ATBNG
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Posts posted by ATBNG
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Mankins is starting - he's started all three preseason games.
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That is an incredible story aussie. It's amazing sometimes how we take having lots of transportation options for granted.
Glad you got out in time and glad you're OK.
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it's surprising, considering everyone thinks the pats can do no wrong in their scouting and drafting. they let go of s dexter reid and rb cedric cobbs, and unless they're badly injured i'd be shocked if they didn't get picked up. I thought cobbs had a 3rd round grade during the draft, didn't he?
maybe hollywood don can enlighten us about the suck factor in these guys, and maybe Belicick/Pioli's newfound draft fallibility?
If they do get picked up (as you expect them to) and make other squads, then what you're saying is clearly a testament to how well Pioli and Belichick draft and evaluate players and not a criticism. It's saying (generally) that guys 72, 73, and 74 on their roster are good enough to be in the top 53 on a different team.
An optimist might look at today's decision and say that the three guys the Pats cut were good enough to make the team last year when it won a Super Bowl, and not good enough this year to even make it to the final cut, so this year's team must be pretty damn good.
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You should try watching the game of football every now and then. If you had you wouldn't even begin to argue that Brady is a "Long Ball" QB like your friend Hollywood Pinnochio.
Let's let the film tell the story- I'll drop the bar one more time and ask you to only produce ONE game in the 2004 Regular season where Brady tossed 4 passes that were in the air for 45+ yards. You can't do it because it never happened. That's, of course, because Brady is not a "Long Ball" QB.
Brady didn't throw more than 4 +45 yard passes in any game last year, but naturally no one ever contended that he did. There may not have been a quarterback in the entire NFL that threw 4 or more passes over 45 yards in a single game last year. McNabb would be the most likely candidate because he had the most attempts - perhaps he did. But who cares? It's a meaningless measure you came up with based on this radically misconceived idea that there were actually "vertical" teams in the NFL that threw six 45+ yard passes per game, when the actual leading player in that regard last year threw 1.56 45+ yard passes per game. Who should be chiding who about watching the games here?
The statistics for a whole season are more relevant to a discussion on a player or players than cherrypicking statistics from one game.
Last year's completions and attempts on over 40 yard passes for Culpepper and Brady were very similar.
Culpepper 7-17
Brady 7-16
Of course, whenever you lack facts or are unable to grasp facts, you can go back to your convenient strawmen - the "film"
, the "try watching the games", the sadly lame vulgar insults, the pathetic closing one liners that end in an exclamation point, and now we can add "what might have happened in one game is more telling than what actually happened over the course of a season." -
The definition depends upon whether we're including statistical evidence and applying the name or simply applying a fan's observations from field play. I'd approach it from the fan side by saying that since most downfield teams are going to go to the well maybe 5 or 6 times a game on the average and those are typically, with true "Long Ball" QBs like Culpepper tosses that break somehwere in the 45+ yards from QB to Receiver, I could live with a 45+ number without, of course RAC. Obviously we're not talking about any quality issues here, but the dinkers in the league can get maybe one big toss like that in a game without losing their arm over the course of the season but it's only the big boys who can do it any time and with regularity.
The latest AKC contention (bolded above) on what actually happens in NFL games again couldn't be further removed from reality.
There were no quarterbacks in the league that regularly threw passes longer than 40 yards in the NFL 6 times per game last year….or 5…..or 4….or 3….or even twice. In fact, it was an anomaly for a quarterback last year to average as much as 1 pass attempt over 40 yards per game. Only four quarterbacks did so - McNabb, Culpepper, Kerry Collins, and Brady. Keep in mind that these stats are for passes thrown and not yardage gained – they track the distance the ball is thrown from the line of scrimmage to where the receiver catches the ball.
I took a list of 25 quarterbacks and looked at their passing splits from last season on CNN/SI and compiled their stats for passes that were thrown over 40 yards in 2004. I didn’t consider any QB’s from Cleveland, Arizona, SF, Chicago, the NYG, TB, and Miami.
