Do you think any of the N.E. rookies will impact the AFC title game?

[furley]

I want to believe that Chandler Jones, Dont'a Hightower and Alfonzo Dennard will make plays on defense since they're starters. But I wouldn't mind hearing Tavon Wilson's name mentioned once on Sunday. Or Justin Francis... I doubt Brandon Bolden can have an impact with a souped-up Shane Vereen emerging from his slumber.

Still, it bothers me that Jones has seemingly disappeared. He needs to let Baltimore know who he is. Well, his brother knows who he is but you get the point.

 

[ALP]

i believe over the next two games that the three starters, and two backups will all have an impact, the starters a big one, the backups a smaller yet still important one

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Hightower, Jones, and Dennard are all starters.... So obviously they will have an impact.

What a silly question.

 

[dannydyn]

Not sure how much of an impact Jones will have with that twisted ankle

 

[ausbacker]

If we hear Jones and Hightower with regularity that hopefully means the Patriots front 7 has been dominant.

 

[Betterthanmost]

I think Vereen might, there is not enough film on the guy to game plan against him.

 

[furley]

Not sure how much of an impact Jones will have with that twisted ankle

I know that he's doing everything within his power to get ready for Sunday. An 80% Jones is better than nothing. I would think with his length he could still be effective at batting down throws. But what you really need from him is to disrupt Flacco's timing in the pocket. A sack is a bonus.

I must've missed this from a few days ago.

The Patriots take secrecy about injuries seriously. So seriously that rookie defensive end Chandler Jones won’t tell his own brother how he’s feeling. Of course, that’s largely because Chandler’s brother, Arthur Jones, plays for the Ravens.

Arthur told reporters this week that he saw Chandler suffer an ankle injury on Sunday and was concerned, but Chandler wouldn’t tell him how he was doing because he doesn’t want the Ravens to have any insight.

Chandler Jones won’t tell Arthur Jones how his ankle feels | ProFootballTalk

 

[edboc]

I think Vereen might, there is not enough film on the guy to game plan against him.

Vereen's not a rookie. I'll take Dennard since he's a starting CB going up against Boldin or Smith.

 

[Betterthanmost]

Vereen's not a rookie. I'll take Dennard since he's a starting CB going up against Boldin or Smith.

Yeah, I was about to edit that, but then, he is like a rookie due to the fact that we have not seen what he can do out there from his scant playing opportunities.

 

[furley]

Speaking of which, who will Dennard cover at wide receiver, Boldin or Smith? You can put Dennard on Boldin and have Talib try to negate Smith's speed. I think most will guess the match-ups be the other way around. I reckon it depends on how fast is Dennard in man-to-man coverage.

 

[ausbacker]

Speaking of which, who will Dennard cover at wide receiver, Boldin or Smith? You can put Dennard on Boldin and have Talib try to negate Smith's speed. I think most will guess the match-ups be the other way around. I reckon it depends on how fast is Dennard in man-to-man coverage.

Whoever plays on Smith needs to jam him at the line and make him adjust his route. Make no mistake, when I say jam I mean jam.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

jones has been ineffective lately..i would go with hightower making a big play

 

[billdog3484]

if we win it will be in part due to our rookies, and 2nd year players. we have a ton.

 

[Luke Skywelker]

Whoever plays on Smith needs to jam him at the line and make him adjust his route. Make no mistake, when I say jam I mean jam.

Belief is that the CB's will be playing sides of field instead of matchups. If you look at the numbers, Flacco shows unbelievably lopsided numbers throwing right versus left side of field.

As for this post, I'm thinking Dennard. He'll likely be the rookie who is most visible in this one. Let's see how he responds.

 

[ALP]

Whoever plays on Smith needs to jam him at the line and make him adjust his route. Make no mistake, when I say jam I mean jam.

i suppose then you are not referring to the deltha o'neal way of jamming

 

[slash83]

jones has been ineffective lately..i would go with hightower making a big play

Jones had 2 awesome games to close out the reg season, fail.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Jones had 2 awesome games to close out the reg season, fail.

against jax and miami....the true test comes against good/great teams...and the ravens fall into this category

 

[furley]

Statistically, Jones was a non factor in the week three match-up against Baltimore only having two assisted tackles. I don't remember the game so I don't know if he'd any hurries on Flacco.

I believe Jones plays on the right side so he would've to face-off against offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie (or is it Michael Oher?) who held Dwight Freeney without a statistic but conceded three tackles (two solo) and half of a sack to Elvis Dumervil. So it'll be imperative that Jones can bring pressure on the right side. Maybe, New England can move him around like Houston does with JJ Watt to exploit different match-ups.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think for the team to win, they can't screw up.

PAs, roughing the passer, holding, fumbles, etc.

Jones
Dennard
Wilson
Francis
Hightower
Bolden

 

[furley]

Uh-oh. I don't see Jones...