Comments on: Riddle Me This

By: Lance

Lance — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:32:19 +0000

Seems like a lot of so-called Patriots fans want Hobbs to fail more than see the Patriots win. Sad really because he’s a bona fide starting NFL cornerback. BB and Pioli like him and that’s good enough for me. His heroic efforts last year in playing with serious injuries that would make any gold chain wearing knuckle dragger go running to mama should be applauded. Sheesh, give the guy a break or go inflict your fandom on a more worthy team.

By: larry mollin

larry mollin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:58:07 +0000

scott, that cushion that BB employs as a strategy with the DB’s as you point out is only good I think when the DB can close with speed like a Assante Samuel. or a vintage Ty Law. shit, even Tyronne Poole did it for a season. Hobbs should be able to as well. but he hasn’t consistently. Wheatley looks very green. bryant looks uninspired. i wish i felt better about this season. already have tickets for pats-49′ers in SF on oct. 5th.

By: ben

ben — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:15:52 +0000

As it regards your comment on the “tenor” if the specials had been more special, you could just as easily not have the TD overturned. It doesn’t change the real story . . . Cassell’s unit was useless and the defense gave up lots of long drives.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:17:52 +0000

Larry, keep in mind, giving away that cushion is part of this defensive approach. It’s not a choice the individual players make, it’s not an indicator of their instincts or abilities, it’s part of Belichick’s overall approach to team defense. You could put D’Angelo Hall in there and he’d be doing the same thing, that is, if he was playing team defense (which may be a new concept for him).

I don’t much like watching it either but dem’s da facts. Not in every instance but generally. I think we also have to factor in the incredibly passive base defense they’ve played all month.

I was hopeful that the addition of Capers would get the front seven attacking up the field more, which would also require the corners to play tighter and give them a chance to get a takeaway once in awhile. Maybe we’ll see that once the season starts.

By: larry mollin

larry mollin — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:11:53 +0000

while you’re listing the rookies — how about wheatley. right now he plays soft coverage as if his tutor was Ellis Hobbs. He looks to be learning mode and not ready to really contribute yet. that leaves the CB position very murky. who do you see as the top three. I would say Hobbs, Byant and lewis sanders. but i don’t like it. the raiders have three CB’s all better than any of ours.

By: LL

LL — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:31:42 +0000

“Gute’s” place isn’t safe until he gets the fist bump.

By: Nopointe

Nopointe — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:25:00 +0000

I noticed the same thing Bob, Guteirrez was ‘Gute’, O’Connell was ‘Matt’, Brady was of course ‘Tom’.

Cassel was Cassel

there are already enough armchair psychiatrists anayzing BB’s every move and word, but this really did stand out

By: bob d

bob d — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:58:20 +0000

Hey Chris, I found it very amusing AND revealing when, in his pc after the game coach kept referring to Gutierrez as “Gute”. That tells me that “Gute” has made the team and the no-nickname Cassel is gone.