Random Thoughts (September 15, 2008)

Let's start the week with some quick-hit thoughts from yesterday's 19-10 in New Jersey:

• Matt Cassel was (2001) Brady-esque in his first career NFL start. Cassel made some good decisions and played a good enough game for his team to win. Sure, he cost Moss a touchdown and held onto the ball a bit too long a few times, but the bottom line is that Cassel made more than enough plays to give the Pats the W.
• Adalius Thomas showed New England why Belichick and Pioli showed him the money yesterday. The fourth quarter sack/throw down of Brett Favre and Leon Washington will be used in the pass rushing highlight reel for years to come.
• It is a serious luxury to have a healthy Richard Seymour on the defensive line.
• The secondary looked much better this week. Ellis Hobbs and Deltha O'Neal played solid at corner and Brandon Meriweather looked like a playmaker. It goes to show that good things happen when the front seven pressures the quarterback.
• Jerod Mayo could walk away with the Defensive Rookie of the Year if that is how he plays on a weekly basis.
• I think the Dolphins should prepare themselves for a lot of LaMont Jordan this week.

Buffalo still scares me within the division but after a week that made even the most casual of Patriots fans nervous, a solid road win within the AFC East is just what we all needed...

Jon Lester is appraoching ace status, if he isn't there already. A 1-2-3 of Josh Beckett, Lester, and Daisuke Matsuzaka screams out "WORLD SERIES CHAMPS" if you listen close enough...

There are reports/rumors of the Red Sox interest in Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. The 23-year-old Saltalamacchia is a solid hitter who needs to improve his skills behind the dish but he would be a perfect compliment to (free agent to be) Jason Varitek for the next 2-3 years before the Captain retires. The kid can hit and he would have no better mentor for his catching skills than 'Tek. I'd hate to see the Red Sox give up on Clay Buchholz so early but for a player like Saltalamacchia, I'd take the risk...

After watching the Colts, Steelers, Jaguars, and Chargers for two weeks, there is no AFC team that really scares me. Buffalo is very good but they are similar to the Pats (young, untested QB, weapons at WR and RB, potentially dominant D) and I would take the experience in the New England lockerroom and Belichick over the untested Bills and Swampscott's Dick Jauron any day.

Still, I have to remind myself, they only have played two games...

Enjoy Daisuke tonight...