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Things Worth Noting (very long)....
Defense = A:
If they continue at that pace, it won't matter what our offense does. We will win every stinking game. I'll admit, I did not expect that type of cohesion right out of the starting gates. The fact that Milloy, 3 days a Bill, just clicks into the defensive scheme is nothing short of amazing.
The LBs did there job on every play. Spikes may have gotten the glory and the media hype, but Fletcher also had a great day clogging the middle with 6 solo tack., 7 assist. and 1 pass def. (Posey also playing his part well).
The D-Line....as expected the pass rush from the outside was nearly non-existant, but those boys were doing an amazing job sealing outside lanes. The pass rush from the inside was there when needed. Pat and Sam (The Dynamic Duo) are arguably the best tackle tandem in the league. They compliment each other extremely well and their presence on the field.....well just ask Tom Brady.
NE was trying to force the ball up the middle most of the game, and despite the score, I thought they did a decent job of it in the second half. The run stop for the Buffalo front 4 was a little soft in the middle. The Pats running trio combined for over 105 yards on the ground, Kevin Faulk being the most dangerous of the crew (BTW, A.Smith is finished). Faulk and Centers had multiple carries over 5 yards. Again the outside was well sealed, the middle seemingly soft, but who's complaining?
The Bills pass coverage was spectacular. Brady, despite having quite a bit of time to throw downfield, completed only one long pass all day. Brady didn't have any luck finding open Patriots in the red-zone. Clements, Winfield, Milloy, Wire, Thomas, etc.."owned" the Pats recievers. The dinks and dunks were worthless.
Offense = B:
The running game took a while to get going, but came through in the end. I really couldn't tell who's fault the Henry fumble belong to. I'm giving Henry the benefit of the doubt and chalking it up to a poor exchange. Drew looked decent, as decent as any immobile QB can. He was perfect in the 1st quarter but showed signs of fatigue (?) in the second. Which brings me to a disturbing point: Gilbride was using the pass to open the run again, and although it worked yesterday, Drew was obviously tired by the end of the second qrtr, missing some easy timing passes.
Kudo's to the pass block - well improved. Drew had wide passing lanes, and had all day to throw the football. Moulds was still finding the football through several Patriot double team attempts. Shaw may find himself 2nd reciever next week if Reed doesn't make a spark. I'm not going to even comment on the "gimme" pass he dropped, but I will say each pass he did drop were on vital downs and that doesn't cut it in the NFL. TEs looked phenomenal. You trying catching a TD pass with 17 stitches in your hand.
The run block was slow to develop. The line took a few minutes to get their act together. Gash was doing some amazing run blocking, despite Henry getting pounced on early in the game. by the end of the game the run block was again comparable to what it was last season. I'm feeling really good about the Gary trade now. Sammy Morris was having a great day
Side note: Teague's snapping was low all day, although Drew seemed to manage just fine.
Special Teams:
A. Brown was not getting the blocking that he needs for those long runs. He showed several times that he is plenty capable of busting one loose, but he wasn't getting any help from blocking.
Coy wire........give this guy a game ball. 3 days before the game he's told that he won't be starting at Safety. Respectably, he hands the position over to Milloy, professionaly, and without any harsh feelings. He comes into the game and shows Steve Tasker like abilities on Special Teams. He was all over the field! I really like this kid!
Lindell's leg looked a little weak on kick-offs.
Coaching = B:
Playing against the Pats up 21 - 0 at the end of the second qrtr. , ball on the 36 yrd line.........I say kick the field goal. Lindell should be able to come close on a 51 yarder. There was entirely too much time left in the game to be dicking around and going for it on 4th and 14, little time on the clock. What the hell was Williams thinking?
Gilbride still scares me...... Henry should have been in the mix more, burning up the clock in the second qrtr.
Gray, Lebeau, or Donahoe? Which one desereves credit for yesterday's defensive performance. Donahoe gave them the players, but which coach propelled the performance?
