The latest from NFL.com...

"The Patriots declared RB Sammy Morris out of Sunday night's game against the Colts after originally listing him as questionable with a knee injury.

The Patriots also placed rookie WR Brandon Tate (knee) on season-ending injured reserve and signed former Cowboys WR Isaiah Stanback from the practice squad."

fdb

--- In patriotzip@yahoogroups.com, Rich Carreiro <rlcarr@...> wrote:
>
> RB Sammy Morris, LT Matt Light, WR Julian Edelman, S Brandon Meriweather,
> ST Eric Alexander, and C Dan Koppen all practiced today.
>
> But will they play?
>
> --
> Rich Carreiro rlcarr@...
>

The latest from NFL.com...

"The Patriots declared RB Sammy Morris out of Sunday night's game against the
Colts after originally listing him as questionable with a knee injury.

The Patriots also placed rookie WR Brandon Tate (knee) on season-ending injured
reserve and signed former Cowboys WR Isaiah Stanback from the practice squad."

fdb


--- In patriotzip@yahoogroups.com, Rich Carreiro <rlcarr@...> wrote:
>
> RB Sammy Morris, LT Matt Light, WR Julian Edelman, S Brandon Meriweather,
> ST Eric Alexander, and C Dan Koppen all practiced today.
>
> But will they play?
>
> --
> Rich Carreiro                            rlcarr@...
>

RB Sammy Morris, LT Matt Light, WR Julian Edelman, S Brandon Meriweather,
ST Eric Alexander, and C Dan Koppen all practiced today.

But will they play?

--
Rich Carreiro                            rlcarr@...

Wrong Borges actually has a decent Brady interview today:

http://bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1211592&forma\
t=text

--
Rich Carreiro                            rlcarr@...

The challenge in facing the Colts is that they, much like our Patriots,
have so many buttons they can push to move their offense. That's why Dan
Pees has said that the hope is always to slow them down, since it's nearly
impossible to stop them. They have a deep and talented group of WRs, plus
Clark from TE, plus RBs Addai and Brown, who present a danger both as
receivers and runners.

Those options make it an evolving chess match in every game. Every option
can't be covered on every play. Who'll guess right, our defense, or their
offense? There is no question in my mind that the most important factor for
our defense is finding a way to present a very strong pass rush up the
middle against Manning; and doing so with no more than 4 rushers most of the
time, 5 on occasion.

We do, as has been said, have an advantage when we have the ball, since they
have some significant injuries to their defense. We'll need every advantage
we can get.

There is no question that the Patriots can win this game. There is also no
question that the Colts can win it. It will come down to which defense has
the most success in slowing down the other offense. It will, I am almost
certain, come down to the last possession of the game. In those
circumstances, every play is critical. Officiating is critical. As such, I
think it's literally impossible to predict a winner, with any degree of
confidence. It will, I am totally certain, leave me a nervous wreck, either
way!

George



-----Original Message-----
From: patriots-bounces@... [mailto:patriots-bounces@...] On
Behalf Of RandyZ. Pierce
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 4:03 AM
To: Bosco Patriot Listt
Cc: patriotzip@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Dallas Clark

One thing which has been on my mind recently involves the defensive strategy
against Dallas Clark.  We know that McGowan has done very well in his two
prior prime Tight End match-ups (Gonzalez of Atlanta and Winslow of Tampa).
Gonzalez had one catch for 15 yards and WInslow had 2 for 9 yards which is a
pretty solid victory by Brandon.  My concern is that the approach of both
are now on tape and Peyton Manning will have considerable footage to review.
Was it simply a matter of McGowan's performance or was the scheme a
fundamental factor as well?  With time to game plan I could see the latter
leading to a concern if the Colts can plan for how to exploit our approach.
If the latter I have a fair bit of confidence McGowan will be joining the
Pats in rising to a tough challenge.

I heard Reiss suggest McGowan would play Clark very physical with help over
the top in a multi-defensive back approach to the game.

Anyone else have any thoughts about what to expect?

Go Pats!
Zip


_______________________________________________
patriots mailing list
patriots@...
http://lists.bosco.net/mailman/listinfo/patriots

One thing which has been on my mind recently involves the defensive strategy
against Dallas Clark.  We know that
McGowan has done very well in his two prior prime Tight End match-ups (Gonzalez
of Atlanta and Winslow of Tampa).
Gonzalez had one catch for 15 yards and WInslow had 2 for 9 yards which is a
pretty solid victory by Brandon.  My
concern is that the approach of both are now on tape and Peyton Manning will
have considerable footage to review.  Was
it simply a matter of McGowan's performance or was the scheme a fundamental
factor as well?  With time to game plan I
could see the latter leading to a concern if the Colts can plan for how to
exploit our approach.  If the latter I have
a fair bit of confidence McGowan will be joining the Pats in rising to a tough
challenge.

