Things to consider while getting the “We’re No.
The Spark Notes version of a Knee Jerk Reaction, because my heart’s not in a long one.
I came close to not doing it at all.
My EIC told me to take as much time off as I need.
The thing is, the last time I wasn’t able to post a KJR was 2008.
(Time is a flat circle.)
Had a few too many.
I was fine to drive but the night sort of got away from us.
We had a hell of a time getting out of Foxboro and getting him to his house.
I plan to do a separate post about him once I can find the words.
Suffice to say he’d want me to be here right now.
The living room is so clean right now, NASA could use it to assemble a space telescope.)
And yesterday in Nashville, Maye put the brightness of that future on full display.
For all those reasons and because I can use some good news, let’s dive in.
We Drake-a-Mayeniacs might be getting a bigger dose of losses than we bargained for.
So you get to track Stevenson’s motions.
–All this on a day when Maye was the entire offense.
Yes, Henry, Kendrick Bourne and Pop Douglas showed up.
While Ja’Lynn Polk produced another stat line that was all zeros apart from the category of Illegal Shift penalties.
A one-hander, no less:
–But those three aside, Maye was a solo act.
They were the Heartbreakers, he was Tom Petty.
Maye had 95 rushing yards on 8 attempts.
Despite being pressured on close to 40% of his drop backs, Maye also had 206 passing yards.
Yet the team is credited with just 295 total yards.
–Which brings us to the offense.
This was a huge step back after the progress they showed last week against the Jets.
This was Week 9, but it looked like the first preseason game.
Missed blocking assignments all over the formation.
Pass rushers and run force defenders coming free through the line unaccounted for.
Spacing that makes no schematic sense, with two receivers in the same area.
A half dozen maybe, on 41 dropbacks?
Hits his plant foot.
Receiver is looking for it.
It’s a relic from a long forgotten past.
–I’m not one for making excuses for interceptions.
His first pick was something he’ll have to take as a teachable moment.
The Titans were in zone, and ran a twist up front that had Simmons coming in unblocked.
So this made no sense.
They have to keep Rubik’s Cubing the personnel like a hyperactive 5-year-old hopped up on Pixie Sticks.
Yesterday’s plan involved switching Michael Onwenu’s position for like the 12th time this season.
This time, he was back outside to that Layden Robinson could be lined up opposite Jeffery Simmons.
The result was less like a blocking assignment that it was a ritual blood sacrifice.
–Defensively, the Pats benefited from Tennessee’s general awfulness.
Steel sharpens steel, and soft makes soft even fluffier.
The Titans had 400 total yards.
The Patriots maintained their average by allowing 167 yards on the ground.
The Pats could’ve easily gotten blown out of the building.
And probably 28 other teams in the NFL would’ve done exactly that.
They don’t have an answer for a power back like Tony Pollard.
They were ground down long before Tennessee got to their 77th play from scrimmage.
With front-7 guys like Anfernee Jennings, Jahlani Tavai and Keion White taking nearly every snap.
–There were bright spots.
Just a regular loss.
No, the journey doesn’t end here.
Death is just another path.
One that we all must take.
The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass.
And then you see it.
Gandalf: White shores.
And beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.
Pippin [smiling]: Well, that isn’t so bad.
No it isn’t.
Thanks for hanging in this long.
I needed this more than you did.
