This is the start of a new weekly feature on NESN.com, and it will run every Wednesday throughout the season. It will basically compile a list of things — observations, analysis, notable quotes, unique stats and other odds and ends — that will empty the week's notebook. Without further ado, here are 20 thoughts that shouldn’t take more than two minutes to read.
1. What did the Patriots use for motivation heading into the Miami game? One of the coaches posted the media's game predictions — obviously, they were Dolphins-heavy — for the players to read at Gillette Stadium.
2. Running back Danny Woodhead said he weighs 197 pounds, and he has actually lost five pounds since the season started.
3. Sammy Morris deserves credit for making a big block to initialize Brandon Tate's 103-yard return, and Woodhead made a slight block along the right sideline that really freed up Tate's lane.
4. The new sod that covered the infield dirt at Sun Life Stadium, where the Marlins play, stuck out like a sore thumb. It was hard not to feel pessimistic about a potential injury or some slippage that could impact a key play on the shadow of the end zone.
5. Surprisingly, Wes Welker — one of the most reliable players in Patriots history — had the only mishap on special teams Monday night, muffing the first punt of the game. "Special teams was perfect tonight, except for my mishap," Welker said after the game. "Luckily, no harm, no foul, but at the same time, I hate being the lone guy that screwed up tonight on special teams."
6. Want to know why Kyle Arrington jogged to the end zone after retrieving the ball during Patrick Chung's blocked field goal? He cramped up when he broke up a pass to Davone Bess on the previous play, and Arrington was a little concerned about it happening again on his 35-yard run to pay dirt. "I was pretty cautious of trying not to overexert," he said. "That wouldn’t have looked good at all, cramping up going into the end zone."
7. Zoltan Mesko averaged 41.0 yards per punt and also boomed a 60-yarder Monday night against the Dolphins, but his most important act came in the locker room after the game, when he needed to help Randy Moss get a bracelet on his wrist.
8. Brandon Marshall took the blame for cutting his route short during Chad Henne's third interception Monday, and Henne seemed pleased Marshall was accountable for it. However, that’s the play that ended Henne's night on national television, so he probably wasn’t doing back flips or anything.
9. Tom Brady reflected on his 100th victory Monday. "I've played on a great team for my entire career with the same organization that’s committed to winning. I'm privileged to be the quarterback on this team, and I hope I'm here forever."
10. Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski seems to be equally impressive in blocking and receiving roles. When asked last week if he gets more gratification pancaking someone or scoring a touchdown, the rookie responded, "Obviously, pancaking someone and having a good block is a great feeling, but also, scoring a touchdown is a great feeling, too. It all depends on the situation."
11. Immediately after the game, Rob Ninkovich said he knew exactly what routes each of Miami's receivers were running during his two interceptions. Whether he had help with the sideline photos or not, that’s pretty impressive.
12. Stephen Gostkowski booted all seven of his kickoffs into the end zone Monday, and five resulted in touchbacks. That’s a powerful right pendulum.
13. Belichick won't be too sympathetic with the defense for allowing the Dolphins to convert 10 of 15 third downs.
14. Jerod Mayo has turned up his playmaking ability in the last two games, and he was credited with 16 total tackles (14 solo) and one snazzy diving pass breakup against Miami. The game's next two highest tacklers, according to press box statisticians, were Arrington (seven) and Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell (seven), who combined for 14 total stops.
15. Miami linebacker Cameron Wake had three quarterback hits Monday, while the Patriots had two as a team. Wake destroyed Pats right tackle Sebastian Vollmer twice, and that’s something that will pop up on film for opposing speed rushers.
16. Curious if Belichick has the Patriots' defense/special teams in a fantasy football league. He was asked if he's seen any other games with so many blocks and defensive plays turn into touchdowns, and he responded, "I can't imagine there are too many of those in NFL history to be honest with you, plus offensive and defensive touchdowns. It was a good day for fantasy football."
17. Former Patriots offensive coordinator and current Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels told the media he would reevaluate his kickoff coverage unit, which hasn’t been up to par. Might he look toward free agent linebacker Pierre Woods, who hasn’t been picked up since getting cut by the Pats last month?
18. Sticking with McDaniels, he's pretty heated and had some harsh words for head coach Jeff Fisher and his Titans, who played some dirty football Sunday. Remember, McDaniels was with the Patriots in 2006 when safety Rodney Harrison got taken out with a cheap shot to the leg from Titans wideout Bobby Wade, so this subject goes back a ways for McDaniels. Harrison, who missed the entire postseason due to the hit, has also said he saw Fisher smiling after Wade's cut block.
19. Pretty wild, this is how Miami's 10 possessions concluded Monday — punt, touchdown, interception, interception, blocked punt, touchdown, blocked field goal, downs, interception and interception. That’s six different types of endings to drives.
20. Outside linebacker Shawn Crable, offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger and defensive lineman Kyle Love were all stretching before Monday's game with Patriots assistant strength and conditioning coach Harold Nash, and all three players were inactive. Granted, they could have all been healthy scratches anyway, but that pregame routine is consistent with guys who are banged up, so that’s something to monitor going forward.
