This game was a lot closer than the final score indicated. The Pats could not get a stop for nearly 3 quarters and were down by as many as 11 points in the 2nd quarter. Fortunately the Pats were able to pull away in the 4th quarter to a 45-24 victory over the Lions.
Offense
Brady played perfectly as his 158.3 perfect passer rating would attest. He surgically passed for 341 yards, 4 2nd-half TDs with no picks. The OL was shaky early on and Brady took some nasty shots. But Brady stayed cool and continued to deliver accurate strikes while the OL made adjustments. Brady for MVP? Definite possibility.
Welker finally looks like he is back to his pre-injury form. He looks explosive again and he finished with 2 TDs.
Branch also looks explosive again too. His hamstring must be feeling a lot better because he also caught 2 TDs. Probably the play of the year was on an awesome "fake-in, go" route which badly fooled CB Alphonso Smith. Brady threw a perfect strike to Branch streaking down the left sideline. Branch then got Smith turned around several times before racing into the end-zone.
The running game was pretty good adding 2 rushing TDs as well. One notable play was when BJGE plowed over this game's whipping-boy, Alphonso Smith, on his way to a score.
Defense
The defense played pretty poorly for 3 full quarters. They couldn't stop the run and they couldn't get off the field on 3rd downs. It felt like the Lions were able to just methodically march up and down the field for most of this game and score almost at will until...
...rookie CB Devin McCourty made a great play going underneath to pick off a pass intended for the much taller WR Calvin Johnson. This was the stop the Pats were desperately searching for all game and you could feel the momentum finally swing in New England's favor. McCourty added another INT later in the game on an overthrow.
After the Pats' offense started pouring on the points after repeatedly abusing Alphonso Smith, it was great seeing the intensity continue from the defense. They delivered some punishing hits and I love this smash-mouth style of football.
Special Teams
The only noticeable negative from this unit was that the Lions used directional kickoffs to pin Tate deep in the corner and limit his return yardage. It's a minor concern in the grand scheme of things but something that other teams may start to emulate.
Other Thoughts
The offense is carrying this team while the young defense continues to learn on the fly. It was great seeing the Pats make 2nd-half adjustments which the Pats during the dynasty era were known for and outscore the Lions 35-7 in the 2nd half.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving came and went and it was a joyous time spent stuffing our faces and watching football with family and friends. I'm glad we were able to talk things over (well, I had to yell a little bit but I'll save this story for another day) and get past some old drama and have Tary's parents join us.
Tary did most of the cooking this year with some help from her cousins. I didn't want to botch up an awesome looking turkey so I watched a how-to-carve-a-turkey video on YouTube the night before. With the electric carver, I masterfully sliced the turkey into perfectly-portioned pieces. Despite having a few family members away this year, we were able to easily finish off the turkey and most of the food.
Then most of us gathered in the den to watch the Pats/Lions game. That Lions gave the Pats all they could handle for 3 quarters. Thankfully the Pats were able to pull away in the 4th.
After the game, some of the family went home while our friends started to arrive. One of our friends brought a turducken to share with the group. For those who don't know, a turducken is a boneless chicken stuffed inside a boneless duck which is then stuffed inside a semi-boneless turkey.
We had a 2nd turducken in our fridge so we cooked it the next day and had our friends over again. I'm sure PETA is protesting somewhere but it was good.
At this time of year, it's good to reflect on things that we're thankful for. I'm thankful for my salvation and knowing that the debt of my sins was paid in full at Calvary. Thank you Jesus.
I am especially thankful for our son. Even though I don't have as much time to do all of the things I used to enjoy, my life feels more complete. Nothing compares to being a father and he fills our lives with joy each day. Thank you Daniel.
I am thankful for my loving wife. She is my best friend and I'm thankful for all that she does and for the person she is inside. I love you. Thank you Tary.
I am thankful for my family and extended family for always being a presence in our lives. Not all families get to spend time together and I enjoy our weekly visits. It's a wonderful thing that Daniel can grow up knowing his cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and even his great-grandparents. Thank you family.
Last but not least, I am thankful for my friends. You are always there for us and we consider you extensions of our family. Thank you friends.
Tary did most of the cooking this year with some help from her cousins. I didn't want to botch up an awesome looking turkey so I watched a how-to-carve-a-turkey video on YouTube the night before. With the electric carver, I masterfully sliced the turkey into perfectly-portioned pieces. Despite having a few family members away this year, we were able to easily finish off the turkey and most of the food.
Then most of us gathered in the den to watch the Pats/Lions game. That Lions gave the Pats all they could handle for 3 quarters. Thankfully the Pats were able to pull away in the 4th.
