10-13-08 D&H talk Patriots-Chargers

Let's be honest early Saturday morning as he went to bed after game one of the ALCS and dice -- jam and a two nothing win. You and me and everybody else in New England is thinking this could be one of the great sports weekends ever. I mean this is going to be unbelievable.

You're right you're right -- an entertaining. Sports weekend worst case scenario absolute worst case scenario you thought you get a split. Maybe the Red Sox winning game two with Beckett starting versus Kazmir. And the Patriots playing a -- game in San Diego may be coming up short by a field -- I. Not a good weekend instead at least at that stayed up really late. That's the tough Red Sox -- and you saw the game and the Patriots the Patriots blew me away in this game because. All of their issues. Came to the for all of their issues Kansas are definitely she won a game. And I know everybody of -- plated him with a baseball talk about football the ball on the table. I think everybody today is going to focus on Matt Cassel. And Matt Cassel I was going to start with dealt only as sick as down in the delta O'Neal I mean really bad. But you talk about Matt Cassel yes he has -- issues. And I'd do great on a curve when it comes to Matt -- I -- this is that it's -- big boys sports now you're on the varsity. No one's going to feel sorry for you. R Kelly angle right -- songs are you okay how we understand that we understand. But the fact is this guy has played five games in eight years. So I don't expect all that much five games eight years -- your starter right now. And he's not going to be able to do a lot he won't be able to win games for. I'll be critical of him but I always keep that in the back of mine but if you look at some other aspects of the Patriots. Yesterday. And when you look at it yet when you look at these issues from yesterday you -- your reminded. At the same issues came up in this ever sisco game but we ignored them. Because they had great time of possession. And they won the game about -- we're talking about him this me. -- was on the field for a long time that's got to just sit and rest coming points they give up against emphasis. Can remember the number now but yeah. So if they have that we want that that would that the final score started when he won somewhere that out. If they have despite not being on the -- us something about that they have the offense has the ball for forty minutes. And they.

In the deep and still gives up 21 points.

It's funny man it's. It's a point a minute away.

No matter how you slice it -- that's a little misleading because the -- points -- here it was a short field we ignored the problem. Because they won the game but even in the Sampras sisco game they had problems covering old I mean. Down I Bruce was able to get into the end zone on the Patriots a couple of times. In a victory so we shouldn't be surprised. When Deltha O'Neal you cover now we know like Cincinnati the win with Cincinnati and I felt ready to cover can't cover.

He would back but it's not just him the secondary to -- looks problematic. Guys we like we'd like Rodney Harrison. Was like James and who else would like Ellis Hobbs the bird.

Some like more than others out like that yeah Ellis Hobbs second cover to cover the this. Now right side now and win is the last time the issues. That you. When's the last time you saw the Patriots opened the line not come close. To quarterback the game. They could get pressure on anything they couldn't tell you what type -- he was she when they could type -- bad breath but not by a bad body order. They didn't touch him he was not under directed at any point. Last night. I I'm I'm smart enough to know you don't judge a team after five games. After five games. You look at their wins -- lost in their losses. They've really look like cop bad football team twenty point loss yet wait a point losses when they lose it looked like a bad thing.

They looked awful last night offensively defensively. I mean I'll I'll -- special teams and only because Stephen Gostkowski finally missed a kick right. You know Chris Hanson didn't gasoline there I mean they get beaten every aspect of the game last night by a team that. Beat by the Miami Dolphins the week before it looked that great do when it you know they've got their own defensive issues we thought. I mean they've been given up points and yards by the bushel we thought and yet this offense couldn't do anything with a --

Guess what we're not done we're not going to how about coaching I don't know this is on Bill Belichick and Josh mcdaniels a -- When you have a short yardage situation out in you have I hate that. First call on first and goal from the one when I'm -- that -- that short yardage situation have Kevin Faulk and Sammy wars in the backfield at the same time. Which I'm not really feel that -- and ignores blocking. And you have Kevin Faulk. Trying to pick up short yardage. Game. That is -- and Kevin Faulk has picked -- back here at short yards before. But usually. It to draw. Or. -- tax. Write it these you know Kevin Faulk I've formation. Here we go a minute I'm addicted to a three -- yards.

Whereas John Madden pointed out is always a run formation yeah Patriots I mean that John Matt knows that the Chargers know what. And they are looking at that situation yet sure what will take on. It was one thing after another last night -- I mean when they when they had to settle for the field goal in the first and then missed it. You know when they have first and goal on one and you can't let it out Nachman. I -- and you know this is all this is the same second guessing everybody else does so it's it's unfair on my part. I didn't like the first the goal of the one play the NL play act as -- your ultimate stake in it and you know that's not Tom Brady back there into.

Around like well Oakland.

We aren't -- I think that it.

Dover well -- if I don't why I pictured her Tom Brady turning around going okay I got you I got I got you turned around in the thing.

