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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.
This was perhaps the hardest week of the 2007 to seek out worthy doghouse candidates. The team did not play it's best game but it did play a game in which few doghouse moments emerged. The fact they played a steady but average game is interesting given that they dominated a powerful offensive team in the process. Still as always a few disenchanting moments were unearthed by the Modester:
Goalline Offense - this team has shown some issues with pounding out 21 yard when it really needs one yard. Sure the Line generally was fantastic (again) and Vrabilnikoff caught his 9th touchdown but the running plays were stuffed solidly and there was coaching, personnel and execution issues which in a critical game at a critical point could do this team much detriment. So the Goal line unit is called into the doghouse for a crowded overnight session on how to move the chains and pound out that hardest of yards. It's sad enough that the unit must call upon multiple defensive players but if this is still not effective it needs to become a point of emphasis.
Tom Brady - while having his worst game of the year he still set marks which would be player of the week numbers on many weeks. He made one moment of awful decision and threw a woeful interception that he had no business throwing. Sure he made up for it the rest of the time but in working and striving towards better and better such pass decisions cannot fall so low. Tom actually gets to extend his stay from the goal line with another night in the doghouse watching films of that decision. Plus the doghouse is as good a place to prepare for the Cleveland Browns as there is anyhow!
That's it - no really, that is it. Sure Hobbes should have taken a knee on one Kickoff return and Seau missed a gap read once but the team really had no other dismal moments and had many steady plays to counter. A game with few mistakes is perhaps more potent than one in which there is both extremes of good or bad and that is why the Bengals are trying to figure out how they were so totally out of the game. Kudos to the Players and Coaches from the Modi - this was a gem of a game from the doghouse ranks.
Once again the Pats end a game with a fairly wide margin of victory though this was by far the worst performance of the season. Certainly Cleveland gets some of the credit for their successful approach but also the Pats have added a few doghouse opportunities. In general there was no massive failing just a generally less quality dominance on most fronts.
Chris Hanson - a Punter who brought back recollections of Ken Walter. As part of the lower performance our Punter actually got a workout and was highly disappointing even though he did not allow spectacular return man Cribbs to hurt the Patriots. Still his six opportunities averages just over 30 yards per kick and had two abysmal punts included. Tether him to the doghouse for a full three days of practice. As the weather worsens his punts will be more critical and especially against games with a better challenge when field position can win or lose a game.
The Crowd - Foxboro's Frenzied Faithful were not so frenzied as they seemed to have a ho-hum another game, another blowout expectation. They rose up occasionally on third downs but for the most part did not energize the Razor and the team had some of the flatness as well. The crowd should revel in these times and always be an energizing catalyst to make the Razor the toughest Stadium in the league for visiting teams! The crowd will have two weeks without the luxury of a home game and some kibble rations for next tailgate might indeed do them all justice to get their tailgate build up for the Redskins next visit at the end of October.
Junior Seau - had a senior moment and totally forgot himself. The pair of interceptions may draw Ostend's praise but his ball celebration mid-play is entirely unacceptable for this team. We celebrate victories and team accomplishments not risk the team accomplishment by touting individual glory. Jubilance in Junior is an inspirational boost to the team as is his play but put the ball away until the end of the day. Two days of Doghouse domain is assigned while watching plays of Troy Brown stripping unwary ball carriers, Leon Lett and of course the Watson vs Champ play.
Josh McDaniels - as an Offensive Coordinator has been generally brilliant and did make some well timed calls but his general pan had some flaws. With Moss shut down he did have Stalworth featured but nearly half of the passes thrown his way were incomplete and Brady never seemed to hit rhythm until a necessitated drive to put the game away in the fourth quarter. Some of this falls to Tom who had his worst day but the game plan seemed poorly prepared for the loss of Moss and limped for much of the game with a remarkably high number of three and outs for this team. Josh has a lot of work this week in prepping for the Cowboys so he gets just a tour of the doghouse denizens and a reminder that he could have a home here if he doesn't prepare better henceforth.
Jarvis Green - Usually one player from the doghouse erupts into the O-wards on the following week and Jarvis is a candidate for this for certain. he had his toughest game in this streak of starts as he was pushed back too often, missed a few tackles and was generally invisible in QB pressures. Jarvis is a quality player but letting the Browns average nearly 5 yards per carry falls in some larger part upon Jarvis and he gets to dig some holes in the backyard and work on his trench warfare for the coming weeks. Two days of this should have him ready to focus on the Cowboys tandem which will no doubt attack him.