I heard Reiss suggest McGowan would play Clark very physical with help over the
top in a multi-defensive back approach
to the game.

Anyone else have any thoughts about what to expect?

Go Pats!
Zip

Interesting that in Reiss' mailbag he has this question and answer:

Q: While it's hard to argue with their home record since opening Gillette
Stadium, it's no secret that the crowd noise
leaves a lot to be desired. Do you agree that it's not much of a home-field
advantage for that reason? Also, have Bob
and Jonathan Kraft considered closing off the open areas of the stadium -- or
looked at any other options -- in order
to seal in the noise? -- Tom (Boston)

A: Tom, from my experience at different NFL venues, I'd put Gillette Stadium in
the mid- to lower level in terms of
home-field advantage from a crowd-noise perspective. I don't think closing the
stadium in is a consideration. One thing
that did interest me this past week was Dolphins coach Tony Sparano citing the
crowd noise as a main reason that
quarterback Chad Henne was penalized for delay of game after calling a timeout
late in the fourth quarter when the
Dolphins didn't have any. I thought that was a sign that while the crowd noise
isn't earsplitting, it has been a factor
at times.




***

I was actually proud of the crowd on most third down situations but the
intensity all through the game is lacking most
of the time.  I certainly don't think the stadium management does enough to
enhance this approach and I know the crowd
can ramp up as I've heard it in some past games.

STill I'll take the little victory against Miami...without Rex Ryan leaving us
all personal messages asking for noise
even...

***

Now I absolutely expect a loud Colts stadium and I hope we handle the noise
better than we did against NY.  Good
offensive communication is fundamental for our offense and we better be prepared
for the noise.

Go Pats!
Zip

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/index.php/2009/11/11/tom-brad\
y-i-called-peyton-manning-and-said-tell-me-about-your-knee/

--
Rich Carreiro                            rlcarr@...

George

As Ed intimated, it is entirely legitimate to get very physical with the
receiver at the line...even if that receiver
is normally a Quarterback.  They tend to be a little more cautious though and
it's hard to have any worthy hit on
them...so ultimately it works well.  Now when running the option...Tully should
have levelled him.

Go Pats!
Zip

----- Original Message -----
From: "the Shmoo" <ps2dad@...>
To: <patriotzip@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 4:16 PM
Subject: [patriotzip] Re: Wildcat White


A question:  When Henne lines up at WR, would the cornerback on his side be
allowed to jam him at the line, or even
knock him on his ass?  Isn't it true they can touch (hit) the WR within the
first 5 yards of the scrimmage line?  If
so, I say go ahead and knock him down a few times.  Let's see how happy they are
with that play then.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
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07:38:00

A question:  When Henne lines up at WR, would the cornerback on his side be
allowed to jam him at the line, or even knock him on his ass?  Isn't it true
they can touch (hit) the WR within the first 5 yards of the scrimmage line?  If
so, I say go ahead and knock him down a few times.  Let's see how happy they are
with that play then.

Great information to hear the Pats coverred Henne as a receiver, I wonder how
they decided who would draw that
assignment on each play and sure hope they weren't putting the top cover on him
each time.  I hadn't heard anyone break
down that detail.

I understand Tully having an uncertainty the first time he saw White and while
he made the error they fixed that one
quickly.  The defensive series which did frustrate me was the first drive of the
third quarter when it looked like they
were just going to power over us for the rest of the day...again they adjusted a
bit even though they were tired and
our offense scored quickly.  The key was how many third and shorts we allowed
and how many we allowed them to convert.
Four third and short and 1 fourth and short on that drive...mostly to the
fullback.



It wasn't the defenses best effort but they managed the wrinkles and held Miami
to well below their average.

Big challenge this week...and a very fun game ahead by all signs.

Go Pats!
Zip

All of those WILL happen. Tom Brady is, without a doubt, the greatest QB the
Patriots have ever had! And I've only been watching this team since 1960!

George



-----Original Message-----
From: patriots-bounces@... [mailto:patriots-bounces@...] On
Behalf Of Rich Carreiro
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 9:59 AM
To: Bosco Pats List; Zip Patriots List
Subject: Brady stats countdown

Brady needs:
* 40 completions to pass Bledsoe as Pats all-time completions leader
* 190 yards to hit 29,000 career yards
* 848 yards to pass Bledsoe as Pats all-time yardage leader
* 1190 yards to hit 30,000 career yards
* 4 more games to pass Bledsoe and move into #2 in Pats games
   as a QB (Grogan is #1 with 149)

--
Rich Carreiro                            rlcarr@...