It's moving fast for him that move too fast for Matt Cassel. You can't put him in that situation and and yes I'm treating him with kid gloves because you have to do. You have to do it. Based on his experience at once again the least experienced quarterback in the entire NFL.

in the history of the NFL really. If you earlier about that I mean at and they were pointing this out on the telecast I don't play -- at all and well -- throw 33 -- and bill said I saw maul me it probably took about eight or nine minutes the look at his entire college -- the dialogue out. I I mean there they're probably hasn't that a guy this inexperience. In the history of the NFL playing quarterback.

I would agree with that now and you think about. Because I know I'm I'm anticipating the rush here. I know you guys are going to jump all over -- council today. But before you jump on Matt -- just consider everything. It takes to have a quarterback be successful. The offensive line up now but the line was good consider -- up the line played well. Ankle. All got out whenever Jamal Williams is tall but Jamaal Williams is going to do that a lot of people he reminded me of Andre Tippett throwing the running back into the quarter I mean yeah he bull rushed them and had him on the ground it was it was pretty ugly. But. If you going to be a good quarterback. You're up in the line has to play well.

You have to have a running game. We we're we're looking at four running backs here to -- Not able to play yesterday you know. Not much. Not much there there in the running game you don't have you don't have much are running game. You don't have receivers who were going out making plays for you Randy Moss I had a big drop there you can say it was a good play by Quentin Jammer but -- Randy Moss. In the best receiver in the NFL we think is supposed to catch that ball. Nine times out of ten anyway. You think about.

Play calling. Well honey honey it took up the play calling when Matt Cassel -- is. Is behind the wheel here.

Well and and Matt even talked about this before they talked about in the pregame show at like 710 least talking about 80% of his passes or eight yards or less and I mean it's it's like they're they're scared to death to let him go downfield. In a few instances when he does go downfield you sort of understand whether scared to death the let him Billick. I I I don't know where they go offensively. -- You know the guy they've got a quarterback I don't know what they can do beyond what the try to do here. Obviously they have to run better and having Maroney and available and LaMont Jordan out of it to be drastic difference what.

Even when those guys are available I mean Laurence Maroney and and and maybe he has and he's used the shoulder and and it's banged up. But Laurence Maroney when he has been out there hasn't been good. There hasn't been as good strong running game for the Patriots now yes they play -- they they ran the ball. They were able to possess the ball against Sampras sisco. But they they don't happy guy. You don't feel like they can really get it if they need. That's what I'm trying to say L -- like they can get it when they need.

Against good teams forced up when they need to stop. I mean -- third on the going to convert every single time. What they've what they've asked have I have a problem with side if the team is lined up on third and three they want to run the ball. I think the Patriots can be competitive there. If that if the team path that I like I would be Mike Martz -- the Patriots. I would pass that would come out on scripted plays at the burst when he plays of the script and I'll be passed.

Yet the Chargers actually ran more than I thought they would. Given the successes they were having early on I was surprised LaDainian -- carry as much as he did it. If I agree with the on American Idol my idol back down every time I mean they are vulnerable and -- it was obvious what they did decide wise when we do pass at. Wherever dealt O'Neal is that's the guy who's getting the ball. I mean you talk about picking on a guy it was obvious from from play one they had decided. Webber's whichever receiver is closest to number 21 that's what we're on they'll.

Now wonder why they decided and and I'm sure glad a local girl will go over this -- Balata conviction -- wonder why they decided. That they need to be in man. That our game plan was -- our game plan is going to be man to man coverage -- and I got in and after the game. Rodney Harrison said it.

It wasn't you know they didn't fool us we knew what was coming we knew we'd have to play man it's one man. Trying to take out another one.

Why do you feel like you have the personnel. The -- that stop you don't. You don't have I don't think you can play man to man for the Patriots right now with their secondary. I'm -- indict the entire secondary everybody not just Ellis Hobbs and Deltha O'Neal everybody in the secondary. I don't think you have the skills. To be gone up against a team man to man for an target. Tightly and and and results would back up everything -- saying you know what it makes it worse. We don't have a pass rush not if you do get a pass rush I still think it's a risky proposition for the Patriots -- based on who they have back there. But you don't have a pass rush and you understand man. The night.

You know these guys better than than most of us do and even Madden and Michaels were saying they were hesitant to comment on that but the and they did. What do you think that conversation wise mcdaniels and -- check on off the field I.

I don't know I don't know why you know -- I can't imagine. Mcdaniels. Talent pellets into politics -- now I don't think so either I think. It was just it was loud the stadium and he was trying to trying to get a point across trying to be hurt but I don't think he was dressed and now there's no way no. And and Matt kind of tried to back away Michaels wanted to go -- did the optimistic. John Allen knows better. Who resides packer mad probably -- talking about here.

Yet to -- it was it it's exactly what you said the place was allowed hard to be heard anyway he's about going to a meeting with his quarterback. And and talk about halftime adjustments any saying to -- checked but I think we need to do this or I think we've got to go to this.

Well you are what you to me I think it was answered a question.

He was answered a question. I'm sure Belichick asked him something and he was leading but not not region -- thing. Big difference he wasn't talent he was -- all about other markets. There is -- their credit Thursday you know. I knocked a comic yes ma'am but there is definitely -- professors unit relations appear and the student was answering a question from the professor.