Jetsfan80 Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/6876407/bill-belichick-new-england-patriots-look-tough-beat Admit it, the Patriots look primed After watching another solid all-around performance Thursday, it's OK to be giddy By Mike Reiss ESPNBoston.com Updated: August 19, 2011, 9:18 AM ET TAMPA -- The New England Patriots have played eight quarters of preseason football, and what's not to like? They are loaded and balanced, and no surprise here, they're coached extremely well. The latest example of this trifecta came Thursday night when they jammed their foot on the accelerator from the opening kickoff and zipped past the overmatched Buccaneers -- a 10-win team last season -- in a convincing 31-14 win at Raymond James Stadium. The Patriots led 21-0 after the first quarter and 28-0 at the half. That was the important part of the game, when both teams had their top players on the field, and New England looked like a well-oiled machine in all facets. So much for the lockout affecting the quality of football. It's been two weeks now and the preseason scoreboard reads: Patriots 78, Opponents 26. Anyone unhappy about that drives a harder bargain than Bill Belichick. Where it all leads, no one truly knows. The preseason is not always an accurate barometer for what is to come in the regular season. Just ask the 2008 Detroit Lions, who went 4-0 in exhibition play only to follow it up with the first-ever 0-16 record. No one is saying the Patriots will be doing that anytime soon, but it's a reminder that reading too much into preseason football is tricky business. So with that in mind, what more could the Patriots do to earn your confidence at this point? What stands out over the last two weeks is how players are responding to coaching, from the top of the roster to the bottom. Last week against the Jaguars, coaches were impressed with how second-stringers kept their composure; when adjustments were drawn up on the sideline, they were executed on the field. The same mistakes weren't made twice. This week, coaches preached a fast start all week and the players responded. "We definitely didn't do that last week," Belichick said. "I thought we had a little energy [this time]." That player-coach synergy will, at the least, give the Patriots a chance to reach their lofty goals in 2011. It's something any successful team needs, and one aspect of it was on display for everyone to see in the first half Thursday night when Belichick pulled veteran receiver Chad Ochocinco off the field for what looked like a missed assignment on a Danny Woodhead run. The two had an animated conversation, with Belichick doing most of the talking. Ochocinco, who played throughout the first half, took it to heart. "Just coaching, back and forth, which I like, which I need," he explained of his sideline meeting with Belichick. "I need people to stay in my ear. I need Tom Brady, I need all of them. The more information I can absorb and become a sponge, and understand the system, the more comfortable I get, the more relaxed I am, the better I play." While Ochocinco is pressing a bit, the rest of the first-unit offense looked in midseason form Thursday, even with first-round draft choice Nate Solder starting at left tackle. They took it right to Tampa. "The thing that New England does just as well as anybody is their tempo. When you have a quarterback like [brady], he's able to come out and control the tempo the way he was; he never lets you settle down and never lets you get going," Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris said. "They knew exactly what they wanted to do in every situation, and he was in complete control." The pace was so fast that Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy looked across the line of scrimmage and said, "Um, Mr. Brady, can we line up?" Seriously. McCoy wasn't the only one impressed by what he saw. Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman called the Patriots a "Super Bowl-caliber team," noting how they "came out and really dictated this game." "Early on in the preseason, you have to figure out a way to come out with that sort of enthusiasm, that sort of discipline that they were playing with," he said. It starts with Belichick, who sets that tone with players. He had them in full pads for three straight days leading into the game, reminding them how it was a big week. The response had to be what he was hoping for, and it started right after the opening kickoff to the Buccaneers. "I thought we stopped them with defense," Belichick said. It's a defense that looks different from the unit that struggled to generate pressure in 2010. This unit lines up in a get-up-the-field 4-3 alignment, as opposed to last season's read-and-react 3-4, and attacks with reckless abandon. It forced the Buccaneers three-and-out on the first two drives, and soon enough it was 14-0. Score it a first-round knockout. Linebacker Jerod Mayo, acknowledging that "Coach Belichick is doing different things with me," was all over the field Thursday night in totaling five tackles and two sacks. Veteran defensive end Andre Carter, one of the big offseason acquisitions, brought consistent pressure off the right side. There were tackles for loss and well-schemed blitzes. It was dominating but, true to form, the Patriots weren't patting themselves on the back after the strong performance. Under Belichick, things can always be done better. "We have a lot of work to do to sharpen up, but I think we played competitively," Belichick said. "Hopefully clean up a few loose ends and continue to take another step in our preparation for the regular season." So far, so good. Two games into the preseason, there is a lot to like when it comes to the Patriots. Mike Reiss covers the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com. Follow Mike Reiss on Twitter: @MikeReiss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted August 19, 2011 Author Share Posted August 19, 2011 The pace was so fast that Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy looked across the line of scrimmage and said, "Um, Mr. Brady, can we line up?" "Massa, can I put my hand in the dirt yet massa?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet27 Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 It will be fun, when we face the Pats...we will kick their a$$. And everyone know ESPN is home of the Pats and Redsox...both will always be propped up as super teams...Yawn...ESPN go back to sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klecko73isGod Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I love the disclaimer: The preseason is not always an accurate barometer for what is to come in the regular season. Try, it never is Mike. The preseason is 100% meaningless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoFlaJets Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgUlp2X6Kc4 Danny Woodhead gets rocked-scary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt39 Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgUlp2X6Kc4 Danny Woodhead gets rocked-scary Gotta keep your head on a swivel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoFlaJets Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 he said he's fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klecko73isGod Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 he said he's fine That's because he's scrappy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleedin Green Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Where it all leads, no one truly knows. The preseason is not always an accurate barometer for what is to come in the regular season. Just ask the 2008 Detroit Lions, who went 4-0 in exhibition play only to follow it up with the first-ever 0-16 record. No one is saying the Patriots will be doing that anytime soon, but it's a reminder that reading too much into preseason football is tricky business. The only part of this article that actually means anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmikeisback Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Haha this is awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMC Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I wonder if we'll be seeing some "What's Wrong with the Patriots?" articles during the season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmikeisback Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 The cheating scum and the Jets have done quite a role reversal. Except now the cheating only works in the preseason... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kleckineau Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Brilliant move drafting Mallett. He will be much better than Sanchez not long from now and will have the benefit of learning from Brady for a few years. Maybe someone does a Mo Lewis on Brady and Mallett takes over even sooner. Cue the facepalm from the bizzaro world Kleck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klecko73isGod Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Brilliant move drafting Mallett. He will be much better than Sanchez not long from now and will have the benefit of learning from Brady for a few years. Maybe someone does a Mo Lewis on Brady and Mallett takes over even sooner. As long as his teeth don't fall out from all the meth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmikeisback Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Brilliant move drafting Mallett. He will be much better than Sanchez not long from now and will have the benefit of learning from Brady for a few years. Maybe someone does a Mo Lewis on Brady and Mallett takes over even sooner. Cue the facepalm from the bizzaro world Kleck. Of course he's gonna be better than Sanchez. He had 1 great preseason game against the 3rd stringers of one of the worst teams in the NFL. It's not like Sanchez has the most road playoff wins of any QB ever after his 2nd year or has already has the 2nd biggest win in franchise history against the cheating pieces of sh*t or anything silly like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kleckineau Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Of course he's gonna be better than Sanchez. He had 1 great preseason game against the 3rd stringers of one of the worst teams in the NFL. It's not like Sanchez has the most road playoff wins of any QB ever after his 2nd year or has already has the 2nd biggest win in franchise history against the cheating pieces of sh*t or anything silly like that. Let me know when he wins the big one. Ill start blowin him just like you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmikeisback Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Let me know when he wins the big one. Ill start blowin him just like you. You said Ryan Mallett was gonna be better than him. Apparently Drug addict Ryan Mallett is better than any QB that hasn't won the super bowl. Noted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kleckineau Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 As long as his teeth don't fall out from all the meth. OMG! a college kid was gettin high! Whats next having kids out of wedlock? Kill some dogs? Hit someone with a bat? DWI, pedo? rape? