After losing the last 4 games against the Pats, 2 of them playoff games, the Chargers are out for some Patriots blood on their home turf at Qualcomm Stadium.  With wonderboy Tom Brady recovering from ACL surgery in CA, this could be their chance.  Now, before you run me out of town, let me finish.  It COULD be their chance.  Despite the embarrassing loss to Miami, I do believe Mr. Cassel is coming along nicely.  A fourth week bye proved extremely valuable, giving Cassel and Moss a chance to establish that long ball we all know has been missing.  You've heard me complain continuously about turning Moss inside; he's going to get  slaughtered.  Leave him on the sidelines.  Inside is Wes' territory.  Let the little engine that can pull one of his U turn moves on the Chargers' DBs and leave Randy out of it.

Anyway, where was I?  Oh yeah.  That loss to Miami, in my mind, was an anomoly particularly because I was at Gillette for the first time (Don't worry, Marima and JHR have already banned me for life).  The defense was on their heels with gadget plays and simply weren't reading very well.  But, this isn't about Miami.

The Dolphins may have shown how to beat the Chargers.  I will harp on this until everyone is absolutely sick of hearing it: third down efficiency is one of my favorite stats.  It doesn't guarantee a win, but dang if it doesn't help.  To sound positively Belichickian:

Reporter: Coach, what do you think about third down efficiency.
Belichick: I like our efficiency to be good and there's to be not so good.
Reporter: Well what percentages do you...
Belichick: Hey kid, are you wearing flip flops?  Have you started shaving yet?

That's not a real quote; I just kinda made that up...ok, moving on.  The Bolts converted 3 out of 12 while Miami went 7 for 14.  See what I mean?  Back to Moss.  Get him running deep, scaring the living daylights out of the DBs, you know, like he did in 2007?  Teams were falling all over themselves trying to cover Moss, so Brady would just dump to Welker, Gaffney or Faulk.  I want to see that fear again.

Looking at the running game, it's a shame LaMont Jordan is listed as not participating due to a calf injury.  I hope he heals up because I certainly miss him.  With Maroney bouncing off of the line, I want to see Jordan crashing through.

Defensively, gimme some more of that "speed package".  1 downed lineman, 4 LBs and 6 DBs sounds awful dangerous to me.  Bring it on.  Shoot the gaps with LBs, pop WRs with CBs and close the middle which seems to be a perennial weak spot for the Patriots' D.  Philip Rivers didn't throw any interceptions against Miami, so let's shake things up a bit and get in their faces.  Forget about coverage; I want Hobbs and O'Neal to be ball hawks.  This soft, man-to-man, coverage stuff is for the birds.

Now that I've rambled on, sound off with your thoughts on how to game plan this puppy.  Hold on, I gotta check to see if Bill's listening.  Bill?  Did you get my email?  Hey, is this thing on?  Check...one...two...

In what can only be described as a mediocre showing overall, the New England Patriots were able to pull this one off.  I guess a W is a W, but I was hoping to see a number of things fixed after having 2 weeks to do so.  That being said, I do believe Cassel looked far better in this game than against Miami.  He was scrambling at times (more on that later), but he seemed to be making good receiver choices (if you discount not seeing Moss uncovered in the end zone).  At any rate, let's get into it.

Offense

• Cassel and Receivers - The bye week seems to have done Matt and the receiver corps some good.  The 66 yarder to Moss was a thing of beauty, something you'd see wonderboy throw.  Matt and the WRs went 22 for 32 with 2 interceptions throwing up 233 yards in the process - not bad.  Matt seems to be making better decisions and picking his receivers well.  That one bomb to Moss that turned into an interception was underthrown, but I'll give him that if it's all part of developing a long ball with The Real (Talented) #81.  Welker quietly puts up 8 for 73 while Gaffney does 3 for 35 very important grabs.
• Running game - Only putting up 144 yards rushing, the running backs were having a tough time with 43 rushing plays and a paltry 3.3 yard average.  Maroney was a disappointment with 10 touches and only 26 yards while Sammy Morris managed 16 touches and 63 yards.  Kevin Faulk went 7 for 32, but had the only 2 TDs for the running backs.  He was "Mr. Big Play" when the Pats needed it.  Jordan balanced Morris' precision with steamroller efficiency.
• Offensive Line - A better defense would've ground Cassel into the turf.  JHR has a better analysis in the postgame thread, but they have got to stop letting LBs and DBs into the backfield.  In addition, they're allowing defensed to jam the line and force RBs to work harder.  Maroney is bouncing off the line looking for holes; I can't blame that totally on him and gotta spread some of the demerits to the O line.

