Five Things We Learned: Patriots – Dolphins

After a complete blowout like the one that happened in Foxboro this past weekend, sometimes it’s easy to figure out what happened, and sometimes the overwhelming level of mistakes masks the real issue.  There was a little of both at work here on Sunday, and here’s a little of what can be learned from watching the game on tape again.

Ellis Hobbs Can Still Break Big Returns

Matthew Slater might be the Patriots kick returner of the future – at least he hopes so is how he put in at the beginning of the season – but Ellis Hobbs has the speed necessary to break the big one now.  Fully recovered from the groin injury that hampered him in the Super Bowl, Hobbs has shown the ability to use his superior speed to rack up the return yards.  Hobbs had six kickoff returns on Sunday, (50, 22, 30, 23, 81, 31). His 237 yards set a new team record. Unfortunately for the Patriots, the offense couldn’t take advantage of all the opportunities Hobbs game the team.

Hobbs was humble about his success after the game.

“It’s bittersweet. I always say ‘if you have a good day at the office individually, please let’s win so you can enjoy it.’ It didn’t happen,” Hobbs said.  “You take it for what it is and understand that it is a plus but as a team it is not going to win ball games doing things out here individually by yourself. We all have to play as a team.”

Cassel’s Inexperience Hurting The Offense

One thing about Matt Cassel jumped out after watching the game, and watching the tape; he can throw the ball pretty well, but his inexperience is holding the offense back.  Cassel made a number of crucial throws on Sunday that required a pro’s arm and an experienced passer’s touch.  Although his timing wasn’t always there, and he had issues finding the open receiver when protection broke down, Cassel continued to make progress in his game. The inexperience however showed up early.  

In the first drive, — a middle screen at the Dolphins 16 – Cassel threw the ball to the outside of Kevin Faulk, where Miami defender Randy Starks was able to stick his arm out to intercept the pass.  Had Cassel thrown the ball to the inside, Starks wouldn’t have been able to reach it.  The play killed the Patriots chance to tie the game at 7.

On the next drive at the 50, Cassel hurried a pass throwing it at a crossing Jabar Gaffney  who ducked from the ball obviously not expecting the pass.  The next play Cassel missed a wide-open Randy Moss, but was bailed out by a Miami penalty. The drive eventually led to a FG.

Wes Welker Is The Fuel For The Offense’s Engine

Without Wes Welker the Patriots dismal 216-yard offensive output would have amounted to just 161 yards total (101 passing, 60 rushing).  Welker had one run – a reverse – for 19 yards.  He added 6 receptions to lead the team with 55 yards (9.2 avg).  Welker’s ability to take a short pass and turn it into yards after the catch endeared him to Patriots fans in 2007, when he set the franchise record for catches in a season (112).

The Offensive Line Still Has Protection Issues

Matt Cassel was smacked around all day against the Dolphins.  The offensive line has to accept blame for the limited protection, though part – a big part – of the blame also belongs to Cassel.  The Patriots first drive, which ended in an interception, was poor blocking up front.  Joey Porter used an outside in move to get past Ben Watson and register the Dolphins first sack. On the next play, Phillip Merling just bull rushed Logan Mankins, overpowering the Patriots offensive lineman to collapse the pocked and get Cassel sacked when the refs ruled him “in the grasp.”   Cassel was sacked 3 times on the day, and had to run three other times to avoid the pressure. Kevin O’Connell also suffered a sack.

The Patriots Rush Defense Has Issues

While the Patriots did what they could to slow down the Dolphins rushing attack, the threat of play-action by Chad Pennington forced the team to respect the pass.  That threat made the Patriots safeties and linebackers respect the pass first, allowing the Dolphins offensive line to create holes in the Patriots front three.  Often the Dolphins running backs hit the hole with speed as the Patriots linebackers tried to fill the hole, but too late. Dolphins ball carriers fished by rushing the ball 36 times for 216 yards (6.0 avg) and four touchdowns.  The horrible performance dropped New England’s defense from 9th best in the league to 20th. 

Patriots defensive lineman Ty Warren summed it up well.

“We were prepared to come in here and do a good job. They came out and they out-executed us [and] allowed themselves an opportunity in the second half where they had a cushion to keep it vanilla and run the clock out,” said Warren after the game.  “You never want it to get to that point in the game. The blame is all on us. I think you can go right down the line from me to whoever else you want to look at. We all have a play we’d like to have back in there.”

More Roster Shuffling

The Patriots released fullback Kyle Eckel on Monday following the game.  Eckel was with the team throughout training camp and was a victim of the final roster cuts. He was with New England in 2007, appearing in 12 games for the Patriots.

The Patriots signed wide receiver Marcus Price on Wednesday.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.   The team also signed OL Ryan Wendell to the 8-man practice squad.  To make room for Wendell, the team released defensive back Mark Dillard.

NOTES:

New England’s 21-game regular season winning streak came to an end against Miami.  The Patriots’ last loss came against the Dolphins Dec. 10, 2006.

Ellis Hobbs’ 6 kickoff returns for 237 yards set a Patriots single-game record.  His 10 returns for 360 yards (36.0 avg.) leads the NFL.

With two field goals on Sunday, Stephen Gostkowski has successfully converted on all 7 field goal attempts this season.  He has made 14 straight field goals, dating bask to 2007, and owns the team’s fourth longest consecutive streak behind Adam Vinatieri’s records of 25, 23 and 16.

The Patriots held their inaugural Patriots Hall of Fame Induction celebrations this weekend.  The team honored their Hall members at halftime.  Those members were: Nick Buoniconti, Gino Cappelletti, Ben Coates,Steve Grogan, John Hannah, Mike Haynes, Stanley Morgan, Steve Nelson, Babe Parilli, Andre Tippett, The late Bob Dee and the late Jim Lee Hunt. Ben Coates was the most recent member to be honored at Patriots Hall. He was inducted on Saturday September 20th.