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I was think about doing a strategy threat, but the Matt Chatham article posted here galvanized me into action because he posed so many really good questions. This thread has 3 purposes. 1. pose the questions that the Pats face. 2. Give my opinion with what I'd do (with the limited knowledge I have), 3. open a discussion that, hopefully, will fill the 42 odd hours we have left before all the answers will be revealed.
A, Offense
1, The obvious question is how much pass vs run should be in the game plan, and from what formations should we attack the Colts from.
2. What I'd try to do is to duplicated what we did last time, without dictating my intentions directly from the formation we use.
3. So the heavy 6 OLmen formations we saw in November will NOT be part of my plan. But I do want to run. So how do I accomplish this. My goal is to create a formation or group of formations that will allow the Colt D to dictate whether I pass or run. In other word, run against a 7 man front, and pass when they drop down the 8th man
So here's the goal (and its not easy). Create a formation that gives me an advantage in the run game by formation, BUT still gives me enough flexibility in the passing game to exploit the Colts if they drop their SS into the box. Now when I give Brady a play (pass or run) he has the option to go to the complimentary play depending on what he sees the Defense do.
Sounds great but what does that formation look like. Here's a thought 2 TEs with Lafell (an excellent blocker) lined up on a tight wing to the Hooman/Flemming side (strong side). The RB lined up behind the QB or next to the QB if shotgun) with Edelman (WR) lined up wide to the other side
With the best blocking TE lining up to the weak side, we get a chance to create the individual match ups we want against the smallish front 7 of the Colts and match them with 7 strong blockers, but also 4 fast release receiving threats. In the run game you get a hat on a hat across the LOS creating a lot of soft spots for a one step and go power RB to get 4-6 yds CONSISTENTLY even if the Colts are expecting the run.
The play action pass (PAP) options off this formation are legion. Not to mention the motion and shift possibilities. In a split second you can spread LaFell wide or motion him into a twins formation to the week side and have Gronk Edelmand and Lafell all on one side. If you really want to spread the Colts you could shift Gronk into the weak side slot and split Lafell wide to the strong side. All this from the same basic personnel grouping. A great advantage when you are going high tempo
4. Question - if we can assume the Colts are going to be preparing to defend the run game, and we understand that ALL run games can be shut down with proper preparations. why would we want to run what they expect? So wouldn't the best strategy be to look to pass from formations that look like we are running. And the corresponding strategy would be to run from formations that look like we are passing.
5. I think the Colts will be prepared for our heavy formations, so I wouldn't use them or be prepared no5 to use them often.
6. Lots of PAP from BOTH the shot gun and under C. I also want to run more from the shot gun.
7. I think the Colts will be preparing heavily for the dink and dunk, and thus will give our spread formations a lot of tight man or 4/5 under tight zone or combo coverages. They will try and squeeze Brady, just like they tried to squeeze Manning. Its much like the Jets often try to do.
8. The solution is to try and take them deeper and out of their comfort zones. Crossers and in cuts will generally do the trick. Also RB's as receivers pose a problem to that coverage. Brady will have to take his shots and hit about a third of them if he is going to get them to create some room underneath.
9. I'll be interested to see how the Colts choose to rush Brady. I admit I really don't know much about the Colts DL and how they play. Certainly much more man coverage than the Ravens used.
10l This team has no answer for the Gronk. Their only hope is to bang him hard on the LOS with a LB and double him with a S and hope to disrupt the timing and force Brady to look elsewhere. The Pats solution is to line Gronk up in "bunch formations", or motion him. Put him all over the field and make them find him and when they do, it will tell Brady exactly what the coverage will be, most likely opening up others.
11. Up Tempo, but not all the time. Keep them on edge never knowing when the up tempo is coming, and turning it off just as quickly as it came. Dictate the rhythm of the game.
A, Offense
1, The obvious question is how much pass vs run should be in the game plan, and from what formations should we attack the Colts from.
2. What I'd try to do is to duplicated what we did last time, without dictating my intentions directly from the formation we use.
3. So the heavy 6 OLmen formations we saw in November will NOT be part of my plan. But I do want to run. So how do I accomplish this. My goal is to create a formation or group of formations that will allow the Colt D to dictate whether I pass or run. In other word, run against a 7 man front, and pass when they drop down the 8th man
So here's the goal (and its not easy). Create a formation that gives me an advantage in the run game by formation, BUT still gives me enough flexibility in the passing game to exploit the Colts if they drop their SS into the box. Now when I give Brady a play (pass or run) he has the option to go to the complimentary play depending on what he sees the Defense do.
Sounds great but what does that formation look like. Here's a thought 2 TEs with Lafell (an excellent blocker) lined up on a tight wing to the Hooman/Flemming side (strong side). The RB lined up behind the QB or next to the QB if shotgun) with Edelman (WR) lined up wide to the other side
With the best blocking TE lining up to the weak side, we get a chance to create the individual match ups we want against the smallish front 7 of the Colts and match them with 7 strong blockers, but also 4 fast release receiving threats. In the run game you get a hat on a hat across the LOS creating a lot of soft spots for a one step and go power RB to get 4-6 yds CONSISTENTLY even if the Colts are expecting the run.
The play action pass (PAP) options off this formation are legion. Not to mention the motion and shift possibilities. In a split second you can spread LaFell wide or motion him into a twins formation to the week side and have Gronk Edelmand and Lafell all on one side. If you really want to spread the Colts you could shift Gronk into the weak side slot and split Lafell wide to the strong side. All this from the same basic personnel grouping. A great advantage when you are going high tempo
4. Question - if we can assume the Colts are going to be preparing to defend the run game, and we understand that ALL run games can be shut down with proper preparations. why would we want to run what they expect? So wouldn't the best strategy be to look to pass from formations that look like we are running. And the corresponding strategy would be to run from formations that look like we are passing.
5. I think the Colts will be prepared for our heavy formations, so I wouldn't use them or be prepared no5 to use them often.
6. Lots of PAP from BOTH the shot gun and under C. I also want to run more from the shot gun.
7. I think the Colts will be preparing heavily for the dink and dunk, and thus will give our spread formations a lot of tight man or 4/5 under tight zone or combo coverages. They will try and squeeze Brady, just like they tried to squeeze Manning. Its much like the Jets often try to do.
8. The solution is to try and take them deeper and out of their comfort zones. Crossers and in cuts will generally do the trick. Also RB's as receivers pose a problem to that coverage. Brady will have to take his shots and hit about a third of them if he is going to get them to create some room underneath.
9. I'll be interested to see how the Colts choose to rush Brady. I admit I really don't know much about the Colts DL and how they play. Certainly much more man coverage than the Ravens used.
10l This team has no answer for the Gronk. Their only hope is to bang him hard on the LOS with a LB and double him with a S and hope to disrupt the timing and force Brady to look elsewhere. The Pats solution is to line Gronk up in "bunch formations", or motion him. Put him all over the field and make them find him and when they do, it will tell Brady exactly what the coverage will be, most likely opening up others.
11. Up Tempo, but not all the time. Keep them on edge never knowing when the up tempo is coming, and turning it off just as quickly as it came. Dictate the rhythm of the game.