After the Game, Obvious Problem Areas

by Middlesex on Oct 30, 2011 9:39 PM EDT

The Pittsburgh Steelers did two things that were unexpected and outside of New England's control;

On offense, they went from ground-and-pound/deep-ball to a predominately short-and-medium passing game. They only ran the ball less than a third of the time.

On defense, they went from zone coverage and zone blitzes to lots of successful man-coverage. Brady was simply unable to make the big plays to take the head off.

Now, the areas of concern that can be corrected;

Fundamentals. Poor coverage, poor tackling.

Special teams. Why don't we have speedsters like Shane Vereen or Taylor Price returning punts and kickoffs? Why can't we learn how to kick an onside kick successfully?

35 pass plays to 13 run plays.

Faulk looked great except as an outlet receiver.

Taylor Price I felt blew a chance to take the head off of that new-look Pittsburgh defensive scheme. It wasn't his first time. Ochocinco wasn't much better.

Aaron Hernandez wasn't his best.

Shaun Ellis is injured and that's about all he did in this game and all season.

Haynesworth looked explosive at times, but how much time did he actually get? He hasn't made the big plays yet but still possesses the ability to blow through offensive lines.

Logan Mankins doesn't seem to be playing like Logan Mankins.

Sebastian Vollmer looked rusty and got taken advantage of.

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Price got one oppurtnity

where he did beat his man and got open but Brady was late with the throw and the DB got a chance to disrupt the pass. I think it clear he has the ability (speed) to make plays down-field, but they just need to give him more opportunities. The one opportunity he got would have been a big play if Brady wasn’t late with the throw.

Taylor Price will be the starter by the end of the season (Said before Training Camp)

by Chris Kole on Oct 30, 2011 9:50 PM EDT reply actions

Wasn't the first opportunity he had.

It is what it is

by Middlesex on Oct 30, 2011 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions

That was his first target of the season

Not sure what you mean

Deep in enemy territory

by JeffyB on Oct 30, 2011 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Once in preseason, assumingly in practice too.

For some reason he hasn’t earned Brady’s trust.

It is what it is

by Middlesex on Oct 30, 2011 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

its not that

Brady trusts 5 other guys more.

I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP

by Jack'sAxe on Oct 31, 2011 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions

In game opportunity

That is what I meant

Taylor Price will be the starter by the end of the season (Said before Training Camp)

by Chris Kole on Oct 31, 2011 6:27 AM EDT up reply actions

No field stretcher at all. Let's not kid ourselves.

But for now i’ll tell myself what everyone else does, “We are perfect the way we are.”

Still feel like crap.

In GOD I TRUST>In BB i trust......faith where it belongs!!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.

by PatNation85 on Oct 30, 2011 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions

We need a field stretcher to beat man coverage.

It is what it is

by Middlesex on Oct 31, 2011 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Where was Ocho?

This was the type of game we brought him in for.

Taylor Price will be the starter by the end of the season (Said before Training Camp)

by Chris Kole on Oct 30, 2011 10:04 PM EDT reply actions

Got to watch again,

not sure what his snap count was, not sure if he was getting open or not. His one target was useless due to solid coverage. The kind of coverage the Pats need to start learning.

It is what it is

by Middlesex on Oct 30, 2011 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions

huh? What do you mean? Why?

by Jack'sAxe on Oct 31, 2011 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions

I mean he is still just taking up space

It’s clear he is not going to develop into anything. The We had games where we have given good amount of snaps (Hernandez injury) and he hasn’t been able to add anything to the offense. When we lose he doesn’t contribute when we win he doesn’t contribute. So I don’t understand the reasoning behind just giving and not giving his snaps to someone else you have not seen much in games. I mean he was covered well on his one target. The is nothing to lose if we give Price all his snaps just for the sake of seeing what he can do with them.

Taylor Price will be the starter by the end of the season (Said before Training Camp)

by Chris Kole on Oct 31, 2011 6:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Brady did Overthrow Ocho by 10 yards

Hey President Brady, Can you sign my Son ?