After the game, some of the family went home while our friends started to arrive. One of our friends brought a turducken to share with the group. For those who don't know, a turducken is a boneless chicken stuffed inside a boneless duck which is then stuffed inside a semi-boneless turkey.
We had a 2nd turducken in our fridge so we cooked it the next day and had our friends over again. I'm sure PETA is protesting somewhere but it was good.
At this time of year, it's good to reflect on things that we're thankful for. I'm thankful for my salvation and knowing that the debt of my sins was paid in full at Calvary. Thank you Jesus.
I am especially thankful for our son. Even though I don't have as much time to do all of the things I used to enjoy, my life feels more complete. Nothing compares to being a father and he fills our lives with joy each day. Thank you Daniel.
I am thankful for my loving wife. She is my best friend and I'm thankful for all that she does and for the person she is inside. I love you. Thank you Tary.
I am thankful for my family and extended family for always being a presence in our lives. Not all families get to spend time together and I enjoy our weekly visits. It's a wonderful thing that Daniel can grow up knowing his cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and even his great-grandparents. Thank you family.
Last but not least, I am thankful for my friends. You are always there for us and we consider you extensions of our family. Thank you friends.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Thoughts after Week 11, Colts vs. Patriots
The Patriots continue to find ways to win against quality AFC opponents (Chargers, Ravens, Steelers) and hang on to win 31-28 in another nail-biter against the Colts.
Offense
Brady was quietly efficient in this game and finished with about 180 yards passing and 2 TDs. He was accurate on most of his throws and continued to make good decisions other than the near INT at the end of the game. He continues to play near mistake-free football and the Pats will remain tough to beat as long as they don't beat themselves.
The rushing game was great for most of this game with 168 yards and a pair of TDs. The Pats offense had a good rhythm and balance to it. The Pats did a reasonably good job of controlling the clock early on to limit Manning's touches.
Speaking of the running game, I can't say enough good things about Danny Woodhead. His 36-yard TD scamper along the right sideline was one of the most exciting plays of the year. It was made possible by great downfield blocking by Branch and then Welker. This play definitely wouldn't have happened if Moss was still here.
The offense did a great for 3 quarters but failed to do much in the 4th quarter to close out the game. The play-calling was predictable so the results were not surprising. 1st down, run for no gain. 2nd down, run again for no gain. 3rd and long, short dump-off. Punt. I wish the Pats would just continue doing what got them the big 4th quarter lead in the first place instead of trying not to lose the game.
On one notable play, Edelman must have heard footsteps as he let a perfect pass zip through his hands in the end-zone. The Pats had to settle for a FG there and those 4 points could have been costly.
And for the 2nd straight week, Hernandez was the 3rd TE in the game-plan. Well, at least he made the most of limited opportunities catching and running in for a TD.
Defense
The Pats played great run defense for most of the game. It forced Manning to have to throw more often and they were able to capitalize when he made mistakes.
Even though the defense gave up 4 TDs and nearly 400 yards through the air, they were able to come down with 3 INTs. The first INT was an overthrow which fell into Meriweather's hands. McCourty came down with an INT along the sideline on a disguised Cover-4 scheme. And finally, Sanders made a great leaping play to grab the last INT to seal the game as Manning's throw was altered.
The lack of a pass rush continues to really hurt this team though. Manning was not sacked all game and he was able to pick apart the defense for most of the game. It felt like deja vu watching the game slip away. Good thing Manning got greedy at the end and threw that costly INT.
Special Teams
It was a solid effort across the board with no negative plays standing out.
Other Thoughts
I almost had an ulcer watching this game but I'm glad the Pats came out on top. Peyton Manning is an amazing player and he is basically his own offensive coordinator. He is the ONLY player in the league that makes me feel like no lead is safe. I've watched him on too many occasions march his team down the field in seconds and score TDs to win the game. He makes you do the craziest things like going for it on 4th-and-2 from your own 20!
Offense
Brady was quietly efficient in this game and finished with about 180 yards passing and 2 TDs. He was accurate on most of his throws and continued to make good decisions other than the near INT at the end of the game. He continues to play near mistake-free football and the Pats will remain tough to beat as long as they don't beat themselves.
The rushing game was great for most of this game with 168 yards and a pair of TDs. The Pats offense had a good rhythm and balance to it. The Pats did a reasonably good job of controlling the clock early on to limit Manning's touches.
