by Tyler Carter
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Editor’s Note: This morning PD would like to give you a sneak peek at one of our new weekly features and introduce you to Tyler Carter, one of our newest staff writers.  Tyler’s ‘The Turning Point’ will hone in on the key moments – be it a play, or a series of plays – that truly made the difference in that week’s Patriots game. I think this ‘dry run’ from last Sunday’s pre-season loss in Tampa will give you a good look at what we have planned for this feature, as well as give you a chance to know Tyler and the talents he’ll bring to our site. Enjoy, and get ready to check out ‘The Turning Point’ after every Patriots game this year (SB).

Let me start by thanking Scott, Bruce and PD for this opportunity. I’ll try to make these pieces as insightful, entertaining and dorky as possible. On a more sarcastic note, I’d also like to thank the New England Patriots for tossing me a softball, or more appropriately, a naked bootleg sideline interception (couldn’t resist) for the initial installment of this column.

By any measure the Patriot offense was inefficient (10 points in 11 drives, 3.7 yards per play, 3 turnovers). But they were also without Brady (all-time Top 5 NFL QBs don’t exactly grow on trees) and two starting lineman (one a two-time Pro Bowler). Combined with Monte Kiffen’s lightning-fast Tampa 2 defense and the hostile environment, and it’s at least understandable that a younger, inexperienced squad would struggle.

Besides, when Coach Belichick, who is notoriously cryptic after a loss (especially a loss that counts), specifically offers the following indictment of his defense:

“…we gave up a 17-play drive to start the game and missed some tackles on a couple short passes and they turned into long passes…”

Who are we to argue? On said drive (this week’s The Turning Point), it took the Bucs 9:38 to march 80 yards (an 8.3 yards per minute clip…wait, is YPM even a stat? It should be). Here’s a related postgame snippet from Mike Vrabel:

“We didn’t make enough plays and then gave too much on first down and gave up short conversions on third down. Missed tackles. Big plays. That will about do it.”

No, my Ctrl-B keys aren’t sticky from having tasted too many cupcakes over at The Big Lead. Rather, the highlighted passages identify weaknesses that Tampa Bay exploited during the contest (let alone their first possession). Let’s see if we can support Vrabel’s analysis with some opening drive statistics (courtesy of the Game Summary PDF provided by NFL.com):

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by Chris Warner
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For Patriots fans, watching Sunday’s preseason 27-10 loss against the Buccaneers was like getting tickets to see Michael Phelps swim, only Phelps got replaced with a junior lifeguard from the community pool whose relay teammates tripped off the diving block.

How best to describe this debacle? Try this: in the first half, Tampa had 114 yards rushing, 120 yards passing. Meanwhile, New England had 174 yards total for the entire game.

Sure, sure: it’s only a preseason scrimmage. Someone just forgot to tell the Bucs.

On the opening possession, Brian “My Dad is Famous!” Griese drove Tampa Bay through the New England defense like a duck boat over the Charles, hitting all eight of his passes for 39 yards on a 17-play, 80-yard drive that took almost 10 minutes off the clock. The Buccaneers added to the misery late in the second half on a drive led by Luke “My Brother is Famous!” McCown, who finished up with two dump passes in a row to get the ball into the end zone.

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by Chris Warner
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With just over six minutes left in the Patriots’ 16-15 loss to the Ravens Thursday night, Coach Belichick decided to go for two when an extra-point kick would have tied it. As many starters from both teams looked on from the beginning, no one was forced to stumble into overtime.

It felt great to watch live football again, but we’ll look forward to August 17 when players like Brady and Moss hit the field. (They will, right? Oh please, please, pleeeez).

As with every preseason game – what the NFL refuses to call a “scrimmage”  – many questions dogged the Pats coming into the matchup. Like a series of Zen riddles, their answers just resulted in more questions. With that in mind, we look at what we learned and what we need to figure out after Scrimmage One.

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by Scott Benson
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Ha! Just kidding.

In many respects, the Pats 16-15 loss to the Ravens in last night’s pre-season opener was nothing to look at, yet we could not avert our eyes. Here’s some quick thoughts. [Read more...]

by Scott Benson
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What have we here? An “exhibition” game?

Pre-season always kicks off fond recollections of crusty sportswriters who looked down their noses at these practice games, and their pat raps against the NFL and their 32 co-conspirators. It’s consumer fraud! You’re paying top dollar and the coach doesn’t even dress Tom Brady! They’re ripping you off! And notice how they try to pass it off as real football by calling it “pre-season”? Call it what it is! It’s an exhibition game! And a ripping ripoff!

Imagine how mad they would have been if they hadn’t been let in (and fed) for free.

Anyway, as a fan I was never on the same page with those guys, naturally. I’m just happy to see football – and the Patriots – back. For fans, these games may be a bit like an at-home version of the spring training trip – eyeing the prospects, waiting for the veteran cameo, never scoreboard watching, just relaxing and reacquainting yourself with the rhythm of the game after a long off-season. There’s also beer.

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