The Ryan Brothers: Two people who never played a down as an NFL player, Yet feel the need to trash talk like they are in the Hall Of Fame

by BostonBeasts on Oct 30, 2011 11:35 PM EDT reply actions

Middlesex, you said BB would take away our TE & we had no answer for either of yours. I think Heath showed today he can’t be taken away, he contributed more than both of your TEs combined. What needs to be fixed is your coverage & pass rush, & I don’t think you have the personnel to do that this season.

We drafted a couple of good corners this year who along with Lewis finally give us this ability to play press coverage at the LOS. Carnell Lake is also our new secondary coach & this is the style of coverage he prefers to employ. Hoping we get a chance to dance with GB again for another Lombardi, we have the players & defensive scheme to do to them what we did to you today, & their defense isn’t much better than yours.

You were a pretty stand up guy all week middlesex, thanks for contributing on BTSC. I know you’re well aware of the problems the pats face down the road but today was just one game, in Oct, not Jan.

The Ravens are pus*ies compared to the Steelers. - Peyton Hillis 2010

by malaki on Oct 31, 2011 2:46 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks buddy,

good luck with the dirty birds next week, see ya in the postseason!

It is what it is

by Middlesex on Oct 31, 2011 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Actually, the Patriots abandoned what had worked against tight ends earlier in the season.

It was as if they challenged Ben to throw to Heath, which made no sense. The typical defense against the tight end was a Ninkovich jam on the tight end at the line and then a pass-off to a safety in coverage. However, for the first couple of drives, Miller was getting free releases into soft coverage by inside linebackers.

Pats Pulpit | Follow @Rich__Hill

by Richard Hill on Oct 31, 2011 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Big time.

No TE had a better game this year against the Pats, and we’ve had some tough TEs to play against… besides the fact Miller was getting free release, our guys looked shaky in the backfield. Like they were timid or something.

I’m starting to think Patricia needs to be held accountable. It’s a disaster back there. However, I’m also thinking Ninkovich is just looking too-average out there. He’s versatile but not great at anything.

At this point, somethings got to give. Belichick knows his team has been here before.

It is what it is

by Middlesex on Oct 31, 2011 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Miller has always been underrated as a receiving TE, partly because of our O line issues he has been forced to help block at the line & his numbers suffer.

The Ravens are pus*ies compared to the Steelers. - Peyton Hillis 2010

by malaki on Nov 1, 2011 6:12 AM EDT up reply actions

I concur with what malaki said

you’re a good guy Middlesex, hopefully you, Richard, and Patnation will come around every once in awhile to b.s about football..

that said, and i’ve said it before, i would like you to explain to people that Ike Taylor really is as good as we said. one receiver..ok it’s luck two, still…

we are talking 4 of the best in the game, all shut down (relative to normal production)
Andre Johnson (yes, injured, but wasn’t doing anything up to that point. (Wes Welker, Reggie Wayne, and Larry Fitzgerald.
Ike is certainly a top 3 corner.

This message will self destruct

by FrankWyt on Oct 31, 2011 4:42 AM EDT reply actions

Never said he isn't,

even concurred that he’s graded as a top-3, only said that the passer up until now has been questionable. Kids tough as well, coming back to play after suffering that stinger.

It is what it is

by Middlesex on Oct 31, 2011 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions

i know, it wasn't you

i was just hoping that you could tell Adam Fox and Chris Kole. They aren’t nice to me, and i do not want any more arguments.
And as far as that stinger…i can only speak for myself obviously, but i have a feeling i’m not the only one who’s heart sank when we found out it was him on the ground not moving.

This message will self destruct

by FrankWyt on Oct 31, 2011 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Steelers played well

Actually I should rephrase. Steelers came to play, and played hard. Patriots played about as sluggishly as I’ve seen them play in a while. Mentally, they were still on the bye. Yeesh. Good talking with you this past week, it should be a terrific re-match next week against the Ravens.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 31, 2011 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Was good talking to you too!

I’m hoping the Steelers have some tricks up their sleeve to give those dirty birds some pay back next Sunday.

This message will self destruct

by FrankWyt on Oct 31, 2011 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Good luck to guys as well bro.