Speaking of the running game, I can't say enough good things about Danny Woodhead. His 36-yard TD scamper along the right sideline was one of the most exciting plays of the year. It was made possible by great downfield blocking by Branch and then Welker. This play definitely wouldn't have happened if Moss was still here.
The offense did a great for 3 quarters but failed to do much in the 4th quarter to close out the game. The play-calling was predictable so the results were not surprising. 1st down, run for no gain. 2nd down, run again for no gain. 3rd and long, short dump-off. Punt. I wish the Pats would just continue doing what got them the big 4th quarter lead in the first place instead of trying not to lose the game.
On one notable play, Edelman must have heard footsteps as he let a perfect pass zip through his hands in the end-zone. The Pats had to settle for a FG there and those 4 points could have been costly.
And for the 2nd straight week, Hernandez was the 3rd TE in the game-plan. Well, at least he made the most of limited opportunities catching and running in for a TD.
Defense
The Pats played great run defense for most of the game. It forced Manning to have to throw more often and they were able to capitalize when he made mistakes.
Even though the defense gave up 4 TDs and nearly 400 yards through the air, they were able to come down with 3 INTs. The first INT was an overthrow which fell into Meriweather's hands. McCourty came down with an INT along the sideline on a disguised Cover-4 scheme. And finally, Sanders made a great leaping play to grab the last INT to seal the game as Manning's throw was altered.
The lack of a pass rush continues to really hurt this team though. Manning was not sacked all game and he was able to pick apart the defense for most of the game. It felt like deja vu watching the game slip away. Good thing Manning got greedy at the end and threw that costly INT.
Special Teams
It was a solid effort across the board with no negative plays standing out.
Other Thoughts
I almost had an ulcer watching this game but I'm glad the Pats came out on top. Peyton Manning is an amazing player and he is basically his own offensive coordinator. He is the ONLY player in the league that makes me feel like no lead is safe. I've watched him on too many occasions march his team down the field in seconds and score TDs to win the game. He makes you do the craziest things like going for it on 4th-and-2 from your own 20!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Tary: Mother, Wife, Mom-bie?
I always struggle to come up with interesting topics to blog about so my loving wife reminded me recently that the boys (cats) and Daniel have had various posts written about them but I've yet to write one about just her. Though I've written a few things about Tary in a prior post about married life, I wanted to share a little more insight on my wife that extends beyond her obvious exterior beauty.
Though Tary and I have different personalities where she's more reserved and I'm more outgoing, I love that Tary and I are similarly-minded people. We're both old-fashioned and try to live by traditional "family values". She doesn't mind doing more of the household tasks while I handle the more labor-intensive duties. I respect her decisions and that she's also willing to defer on the final say.
It's hard for couples to work if the people are financially different. I'm so glad that Tary is also a "Saver". We both work very hard for our money and it's such a relief to never worry about Tary racking up ridiculous credit card bills or gambling our savings away.
I love that Tary is protective of our family and our values. She gets upset when people swear around Daniel. She gets annoyed when people don't have manners or are inconsiderate. She really dislikes it when people say things like, "Wait until Daniel turns 2-years-old. Then you'll really be in trouble." Tary takes great pride in being the best mother that she can be and that she would never let Daniel or any of our future children to be able to control us.
Tary loves to read. Whenever she's got a spare minute, she's reading some new fan fiction online or a book on her e-reader. Tary does not have many hobbies but I'm glad she's passionate about reading. Sometimes when she's not looking, I watch her read because it makes me happy seeing her do something that makes her happy. She's a huge fan of the Harry Potter series and I enjoy watching the movies with her. It's her "thing" and I'm glad I can experience part of it with her.
One of the things I love most about Tary is that she is selfless. She tirelessly cares for Daniel. She spends hours every day pumping and cleaning parts and bottles. She's fully committed to giving Daniel every advantage that she can provide. So when I hear Daniel look for her and call for "Momma", it's obvious why.
Another thing about Tary is that she spoils Daniel and me with love. She loves buying toys and playing silly games with him just to hear him laugh. One of Daniel's favorite games is I hold him and run around the house while Tary chases us like a zombie. I refer to her as the "Mom-bie".
Daniel and I are both very blessed to have Tary in our lives. We both love her so much...even when she's trying to eat our brains!
Though Tary and I have different personalities where she's more reserved and I'm more outgoing, I love that Tary and I are similarly-minded people. We're both old-fashioned and try to live by traditional "family values". She doesn't mind doing more of the household tasks while I handle the more labor-intensive duties. I respect her decisions and that she's also willing to defer on the final say.
