Tomorrow is not a cakewalk - New England Patriots Forums

***AndyJohnson*** · 12-09-2006, 01:01 PM

There is no doubt we are clearly a better team than Miami. There is no doubt we shouod win the game.
There is a lot of doubt that the game and score will be some sort statement about how much better we are than Miami, or what kind of algorythm you could create to show how this score translates to what we will do in any other game.
The job is to win. If its 3-0 or 73-72, the job is to win.

This could be one of the toughest games to win we have all year. Our track record playing in Miami regardless of the quality of either team it is hard to win there.

What we will see tomorrow is some or all of the following:

1) Our offense, which is paid to move the ball and score points, will face their defense, which is paid to stop us from doing that. Our offense will succeed some times and their defense will succeed some times. We will move the ball, they will make plays to stifle drives. Overall, we should have an offensive day that is above average (20 points or more) and they will have a defensive day that is below average (20 points or more)
2) Joey Harrington will have some fleeting success throwing the ball. Why? Because we play a defensive style that will give him plays if he reads it right and makes good throws, but will cause him to fail miserably when he doesnt not read it right or makes a poor throw. The successes he has will be because on those plays, he did a good job, but the defensive philospophy is that if the game depends on him reading our coverage right and making good throws, he will fail to do that enough that we cannot lose.
3) Whether the game is close or not going to the 4th quarter will depend on turnovers and red zone performance. We may be in a very close game.
4) If the game is close in the 4th quarter, we will win, because first, the highest quality of the talent level on this team is its ability to finish a game and make plays when the game is on the line, and secondly, through the first 3 quarters of the game our gameplan will have positioned us to set up what we need to do in the 4th quarter to win. (for example we may be very run heavy all day, and be in a tight game, then in the 4th quarter when we throw Brady will have more time than he would have, and receivers will see coverages that were set up by the run heavy gameplan) (defensively, the passes Harrington completed will now be into a disguised coverage he is misreading and throwing into like he did earlier in the day, but the decision will now be wrong)
This is the aspect of our success that many fans seem to overlook, but many analysts have converted into the comment that this coaching staff is the best gameplanning staff in the NFL.

PatsFanSince74 · 12-09-2006, 01:30 PM

i haven't seen too many posts out here suggesting that it IS a cakewalk. i think most people realize that Miami is always dangerous, especially down there and with Saban as Coach

***pats1*** · 12-09-2006, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsFanSince74

i haven't seen too many posts out here suggesting that it IS a cakewalk. i think most people realize that Miami is always dangerous, especially down there and with Saban as Coach

How has Saban proven he's dangerous?

shirtsleeve · 12-09-2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pats1

How has Saban proven he's dangerous?

He's the most dangerous creature in the universe! Oh, wait, you said Saban. Nevermind!

Seriously, Miami's D is pretty stout and Harrington likes to air it out to his WR's alot. But with their feature back out, the Pats should be able to stop their run and force Harrington to go one dimensional. So I dont look for Miami to score more than the two touchdowns the Pats are averaging, and I wouldnt be surprised if they scored less.
So the bottom line is IF the Pats protect the ball, and make few mental errors. they should win comfortably.

VJCPatriot · 12-09-2006, 02:26 PM

If the Pats defense lets Harrington come out throwing and make him look like Dan Marino... it's gonna be a long day. No letdown you say? This is the same Pats D that let Griese beat us soundly. And Griese is so bad that he is currently warming the pine in Denver!!

This game is important and it will say a lot about whether this team "gets it." They almost fell asleep at the switch against the Lions. A repeat performance like last week and they won't be winning against the Fins. Plus I'd have to question their mental toughness at that point.

Go Pats! They need to start the game strong and not play come from behind football. The Pats have the overall edge to dictate their own style of play and they need to do so. I'd run Dillon/Maroney right over Jason Taylor rather than let the guy sit back and play passrush the QB all dya.

Jacky Roberts · 12-09-2006, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyJohnson

There is no doubt we are clearly a better team than Miami. There is no doubt we shouod win the game.
There is a lot of doubt that the game and score will be some sort statement about how much better we are than Miami, or what kind of algorythm you could create to show how this score translates to what we will do in any other game.
The job is to win. If its 3-0 or 73-72, the job is to win.

This could be one of the toughest games to win we have all year. Our track record playing in Miami regardless of the quality of either team it is hard to win there.

What we will see tomorrow is some or all of the following:

1) Our offense, which is paid to move the ball and score points, will face their defense, which is paid to stop us from doing that. Our offense will succeed some times and their defense will succeed some times. We will move the ball, they will make plays to stifle drives. Overall, we should have an offensive day that is above average (20 points or more) and they will have a defensive day that is below average (20 points or more)
2) Joey Harrington will have some fleeting success throwing the ball. Why? Because we play a defensive style that will give him plays if he reads it right and makes good throws, but will cause him to fail miserably when he doesnt not read it right or makes a poor throw. The successes he has will be because on those plays, he did a good job, but the defensive philospophy is that if the game depends on him reading our coverage right and making good throws, he will fail to do that enough that we cannot lose.
3) Whether the game is close or not going to the 4th quarter will depend on turnovers and red zone performance. We may be in a very close game.
4) If the game is close in the 4th quarter, we will win, because first, the highest quality of the talent level on this team is its ability to finish a game and make plays when the game is on the line, and secondly, through the first 3 quarters of the game our gameplan will have positioned us to set up what we need to do in the 4th quarter to win. (for example we may be very run heavy all day, and be in a tight game, then in the 4th quarter when we throw Brady will have more time than he would have, and receivers will see coverages that were set up by the run heavy gameplan) (defensively, the passes Harrington completed will now be into a disguised coverage he is misreading and throwing into like he did earlier in the day, but the decision will now be wrong)
This is the aspect of our success that many fans seem to overlook, but many analysts have converted into the comment that this coaching staff is the best gameplanning staff in the NFL.

Does anyone think tomorrows game is going to be easy? I think they will probably win, but if they lose, I would not be surprised. I'd say 50/50 at best.

***PatsWickedPissah*** · 12-09-2006, 02:56 PM

Brady has almost always had a hard time against the Phish. I'm sure he and his cohorts don't think it's a 'cakewalk' and theirs is the opinion that counts.

Maybe we should start Cassel?

ATippett56 · 12-09-2006, 03:01 PM

I still remember that Monday Night football game against a pathetic Miami Dolphins in 2004 in which Tom Brady threw four interceptions including the third falling on his back. With that loss, the New England Patriots lost any hope of home field advantage throughout the playoffs. To this day, it's amazing the New England Patriots won a Super Bowl with Brandon Gorin playing right tackle.