WIND tonight - hampering passing game?

[BlitzFritz]

With gusts as high as 30 mph, I could see this game being much more limited to running and punting a lot. It is not as severe as some games we have all seen, but it could make field direction critical, with passing limited to 2 quarters...

I hope it settles down a bit. (Plus I will be in the stands, but that's secondary)

Anyone know at what point Wind becomes a big issue (how many MPH)?

 

[NE39]

This is probably my biggest concern, as it will hurt the passing game. I remember the Baltimore game late in 2007, and the wind was a big factor. I think the wind that night averaged around 30 MPH, so it will be about 10 MPH less tonight.

One thing that makes me feel a little better is that Brady has played in these conditions many times and knows how to handle them. Sanchez, in contrast, may be more effected because he is a Southern California guy with less accuracy and experience.

 

[upstater1]

WIND can only help the Patriots, IMO.

This is a much stronger defense when Mayo and Spikes are in the game and running downhill.

Brady has a much larger playbook for the passing game than Sanchez does. In a shortened passing game, the Patriots are favored. If Sanchez can't throw downfield, that will hurt the Jets badly.

If Spikes and Mayo are in and they are looking to stop the running back, this is a strong defense. It's the sub-defense that is a concern for the Patriots.

 

[MustaphaM0nd]

With gusts as high as 30 mph, I could see this game being much more limited to running and punting a lot. It is not as severe as some games we have all seen, but it could make field direction critical, with passing limited to 2 quarters...

I hope it settles down a bit. (Plus I will be in the stands, but that's secondary)

Anyone know at what point Wind becomes a big issue (how many MPH)?

TFB will be ok. The one who this could hamper bigtime is Sanchez, whose throw is not as fine tuned.

 

[Patjew]

I have to be honest: I am terrified of the weather tonight. I just can't take the cold like I used to. That being said, if it helps the Pats then I'm happy to deal with it.

 

[jays52]

With gusts as high as 30 mph, I could see this game being much more limited to running and punting a lot. It is not as severe as some games we have all seen, but it could make field direction critical, with passing limited to 2 quarters...

I hope it settles down a bit. (Plus I will be in the stands, but that's secondary)

Anyone know at what point Wind becomes a big issue (how many MPH)?

The short answer is that it benefits the Pats. Lazer short passes are obviously a lot more wind resistant than the longer stuff. The Jets throw a lot of strikes and drive routes off of those strikes. The drive routes will be less effected by the wind, but the touch passes are going to sail.

The real story here is the kicking game, though.

 

[TheTeufelShuffle]

Wind is definitely an issue for Sanchez.

For a QB cross winds are the worst. Directly into or against the wind is not as big an issue (unless it is gale force of course)

Maybe someone who goes to alot of Pats home games can answer, doe sthe wind tend to blow end zone to end zone or swirl/cross in Foxboro?

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Could be a definite problem for Sanchez.
Brady throws 100mph fastballs (uh oh a baseball metaphor.....please forgive me O ye single minded Pats fans out there ) so I don't think Tom will be too affected.

 

[WhiZa]

The real story here is the kicking game, though.

Yes, I'm surprised no one started a thread about this instead. Kickers on both teams don't have strong legs. We will see a lot of kick returns starting at the 20, and accuracy will take a huge hit on FGs.

Expect BB to go for it on 4th down within the opponent's 50 multiple times tonight.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Not to worry as BB has a team of MIT post grads taking wind vector data and running the input through a 30 terraflop computer simulation utilizing the Bernoulli equations for fluid dynamics. The results will be available in real time pre snap to Brady via helmet mike and to the defense to optimize the angle of approach on The Sanchise's picks.

 

[Garbanza]

I have to be honest: I am terrified of the weather tonight. I just can't take the cold like I used to. That being said, if it helps the Pats then I'm happy to deal with it.

You and me both! I despise the cold...especially with wind....and it's gotten worse as I have gotten older. I love the Pats - but I love me more! LOL! Good luck to me tonight....ugh...(or is that UGGS?) Better yet, good luck to the Pats!!

 

[karguy85]

I agree that the wind can only help the Pats tonight. The short routes the Patriots' receivers run along with the velocity Brady puts on the ball means it will be less affected by the wind. The long throws that stay in the air long and that have more touch on them could be carried by the wind. Hopefully that helps our secondary out.

