why not start hoyer

[foobahl]

seeing as how brady and company start fast and finish slow lately, why not sit them for the first half and let them finish the game, possibly having to make a comeback? that would seem to be a better tune up for the playoffs.

 

[TommyD420]

Why not start Brady, and have Brady play the whole game since he's a significantly better player?

 

[PSC_Pats_Fan]

I still think its a mistake to play the starters.

One week off is not going to kill this team or its playoff chances. If anything, its make them better, as they get a chance to rest, heal up, and come out at 100% for whoever we face. And there's no risk for additional injuries, which let's face it.. This team is rather injury prone. (Like usual... )

If we were the #1 or #2 seed and we had the bye week.. Would we be concerned with them not playing? Of course not.. We would welcome the rest and chance to heal up before the games count the most.

Just my 2 cents of course... :shrug:

 

[TommyD420]

I still think its a mistake to play the starters.

One week off is not going to kill this team or its playoff chances. If anything, its make them better, as they get a chance to rest, heal up, and come out at 100% for whoever we face. And there's no risk for additional injuries, which let's face it.. This team is rather injury prone. (Like usual... )

If we were the #1 or #2 seed and we had the bye week.. Would we be concerned with them not playing? Of course not.. We would welcome the rest and chance to heal up before the games count the most.

Just my 2 cents of course... :shrug:

If there's one thing the Colts have taught me (other than the fact that I am tUnclassy), is that playing/coaching scared (in this case, resting players due to the fear they'll gt injured) is nothing but a recipe for losing.

 

[harrisonhits]

<<
One week off is not going to kill this team or its playoff chances
>>

I think you're quite wrong about that. There is an edge to play that comes from daily / weekly participation. You take time off you lose the edge and whether it takes a few plays, a quarter, half a game to get it back, the team can't afford to not be it sharpest for the playoffs.

The Colts have been a prime example of this in the past.

 

[EasyBigFella]

Is this thread a joke?

 

[PSC_Pats_Fan]

<<
One week off is not going to kill this team or its playoff chances
>>

I think you're quite wrong about that. There is an edge to play that comes from daily / weekly participation. You take time off you lose the edge and whether it takes a few plays, a quarter, half a game to get it back, the team can't afford to not be it sharpest for the playoffs.

The Colts have been a prime example of this in the past.

OK... Then why is the #1 and #2 seeds awarded a bye week and teams are thankful to have it? By your logic, no team would want this.

Resting starters in weeks 16 and 17 when you HAVE a bye week (like the Colts are doing now) is beyond stupid.. I agree.

But... IMO of course, Resting for one week when you have a banged up team and 3 playoffs game and a Super Bowl to get through to win a championship is not.

 

[Annihilus]

OK... Then why is the #1 and #2 seeds awarded a bye week and teams are thankful to have it? By your logic, no team would want this.

Resting starters in weeks 16 and 17 when you HAVE a bye week (like the Colts are doing now) is beyond stupid.. I agree.

But... IMO of course, Resting for one week when you have a banged up team and 3 playoffs game and a Super Bowl to get through to win a championship is not.

It is when you've just recently gotten your mojo back and you want to hold onto it for the whole playoff run.

It's probably not necessary to play them the whole game, but the starters need to go at least a half in this one, IMO.

 

[Costanza]

It is when you've just recently gotten your mojo back and you want to hold onto it for the whole playoff run.

It's probably not necessary to play them the whole game, but the starters need to go at least a half in this one, IMO.

This is why you are the man in charge.

 

[PSC_Pats_Fan]

It is when you've just recently gotten your mojo back and you want to hold onto it for the whole playoff run.

It's probably not necessary to play them the whole game, but the starters need to go at least a half in this one, IMO.

Perhaps... But I would still take my chances sitting them out.


I hope to God there are no injuries to any tomorrow... Especially to our key players.

 

[EasyBigFella]

60 Minutes. Same as every week.

 

[shirtsleeve]

Nothing to play for.
+
no bye week to heal.
=
limited action by many of the starters, especially the ones with anything more than a dry skin rash.

 

[harrisonhits]

<<
OK... Then why is the #1 and #2 seeds awarded a bye week and teams are thankful to have it? By your logic, no team would want this.
>>

When the Pats had the bye they did not rest players much late in the season and that minimized the effect of the bye. By resting them for that last regular season game you also force those players being rested to mentally shut down. Bad thing.

