"I am Your Father, Eric"

Wow does that Bill nurse a grudge, or what?

But some of the stuff I read on the message boards is hysterical. Many Cleveland fans are far worse, and just make stuff up about Bill. It's almost as bad as what they say about Mangini.

Anyway, I got a bad feeling about this one, primarily because it's Bill coming back to the site of his own lynching, and he has proven to be such a great grudge-nurser. The Pats are going to be at the peak of their performance for his sake, and his game-plan and adjustments are what they are.

I do need to pick on Grossi here. Teddy Brusci did say that the Pats were the "Big Boy version" of what the Browns are trying to do, but he wasn't talking about physical domination. That's not who the Pats are anyway. He was merely referring to the fact that their system is mature and well-established, and their players can read eachother's minds, and execute in their sleep.

But Bill was unmistakably throwing shots at Mangini in referring to this offense as a "West Coast". There are indeed elements of it here, as there are in his own offense. Brady usually gets rid of the ball in three seconds, even on deep passes. They use lots of slants and crosses.

But the posters jumped all over the west coast reference, accepting validation of their theory that Mangini has suddenly become Holmgren's sock-puppet. No, you idiots. It was Bill insulting him, and that's all it was.

In reality, as Brusci said, this offense is very similar to the current Pats offense schematicly. Niether team has a scary deep threat, and both rely on a lot of short and intermediate passes. If Bill had Hillis and Vickers, he'd run more, too.

My bad feeling about this one is more about our defense vs. Brady than Hillis vs. their defense.

Ryan can hope to beat Brady (and his recievers) up, but that's hard to do. However, Bill can be as sneaky and devious as he wants vs. Hillis--it might not matter.

If what I read about Lauvao maybe starting is true, that's an upgrade (no knock on the other guy, who's done a nice job). Smashmouth can trump trickery and deciet...and keep Brady benched.

I love how Hillis talks about running against NINE in the box like it's another day at the office,

The most exciting thing here, though, will be watching McCoy. Bill has had an even harder time than Rob of generating pressure. He's instead been plugging all the holes and shrinking windows with 7 or even 8 guys in coverage.

In doubt he'll do that with McCoy, actually. I think he'll blitze more than he has--with safeties and corners. Colt is a sharpshooter who can and will "stick" throws into tight windows, and if he has time to figure out all the insideously diabolical deceptions Bill will be using, he'll burn it with pinpoint passes.

I believe that Bill will attack relentlessly both to deprive the rookie of time to think, and to put hats on Hillis before he can square up and get rolling.

Good to hear Colt talking about this game as if he's playing against Tom Brady. He's striving to live up to something, and aiming high. He seems to think of the defenses he faces as just part of that. For some reason, that just sounds...right to me.

Eman: Pat Kirwin concurs with me: McCoy has earned this start.

But of course Pat continues to turn a lack of wide reciever production into a general lack of talent. He's just had his mind made up about that. I wonder if the wide-outs this week make a couple big plays, this will elevate his estimate of the offensive line, tight ends, backfield, and defense in general. He just loves those recievers.

When Bill dumped Moss, Pat wrung his hands over how the Pats would operate without a proven deep threat. I guess the Pats remained talented in his eyes because they've still got Welker.

And listen to me: eric Wright has played well before and since the Ravens game. One psychotic poster is demanding that they cut him. He'll be on Welker a lot today--very very very tough--the nickel corner can't use the sideline (but he can blitze,,,,,,,)

You guys need to track this Wright-bashing poster down and stuff him in a padded cell without a internet access. He's embarrassing us. Or just bust a cap in him before he can reproduce--our gene-pool is polluted enough as it is.