Defense

• Speed Package - According to the Boston Globe's Mike Reiss, the Patriots are sometimes employing a "speed package" which utilizes 1 DL, 4 LBs and 6 DBs.  I'll have to keep my eye out for this one.
• Third Down Conversions - Holding the 49ers to a 1 for 9 third down conversion efficiency, the defense was able to keep the Patriots' offense on the field for 40 minutes vs. the 49ers 20 minutes.  I always harp on this as a difference maker; In my mind, third down efficiency is the mark of a good offense and keeping low, the mark of a good defense.
• Defensive Backs - Both Rodney Harrison and Brandon Meriweather managed 1 big interception apiece, but the DBs seemed perplexed by the 49ers WR, Isaac Bruce.  Bruce came up with 2 TDs.
• Frank Gore - I said in my game preview that the Patriots had to contain Gore and they couldn't manage it, giving him 12 touches for 54 yards.  This is a D-line/linebacker issue.  They need to jam the line and plug up those holes or guys like Gore with chew them up.

Special Teams

• Stephen Gostkowski continues to absolutely spank the ball on kickoffs, putting the ball in the endzone with 3 touchbacks.  His 35 and 40 yard field goals were money.
• While G-Man is doing great, punter Chris Hanson continues to infuriate me.  A 25 yard out-of-bounder and a touchback are just not cool and situations like this.  His accuracy needs to improve or Belichick will be exercising more kickers.
• Ellis Hobbs continues to show he's one of the most solid and dangerous return men in the game.  He may not be a top 5 CB, but let's see Asante Samuel average 28 yards per return with a long of 35.  Way to go Ellis.

The "experts" will tell you when Moss is unhappy with his shot at the ball, he will show it.  He will dog it or simply not reach for the ball.  In out 38-13 loss against Miami, there was at least one instance of Randy letting a ball go that he may have had a chance at.  I find this relatively funny in a "you're an idiot" sort of way.  It is, in essence, taking a dragster and putting it on an autocross track.  Randy is a vertical guy.  Give him the ball down a seam and he makes DBs look slow...and that's before he kicks on the afterburners.  Turn him inside, and he's a big target for linebackers and safeties who want to layeth the smacketh down on this 6-4 lanky guy.  I'd let the ball go, too.

His new role, whether he likes it or not, is to step in for wonderboy, Tom Brady.  I don't mean as QB, but as a leader.  Now, more than ever, this team needs someone to rally them in the locker room and on the sidelines.  They need someone to rise up and lead by example.  Given his past, this may be a work in progress, but he's surrounded by guys who know how to be leaders.  Guys like Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi and Matt Light have been inspirations in New England and have the hardware to backup their play on the field.  But, this is about Randy.

If he's dogging it, it's hard to see.  Stats don't lie.  They can be made to lie, but presented in their purest form, they don't lie and these prove Randy to be well on his way to being one of the greatest receivers of this game:

Yes, I did write off Harrison's 2007 whilst doing the TD/year calculation and only divided by 11 seasons instead of 12.  So, if Randy's dogging it, I'd hate to see what he'll do on full burn.  Sorry T.O.  You're totals are good and all, but your averages don't show you to be in a league with Randy.  He's only 7 TDs behind you and you have 2 years on him.  And you'll only be getting slower as you age.  Marvin?  I think it's a foot race, but Randy seems to have the edge.  Two damn good receivers, neck and neck.  It'll be fun to see how this plays out.

Dogging it...I crack myself up.

File this under, "Story most likely NOT to be quoted in the Boston Globe." ;-)  Many dumbass things were said about the Patriots last year.  One that tipped the scales of dumbassery was Steelers' safety Anthony Smith "guaranteeing a win" against the Patriots.  He was later torched by a Brady to Moss bomb, after which Brady got in his face and had a few words.  Later on, in the same game, a Brady-Moss-Brady-Gaffney fleaflicker embarrassed Mr. Smith yet again.  But this isn't about Anthony, it's about Joey.

If you recall, Joey Porter, in another act of dumbassery, was one of the only NFL players to speak out against Spygate.  Well, Joey's at it again.  Mad props to our links guru, Marima, for finding this and giving me a reason to rant...again.  Now, I can see Colts' WR Marvin Harrison feeling like his team is going to post another W.  Or even QB Trent Edwards of Buffalo.  Heck, Buffalo may be the yardstick for the AFC East this season.  But, both these guys have too much class and brains to say anything.

It's one thing if you have the chops and record to back it up.  Even then, it's good to stay quiet because what goes around, comes around.  Porter, on the other hand, is a loudmouthed zipperhead playing for an 0-2 team.  I never wish harm or injury on ANY player, but it is my solemn wish that we introduce LaMont Jordan to Joey during an option or screen, maybe even a run play.  LaMont's cleat marks on the back of Joey's helmet would be nice to see.  While we're at it, how about former Dolphin Wes Welker juking around him so fast he trips over his own feet?

We'd never target Joey.  No way.  Not like we targetted Anthony Smith.  Bill would NEVER do that, would he?

Ever since the greatest quarterback of this era, Tom Brady, suffered a left flat tire, there's been a theory floating around.  A theory so irrefutable that many say it creates a Catch 22.  Here ya go: If the Patriots do well this season, then their success can be attributed to Bill Belichick and the coaching system he's put in place.  Clearly, in that case, Tom Brady is a mediocre quarterback and simply the product of a great system.  On the other side of the coin, if the Patriots flounder, Bill Belichick and his system are in question and have been the beneficiary of a great quarterback in Tom Brady, hitting the quarterback lottery, if you will.  Ironclad, right?  Of course.  Obviously there's no way out of this one.  Clearly.  Horsepucky. 

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First, let me say I am STOKED for Matt Cassel.  It's a long season, but he just started a professional football game at quarterback and walked away with a win.  Did I mention it was his first start since High School?  Way to go, Matt.  Way to go.

In trying to find a word describing this game, the only thing I could think of was efficient.  Every team plays to its strengths, but I think this game was won, in large part, by the coaching staff or, more accurately, by the coaching staff's careful examination of Matt Cassel's pre-season performance.  In so doing, they were able to get a very clear picture of how to assist Matt in managing the game.  Not to draw comparisons between Brady and Cassel, but Brady has far more decision making freedom on the field because he's Tom Brady.  To be fair, did he have that much decision making authority in 2001?  No way.  In time, I believe Matt will have that game management skill that so many top quarterbacks have.  Until then, he's really doing well, taking few chances and winning games.  2-0 BABY!!

• This was a grind it out victory.  Cassel's numbers (16/23 for 165 yards) were enough to provide a good cushion and win the game. 
• The best rusher of the game, LaMont Jordan, posted only 65 yards in 11 carries, but they were critical carries.
• Ellis Hobbs was lighting up the field with a number of key blocked passes and excellent coverage.  Just looking at this game, he's showing he's THE veteran cornerback in the Patriots' system.
• The Patriots didn't emphasize the pass rush in the first half, opting for strong defensive backfield coverage.  It seemed to work as it shut down Favre's targets.
• I was fairly convinced Hobbs or Jordan were the MVPs of this game, totally forgetting Gostkowski absolutely smacked the ball into the end zone for 5 touchbacks - FIVE!!  That's key.  Five of the Jets' drives had to start on their 20 yard line.  Huge...
• Belichick tried some trickery by leaving the offensive unit on the field and making Mangini think they were going for a 4th down conversion.  He then quickly put the punting unit on, creating a lot of confusion for the Jets.  If it had worked, the Jets' safeties would've been the return guys.  Unfortunately, Hanson kicked it into the endzone for a touchback, 1 of 2 for our punter.  I wouldn't want to be Hanson on the bus ride home from Joisey.
• The passing game was interesting and very telling at the same time.  Welker was tops with 7 for 72 yards, followed by Faulk with 4 for 50.  Moss went 2 for 22 and his longest was 14 yards.  A dropped pass changed his numbers, but it's interesting to see that the majority of the Cassel led passing game was short, underneath, high percentage passes and curious to see a running back, Faulk, with the second highest receiving yardage.  That just goes to show how important the running backs have become and could indicate the kind of offense the Patriots will be utilizing.

All in all, a very satisfying win.  I'm very happy for Matt and I'm stoked for the team.  Now let's get some of those O line starters healthy.  3 sacks on Cassel is 3 too many, especially when he limped away from one of them.

About 100 yards before I take the right into my place of employment, there's this butcher shop.  Near the street is one of those horizontally scrolling electronic signs.  You know, ground beef - $3.99/lb, strip steaks - $8.99/lb.  But, the other day, I noticed a different message:

We're behind you all the way Matt

It was religious...bear with me a second.  Have you ever driven by a church and, on the bulletin board in front of the house of worship, there's a message of encouragement?  You know, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life", or something like that.  It was spiritual because a butcher shop is a kind of house of worship, right?  You know, preparing for the game, buying supplies at the butcher shop...Ok, I've lost you.

