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Tim Hasselbeck on M&M: ‘Way too early to be pushing the panic button’ on Pats defense 10.29.12 at 1:41 pm ET
By

Tim Hasselbeck

ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck joined the Mut & Merloni show with Rob Bradford and Troy Brown on a Patriots Monday to discuss the Pats’ victory over the Rams and how the team is doing this season. To hear the interview, go to the Mut & Merloni audio on demand page.

Hasselbeck talked about the Patriots’ offensive strategy and their need for a dependable outside receiver.

“I definitely think there’s, and this has been talked about a lot, it’s important to have an outsider receiver who can create a presence in that offense so you know you’re not relying so much happening with Wes [Welker] and the option routes and with the tight ends trying to work the middle of the field the way they do,” Hasselbeck said. “You’ve seen the Patriots in the past, whether it’s to try to isolate Aaron Hernandez to try to get matchups and space that way. … It’s important to get Brandon Lloyd involved and have him make that impact they thought Chad [Johnson] was going to make a year ago, and they probably assumed that Brandon was going to have playing outside the numbers. That’s really the biggest difference for that offense. If they can get a presence out there then it just makes them so much more difficult to defend.”

Lloyd has two touchdown catches against the Rams. Last week he had just one reception on eight targets.

“Last week I thought he was bad,” Hasselbeck said. “Then I think you look at him this week and he has two touchdowns and he had two catches. That’s a nice ratio. But I think you need more production out of that spot. That’s one of the reasons that Deion Branch is back on the football team. They’re looking for somebody that Tom [Brady] has confidence in, that can play outside the numbers, and that’s been a challenge for them.”

Despite pointing out the need for a dependable receiver, Hasselbeck said he feels pretty comfortable with the Patriots offense. He is, however, concerned by the defense.

“I really don’t have concern about them offensively,” Hasselbeck said. “Are they going to be great each and every week on offense? No, it’s difficult to do that. … To me, it’s been in recent memory been about the defense — obviously, pass defense being an issue. Seeing the safeties, when guys get running on them, look exposed. They need to generate a pass rush. I really believe it’s about finding a way to come up with impact defensive plays … whether it’s sacks, whether it’s sack fumbles, whether it’s tipped balls that lead to interceptions. You need to do that. If you can generate a couple more possessions for your offense each and every week, with that offense, then it’s a totally different story.”

Hasselbeck said that there is no need for panic as the team continues to develop throughout the season.

“You don’t need to be playing your best football Week 4, you need to be playing your best football when you get into the postseason. With some young players on the defensive side of the ball, I think it’s way too early to be pushing the panic button on where New England is and where everything is going to shake out with them in the playoffs.”

Hasselbeck cautioned that fans’ expectations might be too high for this team.

“I think we’ve just come to expect so much out of the Patriots,” Hasselbeck said. “The reality is they’re winning football games. Can you find holes in them? Sure you can, but they’re good. They really are that good.”

Following are more highlights from the interview.

On the Jets and whether Tim Tebow should start at QB: “I think that they’re nose-diving. It’s not the right move to go to Tim Tebow. The more I watch him, and I’ve been as critical of Mark Sanchez as anybody, the guys around him have not played well at all, so evaluating him has been difficult. … They don’t have playmakers around Mark. They’re a team that gets a lot of attention but they haven’t done anything. I just don’t think there is a lot of talent. I think it’s going to get worse for them as the season goes on.”

On how things are lining up in the AFC: “The most complete team is the Houston Texans. Then you look at the Denver Broncos and you say if Peyton [Manning] is going to continue to play like this, get some rapport with some of the talented players that he has around him out there … that will be a good team. I don’t think we can say at this point, ‘Hey Denver is better than New England.’ … Either team has a chance to win any game that they are in.”

Read More: Brandon Lloyd, Patriots Monday, Tim Hasselbeck, Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • RobDX

    Ummm, no wonder why you don’t Qb anymore. Stick to the bimbo you married. They get sack fumbles almost every time they sack the QB.