It's hard for couples to work if the people are financially different. I'm so glad that Tary is also a "Saver". We both work very hard for our money and it's such a relief to never worry about Tary racking up ridiculous credit card bills or gambling our savings away.
I love that Tary is protective of our family and our values. She gets upset when people swear around Daniel. She gets annoyed when people don't have manners or are inconsiderate. She really dislikes it when people say things like, "Wait until Daniel turns 2-years-old. Then you'll really be in trouble." Tary takes great pride in being the best mother that she can be and that she would never let Daniel or any of our future children to be able to control us.
Tary loves to read. Whenever she's got a spare minute, she's reading some new fan fiction online or a book on her e-reader. Tary does not have many hobbies but I'm glad she's passionate about reading. Sometimes when she's not looking, I watch her read because it makes me happy seeing her do something that makes her happy. She's a huge fan of the Harry Potter series and I enjoy watching the movies with her. It's her "thing" and I'm glad I can experience part of it with her.
One of the things I love most about Tary is that she is selfless. She tirelessly cares for Daniel. She spends hours every day pumping and cleaning parts and bottles. She's fully committed to giving Daniel every advantage that she can provide. So when I hear Daniel look for her and call for "Momma", it's obvious why.
Another thing about Tary is that she spoils Daniel and me with love. She loves buying toys and playing silly games with him just to hear him laugh. One of Daniel's favorite games is I hold him and run around the house while Tary chases us like a zombie. I refer to her as the "Mom-bie".
Daniel and I are both very blessed to have Tary in our lives. We both love her so much...even when she's trying to eat our brains!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Thoughts after Week 10, Patriots vs. Steelers
As poorly as the Pats played in their loss to the Browns last week, they looked equally impressive in their 39-26 win over the Steelers this week. It's not every day that you see a team out-physical the Steelers but the Patriots did just that. Some of the hits may not be textbook legal but it was good for the Pats to show that they would not be intimidated.
Offense
Brady played great in this game. He threw for over 300 yards, 3 TDs, no INTs, and rushed for another TD on a QB sneak. His throws were accurate and on-time.
It was so good to finally see some long passes. Hopefully other teams will start to respect Tate a little bit more down the field. And it was good to see Welker get out on deeper routes. I've felt that opposing defenses have started to jam him more at the line and cheat up on the short stuff so he may continue to have success on some deeper patterns.
No one said that rushing the ball would be easy against the Steelers but the Pats rushed the ball effectively and ran often enough to open up play-action plays. It seems like the Steelers are always rushing toward the line to stuff the run and it leaves them very vulnerable on play-action.
The pass protection was great in not allowing a single sack. The hardest shot that Brady took all game was when BJGE accidentally ran into him on a botched hand-off.
Gronkowski rebounded from his worst game with a stellar effort this week. He was the featured TE in this game and he finished with 3 TD grabs. He made a great athletic catch on the first TD on a skinny post up the right seam.
Speaking of TEs, where was Aaron Hernandez? Let's hope he just not part of the overall game-plan and not sitting in Belichick's dog house.
Defense
The defense played aggressively all night and it showed! I don't remember the last time I've seen the Pats blitz this often but I was glad to see the team bring the heat. They rushed defenders from all angles with inside stunts and LB and CB blitzes. It definitely tested the make-shift offensive line of the Steelers and the Pats were able to sack Roethlisberger 5 times. The Pats would have gotten at least a half-dozen more sacks but the Steelers got away with holding all night long! There is such a double-standard with the refs.
The game got a little ugly toward the end as the Pats went into their prevent defense. Roethlisberger padded his stats by passing mostly to speedy WR, Mike Wallace and ended up passing for 3 TDs in the 4th quarter. In addition to soft coverage, the Pats also didn't help their cause with poor tackling late in the game. They allowed 23 4th quarter points and need to do a better job of closing out games.
Another thing I wanted to mention was it was a great play by Chung to tip a pass and Sanders to gather the INT and return it for a TD. However, the group celebration afterward was stupid and resulted in a penalty on the following kickoff. This allowed Pittsburgh to start with great field position and they quickly drove down the field to score a TD of their own.
Special Teams
As I foreshadowed last week, long snapper Jake Ingram was replaced by Matt Katula. Hopefully he continues to go unnoticed.
The same can't completely be said of Gostkowski's replacement, Shayne Graham. He missed an extra point which forced the Pats to go for 2 late in the game to make up for it. In the end, the Pats could have put up 41 points against the Steelers. Graham was perfect on his 2 FG attempts but his 2nd attempt knuckle-balled its way through the uprights. Graham did okay on kickoffs but did not get any touchbacks.