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kleckineau Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 You said Ryan Mallett was gonna be better than him. Apparently Drug addict Ryan Mallett is better than any QB that hasn't won the super bowl. Noted. Yes I do think he can eventually be a star in the NFL not a middle of the pack guy like Sanchez. Time will tell. Its just an opinion, could be wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmikeisback Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Yes I do think he can eventually be a star in the NFL not a middle of the pack guy like Sanchez. Time will tell. Its just an opinion, could be wrong. It's talking out of your a$$. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kleckineau Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 It's talking out of your a$$. Talking azzes aside,I honestly believe the kid has huge upside and was a smart pick with Brady being 34. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klecko73isGod Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 OMG! a college kid was gettin high! Whats next having kids out of wedlock? Kill some dogs? Hit someone with a bat? DWI, pedo? rape? Yes, because its so normal for those college kids to do meth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Talking azzes aside,I honestly believe the kid has huge upside and was a smart pick with Brady being 34. I do too, but I think the Pats may have a PR issue in a few years if Mallet pans out. Brady has stated he wants to play a lot longer than 3 more years. I just pray this isn't a 49'er scenario where they have HOF QBs back to back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWWombat Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 ROAD PLAYOFF WINS!!!!111ONEONE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmikeisback Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 ROAD PLAYOFF WINS!!!!111ONEONE PRESEASON WINS!!!!!!1111ONEONE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Meh... No surprises here. Its an ESPN article singing praises of the Pats. Every person on ESPN has to write one of these a month to be part of the ESPN bortherhood! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Brilliant move drafting Mallett. He will be much better than Sanchez not long from now and will have the benefit of learning from Brady for a few years. Maybe someone does a Mo Lewis on Brady and Mallett takes over even sooner. Cue the facepalm from the bizzaro world Kleck. Hi Kleck, I see the reason for your enthusiasm! I too was impressed by Mallett's play against 3rd stringers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWWombat Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 PRESEASON WINS!!!!!!1111ONEONE You don't see me bringing up Brady's preseason record to show he's good. Meanwhile you and Klacko and a couple others keep bringing up a stat that has a lot to do with Sanchez's team and the fact that it wasn't elite during the regular season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Let me know when he wins the big one. Ill start blowin him just like you. So has Mallett won the big one ? You apparently seem to have no problem b1owing him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kleckineau Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Hi Kleck, I see the reason for your enthusiasm! I too was impressed by Mallett's play against 3rd stringers! I understand your point about 3rd string competition. I still think he can be a star. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klecko73isGod Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Brilliant move drafting Mallett. He will be much better than Sanchez not long from now and will have the benefit of learning from Brady for a few years. Maybe someone does a Mo Lewis on Brady and Mallett takes over even sooner. Cue the facepalm from the bizzaro world Kleck. Look in the mirror pal. No self-respecting Klecko fan would ever honor Mark Gastineau. Didn't you read "Nose to Nose?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmikeisback Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 You don't see me bringing up Brady's preseason record to show he's good. Meanwhile you and Klacko and a couple others keep bringing up a stat that has a lot to do with Sanchez's team and the fact that it wasn't elite during the regular season. Yeah because 4 playoff wins on the road are meaningless right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kleckineau Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I do too, but I think the Pats may have a PR issue in a few years if Mallet pans out. Brady has stated he wants to play a lot longer than 3 more years. I just pray this isn't a 49'er scenario where they have HOF QBs back to back. They were quick to dump Bledsoe so maybe they dump Brady for a bunch of high picks in 3-4 yrs? (Assuming Mallett does succeed) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I understand your point about 3rd string competition. I still think he can be a star. Based on what ? Delusion ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 You don't see me bringing up Brady's preseason record to show he's good. Meanwhile you and Klacko and a couple others keep bringing up a stat that has a lot to do with Sanchez's team and the fact that it wasn't elite during the regular season. Did you just brag about preseason stats ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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