The top five in terms of completions on passes thrown over 40 yards were:
McNabb 9
Bledsoe 8
Brady 7
Culpepper 7
Palmer 5
The top five in terms of attempts on passes thrown over 40 yards were:
McNabb 25
Culpepper 17
K. Collins 17
Brady 16
Bledsoe 15
The top five in terms of percentage completed on passes over 40 yards were:
Bledsoe .533 (8-15)
Favre .444 (4-9)
Brady .438 (7-16)
Boller .428 (3-7)
Pennington .428 (3-7)
Brady is in the top 4 out of the 25 in all three categories.
For posterity, the 25 QB's were Culpepper, P. Manning, Brady, Bledsoe, McNabb, Green, Delhomme, Bulger, Collins, Favre, Harrington, Brees, Plummer, M. Hasselbeck, Vick, Brooks, Big Ben, Palmer, Pennington, McNair, Carr, Leftwich, Brunell, Testaverde, and Boller.
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The definition depends upon whether we're including statistical evidence and applying the name or simply applying a fan's observations from field play. I'd approach it from the fan side by saying that since most downfield teams are going to go to the well maybe 5 or 6 times a game on the average and those are typically, with true "Long Ball" QBs like Culpepper tosses that break somehwere in the 45+ yards from QB to Receiver, I could live with a 45+ number without, of course RAC. Obviously we're not talking about any quality issues here, but the dinkers in the league can get maybe one big toss like that in a game without losing their arm over the course of the season but it's only the big boys who can do it any time and with regularity.
Vertical passing is simply over the top of the defense and hence with stuffed running formations on the other side of the ball can be 20 yard passes in the right circumstances. The term is open to some intepretation, it surely is used in a variety of ways by game commentators, but a vertical game is simply an empahsis away from the sidelines and instead over the top of the D, in other words Yin to the lateral passing games Yang.
Last year, the Vikings (led by "Long Ball" Culpepper) average completion covered 6.24 yards in the air.
The Patriots average completion covered 8.21 yards in the air - 31% farther.
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I actually think the Pats are solid at WR. In no particular order:
Branch
Terrell
Johnson
Givens
Davis
Brown
Dwight
No superstars, but they're pretty solid up and down the list. I don't think they'll be keeping 7 wr's so expect someone to be cut...and I have a bad feeling that Terrell is going to turn his career around in New England.
Terrell and Johnson have been injured the last couple weeks, as has PK Sam (who they drafted last year and spent the year hurt/injured). Seems like a 5th round pick for Davis is pretty reasonable, but it's a bit surprising considering the depth at the position mentioned above. I'm just guessing they don't think they can count on those injured guys to make the opener, and they are a matchup driven offense to take advantage of Brady's best strength - find the matchup, make the quick decision and accurate throw.
Dwight plays really hard and had a great game the other night, but I've been thinking he was a longshot to make the team all along. He's not what they need in the passing game as long as Brown is healthy, and they have been acquiring a lot of potential kick and/or punt returners this offseason (Morton, Starks, draft pick Ellis Hobbs).
I think they'll have five WR on Opening Day - Givens, Branch, Davis, Brown, and Terrell. Johnson will be around because he's still on the PUP list.
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No concern at all, huh? 125 rushing yards right down your throat, and the Saints converted 5 of 8 third downs against your varsity squad. Granted, they were without Vrabel, Warren and Phifer, but that's a pretty mediocre display even for the pre-season against a crappy Saints team. That ball doesn't bounce off a shoe and into Harrison's hands, and it would have been an ugly first half for the Patsies.
You keep telling yourself there's no problem, though.
It's preseason football. I think that most Pats fans understand that the middle linebacker position is a spot to keep an eye on because they lost their three main players at that position in the offseason (with Bruschi being an enormous, enormous loss), but it's an odd thought that we're supposed to worry or be concerned based on a preseason game against a team on the schedule (as HD pointed out).
I'd rather have a preseason game like last night than the one the week before. No injuries last night.
I've noticed that a lot of these preseason matchups where the teams face each other later in the season go over the total for you sports accounting types.
Alexander and Banta-Cain looked OK last night late - just a lot of overpursuit (especially from Alexander). On the downside, I'll be surprised if Chad Brown makes it through this week...never mind into the starting lineup. He looks like he's done - if not done, then certainly misplaced in this role on this team.
I wonder if the Pats will toy with a 4-3 at times this season on rushing downs...something like Green/Wilfork/Warren/Seymour up front, and McGinest/Vrabel/Colvin at linebacker.
