Not an excuse thread, because we were awful, but I couldn't help noticing the astonishing amount of holding by (particularly the Pats) OL which went uncalled.
It seems that the Pats have realised that an OL can grab a handful of jersey every play as long as the hand does not get too far away from the body. To be fair to Wake, virtually all the techniques used to stop him last night would have drawn a flag even a few years ago. You are not actually allowed to grab a defenders shoulder pad or put your arm around his neck.
As usual, the Pats are better coached and have taken advantage of the new situation. That is why their makeshift OL looked all-Pro and ours didn't. But in my mind it is getting beyond a joke what is allowed at the moment, and there is no question that teams with 'valuable' QBs seem to get away with more than most.
NFL passing numbers are going through the roof already this year and frankly I find it a little boring to see these completely one-sided contests. Good as Brady is, the Pats offence is far from the best and most innovative I have seen (in fact, a long way away). The sort of stats that he put up last year and last night are just as much due to the fact that the NFL just don't seem to want any of the QBs to be hit if they can at all help it.
Go back and watch tape of Marino setting records in '84 and it is a very different game. A large number of his best throws are made under very heavy pressure.
It seems that the Pats have realised that an OL can grab a handful of jersey every play as long as the hand does not get too far away from the body. To be fair to Wake, virtually all the techniques used to stop him last night would have drawn a flag even a few years ago. You are not actually allowed to grab a defenders shoulder pad or put your arm around his neck.
As usual, the Pats are better coached and have taken advantage of the new situation. That is why their makeshift OL looked all-Pro and ours didn't. But in my mind it is getting beyond a joke what is allowed at the moment, and there is no question that teams with 'valuable' QBs seem to get away with more than most.
NFL passing numbers are going through the roof already this year and frankly I find it a little boring to see these completely one-sided contests. Good as Brady is, the Pats offence is far from the best and most innovative I have seen (in fact, a long way away). The sort of stats that he put up last year and last night are just as much due to the fact that the NFL just don't seem to want any of the QBs to be hit if they can at all help it.
Go back and watch tape of Marino setting records in '84 and it is a very different game. A large number of his best throws are made under very heavy pressure.
