This thread really isn't justified considering it was one game and there was enough egg to go around for everyone. Yes, Reggie Bush struggled but it was mostly because the offensive line had NO push. I've been a season ticket holder for 10 years, live Dallas now and still fly back down for games. I was at the game last night and this freakin O-line got handled. They were contending with two 350 lbs beasts in Haynesworth and Wilfork (former or current pro-bowlers). I don't care if it was Adrian Peterson or Arian Foster in the backfield, they weren't going to going anywhere because these DT's allowed their linebackers the freedom to shoot the gaps and once in a while made the stops themselves.
Below are my key contributing factors to the loss yesterday.
1. Defense was autrocious and they should be embarassed if not humbled for the entire year after this performance for giving up over 600 yards to the Patriots. The Patriots are good but even they have never been that good before and set a team record offensively. I could single out a few players but that wouldn't be fair since they all had a hand in giving up the yards. You win as a unit and you lose as a unit period.
2. Poor performance by our O-line. Sad when you see a clean blitz not picked up because when we blitzed the Patriot's O-line handled it. I'm sick and tired of us tweeking the line. We had a decent line after the 2009 season and finished 4th overall in rushing, and then Sparano changes personnel again, and we went from 4th to 21st in one year. Pretty stupid considering he is an offensive line coach.
3. Play calling in the red zone is to be second guessed. We were inside the 2 yard line twice and came away with only 3 points. I know this new NFL era is a passing one but seriously get aggressive and play old school smash mouth football. They should have attempted to pound it in there with Larry Johnson. Why did we resign him only for him to remain on the bench during those situations? We have enough cheerleaders, let him play for situations he is suited for, or cut him.
4. Overall we were outcoached. I wonder if the A.J. Edds situation factored in a bit more than people think. As an inside linebacker you make the defensive calls. Did A.J. provide the Patriots with enough defensive schemes we run to have a record day offensively? We know the Patriots will try everything including cheating to win so perhaps the got what they needed out of A.J. Edds. I wonder how long before they cut him. I personally thought he was a decent young player but they picked him up pretty quickly which tells me they perhaps could have done so to interrogate him.
Just my two cents....