Knee Jerk Reactions to Week 12: Pats vs. Saints
Things to consider while issuing an Amber Alert for our missing tight ends:
*As returns to New Orleans go, I was hoping this would be just like stopping the Greatest Show on Turf in Super Bowl XXXVI. Instead it was exactly like the time I stumbled out of Pat O’Brien’s drunk on Hurricanes and got my pocket picked on Bourbon St.
*Give those redneck clodhoppers credit though. They made this game into their Super Bowl, their statement game, and everyone… the city, the team, the fans… all delivered. I guess we should’ve known they’re a clever bunch. I mean, we got the rest of the country to build us a tunnel. They swindled everyone into rebuilding their entire city 3 feet under sea level in the middle of a Hurricane superhighway. Talk about getting your pocket picked.
*Simply put, the better team (as of this moment… there’s a lot of football left to be played) won. Sure we could quibble about a couple of bad calls and a couple of plays the Pats missed, but what’s the point? That would just be excuse-making on the level of “The dog ate my homework” or “My hot Swedish wife used my Nike Sasquatch as a jaws-of-life.”
*The best we can hope for is this game is like the time the Rams beat the Pats in 2001, Belichick made the adjustments and they took them in the rematch. The major difference is in that one was facing Mike Martz, and it’s a lot tougher to watch him get outschemed by Frankie Muniz.
*How long has it been since you saw the Pats get so completely dominated in a game where they had Brady under center? The 3 previous losses this year all had one or two plays you could point to that would’ve won them the game. Ditto their postseason losses in ‘07 and ‘06. You’d have to go back to that shutout against the Dolphins in ‘06 to find a game when they were so obviously not the best team on the field. And that was so long ago, our leading receiver was Troy Brown, their leading rusher was Sammy Morris, and you could buy a gallon of gas for $2.50 instead of the $2.53 your paying now.
*There aren’t any diamonds in the dog crap on this one. Particularly appalling was the play of the secondary, which seemed like it was really rounding into shape at the halfway point of the season. Brandon McGowan spent most of the game trailing receivers like he did on the Marques Colston TD. And Brandon Merriweather, who was the best strong safety in football the first half, has been the polar opposite since the bye, like a Goofus & Gallant comic on how to play safety. “Gallant flies to the ball, leads with his shoulder and wraps up the ball carrier. Goofus stands flat footed, reaches out and tries to arm tackle…”
*The TD to Devery Henderson being the most glaring example. It was the Doomsday Scenario, the utter failure of the one thing every Belichick defense is predicated on: taking away the deep ball. They were in Single High Safety coverage, Jonathan Wilhite blitzed, which left Henderson streaking down the field with no one on him. Merriweather never even looked in his direction. If Roland Emmerich ever makes a movie about the Patriots defense, that’s what it will look like.
*Ordinarily, we wouldn’t see another blown coverage like that out of the Pats all year. But it might not have even been the worst of the 2nd quarter. On Robert Meachem’s 38 yarder, they were in their standard Cover-2 with umbrella coverage, but once New Orleans motioned the TE over, everything went haywire. Meriweather cheated up, the other safety, either McGowan or Pat Chung, took a crossing route from the weak side, Meachem read Middle of Field Open (MOFO) and stemmed off his route and Wilhite was helpless.
*Speaking of which, Wilhite can run stride for stride with the best of them. It’s just the business of, you know, actually defending the pass, that he lacks.
*Speaking of disasters, Joe Andruzzi has survived cancer, a mysterious chronic pain condition, and his two NYFD brothers barely escaping the Twin Towers. But he’ll never survive that Bob-o-Matic Bed commercial.
*I suppose if I was really desperately for something to feel good about, I could toss in Laurence Maroney’s running, early on before things got out of hand. And I loved the way they came out with the unbalanced line and ran the old Redskins Counter Trey cutback run right out of the gate like that for 20 yards. But why bother? It would be like complimenting White Star Lines for the china they picked out for the Titanic.
*Seriously though, after that first drive I had all sorts of notes comparing Maroney to the angel Moroni, who visited Joseph Smith and inspired him to found the Mormon church, but they just don’t seem to apply anymore. On the other hand, Moroni DID lead Smith into a godforsaken hell hole like Utah…
*Jaws kept talking about the pressure the Saints were bringing, but I didn’t see it as anything special. I think the problem was that all the passing plays developed with the speed of a cog railway. Again, Bill O’Brien has a lot to answer for.
