Idle thoughts - The Houston Match up. (Texan fans welcome) - Page 15 - New England Patriots Forums

longhornsk57 · 01-07-2013, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goheels22002

The Texans front four does not resemble the NY Giants in scheme or talent. The Patriots offensive line can handle those guys in both the run and passing game. Gronk adds a dimension to the blocking schemes. The early lead plus the opportunities provided by the Patriots offensive line led to an almost perfectly balanced attack - 33 runs/35 passes by the Patriots.

The other thing about the Texans is that they couldn't keep track of Brandon Lloyd (7 catches) and Aaron Hernandez (8 catches) last time, even though they did a nice job on Welker. That was new for us as fans - it was the key game that told us that teams can focus on the slot and Lloyd will make them pay.

The problem for Philips is that it gets harder now with Gronkowski to account for in the passing game and on running plays - he's a good blocker if he doesn't break his friggin' arm. Gronk adds the dimension of drawing a linebacker in coverage on every play. If a team tries to drop a down lineman in coverage, Gronk just pushes him aside and runs away.

The idea that the Texans will get physical with the Patriots is not news nor a real concern. The Pats are one of the most physical teams in the NFL and get that every week.

The game comes down, in my mind, to whether Matt Schaub can throw accurately against the Patriots' secondary. He has to be precise and take what is provided, which will be a lot - it always is with these guys. Schaub just seems like a guy who locks onto a receiver early and who gets rattled when he gets knocked around.

You might be surprised if our LBs actually show up this time.

IllegalContact · 01-07-2013, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longhornsk57

True, but I don't think that can be determined until after Sunday. I know the 45 to 3 over Jets has been brought up, and it's a good thing to keep in mind. Different situation, different stakes. All of the pressure on is on NE to win this, everyone expects Houston to lose. We won't know what Wade is cooking till Sunday, but it had better be better than the crap he served last time.

yup....and last year, the pats beat the broncos by 20 in the regular season and then by 35 in the playoffs.....

LMFAO @ the notion that the pressure is on the pats to win...... pressure? they've won and lost SB's, AFCC's, divisional, etc.......pressure off the field is a non factor

AzPatsFan · 01-07-2013, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasTradition

Btw, Y'ALL are more than welcome to come say HOWDY over on our boards and clear up any misconceptions we have about your team.

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Thanks I think will...

IllegalContact · 01-07-2013, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longhornsk57

You might be surprised if our LBs actually show up this time.

they're all on IR, so they can't show up

the problem is that texans got nowhere near brady until they were down 2 TD's....they then bumped him around a bit....big deal, he's used to it.

the texans just don't have the defensive players to be able to change up their scheme.....they'll probably be forced to some big nickel and then the pats will run all over them

***mgcolby*** · 01-07-2013, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longhornsk57

1) Not hurting because they already move around so muchand asking them to play more zone is not really a cataclysmic change. Also, we had zero pass rush the first time, and if our guys EXECUTE better there's no need for a drastic change.

2) I don't think a radical change is necessary. Minor tweaks can go a long way. More zone, better executed pass rush, healthy Joseph, healthy Reed etc...

3) I think he does think that if we EXECUTE, I mean look at last year's Superbowl and historically when Brady is made uncomfortable he does make mistakes. Our offense is actually our best defense. Know how to beat Brady? Keep his ass on the bench! Eat clock. We failed miserably the first time, but had 38 minutes I think last week, and #1 in the league this season in TOP. Foster is the key to beating Tom Brady, NOT our defense.

On your last question, they just executed better. Watt was hitting Brady, coverage was good, the run was stopped. That is Texans football played well, then the gas ran out again.

I am not saying we are going to win or are even likely, but I do think you will see a more physical team that is not going to make some really stupid mistakes.

For your sake you better hope that Kubiak doesn't come back for round 2 with that mindset otherwise it will be a long day for the city of Houston. Belichick is going to force Schaub to win the game, that is what he does, he will take away what the other team does best - damn near selling out on it.

That zone stretch won't work with Wilfork chewing up your center and guard....and you guys don't have the horses on the line to line up and play power football. And by power football I don't mean "running the ball", I mean lining up and having your O-line pushing foward and winning the one on battles in the trenches. The stretch zone stuff simply won't work mostly because of Vince as I stated above. Your team absolutely has to throw to set up the run. I know that isn't how your team has played most of the season, but that is the only way they have a chance to win outside some freak turnover game etc...

I hate to say for your sake but your best chance to win this game is for Schaub to have a great game and for your defense to be +2 or more in the turnover department.

b0ng · 01-07-2013, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patfanken

Still waiting for some Texan fan feedback on whether we are likely to see something different from Wade Phillips on defense this time around?