_______________________________________________
patriots mailing list
patriots@...
http://lists.bosco.net/mailman/listinfo/patriots

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

DAMN IT! An 8:30 AM start is soooo much better than a 4:15 AM start!

George



-----Original Message-----
From: patriots-bounces@... [mailto:patriots-bounces@...] On
Behalf Of Rich Carreiro
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 12:24 AM
To: Bosco Pats List; Zip Patriots List
Subject: Pats-Jets will remain at 4:15pm

CBS has officially protected the Pats/Jets rematch on 22 Nov, ensuring it
will remain at 4:15p and not get flexed to the evening.

--
Rich Carreiro                            rlcarr@...

_______________________________________________
patriots mailing list
patriots@...
http://lists.bosco.net/mailman/listinfo/patriots

Brady needs:
* 40 completions to pass Bledsoe as Pats all-time completions leader
* 190 yards to hit 29,000 career yards
* 848 yards to pass Bledsoe as Pats all-time yardage leader
* 1190 yards to hit 30,000 career yards
* 4 more games to pass Bledsoe and move into #2 in Pats games
   as a QB (Grogan is #1 with 149)

--
Rich Carreiro                            rlcarr@...

Comments on your great summary:

-----Original Message-----
From: patriots-bounces@... [mailto:patriots-bounces@...] On
Behalf Of Levine, David
Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 10:17 PM
To: Pats (patriots@...)
Subject: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Dolphins)

The Good
- Randy Moss remains one of the best WRs in the league.  He is just a beast.
The stiff arm was just textbook as he made that TD look effortless.  He made
another beautiful sideline grab for a first down as well.  Oh yeah, another
1 handed grab to set up a TD to boot.
*** And, as we now know, he's also a great guy on the sideline, and off the
field. I hope he'll be back again next year; and I think he will. His play,
as you said, is not falling off.

- Maroney was a stud yesterday.  He consistently ran hard, hit the hole with
authority and initiated contact at every opportunity.  I would love to see
him more active in the passing game as he really has the talent to be
something special when he is in space but that's not how this O is set up.
*** Much better job by my "favorite target". But there is still a bit more
hesitation and side-stepping behind the LOS than I'd like to see. Overall,
however, this was an acceptable performance. Not outstanding. But
acceptable.

- Ghost was the difference maker in this game.  The 4 FGs were nice but the
kickoffs in the first half never let Ginn touch the ball.  Even when we had
an offsides call on a touchback, that didn't phase him at all.  He just
cranked one out of the end zone.  Impressive stuff.
- The OL gave Brady time all day to find the open guy.  Even the sack in the
red zone was OK.  No one could get open but the line held up for quite a
while before they got to Brady.
- TBC/Burgess/AD played a nice game as well.  They were able to generate
pressure on the QB and blew up quite a few of the wildcat plays.  AD had his
TD overturned (correct call) too.
- Brady missed Moss once deep on the INT but other than that, was flawless.
The falling down under pressure 3rd down completion to Welker was a special
play.  Hitting the deep balls and the intermediate passes all over the
field.  Nice job by a great field general.
- Vollmer did a fantastic job on Taylor.  He got some help from the TE and
RB at times but he was very solid against one of the premier pass rushers
.
*** I'm going to say it. I think Vollmer should replace Light at OLT. He's
stronger, much quicker, and more consistent than Light. And Vollmer is still
inexperienced!
- Our secondary played really well.  We didn't give up much though the air
and made the plays when we needed to.  Springs made one play on the ball
where he should have had an INT, at the very least a pass defended but the
ball just glanced off his arm for a completion.
*** And this game was without Wilhite. Our safety tandem of Meriweather and
McGowan is among the best in the NFL. McGowan has been an amazing surprise.
This guy spent most of 3 seasons on the IR list with the Bears. Imagine what
he would have been without those injuries. As for the CBs, I don't think the
Patriots have ever had a group as deep in talent as this. Bodden, Springs,
Wilhite, and Butler are all starting quality guys.

The Bad
- The D during the opening drive of the 2nd half was terrible.  Miami stayed
in the wildcat the entire time and just ate us alive.  Twice, we couldn't
get a stop on 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1.   We gave up a TD on another 3rd and 1
when we blew the coverage.  We just looked confused the entire time.  We
turned it around after that not allowing another point though.
*** I had to wonder if the Dolphins were doing something different "inside"
than they had done in the first half. Our D did a decent job on the Wildcat
throughout the first half; and looked like the first game last season during
that opening drive of the second half. As you said, they recovered. But I
still have to ask what the hell happened on that drive?