*I know I said I wouldn’t mention the penalties because that’s loser talk. But last night featured the worst Intentional Grounding call of all time. Brady did throw it away, but it the throw was upfield and behind a receiver. If you’re going to flag him for a ball that lands 10 yards away from one of his players, then Jamarcus Russell should get called 20 times a game.
*That said, the INT to Darren Sharper might have been the worst throw of his career. So bad it requires a new adjective. I’m going with Delhommian.
*I’d watched tape of the MNF crew all week to prepare myself for the Drew Brees-centric circle jerk I knew was coming. But like the Pats defense, I still wasn’t ready for it. On the pass to Henderson, not only did Jaws credit him with a great pass… and Brett Favre sees tougher throws in a Wranglers ad… he called Brees “my man.” Even Dick Vitale at home turned to his inflatable Mike Krzyzewski and said “Now THAT’S a bit much…”
*And Jon Gruden didn’t wrap himself in glory either with “My neck is hurtin’ from watching this Saints offense go up and down the field!!!” To which every Pats fan in America said “No, Chuckie. Your neck is sore from not using your hand enough while you fellate Payton in the Middle.
*Of course the treatment Jaws and Chuckie did on Brees was a hate crime compared to that NFL-sponsored hagiography of Brees throwing the ball to Obama on the White House Lawn. It was like a Saint throwing it to a saint.
*For the record, Ben Watson’s numbers:
-Dropped balls that hit him in the facemask: 1
-Penalties because everyone on the field knew where he was supposed to be but him: 1
-Broken tackles: still 0 for his career.
We’re on the last year of Watson’s rookie contract and he’s still got more yak in him than YAC.
*As with the Jets game coming after the Colts game, Miami couldn’t be coming along at a better time. And if I can add one last thing to my list of things I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving, it’s that the Dolphins signed Daunte Culpepper instead of Brees. God bless us, everyone.
Jerry Thornton | Random Thoughts | 12/1/09, 1:00 pm |
28 People have left comments on this post
Poor pass protection on 3 man rush + mistakes/misthrows by Brady + lack of pass rush + blown coverages = It is what it is
I would have done a month in prison for some pass rush last night
Football games are won at the line of scrimmage. The Pats O-line was bad, Brady had no time. ( How can you put constant pressure on the QB and still cover everyone. ) Also our D- line was equally bad, Brees had all day. ( how can you never pressure the QB and leave everone open downfield)
I love Randy Moss but I feel like he can be shut down consistently, you don’t see Wayne, Fitzgerald, Johnson get shut down completely like Moss can.
Will the emotional leader on the D please stand up,
Bruschi, Rodney, Ted Johnson, Vrabel are not walking thru that door. You always knew that they would come up with a big play, this team is missing that. What happend to the “Bend but don’t break” D the Pats were famous for. What happened to the halftime adjustments they made.
this will all be worth it if the Colts and Saints both go 16-0 this year, then Pats knock off the colts in the AFC championship game and then beat the Saints in the Super Bowl.
Saints are a team I can root for in the Superbowl-unless outside chance it is vs the Pats. No Patriots fan would find it hard to watch Saints demolish Colts, Chargers, Bengals, Pitt-any AFC team. I think some of the officiating was totally home team too, but they were the better squad, no question.
Can we get the COAN Oil girl as a smokeshow or GTA?
Talking about the D-Line getting dominated, Vince Wilfork was doubled and driven back 5 yards every time the Saints ran it. He’s a big strong guy, but his “325 lbs” aren’t going to do much against a double team of 600 some odd pounds. And there’s no way he’s really 325 like he’s listed.
No one really mentioned the fact that Mike Mckenzie and Chris Mcalister are the Saints 3rd and 4th string CBs. That baffled my mind.
I also think that if Randall Gay was in that game, it would have added a different element and the game would have turned out completely differently.
wait wait wait….waiting for you or EP to spin how this game was another example of BB’s brillance……..
Belichick4pres…….good point. that would be truly epic.
