Not how I expected to start the season, but give credit to Buffalo's D. Their speed is crazy. The holes close up real quick with them. And there were plenty of running lanes created by our OL, but whenever we tried to pass the protection was non existent. Our defense gave up some pretty good chunks on the ground, but overall I thought they played well minus Bruschi. Colvin stepped up big time. Then of course the safety by Ty Warren was the difference in the game. Nice to see the rookie K get his feet wet as well.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bakes781)</div><div class='quotemain'>Not how I expected to start the season, but give credit to Buffalo's D. Their speed is crazy. The holes close up real quick with them. And there were plenty of running lanes created by our OL, but whenever we tried to pass the protection was non existent. Our defense gave up some pretty good chunks on the ground, but overall I thought they played well minus Bruschi. Colvin stepped up big time. Then of course the safety by Ty Warren was the difference in the game. Nice to see the rookie K get his feet wet as well.</div> Branch may be missed more than the Pats expected. They fill holes better than anybody out there, but they may be way too thin at WR without a # 1.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (manofsteel)</div><div class='quotemain'>Branch may be missed more than the Pats expected. They fill holes better than anybody out there, but they may be way too thin at WR without a # 1.</div> IMO his absence had little to do with struggles on offense. Brady had no time in the pocket. Take away that fumble on the 1st play & we probably win by 10.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bakes781)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (manofsteel)</div><div class='quotemain'>Branch may be missed more than the Pats expected. They fill holes better than anybody out there, but they may be way too thin at WR without a # 1.</div> IMO his absence had little to do with struggles on offense. Brady had no time in the pocket. Take away that fumble on the 1st play & we probably win by 10.</div> I suppose, but sooner or later someone will completely shut down the run and I don't really think they have the talent to win a game with no WRs....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (manofsteel)</div><div class='quotemain'>I suppose, but sooner or later someone will completely shut down the run and I don't really think they have the talent to win a game with no WRs....</div> we shall see, but I maintian that Brady & the scheme make the WRs not the other way around.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bakes781)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (manofsteel)</div><div class='quotemain'>I suppose, but sooner or later someone will completely shut down the run and I don't really think they have the talent to win a game with no WRs....</div> we shall see, but I maintian that Brady & the scheme make the WRs not the other way around.</div> Brady and the scheme is only going to take you so far....you need talent to create seperation in this league. If someone shuts down the run and you don't have enough talent to get open and catch the ball....well in that case Brady and the scheme wouldn't be enough. Now, I'm not saying that the Patriots will be terrible by any means. I am just saying that offense is not going to be as good without Branch in there....they keep losing receivers and that has to catch up with them sooner or later.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (manofsteel)</div><div class='quotemain'>Brady and the scheme is only going to take you so far....you need talent to create seperation in this league. If someone shuts down the run and you don't have enough talent to get open and catch the ball....well in that case Brady and the scheme wouldn't be enough. Now, I'm not saying that the Patriots will be terrible by any means. I am just saying that offense is not going to be as good without Branch in there....they keep losing receivers and that has to catch up with them sooner or later.</div> No doubt Branch is a talent, but from an organizational stand they can't just give in to his demands. That would set a horrible precedent for future would be FAs. Givens was big part of the offense as well, but let's not forget he was a 7th round pick. They've brought in Gabriel & the highly touted rookie Jackson has yet to take the field. Hopefully they can learn the offense in time for week 3 when the schedule gets a lot harder.
I'm not saying they should give in to Branch. Just saying that I think it is going to be evident that the Pats miss his talent in the next few weeks. You may even say that Branch took a look at the position that his holdout would put the Pats in and considered it more bargaining power.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (manofsteel)</div><div class='quotemain'>I'm not saying they should give in to Branch. Just saying that I think it is going to be evident that the Pats miss his talent in the next few weeks. You may even say that Branch took a look at the position that his holdout would put the Pats in and considered it more bargaining power.</div> Well now with the acquistion of Seattle's 1st in '07 I'd say they over paid slightly. The Pats are rid of a distraction & load up for the future. This may be looked at as a transition year by those outside of New England, but I think you may be in for a surprise.
well... they got plenty of cap space. Should have a good season next year, with those 2 1sts and in FA
