On Pro Football Hector Longo The Eagle Tribune Sun Aug 28, 2011, 11:22 PM EDT
New England football fans watch every move Tom Brady makes, be it on the football field, with an 8-iron in his hands at Pebble Beach or salsa dancing at some South American celebration with the Missus.
So why don't they actually listen to what the man says.
"You don't want to ride the wave of emotions of, 'Oh we're great and we suck and we're great and we suck,'" Brady told the media after Saturday night's preseason debacle in Detroit.
Brady was talking to you, all of you who had them in the Super Bowl again - despite zero playoff wins since the 2007 season - all because of the exhibition thrashing they hoisted on Tampa a week ago.
Again, these games, as a whole, don't matter. Pay attention to individual performances in the preseason, that's it.
The Colts were 4-24 in their last 28 preseason games. They've lost 21 regular-season games total in that seven-year span.
With that in mind, here are some quick thoughts on the Pats, a day later:
Flip the light switch now!
If the decimation of the Pats offensive front five by Ndamukong Suh and Co. proved one thing, it's that the Pats, as constituted, will again be susceptible to physical, pass-rushing defenses.
Again, isn't that what the 2007 Giants, the 2009 Ravens and the 2010 Jets all had in common?
So why not make a change, a drastic one?
All the current talk around the team has rookie Nate Solder filling in at right guard, a position he's never tried in his life.
Yes, without Stephen Neal, right guard is a hole. But Solder is not the answer. Neither are journeymen subs like Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell, Rich Orhnberger et al.
The answer is Matt Light.
A true soldier in every sense of the word, Light has been a consummate pro here for a decade, holding down left tackle admirably in a guard's body.
But he is now 33 and has slowed down over the last couple years.
Move Light inside, and let the first-round pick, Solder, learn his craft.
It's why you drafted him in the first place.
Folks, let's be honest.
Wes Welker is one of the best in the game, absolutely uncoverable by one man and often a threat to shred double-teams.
Aaron Hernandez will out-quick any safety or linebacker teams throw at him.
But after those two, you have to be nervous about the New England passing game.
Who can you count on?
Chad Ochocinco's issues have been well-documented. But nobody is talking about Deion Branch's obscurity through the preseason.
Taylor Price, Julian Edelman and Brandon Tate have not stepped up into the rotation.
And as much as you have to love Danny Woodhead, he's not Kevin Faulk ... yet.
It's not like any of the top three or four are going to play on Thursday night with the Giants. They are what they are.
Folks, Tom Brady needs some help. Watch the waiver wire. This group needs an upgrade.
It's become pretty common to try and predict Bill Belichick's thoughts and try to assemble a final 53-man roster as the final preseason game and two cuts approach.
Here are my ideas on who is in, on the bubble and out.
First, the definites:
Offensive line (5) — Dan Koppen, Logan Mankins, Matt Light, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder
Receivers and tight ends (5) — Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Wes Welker, Chad Ochocinco, Matt Slater
Quarterbacks (3) — Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
Running backs (4) — BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen
Defensive line (6) — Andre Carter, Shaun Ellis, Gerard Warren, Kyle Love, Myron Pryor, Vince Wilfork
Linebackers (5) — Jerod Mayo, Gary Guyton, Brandon Spikes, Jermaine Cunningham, Rob Ninkovich
Secondary (8) — Kyle Arrington, Leigh Bodden, Devin McCourty, Ras-I Dowling, Pat Chung, Sergio Brown, Brandon Meriweather, James Sanders
Specialists (3) — Stephen Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, Matt Katula Now, where the battles lie:
Offensive line (Need 4 more) — Potentially, the thinnest position group on the roster. If Belichick doesn't go elsewhere to fill out this group, it looks like Steve Maneri, Dan Connolly, Rich Orhnberger and Ryan Wendell would be on the inside track. None of the four resembles a potential starter on a legitimate offensive line.
Receivers (3) — Rookie Will Yeatman has seen good time with the starters at the No. 3 tight end. Another rookie, Lee Smith, is a fifth-round pick, who Belichick would love to keep around. And Belichick brought 2006 draftee Garrett Mills into the fold last week, just to spice things up in the battle for the third tight end spot. Can Deion Branch make the team without a preseason catch? Sure, he's a good soldier, and that leaves Belichick to decide between Taylor Price, Julian Edelman and Brandon Tate.
Defensive line (2) — Eric Moore, Mark Anderson and Albert Haynesworth - somebody will be a surprise cut. Don't think Belichick's words this week weren't a warning that he expects more out of Haynesworth. The end of the line for guys like Ron Brace and Brandon Deaderick is upon us.
Linebackers (3) - Not sure there are three more worthy candidates on the roster, but Dane Fletcher, Niko Koutovides and Tracy White, all quality special-teamers, will fill the roles until the waiver wire is scoured.
Secondary (2) — Darius Butler and Jonathan Wilhite? Wow, this has to rank among the worst secondaries in football.
Some notes on what's left:
James Ihedigbo — The 5-year special teams maven out of UMass could definitely hang around if need be.
Malcolm Williams — Seventh-round pick is perfect for practice squad.
Marcus Cannon — Rookie cancer survivor will most likely find the injured reserve as he tries to physically recover.
Landon Cohen — Will play and start for a weaker 3-4 team this year when Belichick cuts him.
Buddy Farnham — Two-way player. Will the Andover product be playing for his spot on the practice squad Thursday night vs. the Giants?
Kevin Faulk — Starts year on PUP list but could be a valuable second half weapon.
Sammy Morris — Consummate gentleman, but 12-year running back has slowed to a crawl.
Mike Wright — Injuries and a move to a four-man front have dimmed his sights here.
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