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Not sure what the mood would be here, but I suspect that if Bledsoe were to have such a season, Bill Parcells will get the vast majority of the credit. The national media takes any opportunity to worship at the shrine of the Tuna that it can.
Bledsoe led the NFL in attempts in Parcells' last three years as Patriots' coach, even though Curtis Martin was on the team the last two and this includes '95 even though Bledsoe had a separated shoulder all year. The Patriots had a very one dimensional offensive line in those days that may have dictated that strategy, but it still makes me interested to see how the Cowboys call plays this fall. Bledsoe fumbled a lot less back then even though his sack totals were still reasonably high.
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Separate issue - Reese has left them in the lurch for sure, but Fisher's coaching was abysmal last year. I think it may be Fisher's time to take a year off and then come back in a different situation. Between the nonexistent secondary and the wildly aggressive game management, he will need to improve or I think he's in trouble. I think he should be as well.
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No - Belichick said in his press conference after the game that he wanted to get Davey and Cassel the snaps since they hadn't seen much game action...and then added "in one case, since high school."
Davey was awful - I've been hoping Flutie was a preseason gimmick, but it looks like he's in good shape to make the squad based on last night. I think they'd like to trade Davey if at all possible, but they probably couldn't get a water bottle unless he shows he can manage a NFL preseason game one of these years. He clearly is not a good fit for the NE offense.
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In their primes, playing at their best, Law was the much better player. The key to that statement though is playing at their best. Law was frustrating to watch at times because he would go stretches of 6 and 7 games without playing well. Milloy is much more consistent - just not as talented. Milloy is a step slow in coverage without being a huge physical intimidator out there like a John Lynch. He also takes some of the worst (too circular) routes in the league on safety blitzes.
I think they're both decent guys - Lawyer is definitely the better leader of the two. Law has the better pedigree in big games. Lawyer has the better chance of having a successful 2005 but Ty probably has more upside if he's healthy because for once in his career he's making short money by his standards.
My hunch though is that Law will be a bust, because the injury he has is particularly debilitating on a cornerback. John Olerud has the same injury and I think Don Zimmer could beat him in a race at this point.
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I just read about Hunter Kelly’s passing. I know very well that this young man’s valiant struggle against Krabbe’s leukodystrophy was one that meant a lot to Bills’ and NFL fans everywhere.
My deepest and sincerest sympathies to all of you, and of course to the Kellys.
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Check out game #5 of that season at Indy. We had a 3-4 TD lead before putting our scrubs in, and we only won by 7. That cost us the tie-breaker. I don't think a tie-breaker had ever come down to that before. I assure you that's not what the Pats were thinking about.
No, I couldn't get my 'quid' down on time. Pretty selfish of Wade and myself that we weren't thinking from the gambler's perspective.
What were they thinking about then? Did they have evil in their hearts? There is not a coach in the world who, given an undefensed conversion, would choose to kick for one (which might fail) rather than run for two (which can't fail). It's really, really inane to suggest otherwise - that the Pats did something that other teams wouldn't do by running in the two pointer. There is an enormous, enormous difference between pulling starters (and possibly protecting them from injury) and conceding point differential, and what Phillips did when time had expired. He had every right to be upset, because the end was a sham, but the method of protest he chose was really dumb because it could only hurt his team. Very unlikely that the point would ever matter, but there was no upside. Saying that a tiebreaker has never come down to that is irrelevant - it *could* come down to that. As Pacino said, you have to fight for every inch in football - you never know when that will be the difference.
I lot a ton of respect for Phillips that day. He's not at Gilbride levels, but I don't think much of him as a coach. Plus, the whole Captain Kangaroo lookalike thing throws me off.
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They're not being pricks. Of course NE is going to run it in. No sane person would risk a one point kick when the opponent is granting you a free two points. Point differential is a playoff tiebreaker after all.
You can be glad the players walked off the field, but I'm pretty sure you didn't have a few quid on the Bills that day. The Bills were assuredly jobbed, but what Phillips did was ridiculously unprofessional.
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SI ran the article about the head of the refs, telling them that there was no pass interference and they had to do better. I know someone mentioned Flutie above, but I also remember Andre Reed after the game saying he heard the refs discussion on the out of bounds pass and the refs were confering and confused and one of them said just give it to them. I must be getting old because I thought Coates caught the touchdown.
