Defense of NE Offense - How??

[NordicVoyager]

Suppose the NE offense sends out Brady, Welker, Gronk, Hernandez, Lloyd and Stallworth on a non red-zone first down. How should the opposing defense respond?

I am presuming that most defenses would in a nickle package. If that was the case, how would they respond to a formation of Gronk wide left, Lloyd in the left slot, Welker in right slot, and Stallworth wide right with Hernandez as H-back?

Thoughts?

 

[bruinator]

Suppose the NE offense sends out Brady, Welker, Gronk, Hernandez, Lloyd and Stallworth on a non red-zone first down. How should the opposing defense respond?

I am presuming that most defenses would in a nickle package. If that was the case, how would they respond to a formation of Gronk wide left, Lloyd in the left slot, Welker in right slot, and Stallworth wide right with Hernandez as H-back?

Thoughts?

Carefully.

 

[Deus Irae]

"Kill the head and the body will die"

 

[Fixit]

 

[ctpatsfan77]

That's the sheer beauty of having GRONKnandez: no matter what D personnel are on the field, TFB can create mismatches.

 

[Ring 6]

Since that is an empty backfield, you would most likely see dime personell.
I love these 'how would you defend these guys questions'.
The real answer is that they would call the same defense they would call against anyone putting any combination of 3 WR 2 TE no RBs, and expect the players to carry out their assignments. Pretty much every defense is designed to assing the resposnsiblity to someone to cover anything the offense can do. Sometimes that is simple, and sometime complex, such as an all out blitz that takes away anything more than 15 yards downfield so fewer coverage guys can cover tight for the first 15.
Some teams will blitz that, some will cover it. Some will mix it up.

 

[Deus Irae]

On a bit more detailed note, I think it will be worth watching to see how teams line up against Hernandez, because I think that's going to key the Patriots offense. What will make that more difficult for teams to defend would be the Patriots actually using Hernandez like a TE more often.

 

[RobertWeathers]

"Kill the head and the body will die"

Yep. Line up Pierre-Paul and Osi on the ends, Tuck and Canty on the inside, Kiwanuka delay rushing/jamming Gronk and 6 DBs in man-to-man 5-15 yds from LoC.

That'll do....

 

[patman52]

no matter what the line up the defense is the same- hit brady. if Brady is not "concerned" with getting hit, there is no defense.

A 4-2-5 defense, and run a load of stunts as there is no chance of a running play, I would drop one of the DEs every play and blitz from that side and run the Mike up the middle.

 

[sieglo]

It's like crane style in Karate Kid.

"No can defense."

 

[Avenger]

no matter what the line up the defense is the same- hit brady. if Brady is not "concerned" with getting hit, there is no defense.

A 4-2-5 defense, and run a load of stunts as there is no chance of a running play, I would drop one of the DEs every play and blitz from that side and run the Mike up the middle.

Denver certainly learned there was no chance of a running play with Hernandez in as the h-back, oh wait...

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

That's the idea, to make mismatches wit hthe defensive personnel. The reality is, if the D line can get to Brady within 2.5 seconds, then the offense can only get so far down field (effectively).

It's like crane style in Karate Kid.

"No can defense."

In that case, you need to watch the 2nd movie.