When you play a top two defense and offense you expect an epic battle. When the second quarter grew long the Pats began to slide. When the third quarter began the slide started to look like an avalanche but a potent offense put that out of reach. Fortunately impotent Dallas coaching kept it there. Still there's some defensive attention in the doghouse this week.
Ty Warren - picking up a bad Unnecessary Roughness did not join well with his several missed tackles and inability to hold the Edge of the Line of Scrimmage on several plays. Most of the game was low pressure, less than typical run defense and Warren was only one cog but perhaps the larger of the cogs and exploited for the first time this season which nets him an expansive retreat for one night in Modi's House for Wayward Pats Players. There is no truth that his phone call in on Monday, rather than early workout at the stadium, earns him extra consideration for this dishonor...but after a bad game I know where he belongs the next morning and Modi watches all.
Ellis Hobbs - When a defensive back leads your team in tackles it is a poor sign for they make tackles most of the time after failing to defend the pass to their coverage responsibility. Hobbs was beaten by Owens and Creighton too frequently despite the ilsand upon which he stood in single coverage. Running into Samuels on a crucial Dallas Touchdown was poor communication and a reason why he'll have a full day on the dog run to work on the notion he is supposed to be a ball hawking quality cover corner and is falling short of his goal.
Assante Samuels - while slightly less of an infraction than Hobbs, Samuels actually was more fortunate as more dropped passes by Dallas saved him from further embarrassment as he too was frequently beat in coverage and certainly had a share in the collision collusion which gave Owens an early touchdown to end the half.
Dan Peas - Rarely does a defensive coordinator get called out but he threw a sell out blitz before the half which was woefully timed and more poorly executed. The result was Dallas was back in the game and ready for half time. His first three series were fantastic and then his success seemed more due to dropped balls and bad coaching by Phillips who abandoned a highly successful run game in the third quarter. The defense played a top offense but they did not play them well despite holding them to 20 points. It's time for this defense to begin gelling and winning more of the one on one battles they let slip in the second and third quarters. Peas, a sensitive topic in this house this week, can do his game filming with Ty Warren and a pair of doghouse corners as he has a two day stay in the doghouse but evaded worst of the week since the first line always falls upon the players that sell out blitz at the goal line)
Vince Wilfork - with a two day stay in the dog shack
The Dolphins blew up the middle of our line and that included Vince Wilfork on too many occasions for him to not get some considerable notice. Granted the second half version of this is of lower impact but the goal line stands counted throughout the game and they did not show the Pats we need to become. Add the Wilfork pirouette despite his justification attempts and you have an embarrassing performance for such a talented nose tackle. Hopefully he'll improve next Sunday because soon a very important Saturday battle is coming.
Bill Belichick - one night stay
How rare for the Hall of Fame bound coach but he made a choice significantly egregious as to warrant his own night stay coaching the Wilfork and thinking about sustaining his team. Late in the game Mike Vrabel was still taking snaps in the goal line offense. Seymour's injury, Klecko's injuries aside; those at least took place on meaningful plays. Get somebody other than an essential defensive starter to play third tight end on the goal - especially when the game is well in hand!
Matt Cassel - Kennel rations but no overnight stay - in fact he might start to worry about his longevity in staying in general. Matt threw a bad incompletion and then followed it up by being fooled by Jason Taylor which isn't a problem for only inexperienced bench backups. Cassel gets low reps and that's costing him in the future but the worst thing he could do is throw a pick for an opposition TD and he did that worst thing before riding the pine again. He's been eternally trapped behind very good quarterbacks since high school but at some point that may prevent him from ever becoming anything worthy of a roster spot and this one performance gives him a long look down that path. Practice preparations must improve so he's ready for his next opportunity when the Pats have put the game away early in the second half.
Really, that's it? Despite poor tackling by the linebackers not named Bruschi; the schemes allowed Miami to execute long time consuming drives while New England prevented any quick catch up attempts and perhaps practiced their secondary for future battles.
Estebrook for his Good vs Evil Article
He skips the doghouse as entirely non-worthy and is sent right to the pound. If his goal is to evoke responses he succeeded if it was informed, reasearched and worthy journalism then he failed miserably. He does cement more of the new mantra that motivates this team and we fans. The world is lining up to take cheap shots, most uninformed or hypocrisy laden, and the resulting unification is aiding this team in rising up with pride and smoldering determination for victory.