And honestly i had no idea that Ike was that damn good. Before the game when some Pitt fans, were saying how Ike will do a good job on Wes, i felt the way Brady did, before the SB when Plz said, we were only gonna score 17points. So much for that. :-(

In GOD I TRUST>In BB i trust......faith where it belongs!!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.

by PatNation85 on Oct 31, 2011 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

I have been a huge fan of Ike Taylor’s for a few years now. I always thought he was underrated because of his inability to pick the ball off. With that said, he is playing outside of his mind this year. When we resigned him, I had fears he might check out with his big pay day. I never expected him to come out and play the best football of his career on the wrong side of 30. It’s simply been amazing to see.

"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
Follow me on Twitter

by John Stephens on Oct 31, 2011 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

What John said

Ike Taylor has horrible hands, so he never picks off passes. Thus, he never makes highlight reels. Ike Taylor is really a silent ninja, he is always in the room watching everything you do and taking stuff away from you, but you just never see him

Hes having a career year this season.

Formerly known as Steeler_

BTSC's token Kiwi fan. That means I'm a New Zealander. Yes, that small country next to Australia....no we are not part of Australia

by Michael Hewitt on Oct 31, 2011 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Career year

gee.. glad the Patriots could help him out with that : P

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 31, 2011 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

He's playing at a different level this year, but he was really good in 2008.

The reason why that defense was so brilliant is that their pass defense was excellent that year. I don’t think they played man, but Taylor was playing great, McFadden was playing well and then even Willie Gay was solid. I think old DeShea Townsend was still on that team.

EVH+DLR=BFFs........ God I Hope So!!

by dmstorm22 on Oct 31, 2011 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah he was (Deshea)

from all i can the other corners play zones, but Taylor is almost always manned up on someone.
The entire secondary has been better this year, even though it’s almost all the same players. I think Carnell Lake deserves some credit for that.
I know you can say that the offenses we faced haven’t been that good, but if your secondary is as bad as the Steelers was last year, even bad teams can light them up.

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by FrankWyt on Oct 31, 2011 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Houston's a pretty good O.

The Colts game was nowhere as close as the score indicated (and I’m a Colts fan – Ben played awful. That’s why it was close). The Jags game looked like a classic 2003 Pats game. Score enough and win a game that never really was in doubt.

I just want to know why Dick never tried this years ago. I don’t remember much about the 2004 Halloween massacre game, but I think they didn’t play this man-press coverage, but that was the one time the zone blitzing just killed NE. It helped that NE was down 24-3 in the 2nd quarter I guess.

Also, I can’t wait for this Raven/Steeler game on SNF. I think teh Ravens will come to play. That was a game where they were really unlucky to be down 24-3 (against ARZ). They showed a lot by calmly coming back. Should be fun.

EVH+DLR=BFFs........ God I Hope So!!

by dmstorm22 on Nov 1, 2011 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions

i think the reason

Lebeau couldn’t do it before, is because of personnel
you can not underestimate the effect Carnell Lake has had on this team.
The Steelers have the same players, yet things are way different.
Horton was the old DB coach (not douchebag)
he left, went to Arizona to be the DC, their d is worse.
Lake steps in, and the Steelers have the number 1 pass defense.
yes, haven’t played many elite qb’s…but have played 4 elite receivers,and the Pats…
I just think Dick didn’t have the personnel to execute his plan before. or he just got surprised by the genius..

I can’t wait for this weeks game either. I’m getting nervous already lol
I know this is not the same team from week one, but i also know that the Ravens are a damn good team, despite what they’ve shown the last 3 weeks..

i am just as nervous as i was last week at this time..
and honestly, the week after that will be the same, I think the Bengals are for real…and they almost always play our team well. they certainly play the Ravens better than well…
i gotta think this is the best division in football, or better, both North divisions are the best.
The worst team in the AFC north is 3-4 and has one of the top ranked defense
the NFC north has the Pack, Lions, and Bears, and the Vikings have found new life.
I gotta believe the Super Bowl champ is going to be one of those teams this year

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by FrankWyt on Nov 1, 2011 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions