Shots Heard 'Round The Web - Patriots Links 10/14/08

LOCAL SHOTS

• Karen Guregian writes that Cassel’s lack of both game management and pocket presence at this stage, are issues that are going to promote talk of a change.
• Guregian also takes a look at the key injuries to the team.
• Chris Gasper notes Patriots lack big-play passing game and are tied for 26th in the league with only eight such plays so far this year.
• Gasper also calls attention to Belichick's defense of the defense.  Coach Hoodie saw some good play holding the Chargers on third down and limiting their running game. 
  
• Jim Donaldson says out loud what we've all been thinking -- the Patriots are paying the price for not paying Asante Samuel.
• Kirk Minihane welcomes the Patriots to the middle of the NFL.  Any aura of greatness left over from 2007 has been completely extinguished.
• Chad Finn gives us Belichick's full responses to his media conference call yesterday.
• Mike Reiss looks at the snaps played by offensive skill-position players, and the positional grouping utilized by the Patriots in their 30-10 loss to the Chargers.
• Rich Thompson hammers the faulty pass defense.  What pass defense?
• Ron Borges issues his weekly report card, saying the Patriots caught an angry and desperate Chargers team at home on the wrong night and paid dearly for it.
• Michael Felger hands out his grades after Sunday's debacle.  "Three minutes.  That's how long it took for nearly all of the Patriots' flaws to be exposed during their embarrassing loss in San Diego."

TEAM SHOTS

• Matt Cassel, Tedy  Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Bill Belichick all manned-up and participated in WEEI's Patriots Monday, calling in to take their shots and comment on the game.
• Team's first reaction: 4th and 1 and done.
• The day after:  Pats break down and analyze the tape from Sunday's game. 
  

LONG SHOTS

• Mark Kriegel (Fox Sports) notes, "after seeing just how bad his team can be, it's a wonder how Belichick ever got them to 3-1."  He calls this game a microcosm of an underwhelming 2008 season, with the lack of any truly elite teams.
• How miserable is the Patriots' offense?  Tim Graham (ESPN) counts the ways.  Gee, thanks Tim.
• ProFootball Weekly realizes that "it’s a testament to Wes Welker’s toughness that he has managed to stay on the field so much despite the fact that the Patriots’ small slot receiver has taken a cascade of vicious hits."
• Matt Sohn (ProFootball Weekly) points out "the irony in the Patriots’ plodding pass rush is that their defensive line has — or had — the respect throughout the league as one of the more formidable fronts around."
• Michael Lombardi (National Football Post) comments on Chris Gasper's column, saying the game was closer than the score.
• Lombardi on Cassel:  "New England QB Matt Cassel does not make very quick decisions and his accuracy on some easy throws is a concern.  He looks like he cannot process the decisions with any real conviction."