Ellis Hobbs - one night stay in the dohouse with no cushions to help remind him about when to leave such big cushions on receivers. He is playing worse without his broken wrist than he did all of last year with it. He's not playing badly, just worse than he had achieved last year and insufficiently for this defense to sep up to the top tier The offense is playing at the NFL best levels adn the defense has such potentials but Hobbs must tighten his play with film study and execution.
Stephen Gostkowski - short leash time
Phenomenal kickoffs and perfection on field goals and extra points do not normally lead to doghouse excursions but when you kick-off out of bounds you get an automatic entry into the doghouse. Carolina lost a Superbowl in part because of such a move and the Ghost better up his attention to detail as well.
Adelius Thomas - one night of dog rations await the big man who perhaps spent too much time firing off to the media in the Ray Lewis saga. He's been stady but not spectacular since the ankle injury. This week he was near invisible which may be scheme but for which great players should rise above and show themselves.
A strip sack of Brady might have had Nick named officially but given the performance of the O-line in run blocking, pass blocking in this game and all year, they get a brief mention with no punitive time in the house of Modi. Don't let it happen again - even if Kyle Brady's absence now enhances the challenge ahead.
Go Pats!
Randy
& Modi the Mighty War Dog of Courage and Berserker Rage
Well the game certainly lived up to the hype and deservedly captured the most attention of any regular season game in the history of the sport. It was a grande contest between two quality teams who showcased their defenses nearly as well as their offenses. So while the Patriots went into the hostile grounds of the RCA dome to play the undefeated world champions and emerged with a victory, they still have a few doghouse assignments to note as dictated by Modi.
NFL Officials - 7 night stay with all expenses to remind them how officiating should be performed. The pressure of this game may not have been too much for the teams but these officials led by rookie Referee Mike Perry will long be renowned for an abysmal performance. The first points of the game would have and should have been thwarted by a clear strip on the part of Sanders but it was missed and CBS blew the replay so no flag could be thrown. The Pats meanwhile had already had to use a review red flag for a clear out of bounds non-catch ruled a first down catch. Those 11 yards were overturned, fortunately, and might have been the difference in Adam's miss. Add in Ellis Hobbs being interfered with and being flagged for that and you've got a ludicrous start. No Pass Interference call on a Faulk third down throw from Brady that was laughable in it being so bad. The officials were a factor in this game and that's never a good sign. No stay can be too long but by the bye Modi is ousting them not for deserving it but to end their taint on the season which was fortunately lessened by the victory in spite of the refs. This crew should spend some serious time under review if not out of their jobs. No unreasonable bias is suspected, just total incompetence.
Josh McDaniels - Three dog nights for the Offensive (and offensive) Coordinator for this game. The plan did not reasonably account for the two fantastic pass rushers of Mathis and Freeney - at least in the early stages. Starting the game with a ten yard loss from a sack is not conducive to the win and this is in large part a function of the play and formation selected. Help was needed early and often but wasn't sufficiently available. He eventually switched to their most successful formation for the final two scoring drives but where were those formations the rest of the game? He overplayed the draw and underplayed the screen pass when pressure was brought hard and continuously on a very battered Tom Brady. Only the poise and perseverance of Brady and a determined defensive effort ensured this game ended differently than last season. Josh's worst game as a Pats head coach is out of the way long ago but this one should remind him there is always more work to be done.
Nick Kaczur and Matt Light - two night's stay in Hotel Modi with all the trimmings of dry kibble, collars and doghouse Dome noise from which to practice their failings. Their mismatch against the NFL talents of Mathis and Freeney is partially understandable but not on the first play of the game by such a wide margin. Light struggled as well and earned his shame to fame from the personal foul which was losing his head at a costly time in the game. The veteran must be wiser and a few days with Modi may help remind him of that immature failing - age in dog years Matt!
The Defense - Addai's catch and run
Trying to avoid entire units is difficult when the unit allows a 73 yard catch and run with virtually no time left in the half. Rodney took Randall Gay and Vrabel took out Rodney as the Keystone Kips imitation gave the Colts a half time lead. It was woeful tackling which had shown itself on some of the early plays in the half but never more than this painful moment of Glory for the Colts. Each player will get a day's ration of Charlee Bears to force down through the bye week as a bitter pill to help them focus on their fundamentals of training when they return on November 18 to face the Buffalo Bills and their star runner.
On all other fronts there is a doghouse pass because this was more a testimony to the Colts performance rather than any significant Patriotic failings. You earn that hard fought a win and there should be a bit more leniency than normal.
Go Pats!
Randy
& Modi the Mighty War Dog of Courage and Berserker Rage