Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday?? [merged]

[Phoenix111]

Where in the F was AD?

He wasn't on the injury report was he? Don't get his absence.

 

[frankiesfly]

Re: Where in the F was AD?

If you see the replay of the long run by Addai, you can see AD limping after him, when he's going into the endzone.

 

[pats1]

Re: Where in the F was AD?

He came in on the third drive and was used sparingly after that.

It was the 4-3. Vrabel and Bruschi were obviously going to be in there.

He wasn't on the injury report this week but was a bunch in past weeks.

 

[DarrylS]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

Tedy is on WEEI now and he just reiterated that when the game plan on D was revealed last week there was a lot of head scratching. Now, maybe AD's role in that scheme was limited somewhat due to a little hitch in his giddy up, although he closed on Addai on the 70+ yard scamper from the backfield so if any deficits remain they likely limit his cutting ability, but it was a game plan decision by BB and not a benching or anything else nefarious. It's not my favorite of his game plans, but with a little modification in the red zone it worked - even in the face of blatent zebra bias. It didn't impress me when we tested drove is a couple of weeks ago, but Bill apparently believes what he gains in rotation in that scheme over 60 minutes outweighs the negatives it predisposes them to matchup wise on the ground or in all purpose yardage tradeoffs to the elusive back like Addai. He's determined to stop WR's and TE's with QB's capable of hitting them for big plays. And absent the zebras he would have yesterday.

Very nice thread the Zebra bias was obvious, and hopefully the league notices this.. could not believe the calls on Hobbs and Moss... the other side also is that this D is not stat driven, so time after time we notice #93 getting tied up on the line and the box score does not have stats for this.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I know i herd something in the fourms here that he was limping. But he was in on the last colts offensive series.. we got him just for the colts yet didnt use him? stange

 

[Franchise12]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

he played a little d lineman when we were in the nickel defense

 

[patsox23]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

AD has been playing hurt for WEEKS. It's possible he was too hampered to be effective. Nice to have won "without" him.

 

[STFarmy]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

Coach Belichick said that they were giving some different looks of defense and using different people. You don't think he's withholding information about Thomas do you???

 

[Ring 6]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

He played defensive end.
We played 3 DL (rotated Seymour, Warren, Wilfork, Wright, Green) a LB as a DE (Thomas and Colvin mostly) and 2 LBs (Vrabel played almost every down I noticed, and Bruschi and Seau split) with Harrison as the 'nickel back' playing the position of a 4-3 LB.
Basiaclly, Vrabel played all day and our other 4 LBs rotated in and out, with Colvin and Thomas at DE, and Bruschi and Seau at MLB.

My feeling was that this was partly an effort to deal with what happened in the AFCC when our defensive guys were worn out in the 2nd half.

 

[MrTibbs]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

I saw him limping as well. I think he's playing hurt since the Browns game.

 

[QB12]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

He played defensive end.
We played 3 DL (rotated Seymour, Warren, Wilfork, Wright, Green) a LB as a DE (Thomas and Colvin mostly) and 2 LBs (Vrabel played almost every down I noticed, and Bruschi and Seau split) with Harrison as the 'nickel back' playing the position of a 4-3 LB.
Basiaclly, Vrabel played all day and our other 4 LBs rotated in and out, with Colvin and Thomas at DE, and Bruschi and Seau at MLB.

My feeling was that this was partly an effort to deal with what happened in the AFCC when our defensive guys were worn out in the 2nd half.

I agree and I also think they're saving Thomas' role against the Colts for the rematch in the playoffs.

QB12

 

[BradyManny]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

AD has been playing hurt for WEEKS. It's possible he was too hampered to be effective. Nice to have won "without" him.

Yeah, I agree that this had to do with his injury hampering him. It can't be part of the gameplan, IMO.

 

[Caspir]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

Got him just for the Colts? Uhh, no we didn't. We got him because he's a great defensive player that fit with this team's defense perfectly.

