutralize the other teams strength, no matter what area it is in. We won't lose simply because we cannot control their strength. We win the battle, if only slightly, in all areas they are average. We dominate in any area they are weak. I agree with this, and almost posted to this effect yesterday...except I didn't want to sound too...UT...so I laid off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilthorp Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 I agree with this, and almost posted to this effect yesterday...except I didn't want to sound too...UT...so I laid off. Brown and smelly!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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