Do we have a vertical game anymore?

[Mack Herron]

Pretty odd that in the playoffs, except for one broken play, the thing we did all season is absent. Brady does not seem to look more than 15 yards down field at all. All that speed on the outside?

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

I think we were, pretty critical of Brady locking in on Moss... Now he is taking what the defense gives him, and he did all right..

 

[Charlotte Pats Fan]

Pretty odd that in the playoffs, except for one broken play, the thing we did all season is absent. Brady does not seem to look more than 15 yards down field at all. All that speed on the outside?

Better Defenses, Wind, and Cold Weather. Take what the D gives you and move the chains. The most important thing is to win the game anyway possible.

 

[patsgo]

Pretty odd that in the playoffs, except for one broken play, the thing we did all season is absent. Brady does not seem to look more than 15 yards down field at all. All that speed on the outside?

its called playoff football in freezing tempertures give me a break

 

[LoganMankinsPancakeBlocks]

In the divisional round game, Jacksonville was taking away the deep pass and just handing us 7-8 yards on every pass. I find it hard to complain about not having a vertical game when Brady went 26-28 and the offense was flawless.

In the AFC CG, Brady was off and the wind was pretty bad. It's too risky to be throwing deep too much (look at Rivers deep ball that Hobbs picked off; wind knocked it down big time) with 15+ MPH winds, cold weather and when your QB is off like Brady was yesterday.

I suspect that with the very good weather expected in the Super Bowl and a secondary they have shown they can absolutely shred, we'll see more deep balls and a significantly better passing game than yesterday.

If the Giants take away the deep stuff like the Jags did, fine. I'll take 120 more yards for Maroney and another 80% completion game from Brady as well as 30 points up on the scoreboard.

 

[37Harrison]

OH NO!!!

It's called double teaming Moss and playing good defenses that don't want to get beat downfield. Therefor allowing for an underneath passing game complete with screens, and Maroney running for 120+ in each game.

 

[FortressX]

OMG!
We have lost our "vertical passing game"!!
Between this & all the Grandpas we have playing D we are doomed in AZ!!
Tom really sucked yesterday,maybe its time for Cassell??

 

[FrontSeven]

Every game and every team is different, Mack Herron. All the matchups are different. Haven't you noticed that SD has great corners that are about 6 foot 6?

 

[Mack Herron]

Every game and every team is different, Mack Herron. All the matchups are different. Haven't you noticed that SD has great corners that are about 6 foot 6?

It is not a criticism. It is not a complaint. It is a real question. SD has not 6"6' corners, and in fact other than Cromartie they are no better than a lot of other corners we have burned all year.

 

[fair catch fryar]

Pretty odd that in the playoffs, except for one broken play, the thing we did all season is absent. Brady does not seem to look more than 15 yards down field at all. All that speed on the outside?

It's still there and in the weather-perfect confines of Arizona it will be there again. Like some other posters mentioned; the Jags and Bolts took Moss out of the game plus the cold weather; forced the Pats adjust their offense. That's the nice thing about our offense. I can't remember who said it, but I heard one of the football analysts claim that the Pats offense has about 7 faces to it and as a defense you have to be able to punch all seven because that's what you'll see, between the running game, TE sets, dink&dunk, and 5 WR's deep. It's a beautiful thing!

 

[Heck67]

Pretty odd that in the playoffs, except for one broken play, the thing we did all season is absent. Brady does not seem to look more than 15 yards down field at all. All that speed on the outside?

Have you noticed the NFL seems to be allowing a lot more contact between the d-backs and recievers, Cromartie and Jammer were really laying smacks on our recievers downfield... last nights game Al Harris was doing it a lot too and not too many flags were thrown

 

[DefenseRules]

I can't remember who said it, but I heard one of the football analysts claim that the Pats offense has about 7 faces to it and as a defense you have to be able to punch all seven because that's what you'll see, between the running game, TE sets, dink&dunk, and 5 WR's deep. It's a beautiful thing!

I think it was Jim Nance who said that the Chargers D Coordinator said that the Pats have 7 different Offenses. I guess we pulled out an 8th different Offense yesterday because they had no answers for that 3 tightend Offense that we threw at them.

 

[fair catch fryar]

I think it was Jim Nance who said that the Chargers D Coordinator said that the Pats have 7 different Offenses. I guess we pulled out an 8th different Offense yesterday because they had no answers for that 3 tightend Offense that we threw at them.

I heard that one too, but the quote I'm trying to remember wasn't said on CBS. The point is right though. If there's one thing I would bank on, it is the fact that no matter how well the G-men prepare, the Pats will be better prepared!!

 

[JoeSixPat]

The Cnargers did an exceptional job of covering the Pats... Brady took what they were giving and that included the running game.

Think for a second like a DC and you'd quickly make the choice that you'd prefer to double cover deep and let them have the short game.

Factor into that that 9 degrees can't make the passing game easier, and the Patriots path to victory is clear.

I suspect the Giants will again do a good job in coverage against the Pats (for the record I prefer playing a team we've faced before) but that the warm weather wil be a benefit to the passing game (let's just hope they don't get a freak rain storm)!

 

[sieglo]

(let's just hope they don't get a freak rain storm)!

I suspect the roof will be closed for the game.

 

[the shadow]

Pretty odd that in the playoffs, except for one broken play, the thing we did all season is absent. Brady does not seem to look more than 15 yards down field at all. All that speed on the outside?

If you have been following the Pats for 30 years or so you would see that Running the ball LATE in the season is THE WAY to go in New England. When the weather gets bad (Wind, and Cold Esp.) Passing, Esp. long passes becomes much harder to do. They saved Maroney (wear and tear) just for these games.
Most teams are looking at what Moss has done and are gearing up to stop him. But how do you stop the short passes to Welker, Faulk, Watson, and ALL the other weapons we have?? Answer you Don't!!
Bet the Pats "Open Up" in Arizona. The Game plan will be completely different in the Sun than it has been for the past 6 weks (and Esp. Different from the last game we played the Giants.

 

[marcus]

Why no play action passes? especially with LM lighting it up.

Also, never see Moss in motion to avoid jam at the line.


Getting Moss more involved would really open up things.

 

[Horace's Ivories]

It is not a criticism. It is not a complaint. It is a real question. SD has not 6"6' corners, and in fact other than Cromartie they are no better than a lot of other corners we have burned all year.

The wind was more of a factor combined with a tougher ball grip due to the sub freezing temps. By the the way, their corners have great vertical leaping ability