Who Are Our Starting 5 DB's Against the Jets?

[mgteich]

I include nickel back in the five, since the position gets so many reps. I expect two of the five to be Hobbs, Gay and Sanders.

After that, there are question marks.

SAMUEL I sure hope he's ready to start.
WILSON Is he ready? If not, I would start Gay at free safety.
MERIWEATHER Where is he ready to play? Is he ready for many reps?
I'd prefer him at nickel.

If Samuel and Wilson aren't ready, we're screwed. I really don't think Meriweather is ready to start at free safety, but he may need to, unless we are planning to start Mitchell.

James would be our nickel, if Meriweather starts. Andrews would be our dime back.

Are we sure we wanted to cut Hawkins and Wesley? Perhaps Wilson and Samuel are ready to play.

 

[RayClay]

I include nickel back in the five, since the position gets so many reps. I expect two of the five to be Hobbs, Gay and Sanders.

After that, there are question marks.

SAMUEL I sure hope he's ready to start.
WILSON Is he ready? If not, I would start Gay at free safety.
MERIWEATHER Where is he ready to play? Is he ready for many reps?
I'd prefer him at nickel.

If Samuel and Wilson aren't ready, we're screwed. I really don't think Meriweather is ready to start at free safety, but he may need to, unless we are planning to start Mitchell.

James would be our nickel, if Meriweather starts. Andrews would be our dime back.

Are we sure we wanted to cut Hawkins and Wesley? Perhaps Wilson and Samuel are ready to play.

I'd say Gay starts at CB. Don't want Asante to pull something, let him work his way in. Actually, can James play nickel? They kept him for some reason.

We kept a lot of safeties. If we have to use Meriweather and Sanders, can Andrews, Mitchell or Baker play a few snaps? If not, why not?

 

[BelichickFan]

If Samuel and Wilson aren't ready, we're screwed.

No we aren't.

Worst case, Hobbs and Gay at CB, Sanders and Meriweather at S with James as #5. It's the Jets. They aren't a prolific downfield team. In fact I'll say we're OK against the Chargers like that too but with Samuel certainly ready by then it's not an issue.

 

[mgteich]

OK, I agree with regard to the jets game. They ARE the jets. With regard to the San Diego game, pass the Kool-aid.

No we aren't.

Worst case, Hobbs and Gay at CB, Sanders and Meriweather at S with James as #5. It's the Jets. They aren't a prolific downfield team. In fact I'll say we're OK against the Chargers like that too but with Samuel certainly ready by then it's not an issue.

 

[BelichickFan]

OK, I agree with regard to the jets game. They ARE the jets. With regard to the San Diego game, pass the Kool-aid.

No kool aid - except for Maroney.

They're a Tomlinson-Gates led team taking some shots downfield. We're going to do fairly well with Thomas on Gates a lot. Slow down Tomlinson the best we can.

You're talking about DBs here - Samuel will be starting with Hobbs against Vincent Jackson and probably Craig Davis. Since when are they Harrison and Wayne ? I'm not saying we'll win. I'm not saying we'll stop them. But our front seven is the key there not the back four.

 

[mgteich]

And the front seven is missing Seymour.

A few days ago, we were expected to win a closely fought game against SD. Since then we have lost Seymour and Harrison. We still believe that we will a closely fought game. We should feel that way. We are patriot fans.

No kool aid - except for Maroney.

They're a Tomlinson-Gates led team taking some shots downfield. We're going to do fairly well with Thomas on Gates a lot. Slow down Tomlinson the best we can.

You're talking about DBs here - Samuel will be starting with Hobbs against Vincent Jackson and probably Craig Davis. Since when are they Harrison and Wayne ? I'm not saying we'll win. I'm not saying we'll stop them. But our front seven is the key there not the back four.

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

Well, it's precisely because it's the Jets that I personally don't take this game as a gimme. And though I expect the Pats to win by a decent margin, one of the keys to the game is the ability to stop the slot WR. Be it Gay (if Asante suits up and starts) or James defending the slot, the DBs need to show up and play well and the safeties need to be where they're suppose to be rather than showing up two steps too late in coverage. But the flip side is, I really don't think the Jets can run against this D so Pennington's going to take some licks.

 

[BelichickFan]

And the front seven is missing Seymour.

