Page Page
This page is my ferocious beast's opportunity to rant against those players who utilized a lack of effort or talent to earn his ire. He rewards such inferior results with a visit to his doghouse. Five doghouses is the worst performance possible.
While Modi has moved on, he'll always be a part of me and his Doghouse will be a weekly 'tribute' to those Patriot's responsible for sub par performance.
When the Pats win 38-14 it can be difficult to find fault but the shrewd critic has his doghouse ready and understand that this Jets opponent wasn't entirely up to snuff and the Pats do need to improve if they don't want to see the loss column next week.
When the 'franchise' chooses to come this late, he should expect the heat for not playing entirely up to par. No doubt he'll improve his timing and work but overtime in the doghouse is necessary for twice getting beat by Coles. He did have a pair of tackles which indicates they didn't throw to him a lot but at his level of expectation a three dog (house) night is necessary to get him back in rhythm.
Not only did he not get to take a knee but he won't likely hold another snap after costing the Pats three points and setting up the Jets second TD drive. It wouldn't have been so bad if the announcers blame on Paxton were even remotely true but the snap was fine and Cassel tried, mysteriously, to one hand it. Focus and concentration will be the work routine in his overnight accommodations in the House that Modes built!
Certainly many want to praise his many catches and general excellence on the slot work but Modi is aware that two drops is too many since one cost us a touchdown and one involved a tip that nearly gave the Jets a touchdown. Luck is not enough to get him out of Modi's ire and he gets kibble rations for a day which may suit the man Tom Brady called a Labrador!
Some have his impressive play as a meritorious status and I think he will ultimately get there but he did get caught too close to the line a few times and dropped two potential interceptions that over the course of a season can become the difference in the Home Field Advantage and Bye week potentials. Make the plays, finish learning the defense and be the promising player he seems most of the time. Just fitting his thick neck for a dog collar ought to be enough reminder for this very slight slight!
The only Dishonorable mention that doesn't fully make this list is the notion of letting Jones run for a pair of 10+ yard rushes. Tomlinson will turn those into touchdowns if the front seven lets that happen next week. They got out of the doghouse or rations by holding him to 42 yards on 14 carries.
There is no Worst of the Week unless the rumors of the Pats Camera spy prove true. This team is a top contender and is marred by Harrison's HGH suspension and now this controversy. Hopefully there is no basis for finding the Pats are taking any actions different than other teams as they earn their way to the Lombardi Finish we all wish.
While it may sound like I'm repeating myself, I am in fact doing that very thing because the Pats did so as well. When a team winds by a score of 38-14 (yes, again!), it is difficult to put too many folks in the doghouse. Somehow, we think few folks in New England will mind this very much and as such we'll keep the scrutiny appropriately reasonable; after all, there's been enough scrutiny around here for a whole season!
Ellis Hobbes, one of last week's heroes. Certainly his Pass Interference call was a bit tight of a call (though the refs were consistent on this) but his true shame comes from a badly missed coverage on one play and most particularly the fumble on the kickoff return. When you are receiving a kickoff outside of the start of a half it means your opponent has scored. This means they are likely fired up and ready to gain some momentum. Fumbling the kickoff is an excellent way to let them back in the game. Hobbes may recall another critical playoff fumble of his and so it is time he gets some doghouse experience to remind him that even in a great defensive game some critical errors could turn a game - it did not turn this game. Commissioner Modi sentences him to a three dog(house) night for his errors.
Stephen Gostkowski - Not only did the second year man miss a 41 yard Field Goal Attempt but he had a surprising fall-off on his normal stellar kickoffs. Opening with a touchback he had kicks fall to the ten yard line regularly. A little canned dog food to help him heal whatever he pulled or to re-align his perspectives on kicking the ball well when it counts.
LT and Merriman - --but...butt...they aren't on our team? You wouldn't know it from their constant desire to help inspire! That said until they learn to worry more about themselves and to take ownership for their failings as well as credit their opponents, these two pinnacles of classless stupidity will find themselves on the wrong end of Pats games!
Modi bans them from his doghouse as they don't have the first necessary requirement even as they deserved the dishonorable mention!
Once again the Patriots demonstrated an impressive performance though this one did have a few more weak moments such as the Bills 13 play (second) drive early in the first quarter. Still the team put together a surging effort after a pair of tough challenges did not favor the Pats. The end result was the offense once again notching 38 points and the defense allowing only that one drive.
Hanson the Punter was seemingly atrocious with a pair of very short punts which went out of bounds. Bellichick came to his defense and claimed the Pats were trying to avoid a dangerous return but even he had to admit they expected longer than they received. Now given that the Pats have only punted four times in three games, he's certainly not getting tremendous practice but before we become arrogant like the 2003 Colts, Hanson can have a three doghouse night watching tapes of Ray Guy, Tom Tupa and Ken Walter - one of these punters doesn't belong....and it will be Hanson if he doesn't straighten out his performance.
Bill Bellichick was admittedly not prepared for some of the initial Buffalo formations which caused his team to seem flat in the first quarter. In the second quarter he made a very questionable decision to go for it on 4th and 7 when it was more likely time for Gustkowski to kick a 46 yard field goal. He also lost a pair of challenges in a four play series in the second. The Calls were questionable but losing both so early in the game is a high risk. From his Cleveland days, Bellichick is not so fond of the dog pound and so he'll only get a tour to remind him he should have probably worn the hoodie and definitely could up his preparation a small bit.
Vince Wilfork - It seems he was blocked into Loseman on the first play of the game. It seems there are no good camera angles for a decisive play and so it remains unclear whether he had intent to injure or not. His interview had no remorse and no proclamation of innocent intent. In fact he sounded almost Jack Tatum like in his response though his Coach was far more defensive of his Nose Tackle. If he had intent he was the clear worst of the week but on the strength (or rather weakness) of his interview he gets a dishonorable mention and tied up in the yard for two days of reflection.
The Officials - Despite Bellichick getting the dishonorable nod on the replay challenges, one of them might have been inconclusive (Brady's Fumble) but the stepping out of bounds seemed clear enough that the correct call should have been made on the field and in the booth. Several discussions on the field seemed too common for no result and warrant the crew getting a nod for being inefficient albeit not seemingly biased.
Go Pats!
Randy
& Modi the Mighty War Dog of Courage and Berserker Rage