Other Thoughts
I find it ironic that WR Hines Ward, one of the dirtiest players on a team full of head-hunters and cheap-shot artists, had to be taken out with a concussion.
Another observation was the Pats seemed to have Polamalu guessing all night. He would rush to one side of the line as the ball was snapped just to either overrun the play or watch it go to the opposite direction. He is a tremendous instinctive player but you can see how his freelancing sometimes leaves a huge hole in their pass coverage.
Offense
Brady played great in this game. He threw for over 300 yards, 3 TDs, no INTs, and rushed for another TD on a QB sneak. His throws were accurate and on-time.
It was so good to finally see some long passes. Hopefully other teams will start to respect Tate a little bit more down the field. And it was good to see Welker get out on deeper routes. I've felt that opposing defenses have started to jam him more at the line and cheat up on the short stuff so he may continue to have success on some deeper patterns.
No one said that rushing the ball would be easy against the Steelers but the Pats rushed the ball effectively and ran often enough to open up play-action plays. It seems like the Steelers are always rushing toward the line to stuff the run and it leaves them very vulnerable on play-action.
The pass protection was great in not allowing a single sack. The hardest shot that Brady took all game was when BJGE accidentally ran into him on a botched hand-off.
Gronkowski rebounded from his worst game with a stellar effort this week. He was the featured TE in this game and he finished with 3 TD grabs. He made a great athletic catch on the first TD on a skinny post up the right seam.
Speaking of TEs, where was Aaron Hernandez? Let's hope he just not part of the overall game-plan and not sitting in Belichick's dog house.
Defense
The defense played aggressively all night and it showed! I don't remember the last time I've seen the Pats blitz this often but I was glad to see the team bring the heat. They rushed defenders from all angles with inside stunts and LB and CB blitzes. It definitely tested the make-shift offensive line of the Steelers and the Pats were able to sack Roethlisberger 5 times. The Pats would have gotten at least a half-dozen more sacks but the Steelers got away with holding all night long! There is such a double-standard with the refs.
The game got a little ugly toward the end as the Pats went into their prevent defense. Roethlisberger padded his stats by passing mostly to speedy WR, Mike Wallace and ended up passing for 3 TDs in the 4th quarter. In addition to soft coverage, the Pats also didn't help their cause with poor tackling late in the game. They allowed 23 4th quarter points and need to do a better job of closing out games.
Another thing I wanted to mention was it was a great play by Chung to tip a pass and Sanders to gather the INT and return it for a TD. However, the group celebration afterward was stupid and resulted in a penalty on the following kickoff. This allowed Pittsburgh to start with great field position and they quickly drove down the field to score a TD of their own.
Special Teams
As I foreshadowed last week, long snapper Jake Ingram was replaced by Matt Katula. Hopefully he continues to go unnoticed.
The same can't completely be said of Gostkowski's replacement, Shayne Graham. He missed an extra point which forced the Pats to go for 2 late in the game to make up for it. In the end, the Pats could have put up 41 points against the Steelers. Graham was perfect on his 2 FG attempts but his 2nd attempt knuckle-balled its way through the uprights. Graham did okay on kickoffs but did not get any touchbacks.
Other Thoughts
I find it ironic that WR Hines Ward, one of the dirtiest players on a team full of head-hunters and cheap-shot artists, had to be taken out with a concussion.
Another observation was the Pats seemed to have Polamalu guessing all night. He would rush to one side of the line as the ball was snapped just to either overrun the play or watch it go to the opposite direction. He is a tremendous instinctive player but you can see how his freelancing sometimes leaves a huge hole in their pass coverage.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Daniel's 6-month Checkup
Tary and I brought Daniel for his 6-month checkup earlier this week. He measured in at a healthy 18 lbs 8 oz, 27 1/4 inches long!
It has been a while since I last wrote about Daniel. He has learned how to do so many new things in that time.
The biggest accomplishment is that he can say "Momma" now. He has said other words or at least made sounds that resembled words in the past but "Momma" is definitely his first official word. He only says it when Tary's around or when he's upset. Last night, Daniel stared right at Tary and clearly said, "Mom!" As cute as it would have been to hear him say "Daddy", we're just relieved he didn't say someone else's name first.
Daniel is becoming more mobile. He can roll over from his back onto his tummy and vice versa. He sometimes rolls over multiple times in a row and ends up several feet away from where you placed him down.
If you sit Daniel on the floor, he can sit and play with nearby toys. He really enjoys sitting next to a container full of little toys that he can reach in and pull out.