 

[onegameatatime]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

I know i herd something in the fourms here that he was limping. But he was in on the last colts offensive series.. we got him just for the colts yet didnt use him? stange

I am very skeptical that we got him (or Moss or Welker) "just for the Colts."

The Pats had an incredible 2003, and yet used a #2 to get Corey Dillon.

I have heard that AT has not been used on TE coverage much, whether Cooley or Gates. I suspect that they decided a 3 LB set was best, wanted Vrabel and Colvin as end rushers, and used Bruschi in the middle.

I would read little into it.

 

[mojocaster.com]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

I saw him limping as well. I think he's playing hurt since the Browns game.

I agree. When I saw him on the field hobbling after hurting his ankle, and being supported off the field, I didn't think we'd see him for a couple of games at least. I am shocked he was able to play. The guy is some tough.

 

[Urgent]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

I agree and I also think they're saving Thomas' role against the Colts for the rematch in the playoffs.

QB12

In a game they were losing by 10 points, that likely determined home field advantage in the playoffs, against their most important rival, in a season in which they are going full throttle into the fourth quarter against below-.500 teams? In that game they were holding out one of their best players, a player many assumed was selected specifically for this game?

 

[patsfan135]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

I saw him most of the game.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

Tedy is on WEEI now and he just reiterated that when the game plan on D was revealed last week there was a lot of head scratching. Now, maybe AD's role in that scheme was limited somewhat due to a little hitch in his giddy up, although he closed on Addai on the 70+ yard scamper from the backfield so if any deficits remain they likely limit his cutting ability, but it was a game plan decision by BB and not a benching or anything else nefarious. It's not my favorite of his game plans, but with a little modification in the red zone it worked - even in the face of blatent zebra bias. It didn't impress me when we tested drove is a couple of weeks ago, but Bill apparently believes what he gains in rotation in that scheme over 60 minutes outweighs the negatives it predisposes them to matchup wise on the ground or in all purpose yardage tradeoffs to the elusive back like Addai. He's determined to stop WR's and TE's with QB's capable of hitting them for big plays. And absent the zebras he would have yesterday.

 

[The 12th Man]

Re: Where was Adalius Thomas yesterday??

Here's what AD said:

INDIANAPOLIS - Adalius Thomas’ role - or lack thereof - in yesterday’s game was something of a mystery.

The Patriots [team stats] linebacker didn’t play a single defensive down in the first quarter. He did play some in the second quarter, then was used sparingly in the second half. Wasn’t he supposed to be the guy designated to derail Colts tight end Dallas Clark?

Because the Patriots decided to attack the Colts with a four-man front in their nickel packages, Thomas was the odd man out, as they employed five defensive backs.

So the decision not to use Thomas wasn’t disciplinary, but strategic.

How new was it for Thomas to be on the sidelines for extended stretches in such a big game?

“It was new, and it was tough,” he said, “but it’s always that way. All I do is go out there when I’m asked to go out there. You just make plays when you’re out there. That’s how it went today.”

When asked if his reduced role was a matter of game-planning, Thomas responded, “I’ll let you ask Bill that.”

So was Thomas OK with coach Bill Belichick’s decision?

“I’m not commenting on that. It is what it is,” he said. “We won. It’s bigger than that. We’re moving forward to the next thing.”

Hope this doesn't bring anything negative (and it shouldn't). Just interesting strategy not to use a very good versitile LB majority of the snaps. I know it worked too. Take away Addai's TD catch just before halftime and Manning has a "bad" game, at least to his standards. Like I said, just interesting.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I believe I heard BB address this on WEEI this afternoon - saying that they knew Indy would be going with the no huddle and while they were keeping everyone fresh, they had the defense out there for the most part that was best equipped to stop Indy

Had there been more time he'd likely have rotated more but the game carried out as they expected and Thomas wasn't able to be in as much as in other games