Posts
Comments

Halftime marks … Pats rolling …

Oct 18th, 2009 by Bill Burt

I woke up from my Titans-induced slumber just in time for halftime grades. This is easy, like my teachers had it in high school at Central.
Offense
Line (A) … Toying with a Tennessee team that clearly has quit.
Quarterback (A) … Toying with a Tennessee team that clearly has quit.
Running Backs (A) … Toying with a Tennessee team that clearly has quit.
Receivers (A) … Toying with a Tennessee team that clearly has quit.
Defense
Line (A) … Toying with a Tennessee team that clearly has quit.
Linebackers (A) … Toying with a Tennessee team that clearly has quit.
Secondary (A) … Toying with a Tennessee team that clearly has quit.
Coaching (A+++++++++) … Toying with a Tennessee team that clearly has quit. Didn’t pack it in tight and panic like Jeff Fisher did. Ran their stuff, like good teams should.
If Fisher doesn’t play Vince Young in the second half, he may not have a job by the time Southwest Flight 710 touches down in the Nashville Airport.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

Snow’s here and the Pats are in their element

Oct 18th, 2009 by Bill Burt

Hector Longo here in Foxboro, seems like old times with the snow, the Pat Patriot and Houston Oiler uniforms and the Pats in a 3-4.
The field is like a sheet of glass.
Jeff Fisher hit the panic button, with runs and an attempt screen into a 9man Pats front.
Meanwhile, the Pats will run their regular stuff.
No Adalisus Thomas and the Pats go old school wth the 3-4 defense.
This should be Wilfork’s day.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

OK, I’m here in the second half, picking it up with computer woes aside…

Oct 11th, 2009 by Bill Burt

Surely, you Boston sports fans are still brooding after a brutal Sox Game 3 loss to Anaheim.
Hector Longo here, looking to chat a little Pats with New England up a TD in the third quarter at Denver and facing the biggest serious of the game so far at 17-10. Can the Pats push it back to a 2-score advantage? We will now see.
If you’re out there and want to Pats chat, let me know.

HL

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

My Week 5 picks: Pats win tough game

Oct 10th, 2009 by Bill Burt

My Week 5 picks

Sunday’s games
New England 24, DENVER 23 … True grit
Minnesota 31, ST. LOUIS 20 … Rams are work in progress
Dallas 31, KANSAS CITY 30 … Could be upset here
CAROLINA 27, Washington 24 … Don’t like either team
PHILADELPHIA 41, Tampa Bay 20 … Eagles in a laugher
N.Y. GIANTS 42, Oakland 3 … Only worry is Giants get bored
BUFFALO 31, Cleveland 17 … Browns fighting for NFL’s worst
BALTIMORE 23, Cincinnati 20 … I believe in Bengals
Pittsburgh 26, DETROIT 20 … Lions will give Steelers a scare
SAN FRANCISCO 20, Atlanta 17 … Game of the day
ARIZONA 31, Houston 20 … Texans very tough to figure
SEATTLE 27, Jacksonville 23 … Julius Jones comes up big
Indianapolis 38, TENNESSEE 20 … Remember the Titans … stink
Monday night
N.Y. Jets 24, MIAMI 16 … Jets ‘D’ wins sloppy affair
Home teams in CAPS
Last week: 11-3
Season: 44-17

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

Halftime thoughts

Oct 4th, 2009 by Bill Burt

Some halftime thoughts.
Tough to even attempt to focus on the game when you see a possible neck/spine injury like the one that happened to Ravens tackle Jared Gaither late in the first half.
But here goes.
Pats offense looks sharp, the Ravens a little shell-shocked, especially after the Gaither injury.
Realizing that the temptation to throw down the field is so prevalent, because the Pats’ secondary remains so porous, the Ravens should get back to what they do best, which is pound the football at the middle of the Pats defense and exploit Gary Guyton and Co. up front.
Baltimore’s last drive of the half was a huge one.
Get points and it’s a one possession game. Get stopped and you’re down two scores to Tom Brady on the road, with NE getting the football out of the break and your left tackle on a back board being rushed to the hospital.
Again, great catch on the interception by Leigh Bodden, but what was Joe Flacco doing on the pick when Clayton was clearly open in the end zone. Just an awful throw.
Hey, all the power to the Pats, who now stand poised for the kill as we head to the break, 17-7.
Haftime grades
Offense
Line (B-) … Brady’s been at least brushed a little bit, and there isn’t much room in the running game.
Qb (A) … the real Brady is here to stay
Running backs (F) … Maroney is atrocious.
Receivers (A-) … Welker is the best non-Brady player on the field, yet again.
Defense
Line (B-) … getting chopped up a bit, with a little pressure
Linebackers (C-) … are they even on the field
Secondary © … the luckiest group in the NFL.

Again, Brady and the Pats are large and in charge.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

After 1, Pats looking to grab the lead … By the way, it’s Hector Longo here at Foxboro, not Bill, who’s busy with the Sox

Oct 4th, 2009 by Bill Burt

Wasn’t sure if I made it clear, that it’s Hector here at Foxboro.
Pats just took the lead, 10-7 on a Brady sneal, capping a 14-play drive.
Can the Pats defense answer the call?
We shall see. Brady to Welker look like they haven’t missed a beat.
Funny how Tom’s knee and his confidence look so much better when Welker is around.
Oh well, it’s going to come up to the Pats defense, and can they stop anyone.
HL

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

Special teams step up, offense sputters …

Oct 4th, 2009 by Bill Burt

Pats waste a great chance to make a statement, grab three points off the fumbled opening kick off.
3-0.
why laurence maroney?
Why Sam aiken?

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

Back here at Gillette, for what promises to be a bit of a slugfest, at least on paper. Where’s Joey Galloway???

Oct 4th, 2009 by Bill Burt

Inactive, that’s where.
No Joey Galloway, a healthy scratch now that Wes Welker is back in the fold.
Now we’ll see what Julian Edelman can do on the outside, instead of the Welker role.
No Mayo yet, and no surprises out of Baltimore.
Ron Brace is a scratch for the Pats, but Jonathan Wilhite is good to go, with no Cumberland Farm problems this morning.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

Sox pitching coach to manage Indians?

Sep 30th, 2009 by Bill Burt

A major league source just informed me that the Cleveland Indians are looking at Boston Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell as their next manager.
The Indians announced the firing of Eric Wedge yesterday, saying he would finish the season guiding the team this weekend in Boston.
Farrell has garnered a lot of accolades from Red Sox pitchers the past three seasons.
Farrell, who is on record as saying he’d like to manage in the big leagues, spent six seasons with the Indians as director of player development from 2001 through the 2006 season.
Two of those years — 2003 and 2004 — the Indians were tagged as the Organization of the Year by USA Today’s Sports Weekly and in 2003 Baseball America noted the Indians as having the top farm system in baseball under Farrell’s tutelage.
Farrell was in line to get an interview last winter for the vacant managerial position with the Pittsburgh Pirates. But he declined the interview saying he wanted to remain with the Red Sox another season.
Farrell was hired in 2001 in Cleveland by then new-GM Mark Shapiro, who remains on the job.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

Tuesday morning QB: 5 observations

Sep 29th, 2009 by Bill Burt

Last week we were Monday morning quarterbacks. This week it is Tuesday.

Here are five observations from Sunday’s 26-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons:

1. Offensive line wants Fred Taylor over Laurence Maroney.
That was the “code” we got from comments made by a few Pats offensive linemen, who went out of their way to commend Taylor’s effort on Sunday. While Taylor rushed for 105 yards on 21 carries, it was his yards after being hit that was most appreciated. The point is the offensive line is not happy about being touted as good pass protection and mediocre run blocking. That’s questioning their manhood. Anyway, it seems like Taylor hit the same holes Maroney has hit, only with more power.

2. That was Bill Belichick football.
I am confounded by the Patriots penchant for giving up its moniker as a “physical team.” You can not be a physical team and throw the ball 75 percent of the time. It just can’t happen. You can’t have a stout defense because there are many times when the offense goes three-and-out. And when you throw the ball and open the game up, well, you open the game up on both sides. Why that happens, I can’t explain it, but it happens. Sunday’s win over Atlanta was ugly, physical and close to the vest. That’s how the Patriots dominated in their Super Bowl seasons in 2003 and 2004. Let’s see if it continues.

3. Tom Brady is 80 percent there.
One pass he is the legend and another he is a mere mortal. Brady still is not comfortable when several defenders are hanging around his left knee. He’s getting rid of the ball a little earlier than he has over his career. But it’s getting better. The pass he threw to Chris Baker on the right sidelines bordered on special. After appearing to get sacked, he bought another two seconds by stepping up, getting away from a defender who grabbed his shirt, and threw a perfect strike to Baker. Sure, Brady botched three would-be TD passes to Randy Moss, but that is rust. But he looked good especially when it counted as they put away the Falcons on Sunday.

4. Still can’t figure out defense.
They have forced three fumbles, none bigger than Brandon McGowan’s helmet on Michael Turner in the third quarter on Sunday. But they haven’t made an interception, one of only three teams with that distinction. Overall, they are tough and more physical than a year ago, but still no real identity. This Sunday against the well-balanced Ravens offense might give us a better perspective.

5. Joey Galloway’s time is running out.
I still have not figured out how Galloway stepped out of the back of the end zone when Brady threw him what appeared to be an easy touchdown pass. Forget about not being on the same page. That has nothing to do with it. Galloway was brought here to be the No. 2 speed guy and make plays. He was given $600,000 in signing bonus, along with his $1.1 million salary. He has been a major disappointment thus far.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »