Patriots 2010 Regular Season

[Donoghus]

Pats are much more in-sync than they were at this time last year ... I think they're going to surprise a lot of people with just how potent they are at both ends of the field.

They do look more in sync.
However, I have to stand by my earlier words that I wouldn't over react to a loss, and, by that tokey, I shouldn't over react to a win.  There are a lot of young players and they will have ups and downs.  The key question/issue is how they respond to this throughout the course of the season.

Yeah, its much too early to get too high or too low about this team although Sunday was certainly encouraging, especially from the defensive side of things. However, they're gonna face some pretty high octane offenses this year so its not time to rest on their laurels.

[Bahku]

Pats are much more in-sync than they were at this time last year ... I think they're going to surprise a lot of people with just how potent they are at both ends of the field.

They do look more in sync.
However, I have to stand by my earlier words that I wouldn't over react to a loss, and, by that tokey, I shouldn't over react to a win.  There are a lot of young players and they will have ups and downs.  The key question/issue is how they respond to this throughout the course of the season.

Yeah, its much too early to get too high or too low about this team although Sunday was certainly encouraging, especially from the defensive side of things. However, they're gonna face some pretty high octane offenses this year so its not time to rest on their laurels.

I don't think my statements infer them resting on their laurels or getting too high or over-reacting, just that Sundays game was very encouraging, and that many of their rookies are beyond the normal stage of development for this point in the season.

I believe many people on this board and in the media are selling them short when it comes to their strengths and weaknesses, and just how deep they'll get into the playoffs this year.

There's only been one game so that's all we can critique them on ... we'll see how the rest of the season plays out, but I'm much more encouraged than I was following pre-season and the cuts. I'll remain optimistic ... and reticent.

[Evantime34]

I am extremely high on this team after the first game. The question marks on this team coming into the season is 1. the defense. 2. The Loss of Mankins and the effect on the line.

Last week #1 was tested by an offense that was very good last year and probably got better in the offseason. The defense gave up 24 points but looked good. This week the defense is actually in for even less of a test and should look even better. This defense will get better as the season goes along and be very good by the end of the year.

This week #2 will be tested. The Bengals have weak dt but good ends. Our tackles are the strength of our line so the Bengals played against our strengths. The Jets will test the Patriots interior offensive line will be tested in this game. If the Pats are able to pass this test I will feel great about this season.

[Cman]

Echoing others, McCourty looks good.  I was clearly wrong about taking K. Wilson over McCourty....

Devin McCourty.
Hmmm. Didn't see that coming.  If he can do a good job on PRs, then its worth it, but I thought that Kyle Wilson would be a better guy for that...

(from a thread on the NFL Draft)

[Donoghus]

Well, this marks the end of a rather frustrating and underachieving era. 

From PFT:

Laurence Maroney traded to Broncos
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on September 14, 2010 4:13 PM ET
Patriots fans don't have Laurence Maroney to kick around anymore.

The oft-criticized 2006 first-round pick is taking his talents to Denver, where Bill Belichick's old buddy Josh McDaniels acquired Maroney on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.  Compensation is unknown.

The Patriots could afford to lose him; Maroney had fallen behind Fred Taylor, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and Kevin Faulk on the depth chart.  It's a little surprising Denver wanted him.

Knowshon Moreno looked healthy in the opener, and Correll Buckhalter is a suitable backup.  Or was anyhow.  Buckhalter fumbled on Sunday and only gained 15 yards on six carries. The Broncos could use Maroney on kickoffs.

Maroney's career in New England started just fine.  He averaged 4.4 yards-per-carry and led the team in rushing during the record-setting 2007 season.  Injuries and a lack of development on passing downs stymied his growth from there. 

[Donoghus]

Wow.  Pats got a 4th rounder out of this?  Are you kidding me?

UPDATE:   Schefter reports the Patriots get Denver's fourth round pick next year in exchange for Maroney and New England's sixth round pick.

[Cman]

Wow.  Pats got a 4th rounder out of this?  Are you kidding me?

UPDATE:   Schefter reports the Patriots get Denver's fourth round pick next year in exchange for Maroney and New England's sixth round pick.

a #6 + Maroney for a #4.  That seems like good value for the Pats.

I wonder how they use the extra roster spot?

[Mike-Dub]

Good-bye Maroney you won't be missed.

[Fan from VT]

Yeah, it's hard after the first week. Because of NFL parity, you never know which wins are impressive or not.

Cincy was supposed to be a playoff team that improved, but who knows?

Same for Baltimore vs. the Jets. I mean, the Jets pretty much had everything go their way last year and were 9-6. Defense was superb, and their rookie qb was adequate; what more could they want? Now, who's to say that qb will be any good? who's to say that defense was going to play as good as it did last year or regress to the mean? So it's hard to say if that was an impressive win by the Ravens over a tough Jets team or if the Jets offense is really THAT bad (since Baltimore was supposedly weak defensively this year except that they still carry the same rep due to the jerseys and the name of ray lewis).

Did the Saints beat a tough rival? Or did they eke out a win at home over a team with an injured 42-yr old qb missing its best receiving play makers?

Who knows, time will tell.

[Cman]

Mike Reiss has a piece today recapping the Pats draft picks in 2011 (http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots)

There's a bit of speculation regarding the picks used for some of the traded players this year, but it probably looks as follows: 

First round
First round (from Oakland)
Second round
Second round (from Carolina)
Third round
Fourth round
Fourth round (from Denver)
Fifth round
Sixth round (from New Orleans)

I had forgotten about the 2nd rounder from Carolina Panthers.  That could be a high 2nd rounder ....

[Greenbean]

Mike Reiss has a piece today recapping the Pats draft picks in 2011 (http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots)

There's a bit of speculation regarding the picks used for some of the traded players this year, but it probably looks as follows: 

First round
First round (from Oakland)
Second round
Second round (from Carolina)
Third round
Fourth round
Fourth round (from Denver)
Fifth round
Sixth round (from New Orleans)

I had forgotten about the 2nd rounder from Carolina Panthers.  That could be a high 2nd rounder ....

This is awesome. We'll have to wait until the end of the season but the defense may be near complete with the rebuilding process. Perhaps we can now turn these extra picks into proven talent.

Of course we still have some holes to fill, but they may not warrant making all of these selections.

[Bahku]

Let 'em play, man ... it's getting a little crazy with this over-protective stuff. Good drive this time ... I like showing the run a little more by G-E. Kinda sad, though ... 23 plays, no score.

[Bahku]

Sweet catch ... and Tom with a quick pass under pressure.

[Bahku]

I love Wel-kah! Sweet!

[rondohondo]

Let 'em play, man ... it's getting a little crazy with this over-protective stuff.

what are you talking about it was clearly a forearm to welker's head....