I spoke of the Patriots being an underdog of some sorts. A type of team that has made a habit of slow starts and commanding victories. Frankly, this system made the games much more exciting and gave the wins a bit more depth.

Today though, was a different story. The Patriots defense was showing its weaknesses and the offense seemed to be playing on a completely different level. With a final score of 31-24, you’d never guess that the Indianapolis Colts haven’t won a game all season. That score didn’t show that the starting quarterback for the Colts, Dan Orlovsky, was a last minute decision and hasn’t started a game since 2008 when he was with the Detroit Lions (not to mention, he was a back up for the Texans in 2009 – I had no idea who he was back then either..).

(I swear, these are the creepiest photos of NFL teams)

In his postgame press conference, there was a question that Dan Orlovsky answered that I thought really showed his maturity:

Q: Can you separate a loss with playing pretty well?

DO: I don’t have a desire to, to be honest with you. My goal is to go out there and win a ball game, bar none. The best chance to do that is to play well at this position. So, I just didn’t play good enough to win today. I don’t care about anything else; I’m at the point in my career and my life where I just want to win. So, it’s hard for me to separate it and I don’t have any desire to.

Orlovsky is at a point in his career where he not only wants to win, he also wants to start.

If I got the starting position over the three-year back-up Curtis Painter, I wouldn’t care too much about whether I played well or not, it should always come down to whether or not you were able to get the victory.

Another thing I noticed was that people still booed Adam Vinatieri when he stepped onto the field at Gillette. Really? Ok, I get that at the time of his departure, he was pretty much joining the Dark Side as far as Patriots fans were concerned but to hear people still upset by this was rather surprising. I mean, Stephen Gostkowski has missed a few chip shots here and there but he’s not terrible. I think this may be one of the most unnecessary grudges that Patriots fans have kept.

So, how incredible was Rob Gronkowski today? He even managed a lateral which led to a rushing touchdown (it was originally called a touchdown catch, which would’ve broken the record for most receiving touchdowns by a tight end in season). To consider that the second in line tight end is Aaron Hernandez is pretty mind-blowing. I still remember when draft analysts were drilling into Patriots nation that they needed to increase their utilization of the tight end postion. Even with the glimmers of excellence that Ben Watson brought to the team, comparisons were still made to the Ben “Winter” Coates era.

And then Gronkowski and Hernandez were drafted and the magic started to happen. I can’t help but think that Gronkowski and Hernandez got a few tips of being a blocking tight end from veteran Alge Crumpler. But as far being able to run routes and make catches like a wide receiver? Who knows. All I’ve got say is that these two players are making the tight end position an entire different position and defenders of every other team in the league are having just as difficult of a time figuring it all out. I’m no defensive coordinator but leaving Gronk open in the endzone is probably not the best idea.

Offensively, I can’t really complain. Defensively though, I’m starting to think that this could be our Achilles Heel…a giant one at that.

Here’s what I don’t understand, the Colts are a zero victory team. There is really no reason for them to be able to score multiple touchdowns on a team that’s 8-3. So why did it happen? Why is our defensive so weak that offensive players (Matthew Slater and Julian Edelman) are getting reps and starts on defense?

And our top cornerback from last season is going through a very detrimental sophomore slump. I’m sure if McCourty could figure out how to catch, he’d have much better games as a receiver.

There are so many question on defense that it is overwhelming. To be honest, some weeks I think the Patriots can survive in the playoffs with how the defense has improved and other times, I feel it would be a one game appearance and then it’s adios!

No matter what though, the Patriots were able to stay on top and get another win today and for that I’m happy.

After the Patriots game though, I thought I’d take some joy in watching “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” Extended Edition on Blu-Ray and even though “Return of the King” is my favorite, I opted to watch things in order.

As I was watching the film, one of the more terrifying characters, a Uruk-hai, reminded me of a former Patriots player…

The resemblance is uncanny.

Have a great week, kids!

