No mailbag last week — my apologies. The funky week got everything turned around, and we weren’t able to get to the e-mails. Some of them were able to hold up for an extra week, while others had to be tossed out. Won’t happen again, people: I’m locked and loaded for the rest of the regular season, which is almost (gasp) halfway over.
This week, we look at the Patriots' bye week, Brandon Tate and who scares New England fans more — the Saints or the Colts. We also put the safety position under the microscope, wonder if Laurence Maroney could be used like Reggie Bush, and ask if the Patriots will be facing the Silly Nannies again anytime soon.
As always, feel free to join the fun by sending me an e-mail to cprice@weei.com. On with the show.
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At what point this year has Tom Brady been his best? The pass to [Ben] Watson was classic Brady and the two interceptions were just lazy throws. The O-line has to play a lot better. [Logan] Mankins and [Sebastian] Vollmer were both awful. Tate looked good — maybe [Joey] Galloway wasn’t willing to work but if two rookies can be productive, what does that tell you about Galloway?
Perfect time for the break — we’ll see how good the Pats are over the next four games.
Mike
A: Mike, it is a great time for the break — just about halfway through the season. The Patriots have an extra few days for self-scouting and a chance to get some guys (Fred Taylor) healed up for the stretch drive. As for Brady, he probably was at his best in the second quarter of the win over the Titans, when he tossed five touchdown passes in the ridiculously lopsided win. He and the rest of the New England offense were good last week against Tampa Bay, but they seemed to lose their focus on occasion — the only reason the score wasn’t 49-7 was because the Patriots seemed to let their attention wander just a bit.
I agree — it was maybe the worst game the offensive line played all season. Multiple false starts and holding penalties will give them a lot to think about come bye week. As for Tate, he did as well as could be expected for a rookie who just started practicing that week. The first question you always ask yourself when it comes to seeing rookies in action for the first time is: Do they appear overwhelmed? Tate certainly didn’t, helping execute an 11-yard gain on an end-around and returning a pair of kicks for a 22-yard average. It certainly makes you wonder if Galloway was vexed by the idea that you can’t teach an old receiver new tricks.
As for my thoughts on the next four games, check out my story on that here.
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How do you see the safety position playing out for the rest of the year? [Patrick] Chung seemed to get significant reps, [Brandon] McGowan was always hovering around the line of scrimmage and [James] Sanders came in for the cleanup job in the fourth quarter and still seems to be decent in coverage and a good tackler. And, can Meriweather be considered as a Pro Bowler this year?
Thanks Chris. Enjoy the bye week.
Paul Darville
A: Thanks, Paul. Chung saw more playing time on Sunday against the Bucs than he did all season long, but I will reserve judgment on whether or not that was a game-plan decision, or a new pattern worth keeping an eye on. He is playing well, but I'm not sure if he’s ready to make that leap to full-time contributor yet. He is starting to push Sanders more and more — it will be interesting to see how the snaps break down the rest of the way.
As for McGowan, it appears he’s taken on Rodney Harrison’s old role of serving as something of a safety/linebacker hybrid, someone physical enough to lock up the veteran tight ends (I’m looking forward to the McGowan/Dallas Clark matchup next month) and fast enough to keep up with wide receivers as a slot corner.
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