A big difference between 2014 and other recent years? Health

[Deus Irae]

Other than Mayo (and Dennard if you thought he might split time), every expected starter is available for the playoffs this season. Feel free to share your thoughts on the impact.

 

[FourierSeries]

The impact will be very positive and will likely result in a SB.

 

[sevengables_2207]

Ridley was a starter no?

Anyway, I feel the same regardless. Healthy or no, the players have to perform on the field.

However, the much better health of the team (particularly to impact players) raises their chances of performing well and/or progressing further in the tournament IMO.

 

[New England Pride]

Other than Mayo (and Dennard if you thought he might split time), every expected starter is available for the playoffs this season. Feel free to share your thoughts on the impact.

Winner winner, chicken dinner. Bobby Gronk is finally on 2 healthy ankles and no broken forearms.

 

[PATS16N0]

Other than Mayo (and Dennard if you thought he might split time), every expected starter is available for the playoffs this season. Feel free to share your thoughts on the impact.

You forgot the Ridler, but yeah, health and defense.

Defense is leaps and bounds beyond what it was.

 

[Fencer]

You forgot the Ridler, but yeah, health and defense.

Defense is leaps and bounds beyond what it was.

I'd add Easley as well. If we count Stork as an expected starter, then the first-round rookie was one too.

Beyond that, I'm concerned about how our top three OL (Solder, Vollmer, and Connolly) have been dinged up; would anybody be surprised if they went out of the game at any time?

Otherwise -- yeah, I feel good about team health.

 

[PATS16N0]

Last season was really just a disaster and another great example of a Belichick & Brady patch job.

Welker betrays us.
Hernandez goes on a killing spree.

Bit by the injury bug would be an understatement.

Considering we were still in the process of a rebuild that went back to 2010, these things were basically catastrophic. No other football team, coach, or quarterback, would have weathered it like the Patriots did, and that was really just making a respectable AFC Championship showing of it. (meaning an appearance, though thoroughly outgunned by that point)

I feel like we get harshy judged for last season when instead the Pats should have received praise.

This year it fell the other way and we started getting the bounces for a change right from the beginning of free agency.

Denver steals Talib to strengthen themselves and hurt us, a day before Tampa releases Revis. If Denver doesn't try to kill our defense with the Talib signing, we never sign Revis, and it's been nothing but falling our way ever since, including, to bring it back to the OP, health.

Quite the turn around.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

not that health alone isn't enough, because it's a huge (and obvious) deal in favor of the Patriots.

Got anything else or is it just the fact that we're less than 24 hours from GAME TIME bringing it out. Let's also hope the D line remains healthy after all those nasty zone blocks we're likely to see from the Ravens.

 

[Deus Irae]

Got anything else or is it just the fact that we're less than 24 hours from GAME TIME bringing it out.

I'm not sure what you're getting at with this...

 

[mayoclinic]

The Pats have put 6 players on IR this season:

- LB Jerod Mayo
- RB Stevan Ridley
- DT/DE Dominique Easley
- WR Aaron Dobson
- CB Alfonzo Dennard
- DE/OLB Michael Buchanan

They also had 2 guys who are now active miss extensive time: DT Sealver Siliga, who went on IR designated to return, and DE Chandler Jones.

Last year the Pats lost Rob Gronkowski, Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly, Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Sebastian Vollmer, Aaron Dobson, and Josh Boyce after the season started, as well as Adrian Wilson, TJ Moe, Cory Grissom, and Markus Zusevics prior to the start of the season. Armand Amstead and Mark Harrison both started the season on PUP and were placed on IR without playing. Shane Vereen missed a considerable portion of the season on IR designated to return, and Danny Amendola missed a significant portion and was hobbled for the remainder. Plus there was a certain move TE who was cut prior in June due to unforseen off-field issues.

This year's team clearly had less injuries, to less key players. But they were also more successful at filling in on the fly, and better equipped with the development of some players to tolerate the losses.

 

[Tunescribe]

The Pats have put 6 players on IR this season:

- LB Jerod Mayo
- RB Stevan Ridley
- DT/DE Dominique Easley
- WR Aaron Dobson
- CB Alfonzo Dennard
- DE/OLB Michael Buchanan

They also had 2 guys who are now active miss extensive time: DT Sealver Siliga, who went on IR designated to return, and DE Chandler Jones.