If they continue at that pace, it won't matter what our offense does. We will win every stinking game. I'll admit, I did not expect that type of cohesion right out of the starting gates. The fact that Milloy, 3 days a Bill, just clicks into the defensive scheme is nothing short of amazing.
The LBs did there job on every play. Spikes may have gotten the glory and the media hype, but Fletcher also had a great day clogging the middle with 6 solo tack., 7 assist. and 1 pass def. (Posey also playing his part well).
The D-Line....as expected the pass rush from the outside was nearly non-existant, but those boys were doing an amazing job sealing outside lanes. The pass rush from the inside was there when needed. Pat and Sam (The Dynamic Duo) are arguably the best tackle tandem in the league. They compliment each other extremely well and their presence on the field.....well just ask Tom Brady.
NE was trying to force the ball up the middle most of the game, and despite the score, I thought they did a decent job of it in the second half. The run stop for the Buffalo front 4 was a little soft in the middle. The Pats running trio combined for over 105 yards on the ground, Kevin Faulk being the most dangerous of the crew (BTW, A.Smith is finished). Faulk and Centers had multiple carries over 5 yards. Again the outside was well sealed, the middle seemingly soft, but who's complaining?
The Bills pass coverage was spectacular. Brady, despite having quite a bit of time to throw downfield, completed only one long pass all day. Brady didn't have any luck finding open Patriots in the red-zone. Clements, Winfield, Milloy, Wire, Thomas, etc.."owned" the Pats recievers. The dinks and dunks were worthless.
Offense = B:
The running game took a while to get going, but came through in the end. I really couldn't tell who's fault the Henry fumble belong to. I'm giving Henry the benefit of the doubt and chalking it up to a poor exchange. Drew looked decent, as decent as any immobile QB can. He was perfect in the 1st quarter but showed signs of fatigue (?) in the second. Which brings me to a disturbing point: Gilbride was using the pass to open the run again, and although it worked yesterday, Drew was obviously tired by the end of the second qrtr, missing some easy timing passes.
Kudo's to the pass block - well improved. Drew had wide passing lanes, and had all day to throw the football. Moulds was still finding the football through several Patriot double team attempts. Shaw may find himself 2nd reciever next week if Reed doesn't make a spark. I'm not going to even comment on the "gimme" pass he dropped, but I will say each pass he did drop were on vital downs and that doesn't cut it in the NFL. TEs looked phenomenal. You trying catching a TD pass with 17 stitches in your hand.
The run block was slow to develop. The line took a few minutes to get their act together. Gash was doing some amazing run blocking, despite Henry getting pounced on early in the game. by the end of the game the run block was again comparable to what it was last season. I'm feeling really good about the Gary trade now. Sammy Morris was having a great day
Side note: Teague's snapping was low all day, although Drew seemed to manage just fine.
Special Teams:
A. Brown was not getting the blocking that he needs for those long runs. He showed several times that he is plenty capable of busting one loose, but he wasn't getting any help from blocking.
Coy wire........give this guy a game ball. 3 days before the game he's told that he won't be starting at Safety. Respectably, he hands the position over to Milloy, professionaly, and without any harsh feelings. He comes into the game and shows Steve Tasker like abilities on Special Teams. He was all over the field! I really like this kid!
Lindell's leg looked a little weak on kick-offs.
Coaching = B:
Playing against the Pats up 21 - 0 at the end of the second qrtr. , ball on the 36 yrd line.........I say kick the field goal. Lindell should be able to come close on a 51 yarder. There was entirely too much time left in the game to be dicking around and going for it on 4th and 14, little time on the clock. What the hell was Williams thinking?
Gilbride still scares me...... Henry should have been in the mix more, burning up the clock in the second qrtr.
Gray, Lebeau, or Donahoe? Which one desereves credit for yesterday's defensive performance. Donahoe gave them the players, but which coach propelled the performance?
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