patchick

Agreed, and not-so-coincidentally, TE is the position where the Pats' roster is most dramatically improved from 2009. As a group, Hernandez, Gronkowski and Crumpler give you every possible set of TE skills and physical attributes to contend with.

BTW, welcome. Folks who actually want to talk football are valued here, even if they show the poor fashion taste to wear green.

Patspsycho

Those are good insights. I agree that Revis vs. Moss is not going to be the key to the game. It's the matchup the media likes to play up, but in my opinion will not really have an impact on the game, unless it is close.

Like you said, Heap was hard to stop when he was hitting the seam because he was severely mismatched, and so my money is on Gronk. On their last drive, the Ravens made a point of going to Heap again and again. I think that was a card they had up their sleeve, that got them ahead in the score.

Honestly if Ryan is going to play the 46, he is going to lose this Sunday. There is a reason it quickly fell out of vogue after the Bears used it, and it wasn't just because you have to have a very talented secondary, but because any QB with a quick release and accuracy can defeat it, and Brady is one of the best at both. He got flummoxed in the first game- his first exposure to that style of defense, and we know it will never happen again. He has too much pride. He will pick the 46 apart, period.

If I were Ryan, I would fall back to the hybrid 3-4 or at least go with the TNT formation in the 46 (Tackle-Nose-Tackle) so you can have enough LB's to 3 and 5 tech, and cover the flats, and allow the backfield to get away with a cover 3.

patsfaninpittsburgh

psycho

Is "TNT" essentially going zone? Even with the rookie getting the toast treament on Monday, it seemed Wrecks never changed anything.

King Air Pilot

Key to this game is putting up 6 points every red zone trip. Hell, thats the key to the season! I have all the confidence in the world with Gostkowski, but multiple 3's aint good enough!

I'm really not too worried about Moss or Welker getting shut down. Both of them getting shut down the entire game is a big IF, and even if thats the case, Gronk, Tate and Edelman (if he plays) are more than capable of picking up the workload.

PS- First post by the way, and this place is awesome!

Metaphors

They stopped a better running game but an inferior offense overall. The Jets crashed their safeties because the Ravens don't have any real deep threats. They took the chance that they could cover 1-on-1 in case the Ravens went deep. In general they were correct since the CBs were there, but they didn't count on the flags or Boldin's superior body control and hands.

The Pats have multiple deep threats that should force the Jets to keep at least one safety deep. Other matchups will make them think twice about bringing the house against the run. So while your point is absolutely accurate, I'm not sure the situations translate 100%.

Agree, but you are missing 2 more important elements...game plan and QB decision making. The Jets players aren't superhuman. They just force your offense to have the right plays called and execute them quickly. If you can do the former, you will have some success. If you can do both, they really don't have a chance since they leave gaping holes in the defense (be design) with the intention that you don't have the time or ability to attack them there.


I see what you are saying but the Jets deliver more pressure from the inside than the outside...particularly with Pace out. I'm less worried about someone circling around the end than I am about a LB finding a hole in the middle of the line and getting an open shot at Brady. When he is in shotgun, I would feel better with a RB next to him for protection or a quick shuffle pass.

That is a major difference from last year. Baker and Watson (who I'm convinced was injured throughout last year) were fine players but took an eternity to get open. Crumpler is kinda that way but the other two are legit threats if ignored or left to zone coverage.

[QUOTE=patfanken;2223681] 5. This is a game I REALLY want to win the toss and defer. Just as I assume if the Jets win the toss THEY will want to KO. The crowd will be at its most emotional and loudest to open the game. I know it would be great to just march down the field and shut them up, but that would be a tall order. I'd much rather get the extra possession in the 2nd half after you have had a half to see what the Jets are doing on D, and the Crown noise is down by a few decibels[\QUOTE]

Agree, but there is never a time when I wouldn't want the Pats to defer. The chance run a 2 minute offense at the half and then get a Tate return and Brady back on the field after halftime is killer.

Agree with this as well. I don't think the Pats should be afraid of giving up a big play. I don't think the Jets will do well if the game turns into a track meet. It would be problematic if Sanchez can get in a 3.5 yard rhythm and kill the Pats with a million paper cuts.

The Ravens ST were horrific in their decision making and execution. The Pats can't afford the same. Yards will likely be at a premium so winning ST will have a disproportionate impact on this game.

There is definitely blood in the water and this game should tell us the character of this team. If they come out and wait for Sanchez to lose the game, the result will likely be the opposite. Armed with a game plan and healthy, amped players looking to end the Jets season before summer ends, I like the Pats chances.

JoeSixPat

Nice Job Ken!

I'm trying not to overthink this one

The Jets can be as agressive as they want and Brady will find his dump pass options.

If they play more conservative Welker should be able to shred them. It's even better if the Revis hamstring issue is real.

I have a lot of confidence in our D against the Jets offense... Sanchez may indeed try to air it out more... but one quick interception is going to KILL his self confidence and ultimately may wind up defining his career even at this early stage, as he already has the reputation of a guy who can't handle pressure - and there's a LOT of pressure on him against the Pats in this game.

In a game where the Pats can get a 2 score lead, Sanchez and the Jets could very well fade as I'm confident our D can hold it.

The early part of this game will likely be most pivitol.

patfanken

I think Gronk and Hernandez are the answers to you issue. Already Gronk has had 4 TDs in the Preseason and one in his first game. Hernandez also had chance in the endzone, but dropped it.

Both have slightly different skill sets, but BOTH are viable big targets in the red zone, and will vastly open the field for Moss in that respect

Patspsycho

The TNT will 2 gap, so all they will do is eat up blockers on the line. It can be zone or cover 0 under, with the LB's depending on the formation you see on offense. The main thing is this allows for a zone over (cover 3). With a cover 3 you at least can challenge the seam. With the base 46 (ETNE), you have nothing left for the seam which is where Gronk or presumably Hern will assassinate you.

patfanken

No question that the Pats will at least pay lip service to the run, but if they don't have early success, I don't see them trying to reinvent the wheel, and I full expect to see Brady back in the gun on situations like 3rd and 2 (which btw still drives me crazy, but I'm getting used to it )

Oh, I'm very comfortable (as I said) with Brady making the right decisions in his reads. What worries me is getting that information to the rest of the offense. THAT'S the problem in that noisy stadium. If Brady makes a change and an OLman or WR doesn't get the message, bad things will happen. That's what the Jets D thrives on.

I see what you mean, but getting pressure up the middle is easier said than done, for any defensive Blitz. Besides LBs coming up the middle leaves the TEs wide open over the middle for dump offs. Its a risk reward thing.

Watson was a very decent TE, like Graham, but neither were what you would call "natural receivers". Guys who had the ability to effortlessly put their bodies in the best position to catch the ball while going full speed in your route. This is not about speed or hands. Its more about body control and hand-eye coordination.

Guys like Gonzales, Gates, and Clark have this ability. So far it looks like Gronk and Hernandez do too.......SO FAR.

Absolutely agree on this. I'd always rather have the ball first to start the 2nd half

Well he didn't do a bad job of it in the first Jet-Pats game, especially when you consider it was his 2nd NFL game

I think this can be a big plus for the Pats

If the Pats can beat a good team, in a hostile environment, it will go a long way to convincing me and the rest of the nation that the Pats are true contenders this season. We all know the offense is good, but this D should be vastly improve as we go into December.

SuperPatsFan

I think the importance of this game to the Patriots is being underestimated. It's a statement game. If they win, they're for real.

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