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Phoning It In
Authored by Thomas Gass - 16th November, 2005 - 8:20 pm
Between 2002 and 2006, each school that came into the season ranked No. 1 in the nation ran the table in the regular season, but we've seen huge turnover in 07 and 08.
Baltimore wants Flacco to be their QB of the future. But the Ravens feel they have no choice but to start him now because Boller and Smith are unavailable. Wrong!
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I met the Old Wise Man of the Mountain one evening up on Mt. Washington after a sudden snowstorm blew me off the trail I was following home. Taking refuge in his cozy cabin, we spent the snowstorm arguing over the Patriots…well, I did most of the arguing, his cold, calculated mountain commonsense keeping him from taking up the fight. An instant friendship was born; after every game I usually call on him to complain about something. After all, I am a New Englander.
Tom: Ugh
Wise Man: Yes, indeed.
Tom: Well, at least they won.
Wise Man: Yeah, I guess so…
Tom: But…? But what? A win is a win, no?
Wise Man: Does it feel like a win?
Tom: Well, the score says 23 to 16 and…
Wise Man: I know what the score was.
Tom: But…you’re not convinced it was a justified win.
Wise Man: Exactly.
Tom: But the Dolphins always give the Patriots troubles, even more so now that the defense can’t stop a Pop Warner kid from gaining 100 yards on the ground against them.
Wise Man: That is true.
Tom: Then why don’t you think it was justified? The defense did what it had to do; it stopped Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams from beating them on the ground and eating up the clock. So the secondary made Gus Frerotte look like Dan Marino and they still have problems allowing third-down conversions, this we knew. So why are you down about this win? The defense played better than they have and…oh! You’re not down about the defense, are you?
Wise Man: Never said I was.
Tom: So, you’re more concerned about the offense?
Wise Man: It is a concern, yes.
Tom: But the Dolphins have an underrated defense. They’re currently eighth in defensive DVOA and…
Wise Man: Don’t use stats; you know how I feel about them.
Tom: Yeah, yeah, yeah, “Stats only verify what your eyes should have already told you…” blah blah blah. Someday you’ll come around to the 21st Century. Anyway, I thought the Patriots did an admirable job yesterday provided that they lost Corey Dillon after the first snap and David Givens was…
Wise Man: You’re making excuses.
Tom: I am not making excuses. The Pats were down two key offensive players for the whole game and, as a result, had to go to a castoff from Miami as lead rusher…
Wise Man: Heath Evans did a very fine job and, regardless, he wasn’t the problem. Nor was it injuries.
Tom: Then what? So Brady struggled. It’s bound to happen from time to time, plus the Dolphins defense isn’t as much of a pushover as you think…
Wise Man: Never said they were.
Tom: Then what? The Patriots offense stepped up when it had to against a tough defense. They struggled at the beginning, and you think this is because there’s an inherent problem with the offense and not because of a strong defense? And you think the problem is…
Wise Man: Yes?
Tom: This is an offense that shouldn’t have had troubles against a defense like Miami.
Wise Man: Exactly.
Tom: Well, then, why is that?
Wise Man: You know why, you saw the same game as me.
Tom: Because they’re…not executing properly?
Wise Man: They are.
Tom: Because of key injuries forcing Brady to carry this team on his shoulders?
Wise Man: Not any more so than any other good QB on a struggling team. C’mon, you know the answer; you just don’t want to admit it.
Tom: Because the offense is…predictable?
Wise Man: Exactly.
Tom: You know, I noticed that around Week 3, but I thought it had more to do with the Patriots acclimating themselves post-Weis than it was an actual agenda. Maybe it still is them having trouble adjusting?
Wise Man: Possibly.
Tom: But, yeah, that has been a problem. As great as Brady is, there’s less trickery and complexity in this offense than when Weis ran the show. Defenses are finally starting to come around to how to play the offense and exploit its weaknesses, namely the lack of a running game. As great as Brady is, a staid offense isn’t going to win them games, not with the guys they have currently lining up on offense. And if that offense isn’t putting up points, then they’re not going to win games because that defense can’t stop anybody.
Wise Man: Exactly.
Tom: You know what I’ve noticed?
Wise Man: What?
Tom: For a wise man, I seem to be the one giving all the answers.
Wise Man: Yes, I’ve noticed that as well.
Tom: Then why do I keep calling you?
Wise Man: I ask myself the same thing.
Tom: Well, I guess I actually like conversing with you.