Anyway, as we move through the Matt Cassel Era, let us be reminded of a few things.  You can't get experience without the job and right now, Matt is doing OJT.  Let's not harp on every missed pass or mistake.  Let's not be all gloom and doom.  Give him a chance.

As a final note, I'd like to show you some statistics:

Any guesses?  The second row is pretty easy to figure out.  That would be Tom Brady's 2007 statistics.  The first row is Brady's 2001 statistics after he took over for Drew Bledsoe.  Nothing to write home about.  But, we all remember how that season turned out, don't we?  You can't get experience without the job and Matt has a few more things going for him like: 4 years in the system, most of the 2007 team behind him and a tried and tested coaching system.  Have faith, my friends, have faith.

We're behind you all the way Matt.

Legends of the Game: In Trading Places, Jim McCabe takes a longer look at the many greats who refused to fade away on the team where they made their name and took the show on the road. Favre certainly isn't the first.

Uncomfortably intimate:

"It's a different feel with different quarterbacks," said the Patriots' Pro Bowl center. "It's kind of hard to explain. It definitely feels different when you're rotating guys in there, but if you work enough with a guy, ... you just get comfortable."

Too much?

Chris Gasper notes the importance of the running game this week--especially considering that the Jets picked up big ol' Kris Jenkins from Carolina in the off season.  At 6-4, 350, he's going to absorb some pounding and pose a big challenge to the Patriots still-struggling offensive line.

Phil Simms chimes in on Pats v. Jets, while in the locker-room it's Jeff Hostetler with a relevant take for Matt Cassel, who gives the first extended interview of his career. Both in Reiss' Pieces.

ProJo's Shalise Manza Young has put that interview with Cassel into a nicely digestible column.

Former and current teammates step up to the plate to assure Chris Gasper that Randy Moss will continue to be a positive force on the field and in the locker room. Still, the piece has a "definite-maybe" feel to it.

"You know, they just don't stop having the mafia down in Providence." They've come up with a thumbnail game preview, which I'm "compelled" to say is worth checking out. We'll have our own "what to watch for" segment later. Karen Guregian paints a rosy picture of Matt Cassel's reception by the team.

Adalius Thomas has a lot in common with Bret Favre:

"We went to the same school, had the same agent (James ‘Bus’ Cook), yeah, I know Brett pretty good," said Thomas. "I saw him in the offseason a couple of times. We were actually at Disney World with our kids at the same time and I saw him, about the time he announced his retirement."

I hope they get a lot of time together on Sunday.

Newsday's Bob Glauber has his own rehash of the "Cassel is ok" meme.

Peter King picks your Patriots to win this weekend--barely.  Dr. Z drops them only one slot in his power rankings--from1 to 2.  He's big on the proof of head-to-head matchups.  And Don Banks believes Brady will continue to have a significant impact as Cassel's study partner.  How long before the question, "Is the continuing tizzy about Brady starting to piss you off?" is asked and answered by Cassel, "Yes, I've been out of diapers for some time, and can actually wash and dress myself in the morning--all by my big self."

Ross Tucker, basing his knowledge of Matt Cassel on one 2 minute drill, thinks the Patriots will win about half of their games. You have to wonder...how some people get paid.  It's not just that I disagree with him; it's that his column is basically mental diarreha, recorded.  There are lots of ex-players out there writing.  Not many of them are working at becoming writers, though.

News from New Jersey:

Mike Lombardi at the National Football Post claims the Jets are locked in, moneywise:

The Jets are win at all costs this year -— all costs.  If this team does well, they will all be back.  If the Jets don’t do well, guess what?  They will all still be back.  They are in cap hell based on the guarantees.

Laveraneus Coles is still moping about having a Bret instead of a Chad.  The Bergen Record sings along, with a similar story.

Justin Terranova with a throwaway piece on raised expectations in greenland.

Ian O'Connor of the Bergen Record takes what is sadly becoming a broken record and plays it well, with a column on the physical travails of former Jet standout Wesley Walker:

Wide awake at 3 a.m., his battered 53-year-old body raging against the hits taken and the needles absorbed over 13 years with the Jets, Walker often asks his maker for relief that never comes. Devastating NFL injuries were all over the news this week, from Tom Brady’s to Shawne Merriman’s, reminding that generations of predecessors are out there suffering in relative silence, men who played a game packaged and promoted as a simulated exercise in war.