That game wasn't as big as a post season afair, but it left me about as upset as losing one. Pretty depressing thread, maybe next someone will ask what wide-right means too..
Coates did catch the touchdown after the Pats were granted first and goal on the Hail Mary interference call.
Three other points about this game:
1. The Patriots were favored by 3, so Phillips REALLY screwed anyone who bet on the Bills by not defending the point after and turning the game from a push into a loss. His walking off the field was one of the worst things I have ever seen in the NFL. I can't imagine a worse beat having bet on a game.
2. This game combined with the game the week prior (Monday night comeback win over Miami) was probably the epitome of Drew Bledsoe's popularity as a player in New England. He was playing with a pin in his finger and really gutting it out - he was finally showing his guts and heart and getting comparisons with other notable Boston athletes who had played their best while injured (Bird, Neely). If the refs had gotten it right and the Patriots had lost, would Bledsoe's rep have been diminished ever so slightly?
3. The Pats ended up staggering into the playoffs at 9-7 with Scott Zolak and getting trounced by the Jags. If they had lost the Bills game and ended up 8-8, might Kraft have ditched Carroll a year sooner...when Coach Belichick may not have been available? Or would he have pursued Belichick anyway (they supposedly forged a close relationship in 1996)?
This is why the NFL is so great - one game can have the most extraordinary ramifications years and years down the road.
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I have always like Ronde for his versatility and that he appears to be a class act.
Both Barbers are really good guys. I would root for Tiki if he didn't play on the Giants.
Liked the nod to "innovative" Gregg Williams as well.
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Unlike you, I don't claim to know the secrets of life for all man kind. I am simply trying to see if maybe this debate could be more civil, more able to reach some sort of consensus. My belief is that throwing around all this "baby killing" stuff is counterproductive unless you think inspiring the Eric Rudolphs of the world is productive. Of course, we could just cut this short and go back to where these things usually end up: You call me a baby killer and I call you a christian taliban or some such equally enlightening exchange.
There is no point where I asserted that I know "the secrets of life." I don't.
I think though that it is disingenuous to say that pro-lifers are throwing around the term "baby killer" to inspire Eric Rudolph - that's simply not true. It's especially tough to take when you yourself didn't answer the question where you think life begins (and this isn't some "secret" of life - there's plenty of scientific information out there that can be evaluated...this is not to say that different conclusions from that data from my own are necessarily invalid). Perhaps many have concluded that aborting a fetus having functioning heart and brain tissue is doing just that - killing a baby.
Why accuse them of a horrible ulterior notion - to inspire a grotesque murderer? Is that your idea of civility? Should you really be surprised that you're not getting anywhere?
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I don't believe that abortion is baby killing so I can only inquire of those who truly believe that, what are you doing home? I suspect that for many, the "baby killing" phrase is propaganda, hurled about for political effect as a real attention getter. Basically, its overheated rhetoric that is thrown casually around whenever the issue is debated. To be fair, maybe on some level or in some cases they truly believe it is child murder but even so, recognize that it just isn't the same thing as a psycho strangling a baby but that it is something less. I am testing my suspicions by asking those who use that kind of rhetorical bomb.
This is utterly absurd.
The New England Journal of Medicine concluded that the heart, eye ear and respiratory functions all form in the first month. Brain waves are detectable at around six weeks. The only direction that science could possibly take us in the future is better technology that determines that these things occur even earlier in the gestation process.
If it's not "baby killing," then what is it? When does life begin then, Mickey? Should we be able to prosecute people other than a mother - say a potential grandfather who doesn't want to experience the "shame" of his daughter's single motherhood and assaults his daughter causing a miscarriage - should assault and battery be the only crime on the table?
If you wish to know some truth about abortion and whether or not it is baby killing, you're not going to obtain it by evaluating the content of the opposing side's rhetoric, concluding that it is overheated, and thus believing that your position is the sensible one.
The other argument you're pushing, that a lack of action on the part of those who believe abortion to be murder suggests they don't really believe that, is equally inane. Do you think that MLK was not really committed to his cause because he didn't use a more forceful approach (like say the Black Panthers?)? Is a willingness to commit violence the ultimate arbiter of what is a truly worthy cause?