We've incorporated more solid foods into Daniel's feeding schedule. He still is learning how to chew and swallow his food as opposed to sucking from a bottle. He especially likes eating melt-able snacks that dissolve in his mouth.
Daniel still likes playing peek-a-boo but now he laughs a lot more when you're playing with him. He loves jumping up and down in your arms and we bought him an ExerSaucer jumper to play in.
He really loves music and musical toys. He likes watching music videos on YouTube on Daddy and Mommy's phones. I think he enjoys the singing at church as well.
I'm so proud of my little Daniel. Before I know it, he'll be crawling around the house and getting his hands on everything. I love him so much. I especially love the Daddy/Daniel time that we spend together like giving him baths, getting him dressed/ready in the mornings, and bringing him to daycare. I know that nothing compares to the bond that Mommy/Daniel share but the Daddy/Daniel bond is pretty special too.
It has been a while since I last wrote about Daniel. He has learned how to do so many new things in that time.
The biggest accomplishment is that he can say "Momma" now. He has said other words or at least made sounds that resembled words in the past but "Momma" is definitely his first official word. He only says it when Tary's around or when he's upset. Last night, Daniel stared right at Tary and clearly said, "Mom!" As cute as it would have been to hear him say "Daddy", we're just relieved he didn't say someone else's name first.
Daniel is becoming more mobile. He can roll over from his back onto his tummy and vice versa. He sometimes rolls over multiple times in a row and ends up several feet away from where you placed him down.
If you sit Daniel on the floor, he can sit and play with nearby toys. He really enjoys sitting next to a container full of little toys that he can reach in and pull out.
We've incorporated more solid foods into Daniel's feeding schedule. He still is learning how to chew and swallow his food as opposed to sucking from a bottle. He especially likes eating melt-able snacks that dissolve in his mouth.
Daniel still likes playing peek-a-boo but now he laughs a lot more when you're playing with him. He loves jumping up and down in your arms and we bought him an ExerSaucer jumper to play in.
 |
| Daniel Playing in his ExerSaucer |
I'm so proud of my little Daniel. Before I know it, he'll be crawling around the house and getting his hands on everything. I love him so much. I especially love the Daddy/Daniel time that we spend together like giving him baths, getting him dressed/ready in the mornings, and bringing him to daycare. I know that nothing compares to the bond that Mommy/Daniel share but the Daddy/Daniel bond is pretty special too.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thoughts after Week 9, Patriots vs. Browns
This game had "let-down" written all over and "let-down" is definitely what I felt after an embarrassing 34-14 defeat by the Browns. What was interesting was Adam Schefter, an NFL insider and writer for ESPN, predicted on the Friday before the game that the Browns would upset the Pats on his weekly appearance on the Dennis and Callahan show on WEEI sports radio. Fans killed him for it but the man sure knows his football. Anyways, onto my thoughts...
Offense
Brady was awful in this game. His trademark accuracy has been MIA for several weeks and he was wildly inaccurate. With all of these balls landing at the feet of his receivers, Brady has looked more like McNabb than he has himself.
This post-Moss offense has looked horrible. There is no explosiveness. Not only are there no big plays, the Pats don't even try to throw it deep anymore to at least keep the other team's defense honest. Without Moss bringing an extra defender down the field with him, there has been noticeable less operating space for the other WRs. Welker's production has taken the biggest hit.
The Pats could not establish any kind of running game either. BJGE was ineffective with only 14 rushing yards. I wonder if Fred Taylor can ever stay healthy.
Last but not least, Gronkowski had a horrible game and looked like...well, a rookie. On a short kickoff to open the game, he signaled for a fair catch but ducked out of the way at the last second. The Browns were able to recover the loose ball and resulted in great field position for them. When the Pats finally got the ball back, Gronkowski had at least 3 drops. It felt like Brady kept trying to force the ball back to him to get him back mentally but only resulted in more bad things happening. Just when the Pats looked like they were finally able to move the ball at the end of the first half, Gronkowski fumbled along the goal-line while fighting for extra yards. It was a forgettable performance.
Defense
As bad as the offense played, things looked even worse on defense. The Pats wanted nothing to do with RB Peyton Hillis and seemed afraid to tackle him. He scored 2 TDs while racking up a ridiculous total of 184 yards rushing and 36 yards receiving.
Rookie QB Colt McCoy outplayed Brady. That's right, a rookie! The pass-rush was non-existent and McCoy was never touched.
Once again, the Pats showed why they are last in the league in 3rd-down defense. They could not get any stops to get off of the field. If the Pats play this poorly against a rookie-led offense, how can they stop QBs like Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers?