 

[BlitzFritz]

I have to be honest: I am terrified of the weather tonight. I just can't take the cold like I used to. That being said, if it helps the Pats then I'm happy to deal with it.

Dude,
did you move back from HKG or are you just here for the BFD football game?

-- FRITZ

 

[BlitzFritz]

Wind is definitely an issue for Sanchez.

For a QB cross winds are the worst. Directly into or against the wind is not as big an issue (unless it is gale force of course)

Maybe someone who goes to alot of Pats home games can answer, doe sthe wind tend to blow end zone to end zone or swirl/cross in Foxboro?

endzone to end zone. Gillette was designed to be open on one end and wind comes in there.

 

[upstater1]

For the fans in the stands, I go to frigid weather football games all the time, especially here in Buffalo, but I've done playoff games in New England (sadly, the last was the AFCCG in 2007-08 many moons ago) and I have never been cold. I'm 42. I wear good boots, wool socks, ski pants, a cold gear undershirt, and a ski jacket, with gloves and head covering. I don't feel the cold at all. I even tailgate for a few hours before the game in 10 degree weather. I never feel the cold.

In other words, make sure you dress warmly. It's easy to enjoy the games if you do. Plenty of people are dressed as ridiculously as I am. I see people in full hunting gear outfits.

The last time I was freezing at a game was a Jets-Pats game at Giants stadium about 6 years ago (the one that ended with a big McGinest interception after the cold weather kept it ridiculously close) and I showed up with jeans, regular shoes, a baseball hat and winter coat. I sat in the upper deck and froze.

I vowed from then on that it would never happen again, and it hasn't.

 

[jays52]

Yes, I'm surprised no one started a thread about this instead. Kickers on both teams don't have strong legs. We will see a lot of kick returns starting at the 20, and accuracy will take a huge hit on FGs.

Expect BB to go for it on 4th down within the opponent's 50 multiple times tonight.

Yup. The other thing is that that they're going to need a holder for kickoffs. Take one coverage guy automatically out of the play, add in the wind factor, and we could be talking short fields all night. I also don't want to go up against Westhoff teams in this kind of conditions, especially when compounded with the collective team speed those guys have. I wouldn't be surprised to see a few illegal procedures on kickoffs, either.

Geekout: Aussie style punting sucks in the wind. Super Minute Advantage: Pats.

 

[BlitzFritz]

For the fans in the stands, I go to frigid weather football games all the time, especially here in Buffalo, but I've done playoff games in New England (sadly, the last was the AFCCG in 2007-08 many moons ago) and I have never been cold. I'm 42. I wear good boots, wool socks, ski pants, a cold gear undershirt, and a ski jacket, with gloves and head covering. I don't feel the cold at all. I even tailgate for a few hours before the game in 10 degree weather. I never feel the cold.

In other words, make sure you dress warmly. It's easy to enjoy the games if you do. Plenty of people are dressed as ridiculously as I am. I see people in full hunting gear outfits.

good points.
the other thing to consider are those hand warmers and toe warmer packets, they make a big difference with our old bodies...!

-- FRITZ

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

It helps and hurts both teams. Brady is better in the wind than Sanchez. But the Jets are a better running team than the Patriots.

What it clearly does is help which ever team gets an early lead. Particularly if that team has the wind during the 4th quarter.

 

[Rob0729]

The wind hurts the Jets far more than the Pats in the passing game. The Jets are 6th in pass attempts over 21 yards. The Pats are in short passing game mode. The short passing game is not affected by the wind except for hurricane type wins of 40-50 MPH. The wind can affect the deeper passes especially when you don't have a lot of zip on the ball like Sanchez throws.

 

[MustaphaM0nd]

Yup. The other thing is that that they're going to need a holder for kickoffs. Take one coverage guy automatically out of the play, add in the wind factor, and we could be talking short fields all night. I also don't want to go up against Westhoff teams in this kind of conditions, especially when compounded with the collective team speed those guys have. I wouldn't be surprised to see a few illegal procedures on kickoffs, either.

Geekout: Aussie style punting sucks in the wind. Super Minute Advantage: Pats.

The thing that worries me is that short fields could be an equalizer of sorts. Brady can drive given any length of field, Sanchez not so much.