Last year the Pats lost Rob Gronkowski, Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly, Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Sebastian Vollmer, Aaron Dobson, and Josh Boyce after the season started, as well as Adrian Wilson, TJ Moe, Cory Grissom, and Markus Zusevics prior to the start of the season. Armand Amstead and Mark Harrison both started the season on PUP and were placed on IR without playing. Shane Vereen missed a considerable portion of the season on IR designated to return, and Danny Amendola missed a significant portion and was hobbled for the remainder. Plus there was a certain move TE who was cut prior in June due to unforseen off-field issues.

This year's team clearly had less injuries, to less key players. But they were also more successful at filling in on the fly, and better equipped with the development of some players to tolerate the losses.

Imagine if we still had Mayo, Ridley and a healthy Easley.

 

[Gronkowski123]

the line is shaky...idk the receivers don't scare anyone except for gronk.
ravens are going to rush 4/drop everyone into coverage. we've seen that before. if suggs/ngata/elvis get some pressure it's going to be a long afternoon.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

I'm not sure what you're getting at with this...

No worries, Dues not a biggie.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Imagine if we still had Mayo, Ridley and a healthy Easley.

Still be 12-4 and people pooping their pants still b/c the Ravens are in town.

The Pats might have played more base defense with Mayo this game as BAL doesn't have a showcase 3WR. Aiken and Brown haven't done a helluva lot...

With that said I'd still have Collins covering TEs than Mayo.

 

[RobertWeathers]

the line is shaky...idk the receivers don't scare anyone except for gronk.
ravens are going to rush 4/drop everyone into coverage. we've seen that before. if suggs/ngata/elvis get some pressure it's going to be a long afternoon.

With that said they need to run the ball- often

 

[RobertWeathers]

Denver steals Talib to strengthen themselves and hurt us, a day before Tampa releases Revis. If Denver doesn't try to kill our defense with the Talib signing, we never sign Revis, and it's been nothing but falling our way ever since, including, to bring it back to the OP, health.

Quite the turn around.

Did DEN really steal Talib?

"We definitely were in talks with the Patriots," Talib said Monday at his Broncos locker. "It's a business. The time is limited, and it had to be a quick decision. You can't sit back and wait, or your time will go past. Situations were about even. Both have great quarterbacks. Both are great organizations. "The Broncos made an offer, we went back and checked the Patriots' offer, and the Broncos' offer was better."

http://media.denverbroncos.com/images/9008/Daily Clippings/141028.pdf

 

[Midship]

A healthy Gronk is the best thing anyone could have hoped for on this board. Cant wait to see that generational talent on the field in a big game

Also..... We have Revis.

 

[Gronkowski123]

With that said they need to run the ball- often

punched up numbers relating to Brady's postseason play against the Ravens, the data supported the idea that the four-man rush was the key. Against it, Brady has completed just 50.5 percent of his passes with all seven of his interceptions and a 15.9 QBR.

Meanwhile, when the Ravens brought pressure (defined as five or more rushers), Brady's numbers spiked to a 77.8 completion percentage, 89.1 QBR, with one touchdown and no interceptions. Brady aced pressure on 21.3 percent of dropbacks in the three playoff games against Baltimore.


we have to have success running the ball. havent' seen much of it recently.

 

[RobertWeathers]

punched up numbers relating to Brady's postseason play against the Ravens, the data supported the idea that the four-man rush was the key. Against it, Brady has completed just 50.5 percent of his passes with all seven of his interceptions and a 15.9 QBR.

Meanwhile, when the Ravens brought pressure (defined as five or more rushers), Brady's numbers spiked to a 77.8 completion percentage, 89.1 QBR, with one touchdown and no interceptions. Brady aced pressure on 21.3 percent of dropbacks in the three playoff games against Baltimore.


we have to have success running the ball. havent' seen much of it recently.

Understood and that is the issue. TB12 needs to find a way to recognize the 4-man rush, relent from throwing and audible to the run. The belief is that by running vs a 4-man front, there will be opportunities to realize some substantial gains. Once the gains start to be realized, BAL will bring in an extra defender to fortify the run defense. All theory.

The difference here is that JMD and TB need to have confidence in the D and not give in to forcing plays.

I posted in another thread some numbers...
TBs 1st 14 playoff games...20TDs, 9 INTs. 24 ppg, 18 ppg allowed.
TBs last 14 playoff games, 23TD, 17 INTs, 25ppg, 23ppg allowed.

It's all on the defense and TB needs to trust them- so does JMD.

 

[strngplyr]

Speaking of health, are we taking bets on Talib's hip yet or waiting until next week?