I was responding to a thread entitled :

"Who Are Our Starting 5 DB's Against the Jets?" and I extrapolated that out one week to the Chargers.

I have no concerns, NONE, about our DBs against the Chargers; barring injury. The rest of the game is a separate issue.

 

[BelichickFan]

Well, it's precisely because it's the Jets that I personally don't take this game as a gimme.

Just like the playoff game last year, it's not even a consideration to me that we'll lose. Not being a fanboy, I'm not saying that about the following week against SD. But last year in the playoffs I wasn't even nervous - we were clearly the more talented team and I knew we'd win easily barring a slew of nutty plays. Same this week.

 

[mgteich]

fair enough

You said the following regarding San Diego ( I agree).

I'm not saying we'll stop them. But our front seven is the key there not the back four.

I was responding to a thread entitled :

"Who Are Our Starting 5 DB's Against the Jets?" and I extrapolated that out one week to the Chargers.

I have no concerns, NONE, about our DBs against the Chargers; barring injury. The rest of the game is a separate issue.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

And the front seven is missing Seymour.

A few days ago, we were expected to win a closely fought game against SD. Since then we have lost Seymour and Harrison. We still believe that we will a closely fought game. We should feel that way. We are patriot fans.

That may be true, but the Pats O will also be better. Worst case, I see the differences between January and September as a push. Overall, I think it's probably (slight) advantage Pats.

 

[BelichickFan]

You said the following regarding San Diego ( I agree).

I'm not saying we'll stop them. But our front seven is the key there not the back four.

Understood - I was just giving context to my response of : "In fact I'll say we're OK against the Chargers". By saying "we're OK" I mean in the secondary.

It will certainly be an interesting test against SD - remember, last time we had Colvin and Vrabel out of position, no Seau, a limited (all season) Bruschi and TBC starting. I'm not saying we'll stop their run but we'll be a lot stronger.

I'll say this. Initial thought against SD is we play a 3-5-3. 3 DL. Vrabel, Seau, Bruschi, Colvin at LB. Thomas at LB but largely as a Safety too to slow down gates and have the two CB and either Wilson or Meriweather to stop their WR.

 

[mgteich]

Ah, the return of the BIG nickel. I agree that Thomas would be fine for that role, or perhaps you are simply having Thomas shadow Gates.

Understood - I was just giving context to my response of : "In fact I'll say we're OK against the Chargers". By saying "we're OK" I mean in the secondary.

It will certainly be an interesting test against SD - remember, last time we had Colvin and Vrabel out of position, no Seau, a limited (all season) Bruschi and TBC starting. I'm not saying we'll stop their run but we'll be a lot stronger.

I'll say this. Initial thought against SD is we play a 3-5-3. 3 DL. Vrabel, Seau, Bruschi, Colvin at LB. Thomas at LB but largely as a Safety too to slow down gates and have the two CB and either Wilson or Meriweather to stop their WR.

 

[BelichickFan]

Ah, the return of the BIG nickel. I agree that Thomas would be fine for that role, or perhaps you are simply having Thomas shadow Gates.

Basically I think Thomas will get Gates most of the game - he did a good job against him for Baltimore - but I still want 4 other LB on the field to stop (or slow down) Tomlinson. I think that group of players could do it and I'd take my chances downfield. Can't stop everything and I'm going after Tomlinson and Gates first.

 

[mgteich]

I think your strategy makes sense. It will put a lot of pressure deep on the remaining safety. But that cannot be helped.

Basically I think Thomas will get Gates most of the game - he did a good job against him for Baltimore - but I still want 4 other LB on the field to stop (or slow down) Tomlinson. I think that group of players could do it and I'd take my chances downfield. Can't stop everything and I'm going after Tomlinson and Gates first.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Issues: Pennington - short passing attack emphasis. Leon Washington - a faster Kevin Faulk. Second year LT and rookie LG.

CBs: Hobbs, Gay
FS: Wilson
SS: Sanders
NB - Samuel

If Wilson can't go:
CB: Hobbs, Samuel
FS: Gay
SS: Sanders
NB: Andrews or Meriweather - move Hobbs inside and Gay in his place.

The Pats may just want to use a dime package to counter Leon Washington and skip the nickel.