I remember watching WW as a kid.  How many of our childhood heroes are out there right now, like this?  It's like Superman has gone homeless, huddled on a park bench somewhere, wrapping himself in a road-stained cape.  The League and the PA need to step up and fix this.  The money's there--it's the will that's lacking.  Shame.

The Pats will be sure to challenge rookie corner Dwight Lowery on Sunday.  After reading this article, it sounds to me like the serious, studious Lowery might've made a decent New Englander. 

Oh well, maybe we'll pick him up when he's ready to win a championship.

Now, I can understand drunks in New York's sports bars cheering when Brady went down.  We have the whole New York vs. Boston thing going.  We've been rivals forever, or at least since "The Babe" turned in his red socks for pinstripes.  Two east coast major markets battling it out - I get it.  Heck, I could even understand fans of our mid western rival, The Colts, taking a few shots (actually, it was the complete opposite.  They've been pretty darn cool about the whole thing).  But Pittsburgh?!?!

I do believe not every Pittsburgh fan is a complete dolt.  In fact, quite the opposite.  I actually have a friend who's a Pittsburgh fan.  Well, not during game week, but that's beside the point.  Let's move on, shall we?  Apparently, a Pittsburgh fan or fans had the brilliant idea to celebrate the misfortunes of #12.

In a blatant act of asshattery and douchbaggery, I give you...

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The most watched knee in football has just been diagnosed with a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and MCL (medial collateral ligament).  Our ever reliable Boston Globe Patriots beat writer, Mike Reiss, gives us more info on wonderboy's recovery time.  Suffice it to say, Giselle's boyfriend should be able to participate, on a limited basis, in 2009 OTAs.

Our dear friend, John Tomase, discusses the key to the Patriots' success.  I don't have to remind you who John Tomase is, do I?  Awwhhh heck, why not.  Tomase reported that, based on information from a reliable and credible source (possibly named Vinny ;-)), your New England Patriots taped the Saint Louis Rams' Super Bowl XXXVI walkthrough.  He was later proven WICKED WRONG and had to apologize.  At any rate, I think his stuff is more believeable because as soon as the apology was printed, his editor went out and bought a microscope and he's not afraid to use it.

From our friends in Rhode Island, Robert Lee of the Providence Journal opines Cassel has lots of practice in the system:

The Patriots are expecting Cassel will be able to manage and win games.

It could be the reason New England turned away veteran quarterbacks Chris Simms and Tim Rattay on Monday. They were hoping to try to earn a spot on the Patriots roster but when they arrived they were told that things had changed and that Patriots were no longer interested.

Go Matty, Go Matty, Go Matty...alright, that was a little creepy.

The most excellent National Football Post talks about Brady's visit to Gillette Stadium and how it was "uplifting".  As an aside, Mike "friggin" Lombardi is one of the best writers out there.  23 years in the NFL get you something and that's access and respect.

New SBNation blogger John B talks about Who Goes over at Gang Green Nation.  A little background, please!!  Ok, kicker Jay Feely was signed to the Jets and, well, someone has to be jetisoned (jetisoned, Hah!!  I kill myself!).

Ok class, here's your quizz for the day.  The only Patriot to play every defensive snap in Sunday's season opener. (music from Jeopardy)...Who is Jerod Mayo?  Correct!!

The Patriots rotated their defensive personnel throughout Sunday's season opener against the Chiefs, but one player never retreated to the sideline. Surprisingly, it was rookie Jerod Mayo.

Can you say worth a 10th overall pick in the draft?  I knew you could.  In Belichick's style that we've come to know and love:

He has worked hard to absorb a lot of information and preparation," Belichick said. "I thought that overall came together fairly well last weekend and I hope we can continue moving in the right direction

In news 1,000 miles west of Boston, pothead Ed Johnson, defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts, was thrown from his horse for wacky tobacky possession.  To be fair, Patriots Running Back Kevin Faulk was caught as well.  As Bill Polian says:

We consider every violation of a team rule or NFL policy on an individual case-by-case basis. If club discipline is appropriate, we consider the past record of the individual involved and the extent to which team rules were violated when imposing penalties.

This is not always a fair application of justice, but it's true.  Faulk is a decent guy who made a mistake.  Johnson was already on a short leash.  How to screw up a good gig, a) continually pi$$ off Bill Polian, b) see A.

Boom Baby!!  There's your Shots Heard 'Round the Web.  Keep sending love to Foxboro.  Get in the lotus position and think happy thoughts.  Like backup Matt Cassel sticking it to grizzlied veteran Brett Favre.