Special Teams
Gronkowski's miscommunication which led to fumbling the opening kickoff set the tone for the day.
Ingram skipped another snap at the feet of punter Zoltan Mesko. It's not a good thing when a long snapper gets noticed and his job may be in jeopardy. Speaking of punts, another punt was almost blocked this week as well.
And when it rains, it pours and Gostkowski's leg injury was just icing on the cake. Let's hope it's not something more serious. Losing him would be devastating on kickoffs and field position. Also, the coverage of Gostkowski's injury was horrible and I only found out about it while catching up on Twitter.
Other Thoughts
The Pats were out-played, out-coached, and were dominated in all 3 phases of the game. The Pats hold a share of the best record in the league but it doesn't feel that way. I know we can't get too high after a win or too low after a loss but this loss was embarrassing. Things don't get any easier next week with a road game against the Steelers.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Sick and Tired of being Sick and Tired
Since Daniel has been in daycare, he has literally come home each week with some new life-draining mutation that gets him sick. Then it's only a matter of time before Tary and I succumb to its chilling vice grip and get sick ourselves. I'm so sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Daniel had the flu two weeks ago. I thought it was way too early for flu season. However, little did I know that it’s never too early for the flu when your kid is in daycare. Our poor baby had nearly a 101 degree fever.
While taking care of Daniel, Tary started showing signs of being ill. On Friday, Tary came down with a 103 degree fever. She then developed a nasty cough. After coughing up some blood, Tary had to go to the ER (#5 if you're still counting). She was diagnosed with bronchitis and was prescribed some antibiotics.
By Sunday, the flu had gotten the best of me and I came down with a 102 degree fever. What's kind of ironic was that I normally would get a flu shot by this time of year but I was too sick (from daycare) on the day they were giving flu shots at work. Anyways, the next few days were brutal. Tary and I were both sick and we both had to miss a few days of work. It was hard taking care of Daniel and getting an adequate amount of rest.
On Tuesday afternoon we received a phone call from daycare. They needed us to come and pick up Daniel because he had conjunctivitis in his right eye. When we got there, he had a mucous-like discharge coming from his right eye. We rushed him to the pediatrician's office. The doctor confirmed the diagnosis and also informed us that Daniel had bronchiolitis and possibly an ear infection. Daniel was prescribed some ointment for his eyes.
The next day we were saddened to see that Daniel's conjunctivitis had spread to his other eye. We brought him back to the pediatrician for a second look. The doctor confirmed Daniel had an ear infection and was prescribed some antibiotics and a nebulizer to help with his cough.
Fast forward to today and the Trinh family is doing much better. Daniel's conjunctivitis has cleared up. His ear infection is improving. His chest sounds clear enough to stop using the nebulizer. Tary and I have pretty much recovered from our bouts with the flu but we both have coughs to show for it.
Daycare is killing us. I'm sure there are plenty of good reasons for sending Daniel to daycare but I can't think of any positives right now. Maybe when we're ready for Baby #2, we'll strongly consider having Tary stay at home with the kids. Hopefully we can survive until then.
Daniel had the flu two weeks ago. I thought it was way too early for flu season. However, little did I know that it’s never too early for the flu when your kid is in daycare. Our poor baby had nearly a 101 degree fever.
While taking care of Daniel, Tary started showing signs of being ill. On Friday, Tary came down with a 103 degree fever. She then developed a nasty cough. After coughing up some blood, Tary had to go to the ER (#5 if you're still counting). She was diagnosed with bronchitis and was prescribed some antibiotics.
By Sunday, the flu had gotten the best of me and I came down with a 102 degree fever. What's kind of ironic was that I normally would get a flu shot by this time of year but I was too sick (from daycare) on the day they were giving flu shots at work. Anyways, the next few days were brutal. Tary and I were both sick and we both had to miss a few days of work. It was hard taking care of Daniel and getting an adequate amount of rest.
On Tuesday afternoon we received a phone call from daycare. They needed us to come and pick up Daniel because he had conjunctivitis in his right eye. When we got there, he had a mucous-like discharge coming from his right eye. We rushed him to the pediatrician's office. The doctor confirmed the diagnosis and also informed us that Daniel had bronchiolitis and possibly an ear infection. Daniel was prescribed some ointment for his eyes.
The next day we were saddened to see that Daniel's conjunctivitis had spread to his other eye. We brought him back to the pediatrician for a second look. The doctor confirmed Daniel had an ear infection and was prescribed some antibiotics and a nebulizer to help with his cough.
Fast forward to today and the Trinh family is doing much better. Daniel's conjunctivitis has cleared up. His ear infection is improving. His chest sounds clear enough to stop using the nebulizer. Tary and I have pretty much recovered from our bouts with the flu but we both have coughs to show for it.
Daycare is killing us. I'm sure there are plenty of good reasons for sending Daniel to daycare but I can't think of any positives right now. Maybe when we're ready for Baby #2, we'll strongly consider having Tary stay at home with the kids. Hopefully we can survive until then.
Thoughts after Week 8, Vikings vs. Patriots
After a solid 28-18 win over the Vikings, the Patriots now hold the best record in the NFL. It may not always be pretty but I'll keep taking wins like this.
Offense
First off, I do not like the post-Moss offense at all. It's incredibly ugly and there are no big plays. 3-and-outs happen way too often which puts a lot of pressure on the young defense. It would be better if the Pats could at least move the chains a bit to change field position if they had to punt on 4th down.
In the first half, the Pats had difficulty rushing against the Vikings' front. The Williams pair is always difficult to move. However, BJGE was able to bounce back in the 2nd half and finished with 112 yards on the ground and a pair of TDs thanks to some great blocking by Crumpler.
As I mentioned before, the offense was ugly for most of the game. Tate had a long TD but it was the result of staying alive in a scramble drill and Brady finding him streaking down the left sideline.
The offensive line played pretty well in this game and did not allow a sack.
Defense
The defense is still a work in progress but they seem to be holding to the bend-but-don't-break philosophy. They gave up a ton of yards but at the end of the day, they only allowed 18 points.
Peterson is a beast and he was picking up 8 and 9 yards at a time. However, the Pats defense tightened up in the red zone when it mattered most. Mayo had a great stop on a leaping Peterson at the goal line but the refs upheld the TD call. There was another great goal-line stand at the end of the first half when Childress gambled on 4th down instead of kicking the short FG.
Speaking of Mayo, I may have been quick to judge him in the past. He's been playing solid football and he added 14 more tackles.
It kills me to say this but Favre actually played pretty well. He took what was available on the short throws and made pretty good decisions before getting hit under the chin. His lone INT came when McCourty made a great play to rip the ball away from Harvin.
Special Teams
Gostkowski and Mesko struggled on this windy day. Gostkowski also sent a kickoff out of bounds.
Other Thoughts
The Pats did a good job of containing Randy Moss with pressure at the line and having a safety over the top. He was limited to only 1 catch for 8 yards. Perhaps Moss regrets leaving NE now because he still isn't getting the ball enough in a contract year and now he's playing for a losing team. To add to the drama, he held another strange postgame press conference. Oh Randy...
Offense
First off, I do not like the post-Moss offense at all. It's incredibly ugly and there are no big plays. 3-and-outs happen way too often which puts a lot of pressure on the young defense. It would be better if the Pats could at least move the chains a bit to change field position if they had to punt on 4th down.
In the first half, the Pats had difficulty rushing against the Vikings' front. The Williams pair is always difficult to move. However, BJGE was able to bounce back in the 2nd half and finished with 112 yards on the ground and a pair of TDs thanks to some great blocking by Crumpler.
As I mentioned before, the offense was ugly for most of the game. Tate had a long TD but it was the result of staying alive in a scramble drill and Brady finding him streaking down the left sideline.
The offensive line played pretty well in this game and did not allow a sack.
Defense
The defense is still a work in progress but they seem to be holding to the bend-but-don't-break philosophy. They gave up a ton of yards but at the end of the day, they only allowed 18 points.
Peterson is a beast and he was picking up 8 and 9 yards at a time. However, the Pats defense tightened up in the red zone when it mattered most. Mayo had a great stop on a leaping Peterson at the goal line but the refs upheld the TD call. There was another great goal-line stand at the end of the first half when Childress gambled on 4th down instead of kicking the short FG.
Speaking of Mayo, I may have been quick to judge him in the past. He's been playing solid football and he added 14 more tackles.
It kills me to say this but Favre actually played pretty well. He took what was available on the short throws and made pretty good decisions before getting hit under the chin. His lone INT came when McCourty made a great play to rip the ball away from Harvin.
Special Teams
Gostkowski and Mesko struggled on this windy day. Gostkowski also sent a kickoff out of bounds.
Other Thoughts
The Pats did a good job of containing Randy Moss with pressure at the line and having a safety over the top. He was limited to only 1 catch for 8 yards. Perhaps Moss regrets leaving NE now because he still isn't getting the ball enough in a contract year and now he's playing for a losing team. To add to the drama, he held another strange postgame press conference. Oh Randy...
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