  • Anonymous

     What’s with the poison? Ad hominem is the weak-minded way.

  • rilawman

    do me a favor, don’t ever mention Paul Pierce and Larry Bird in the same sentence, two nights, two missed shots, two losses. Memo to doc when you ISO pierce at the end of a game you lose!!! Sorry to say it but green is better right now.

  • Anonymous

    There is a bad late game sport virus with all NE teams. Pats led at half lost to Ravens. The Green are folding late in games. The Bruins are losing with leads in third period. The Sox never get a lead.
    Time to reverse the the trend.

  • http://www.facebook.com/derek.lee.82 Derek Lee

    I disagree. Bird has had his share of missed shots, in the regular season.
    However for both players, the playoffs have been a different story .

  • Boxout

    never compare the two, how does one of your forwards go through games with two rebounds? Bird (yes the man who couldn’t run, jump, and no athletic ability) was one of the premier defensive rebounders every year. This team loses because they absolutely refuse to learn to box out as a team and in game after game get torched on second chance opportunities. Their rebounding efforts are pitiful!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/derek.lee.82 Derek Lee

    Tell me something. How was Bird doing, at the age of 35?
    Larry Bird 11.3 points 4.5 rebounds.
    Paul Pierce 18.4 points 6.7 rebounds 4.7 assists.
    Pretty confident Pierce has got the edge, as far as old guys

  • wayne

    Quote: The Sox never get a lead. lol !

  • Green For Life

    Look if the score is that close and the other team has the last possession it doesn’t matter how bad the team is or what their record is, there is still a chance that they will steal a win. If you have a thirteen point lead against a team named the pelicans, or more importantly a chance to finish off a team in game 6 like the Lakers or the Heat, that is not the time to slack off and start taking threes. One of the biggest problems with this team is 4th quarter scoring and its just like Doc said, when we have the advantage, we take the pedal off the gas and expect the other team to just give up. Still not worried when we get to the playoffs especially if that game against the Heat was the most trouble that they can give us. But somebody needs to step up and set an example for the rest of the team to keep the foot on the pedal no matter what the score is.

  • ChrisinDanvers

    Disappointing game….should of had it, but came out short. As for the tip in, a simple box out or jumping for the rebound would have helped. In terms of the winter teams in Boston, it appears that the third period/quarter is destroying them both. The Celtics got outscored by ten! By the soon to be Pelicans? That is inexcusable.

    The team has to come out of the half time better than this. The same thing happened against the Heat.

  • rilawman

    Don’t forget TO’s

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_RQDEFBPO2D4T3KVBEFNLQUDPFY Peter

    Agree with Doc that they deserved the loss but once again baffled that the refs can’t come up with the correct call on the replay. Simply geometry would indicate that the ball was still within the cylinder when it was tapped back in. The overhead view confirmed this yet for some reason, the incorrect call is made.

  • old milton

    I agree… Why sign two big guys to contracts for the rest of the season if they can’t help with rebounding when we are undersized compared to the opponent??

  • Bruinman86

    Defensive rebounding comes down to 2 things: Technique and will. Apparently they don’t have enough of either.

  • Bruinman86

    Something we call “Re-Tooling”. They are all over their prime and are working on building the next great teams. For some teams it may be a while (C’s, Sox)

  • fab4ever

    This is always an interesting debate …part of the Larry’s allure is simple; The guy, pound for pound, was one of the smartest guys ever to play the game…and yes, he’s missed his share of shots…they all do. ESPN just never replays them…All we see is Jordan’s big shots, Larry, Magic etc….Paul has had his share of game winners…but I do believe Paul is nowhere near the rebounder that Larry was…both offensive and defensive….Larry had a nose for the glass, Paul doesn’t. It’s not a knock…Larry is one of the handful of guys that owned a great all-round game…his team defense was as good as anyone…posts here forget Paul’s HUGE shot against Denver in Denver this year, among others…

  • Satch Adams

    Pierce is definitely becoming a turnover machine. Bad ones of every sort. Troubling.

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