2013 Patriots Football

[Prof. Clutch]

New episode of 4th & Goal is live. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCazh3iiiM0

[kozlodoev]

Tommy Kelly hits season-ending IR. Ouch.

[Neurotic Guy]

Tommy Kelly hits season-ending IR. Ouch.

Dang.  Hadn't heard that.  But they added beef the other day at nose tackle (Sopoaga), added Andre Carter last week, and looks like Vareen and Washington may be back soon. 

The glass half-full look is that the offense can get much better and that Talib is not out for the season.  With Talib healthy, the secondary is pretty good and I think the D can still be decent despite the losses of Mayo, Wilfork and Kelly.   Decent on D is all the Pats need if the offense can get rolling. Every team in the AFC is vulnerable.

[Eja117]

Could someone please accuse the Patriots of bullying?

[PhoSita]

Loved to see the offensive explosion today.  They looked like the Patriots team we're used to seeing.  Brady looked great.

Still, even more injuries on defense.  The bye is sorely, sorely needed (emphasis on the SORE).

Love that Dobson is looking more and more like a great find.  I think he's already surpassed Thompkins. 

[kozlodoev]

Gregory's hand injury didn't look too good. How many more defensive starters can we lose?!

[Cman]

Gregory's hand injury didn't look too good. How many more defensive starters can we lose?!

Well, looks like it is a broken thumb and he's out for a few weeks.

There have been a ridiculous amount of injuries on this team.... ridiculous.

[Donoghus]

Gregory's hand injury didn't look too good. How many more defensive starters can we lose?!

Well, looks like it is a broken thumb and he's out for a few weeks.

There have been a ridiculous amount of injuries on this team.... ridiculous.

The secondary looked extremely shaky on Sunday.  Dennard may have played one of the worst games I've seen him play and Arrington seemed to regress to the Kyle Arrington of two years ago which is not a good thing. 

Defensively, they are just about at the point where they'll be unable to overcome good offenses (if they're not already).  Losing Mayo has absolutely killed them and they're getting gagged between the tackles on the run.

My fear is that they're going to need the offense to bail them out by putting up 30+ points a game.

[nickagneta]

Gregory's hand injury didn't look too good. How many more defensive starters can we lose?!

Well, looks like it is a broken thumb and he's out for a few weeks.

There have been a ridiculous amount of injuries on this team.... ridiculous.

Defensively here is the list

Vince Wilfork
Jerrod Mayo
Aqib Talib
Stephen Gregory
Tommy Kelly

Plus others have been missing parts of games like
Rob Ninkovich
Alphonso Dennard

At one point Sunday the Pats had 7 of their season beginning defensive starters on the sideline injured.

[Cman]

Gregory's hand injury didn't look too good. How many more defensive starters can we lose?!

Well, looks like it is a broken thumb and he's out for a few weeks.

There have been a ridiculous amount of injuries on this team.... ridiculous.

The secondary looked extremely shaky on Sunday.  Dennard may have played one of the worst games I've seen him play and Arrington seemed to regress to the Kyle Arrington of two years ago which is not a good thing. 

Defensively, they are just about at the point where they'll be unable to overcome good offenses (if they're not already).  Losing Mayo has absolutely killed them and they're getting gagged between the tackles on the run.

My fear is that they're going to need the offense to bail them out by putting up 30+ points a game.

Yeah, those are my worries as well. However, Talib coming back, assuming Talib *can* come back, should settle things down a bit in the secondary. I also think Dennard and Arrington can play better than they did.

But yeah, if not, then better hope TB puts up 30+ per game...

[kozlodoev]

Gregory's hand injury didn't look too good. How many more defensive starters can we lose?!

Well, looks like it is a broken thumb and he's out for a few weeks.

There have been a ridiculous amount of injuries on this team.... ridiculous.

The secondary looked extremely shaky on Sunday.  Dennard may have played one of the worst games I've seen him play and Arrington seemed to regress to the Kyle Arrington of two years ago which is not a good thing. 

Defensively, they are just about at the point where they'll be unable to overcome good offenses (if they're not already).  Losing Mayo has absolutely killed them and they're getting gagged between the tackles on the run.

My fear is that they're going to need the offense to bail them out by putting up 30+ points a game.

I don't think Arrington regressed. He's just not very good in deep coverage, that hasn't changed. A step behind the receiver, doesn't look at the ball, doesn't put his hands up... I can't fathom how he had 7 INTs (but then again, McCourty looked exactly the same past his first season). Any QB who can throw the ball can expose him quite easily by throwing at him all the time. Talib can't come back soon enough.

[Donoghus]

Gregory's hand injury didn't look too good. How many more defensive starters can we lose?!

Well, looks like it is a broken thumb and he's out for a few weeks.

There have been a ridiculous amount of injuries on this team.... ridiculous.

The secondary looked extremely shaky on Sunday.  Dennard may have played one of the worst games I've seen him play and Arrington seemed to regress to the Kyle Arrington of two years ago which is not a good thing. 

Defensively, they are just about at the point where they'll be unable to overcome good offenses (if they're not already).  Losing Mayo has absolutely killed them and they're getting gagged between the tackles on the run.

My fear is that they're going to need the offense to bail them out by putting up 30+ points a game.

I don't think Arrington regressed. He's just not very good in deep coverage, that hasn't changed. A step behind the receiver, doesn't look at the ball, doesn't put his hands up... I can't fathom how he had 7 INTs (but then again, McCourty looked exactly the same past his first season). Any QB who can throw the ball can expose him quite easily by throwing at him all the time. Talib can't come back soon enough.

Arrington's inablity to turn around and look at the ball makes me want to throw my shoe at the television.

It's just awfully aggrevating.

[kozlodoev]

Arrington's inablity to turn around and look at the ball makes me want to throw my shoe at the television.

It's just awfully aggrevating.

Right there with you. I just don't understand it. In my high school days, they taught us to play (basketball) defense with one eye on the ball and one eye on your man.

I understand that the field is much bigger in football, that if you miss one cut your man can be completely gone, and that sometimes preventing YAC is just as important as getting the PD... but come on.

[nickagneta]

Not to mention, Arrington shouldn't be seeing any more snaps than necessary. He is, quite frankly, a mediocre defensive back to use in nickel and dime packages only but has been pressed into a starting role.

He doesn't have recovery speed, the physicality to bother receivers at the line and as you guys have pointed out, his one on one coverage skills downfield are atrocious. In zone nickel and dime packages where he can keep a man in front of him, keep an eye on the QB and break on the thrown ball, he is pretty solid.

As previously mentioned, Talib can't get back fast enough. Luckily for the Pats, their schedule is soft.

Also, Dons, bit of advice. Don't have anything around you that you can throw during the Denver game as watching Arrington cover Decker, Welker, or Thomas might cost new a new television.

[kozlodoev]

So Shane Vereen is back today. For some reason, every time I hear Shane Vereen, I think of Ben Vereen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TdtxsggoT8