I like the pats too and the problem with me being a fan (as I have mentioned before) is that I spend each week having to convince myself why not to bet on them.
This week however convincing me of that might not be as hard as in other weeks. I'm not sure yet but I am thinking that this would be as good a week to lay off them as any.
Here are some of Belechek's comments:
"Q: Is there anything you would like to see accomplished in the game against Philadelphia?
BB: Well, first of all, I think Philadelphia is really a good football team. They are 1) one of top special team units in the league, I think [John] Harbaugh did a good job getting players. They are well coached. They did very good in the kicking game. Defensively, Jimmy Johnson does as good of a job as anyone in the league with his pressure package. They are sound, but at the same time they are aggressive. They attack you. They force a lot of bad plays. They have very good players on defense too, in the running game, pass coverage, pass rush. And offensively, they have a lot of weapons starting with the quarterback. Again, Andy [Reid] is an excellent coach. He does a real good job with the scheme, gives you a lot of preparation problems. They have good receivers; they've got a good tight end. They have a good quarterback. The backs run hard. They've got a good offensive line. So this is a real good football team. They've been in the NFC Championship the last two years for a good reason. You don't get that far two years in a row by…they've got a good football team. They are well coached. And they are good in every phase of the game. They are not a one-dimensional team by any stretch. I think this week we have a big challenge, a) in terms of personnel we are playing and b) in terms of the schemes we are facing in all three areas. I think they are very good. They also have a nice blend of youth with some experienced players; so they have a lot of young guys coming up, at the same time they've got some older, established people that are good, solid players in their position as well. It's a good football team. We are on the road. We are playing them in a new stadium. I am sure there will be a lot of excitement and enthusiasm down in Philadelphia. I think this will be a real good challenge for our football team this week."
I know it doesn't say much in reality but watching last weeks game against Washington says a lot to me about this team's weaknesses.
The Skins had 13 penalties and 3 turnovers and forced 131 rushing yards down the throat of the pats new 3-4 scheme. It seems like with the switch to the exclusive 3-4 set they are lacking manpower to stop the shots up the gut. Klecko is small (relatively) and with all those linebackers there can be more room for miscues up front especially (especailly this early in the season also).
The pats scored on a kick return that a team like Philly would likely not have given up and is not likely to be giving up anytime soon... Also the Patten TD early on was great - not to knock the play - but the CB did slip. Bot saying it can't happen again or that it didn't count but the pats certainly benefited from it somewhat anyway.
They also missed an extra point for no apparent reason to me. It seemed like all the regulars but its possible that Woody was the regular longsnapper and had been injured by that point.
Which brings me to another point - With Woody going down, and since the team cut Stai, and with the injuries at RT to Kenyatta Jones and Adrian Klemm - also I think though Andruzzi has been playing, he is also banged up to some extent (nothing compared to years past with him but banged up none the less) - the protection and run blocking isnt gonna be anywhere near 100%.
Having said all of that I have to say that I am very impressed with the play of the 2 rookie corners Samuel and Wilson, apparently Belecheck has been also because he cut Otis Smith the other day. Rodney Harrison is a murderer (In the football sense) and if any team has the depth at line backer to successfully pull of the shift to the 3-4 defense then its this team.
On the Eagles side - of course Staley is out, and though it seems like the eagles have a lot of no name receivers, their depth at QB seems like it will be a factor, and a challenge for the pats D.
Like Belecheck said I think this is gonna be a challenge for this team and I think that the new stadium will have these nuts in philly as wasted as they can be early on.
I think that the one variable that will mean the most in this game will be the pats ability (or inability) to stop the run, or the abilty/the lack of the eagles ability to execute the run...