Topics up for discussion:

1. The Pre-Season
2. Patriots Training Camp
3. My Hot Fantasy

The PreSeason

The New England Patriots’ preseason looks something like this:

Eagles – Joe, I’m not sure if you still read this but expect some trash talk texts from me for this game.  Preseason, I know, but my Eagles smack talk is getting a little rusty.

Bengals – I was an OchoCinco fan, and then he’s off field antics just got old.  Chad, already starting the trash talk to Shawn Merriman? Tisk Tisk.  Ochocino, you have so much more to prove on the field this season than ever before.  You’re quarterback is healthy, you got your name change and your jerseys. Now, please play well and prove that you are still a legitimate wide receiver who has more than just clever endzone celebrations to give to fans.

Redskins – Clinton Portis is still there? Right? haha

Giants – I really don’t think I could dislike a team more than the New York Giants.  I’ll admit, it might have something to do with them beating us in the Super Bowl.  Regardless, this team might actually be a threat this coming season and not that preseason will show anything, but please Patriots let’s not lose (although New England seems to like losing all preseason games)

****PATRIOTS TRAINING CAMP****

Folks, being a Texas native, I have never had to opportunity to view a team’s training camp.  I must say, after attending 2 of them at Gillette Stadium, I feel like I was deprived as a football fan.  Mom and Dad, I’m very disappointed in you. Haha actually, you both have been pretty awesome, it’s not your fault that we live 20 mins from Mexico and 6 hours from the nearest professional football team.

Best sister ever.

The first session I attended was with my little brother who was visiting for the week before heading back to the Rio Grande Valley.  During the early morning session, the fans came out in great numbers.  Surprising, especially since it was a random Tuesday.  Not gonna lie, the person I was most psyched to see was the long snapper #47 Jake Ingram.  He was doing anything spectacular, nothing truly out of the ordinary but I have a great fascination with his position now and am excited to see how he works with the team.  Other than Ingram, there were some great catches from Wes Welker and Randy Moss, 2 offensive weapons that are always fan favorites.  I even got a little giddy seeing them running routes!

The defense was working harder than ever.  Something tells me that they are playing with something to prove.  The majority of the draft picks were practicing with a little bit of a spark and it was evident.  There were so many fans having to look at their roster again and again trying to figure out what new player just pulled a nice move.  Oh boy did the veterans look good.  Joey Galloway, Fred Taylor and Tedy did spectacular.  I feel a little safer that they are on the field, kinda like the grown-ups are around.

Photo Courtesy of Kristyn Galante

One person who really caught my eye in not just the first, but also the 2nd training camp that I attended was Kent State alum #11 Julian Edelman.  When I say he caught my eye, I mean, he was breaking through clusters of defenders like Adrian Peterson does in Madden, or in real life for that matter.  He’s 6’0 and fast.  I mean this kid does not slow down in turns and jukes better than some of the running backs at practice.  I don’t want to jinx this guy’s season but it would be hard for me not say he has the potential to become an incredible punt returner, wide reciever and whatever else he feels like playing.  Hell, he used to be a quarterback at Kent State so why not.  Watch #11 this season. Seriously.

MY HOT FANTASY..rawwwr

Yeah, ok.  Sorry about that.  This isn’t anything nasty or perverted..it’s about FANTASY FOOTBALL, I mean I guess it could be right? haha  I have officically started up my league on Yahoo! (Nothing fancy I know, but it’s the easierst to use and some of my people are doing this for the first time.)

So as we know, my dear friend Derek, the Canadian mind you, beat me in the championship game and ultimately raising the importance of my undefeated regular season (sound familiar?)  This is not going to happen again.  I will not lose because a team decided to not play their top RB and an experienced kicker just happens to miss field goals (Thanks Frank Gore and Mason Crosby :/)

This is an open invitation to anyone that would like to join my fanasty league.  The more the merrier and also, the more there are of you i can beat.  I can teach you how to play.  It’s so much fun.

Derek, you’re going down. Literally.  I mean, they don’t even have serious football in Canada right? Oh wait, Graham Harrell plays in the CFL..good one.