I'm not a big fan of SUV's. In fact, I detest them. I think that they contribute to a lot of accidents on the road, damage to the road, damage to the environment, and dependence on oil from a people that we are in many ways at war with. Yet I don't think that entitles me to stab the tires of every SUV that I walk by. I recognize there are a substantial amount of people who do not agree with me; I'll await the opportunity to vote accordingly and perhaps impress upon people that I meet and know how I feel and why.
Abortion is legal in this country; mere opposition to the procedure does not justify criminal actions against doctors, pregnant women, and deadbeat impregnators.
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Ahhh, the greatest time of year- sun is shining, teams are in training camp, and the football season is gearing up.
But to pass the time until the opener, there is nothing better than heading to the track in Saratoga. I get there at least once a year, and usually four or five times I make the drive from Buffalo.
If you've never been, there is not a better place to be in August. You can take your family, your girlfriend, or your crew of degenerate buddies and have an equally good time. The track is a jewel, and the town is sweet- good restaurants and excellent bars.
I'm heading there this weekend (the summer meet opened yesterday) and will be back again in early August, and then for the Travers on August 27. Afleet Alex will be running in the Travers and should draw a crowd of around 60K.
Like I said, if you've never been there, it is a great weekend trip in the summer...
This post is 100% absolutely spot on.
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So throwing sh-- at the wall for a few random years and just lucking out that Brady was the one in the million was all part of a brilliant scheme and foresight? What about the years they didnt draft quarterbacks like 1998 and 2001 and 2004? What about the several guys that didnt pan out (only one did)? How is this anything other than luck?
No team hits on 100% of its picks and signings, but I think the teams that are around 80% versus the teams that are around 50% are there due to superior talent evaluation and not just luck. Nabbing a QB like Brady in the 6th was more lucky than most picks made in all of the NFL, but the Patriots have had five good drafts in a row since Belichick arrived.
Also, Pioli is not the GM of the Patriots. He's VP of player personnel. Belichick is the GM; he has final say over all football decisions. Comparing Pioli to Donahoe is not really comparing equals - on draft day in Buffalo, TD has the final say. In New England, Belichick has the final say.
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I don't see why pessimism about the Bills' record this coming year equates to trolling.
I actually think that the whole division is in for a little downturn because they have tougher matchups (NFC South instead of West, AFC West instead of North). No Clevelands or San Fran, and they were probably the two worst teams in the NFL last year. I doubt the Pats and Bills will both sweep the NFC this year.
Losman is a complete unknown quantity, so I think that I would expect lots of people to have varying opinions on where the Bills end up this year. I also think that while the statistics for the last two years have been sensational, the defense really opened itself up for questioning with that performance in week 17 last year, and has a few key players that might be hitting the autumn of their careers. The kicker still is in place and he's still a guy that seems more likely to cost you a game than win you one. On the other hand, the extraordinary 2004 special teams performance tends to show a team that has a deep roster. The Bills are a very tough team to evaluate.
I think the Bills fundamentally have done all the right things with their offense in the offseason ditching those two overrated big name players, but the fruits may not be borne this season. Losman's a virtual rookie with a 180 degree style change from Drew - even though I expect the Bills will be way better off, it won't be instantaneous.
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My first thoughts when I heard about his injury were "I wonder if he regrets taking way less money for a shot to win Super Bowls now that his career may be cut short." The way I look at it these guys have to get everything they can while they're still able because they never know when their careers will be done. Of course, I realize my view isn't the prevailing fan view.
I doubt it - if anything, he probably is thankful he did so. Bruschi took less money in his contract perhaps, but more guaranteed money up front in terms of a higher bonus to salary ratio.
I agree that these guys have every right to get all they can. Football players make the least out of the four major sports due to the roster size and length of the season, yet theirs is the most watched and liked sport in the country by far.
Coldplay
in The Stadium Wall Archives
Posted
This seems like their standard setlist for this tour - it probably won't deviate more than a song or two.
Square One
Politik
Yellow
God Put A Smile On Your Face
Speed of Sound
Low
The Hardest Part
Everything's Not Lost
White Shadows
The Scientist
'Til Kingdom Come
Ring of Fire (Acoustic)
Don't Panic (Acoustic)
Clocks
Talk
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Swallowed In The Sea
In My Place
Fix You (ending w/ curtain call)
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Don't miss Rilo Kiley......