Playoff games are also much higher intensity than most regular season games, so its not a bad thing to let the other playoff teams beat themselves up the extra week. Resting during the regular season is much more counterproductive.

 

[Annihilus]

Nothing to play for.
+
no bye week to heal.
=
limited action by many of the starters, especially the ones with anything more than a dry skin rash.

Your casino cash.

Lose it all to Annihilus by taking his wager

 

[shirtsleeve]

Your casino cash.

Lose it all to Annihilus by taking his wager

Fine. The starters play more than one series into the second half and its a bet.

edit: And before you get too mouthy, I am very confident they wont play that long, so I bet half that they dont finish the half either.

 

[Annihilus]

Fine. The starters play more than one series into the second half and its a bet.

Well, that's actually a bit more than 'limited playing time' (Annihilus predicted they'd play the entire first half). If you think they'll play one half, then we're both in agreement.

But, wtf, it's a bet

 

[PSC_Pats_Fan]

<<
OK... Then why is the #1 and #2 seeds awarded a bye week and teams are thankful to have it? By your logic, no team would want this.
>>

When the Pats had the bye they did not rest players much late in the season and that minimized the effect of the bye. By resting them for that last regular season game you also force those players being rested to mentally shut down. Bad thing.

Playoff games are also much higher intensity than most regular season games, so its not a bad thing to let the other playoff teams beat themselves up the extra week. Resting during the regular season is much more counterproductive.

So why would players "mentally shut down" if they don't play this week.. But wouldn't "mentally shut down" if we had an actual bye week? This is still not being explained.

And isn't it the coach's job to make SURE they don't shut it down... Mentally or otherwise? Players miss a week all the time with injuries and the regular bye week during the season... Are they unable to play at a high level the following week?

 

[TommyD420]

So why would players "mentally shut down" if they don't play this week.. But wouldn't "mentally shut down" if we had an actual bye week? This is still not being explained.

And isn't it the coach's job to make SURE they don't shut it down... Mentally or otherwise? Players miss a week all the time with injuries and the regular bye week during the season... Are they unable to play at a high level the following week?

There's a difference between EARNING a bye through good play, and GETTING a bye via coaching/playing scared and not to get hurt. This is a total strawman argument on your part.

If you think there's no mental component to this, you're nuts. Patriots are playing their best ball of the season, right now. It's insanity to do anything to screw that up.

You're more likely to get hurt not playing full out (i.e. playing not to get hurt) than you are just playing the game to win like any other game.

Enough with the "what if our players get hurt" nonsense.

 

[PSC_Pats_Fan]

There's a difference between EARNING a bye through good play, and GETTING a bye via coaching/playing scared and not to get hurt. This is a total strawman argument on your part.

If you think there's no mental component to this, you're nuts. Patriots are playing their best ball of the season, right now. It's insanity to do anything to screw that up.

You're more likely to get hurt not playing full out (i.e. playing not to get hurt) than you are just playing the game to win like any other game.

Enough with the "what if our players get hurt" nonsense.

Right... And no key players ever get hurt playing full out. And I'm sure the players would TOTALLY hate the rest they EARNED by winning the division last week. And I'm sure they are complete idiots who could not understand that this week is to heal up and get ready for more important things. What a load of crap. If you want to risk even MORE injuries to this team, that's fine.. But you can take your condescending tone and "my way is the only way" attitude and shove it.

 

[TommyD420]

Right... And no key players ever get hurt playing full out. And I'm sure the players would TOTALLY hate the rest they EARNED by winning the division last week. And I'm sure they are complete idiots who could not understand that this week is to heal up and get ready for more important things. What a load of crap. If you want to risk even MORE injuries to this team, that's fine.. But you can take your condescending tone and "my way is the only way" attitude and shove it.

And you can take your Bill Polian philosophy and shove it yourself.

All evidence points to doing things one way. Yet, you argue the other on a basis of counter-intuitive non-evidence. That, my friend, is the proverbial "load of crap".

This week isn't to "heal up". This week is to continue playing the best football of the season, win a road game against a good team, and secure the highest seed possible.

Building Confidence >>> Playing and Coaching Scared