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Originally Posted by RobertWeathers
I have no complete answer for the road woes this year. It's been bizarre and completely out of character. I do try to put each game into some kind of contextual reference. Bottom line this team has not brought the same level of intensity to road games vs those at home as it had in past years. They've taken their foot off the gas way too many times this year. If they do it again in Arrowhead we will lose. It's a fact.
So if I was going to look at each road loss, this is what I would say around it.
JAX- It was their Super Bowl and we walked in there like we owned the place. It was still early in the year and we weren't a very good football team. JAX were ready. We weren't.
DET- Matt Patricia, fmr DC knew us. Same as JAX. No receivers. No intensity.
PITT- I thought the D played well. We sacrificed putting pressure on Roeth vs defending the run. Tom's bad MCL was a factor. Tough loss.
TEN- Lots of emotion in that one. Tom w/ the MCL but another one where we didn't match the intensity of their HC who knew our offense (Vrable, Patricia).
MIA- Miami is part of the Bermuda Triangle. We never play well there. We are like 1-6 in our last 7 there. Its their Super Bowl and we gave up. What a horrific loss. Tom re-injured his MCL in the 2nd 1/2 but thats not an excuse. Pats weren't ready to play.
Even vs CHI we were curb-stomping them we let them back in the game. That goes back to intensity and focus. Part of it is also way-too conservative defensive playcalling like the 2nd 1/2 vs you guys Week 6 but thats besides the point.
So net-net, its not a talent issue. It's a focus and emotional intensity issue. We have it at home but not on the road.
I expect this defense to have it in KC but I have no idea it'll be enough.
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I think the discombobulation, the shifting to more runnig with Michel, no Edleman, a fading Gronk, etc, and Brady needing to WAKE UP and realize he needs to use a power run game MORE now, are all contributors.
I had the Jax game as a loss. The Detroit game no one saw coming, but again, that was a SB for them, they brought more energy, NE didn't, and that's how you lose.
Tenn I have no explanation.
Miami was a fluke play and that's on them for letting it happen.
Pitt was desperate, but I still don't believe Brady was willing to finally accept this team needs to run more and can, delving up carries in between the Tackles more with Gronk blocking more..
I literally said about a month ago that Gronk needs to not really get targets anynore, so since this shift took all year to happen, I think BB had to do some beind the scenes convincing and a sell job on both Brady and Gronk, that this is now more so the way.
Let's be honest: Brady and Gronk skipping OTAs was a nozzle move. I am as diehard as they come, but I will not lie about Brady's primadonna, passive aggressive antics this offseason on the heels of a Facebook Doc and a cookbook while acting like a baby because Guerrero can't rub him down before a road game.
I mean, seriously. Who kidnapped Tom- Brady? I'll tell you who...Giselle.
So, I think BB has spent all year managing some egos, but what I've seen since the Pitt loss is a realization, this style of offense is how it needs to be.
These are just my opinions, because there is no way with this kind of talent on offense, with 1st and 2nd rd picks everywhere, could be that bad.
Brady was throwing at a 40% compl. clip in the red zone. That's horrendous.
But, I am now I am sold that Gronk and BRady are all in since the Buffalo and Jets games, and certainly after last week. It's on.
The run game and the Pony Package are lethal and this is not your daddy's Post-Lockout Pats. This isn't finesse with 50 passes a game and 80% of those out of the shotgun. Nope.
And there is no permanent slot WR either. There is no Welker or Amendola.
This is 2004 and no one should have a clue where the ball is going. And, you know what? It still might go to Gronk in single man at some point up the seam or in the red zone.