Wade Phillips will change some things against an opponent they have faced before depending on how successful or unsuccessful they were in the previous meeting. Last year, the first game we faced the Ravens in the regular season at Baltimore and the defense got torched by Joe Flacco and the pressure packages employed did not work in the least.

In the playoff game later that year (also in Baltimore) while the Texans did not win the game Flacco was harassed a hell of a lot more and Wade threw different actions up front with more DE/LB stunts. Unfortunately we are not at full strength on the ILB position and this means that we are probably not going to throw too many blitzes with the ILB's this time around which would've been different than the last time the Pats and the Texans face off.

I don't think that the score will be as lopsided as last time, and that the Texans defense is going to play this upcoming game with a gigantic chip on their shoulders due to being embarrassed as badly as they were last time around. Whether Matt Schaub and the disappearing/re-appearing offense can keep finishing their drives off then it'll certainly be a good game.

NYCPatsFan · 01-07-2013, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0ng

Wade Phillips will change some things against an opponent they have faced before depending on how successful or unsuccessful they were in the previous meeting. Last year, the first game we faced the Ravens in the regular season at Baltimore and the defense got torched by Joe Flacco and the pressure packages employed did not work in the least.

In the playoff game later that year (also in Baltimore) while the Texans did not win the game Flacco was harassed a hell of a lot more and Wade threw different actions up front with more DE/LB stunts. Unfortunately we are not at full strength on the ILB position and this means that we are probably not going to throw too many blitzes with the ILB's this time around which would've been different than the last time the Pats and the Texans face off.

I don't think that the score will be as lopsided as last time, and that the Texans defense is going to play this upcoming game with a gigantic chip on their shoulders due to being embarrassed as badly as they were last time around. Whether Matt Schaub and the disappearing/re-appearing offense can keep finishing their drives off then it'll certainly be a good game.

I agree. Will be a tough game IMO because you guys are playing with extra motivation to erase the humilating prior loss.

Welcome to our forum!

patfanken · 01-07-2013, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0ng

Wade Phillips will change some things against an opponent they have faced before depending on how successful or unsuccessful they were in the previous meeting. Last year, the first game we faced the Ravens in the regular season at Baltimore and the defense got torched by Joe Flacco and the pressure packages employed did not work in the least.

In the playoff game later that year (also in Baltimore) while the Texans did not win the game Flacco was harassed a hell of a lot more and Wade threw different actions up front with more DE/LB stunts. Unfortunately we are not at full strength on the ILB position and this means that we are probably not going to throw too many blitzes with the ILB's this time around which would've been different than the last time the Pats and the Texans face off.

I don't think that the score will be as lopsided as last time, and that the Texans defense is going to play this upcoming game with a gigantic chip on their shoulders due to being embarrassed as badly as they were last time around. Whether Matt Schaub and the disappearing/re-appearing offense can keep finishing their drives off then it'll certainly be a good game.

Thanks for your input. What you offered makes a lot of sense. At least it shows that Wade is willing to change things up

b0ng · 01-07-2013, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patfanken

Thanks for your input. What you offered makes a lot of sense. At least it shows that Wade is willing to change things up

I think the real conundrum for Wade this time around (which is probably the same as last time really) is that he can't hide the 10 feet of manure the Texans are currently starting at ILB. The Pats can triple up Watt, dare Antonio Smith, Shaun Cody/Earl Mitchell, Connor Barwin, and Brooks Reed to beat them and with how that's gone so far against the Texans, is not a bad strategy to take. Most teams in the NFL have seen the Texans run their DE/OLB stunt and are ready for that action up front so he's going to need to come up with something different than that, which he really hasn't so far. My guess is that he's going to be in nickle/dime (probably more dime than nickle) while yanking out Barrett Ruud from his starters spot and put in either Shiloh Keo or Quentin Demps or both. Glover Quin will probably play a pseudo-ILB role in most of the non-base formations which means runs up the middle are probably going to be the go-to audible for the patriots if they don't like the alignment for a pass play.

Uncle Rico · 01-07-2013, 07:23 PM

Brian Baldinger was on 98.5 as I was driving home. I kind of stopped caring what he said a few years ago when he said the game had passed Belichick by — but he did have a good pont tonight: The big problem for the Texans last time was just the pace of the Pats offense. Said the Texans D would basically be looking to adjust their alignments based on the Pats' when BAM the ball would be snapped. Just no time to think. Maybe there's a way they can anticipate based on film and if they see tendencies (such as matchups the Pats may have targeted last time), but I'm not sure there's much they can do.