- I would have loved to see BJGE come down with that TD catch.  He did
everything right but just couldn't hold on when he hit the ground.  That
would have been a nice play for a young player to have.
*** I still want to see more of him running the ball. There must be
something about his game that BB doesn't like. Pass protection?

- How do you tackle a QB in this league?  I thought Chung's hit was pretty
clean.  He didn't lead with his helmet, his lead with his facemask.  It was
a textbook hit, just that it was on a QB.  The league has to stop this BS.
*** I think it bothers me most  because of the fact that most of the QBs
today (Drew Brees, etc., aside) are so much bigger and stronger than they
used to be. I realize that it's very difficult to determine "intent"; but
I'd prefer that the officials try to do so, and call only really "dirty"
hits with the helmet, blows to the head, dives at the knees, etc. In most
cases, "we know it when we see it." Otherwise, let 'em play.

- Both turnovers we created were overturned.  One on a penalty, the other on
a review.  We need to create more turnovers.  With our O, a short field
means points.
*** More importantly, IMO, with our D, we need turnovers to maximize the
effectiveness of the "bend but don't break" style we play.

- Houston misses a 41 yard FG to send it into OT against the Colts.  They
got lucky.
*** The Colts have been lucky at least 3 times this year. I was disappointed
that the Texans couldn't take better advantage of the Colts badly damaged
defense; just as I was that we didn't score more against the depleted
Dolphins D.

The Ugly
- Out of time in the 2nd quarter?  Not when you are at home.  There is no
way we should have gotten that FG off in time.  Brady should have spiked the
ball and just taken the 3 points.  Don't know what he was thinking there.
*** I definitely didn't understand that. It looked like Brady was going to
spike the ball, then had a play called in to him from the sideline. It was a
combination of poor communication, and poor clock management. They should
have been able to get a play off, if they were going to run one, faster than
they did. The clock shouldn't have been an issue.

- Late in the game, why did we even consider going for it on 4th down.  The
gimme FG from 35 yards out makes it a 2 score game.  Don't even fool around
with it and take the points.  Instead we line up to go for it and take a
false start penalty.  It moved us back 5 yards and made it a more difficult
kick.  Any other penalty at that point and we are looking at a really tough
FG.  If BB was even considering going for it, I say that was dumb.
*** Again, I didn't, and still don't, understand it. With only 1:12
remaining, and the Dolphins lacking a deep passing game, and a very reliable
FG kicker ready, just kick the damn thing! A 10-point lead all but puts it
in the bank against this team ...or any team, for that matter.

- The time out on the 4th and 1 run where Maroney easily picked up the first
down brought back memories of Baltimore.  Then we go for a keeper and make
it because Miami, I guess, doesn't play us enough to realize that when the
center is uncovered, Brady sneaks the ball.
*** Why do opponents continue to "offer" that to Brady? I hope they continue
to do so; but don't they watch game film at all?

- Did Joey Porter play in the game?  I didn't see him on the inactive list
anywhere.  Maybe he was too busy running his mouth to play in a key
divisional game.
*** An article in the Globe noted that he snuck out the side door after the
game, rather than own up. Now THAT is a lack of class!

- The CBS halftime show is all commercial now.  They go to commercial after
the whistle, they go to commercial after showing a ad saying it's coming up
next and they go to commercial after giving us 30 seconds of blather.  Their
ticker was even broken.
- The Giants continue to collapse.  What a choke job that was.  An INT with
3 to go and the ball inside the 10.  They have to settle for a FG and then a
defensive collapse.  They even botched a short FG.
*** With Eli "I don't wanna play in San Diego" Manning at QB, I love
watching them self-destruct. I'll never forget that, but for one impossible,
once in a lifetime, miracle play, the Patriots would now have their 4th
Lombardi Trophy, and Manning would still be without one. That play will be
in my nightmares forever!

- How do you lose to Tampa?
*** Ask the Packers. They're experts. They've lost 4 of their last 5 games
with Tampa.

Dave
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http://lists.bosco.net/mailman/listinfo/patriots

From a Tom Curran piece at CSNNE:

      This season, they've made 34 trips to the red zone and have come
      out with touchdowns just 15 times. That's 44.1 percent of the
      time.

      Do you know what kind of company an offense that scores
      touchdowns 44 percent of the time on red zone trips keeps? Bad
      company. The Patriots are down with the Redskins, Rams, Bills,
      Browns, Raiders, Seahawks and Lions. This week's league stats
      aren't out yet, but last week 44.1 percent would have had the
      Patriots down at 26th in the league.

Also:

      Of the 24 offensive touchdowns the Patriots have scored with Tom
      Brady at quarterback, only 10 came after they had first-and-10
      inside the 20. Just six came after first-and-goal inside the 10.

--
Rich Carreiro                            rlcarr@...