I was thinking of sending my son to Matt Light’s football camp this summer, but now I’ll just take him to the amusement park and let him ride the carousel
Is anyone really taking this seriously? The Pat’s are obviously just playing dead. Did you notice how slow and lethargic they looked last night? That was just an Act! They’re waiting for the Playoffs to get here so they can spring their trap on the rest of the NFL. It is all part of a carefully engineered Bill Belicheck ploy to lose all of their important road games this season! All is well! (You guys are going to feel really stupid later on.)
the saints dominated! your offense cant just be welker crossing route, moss deep, and check down to faulk! u have to balance and the pats dont have any. dont give me this stuff about oh we have 3 superbowls and the saints have never won anything bc that doesnt get you anything this year. sorry mr barstool but u arent going to “step on our dick.” we dominated your pretty little qb and defensive genius coach. oh and we do more than party and drink down here we play FOOTBALL now. thanks to all the pats fans who came down, spent money, and now are waking up this morning with hangovers and one more “L”. ILL TELL U WHAT HAPPENED YALL, excuse me YOU’S guys came to new orleans and thought it was going to be a vacation with a WIN BUT THEN U RAN INTO THE WHO DATS. SO WHO DAT? NOT THE PATS
Spoken like a true loser, which you are Jerry!
DYNASTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love when JAWS goes “Check out that play book! It looks like the menu down where I get breakfast over there at the IHOP!” and he totally got called out for endorsement fishing.
BTW I don’t necessarily dislike Gruden, but since when did they let a first year contract host speak for literally 95% of the time?
Not only 95% of the time, but everything that happened was the most incredible thing he’s ever seen
» Belichick4pres said: { Dec 1, 2009 – 01:12:08 }
Will the emotional leader on the D please stand up,
…
Pay attention, we were told Junior Seau was revealed as the emotional leader.
Oh wait, you’re asking for someone who can still play ball.
whoDATnation504 said: { Dec 1, 2009 – 01:12:57 }
And all this time I didn’t think New Orleans had access to running water…but the internet too?!?!
Mr. Tatum: Is it true that you smoke menthols and enjoy drinking the occasional cherry coke?
All hope is lost. We haven’t seen a team with several losses make its way to the SuperBowl since… well, last year actually.
» Belichick4pres said: { Dec 1, 2009 – 01:12:16 }
this will all be worth it if the Colts and Saints both go 16-0 this year, then Pats knock off the colts in the AFC championship game and then beat the Saints in the Super Bowl.
The Patriots are going to win a road game this year? That would be something.
tonytwotoes let me guess an italian from jersey right? running water? internet? u might not know we had those two things but u know we have a football team now!!
i’m fucking sick of our defensive scheming. we’re too inexperienced to play a cover-heavy 3-4 defense. when Brees has all the time in the world of course cuz you’re rushing 4 stiffs he’s gonna have a perfect rating. and what the fuck kind of plays are we calling in the redzone? obviously you can double moss, welker and eye Faulk on third down shotgun because THEYRE THE ONLY PEOPLE WE THROW TO. No wonder we never hit TE’s… we don’t run the fucking ball in the redzone. you gotta keep the linebackers guessing with playactions within 20 yards of the endzone. well that won’t happen if you have a fucking moron calling the shots on offense. wheres Josh when ya need him. and ROMEOOO
casey tatum– so if we are confident about our teams we are delusional sycophants, and if we take losses like men we are losers? ok, got it.
while our perception to really smart guys like you may change from week to week, at least we know one thing will stay the same: casey tatum is and always will be the biggest clown in the blogosphere.
NYSportsJerk– are you really knocking our football team? you??? a guy from NY? i know you have 2 Jersey teams to choose from year to year, but they both suck cock right now so why are you even offering an opinion? sure you have a right to, but i have a right to go to BSSNY and tell them their baseball team is a bunch of underachievers. but i wont, because it doesnt make any sense coming from a boston fan.
How bout that Super Bowl the Pats won in 2006? I was so happy to see Reche Caldwell get a ring. Just ask Gruden about it.
Sounds like this guy knows what he’s talking about.
BTW, Jonathan Wilhite is approaching Ellis Hobbs status as far as the amount of times one DB can get burned on the deep ball in a single season.
what about the 7 yard cushion bodden and wilhite gave all game….the pats have done it for years and i cant seem to understand it…maybe its a zone but you need experienced players to work a belichick d and wilhite looks like duane starks and where the hell was mcgowan?
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