What should the Pats' Offensive Gameplan be at Denver?

What should our offensive gameplan be this week?

Apologies, the poll didn't post.

The options are :

A. Primarily Pass / Clock MGT Run
B. Primarily Run / Utilize Play Action
C. Shotgun Spread / Utilize Draws

http://speaksportsdaily.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/planning-the-attack/

Move the ball. Score points.

The Patriots are a power running team. I expect running to be the foundation of the game plan until the Broncos bring 8 in the box to stop it.

I think they will be more balanced this week. I guess pass plays will out
number run plays when all is done. Especially if Broncos get ahead by much.

Early part of game will be testing what they can do best. I look to see if
they test the deep part of the secondary. With Broncos secondary less
than what it has been they may well come out passing. If they have some
success passing it may be easier for the run game to work well and play
action plays then become more effective. Maybe they can bait Broncos into
playing the run with extra help from the secondary from time to time
and then hit a deep pass.

Converting on third down may be the stat that breaks or makes them. They can not have drives stall much if they are going to win. I think if
PATS have to punt more than 5 times they will probably lose unless Broncos have to punt or turn it over more than they normally do.

CISGS said:

What should our offensive gameplan be this week?

Apologies, the poll didn't post.

The options are :

A. Primarily Pass / Clock MGT Run
B. Primarily Run / Utilize Play Action
C. Shotgun Spread / Utilize Draws

Click to expand...

All of the above, we'll take what they give us. Broncos have a big problem.......in order to commit to stopping our tremendous run attack, they will have to commit serious resources, eight in the box. That will put the ball in Tom Brady's hands against a depleted, old and slow secondary.

Just not sure putting the ball in Tom Brady's hands is going to work out well for them.

Look, broncos only chance is to explode out of the box, get up a couple of scores and not let up. I don't think our defense lets that happen, given they are playing their best ball right now.

So, my vision is a Patriot win and a comfortable one at that -- the only way I see it even close or worse is if we give it away and compound that by playing really bad football.

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know everyone and their grandma is gonna be expecting it. But are they gonna be able to stop it?

If it works, you use it.

If I had a $ for everytime I've read on this board that we put too much on Brady' shoulders. For the first time in a decade, we have a legitimate run game. A stable consisting of 250 lbs of Blount force trauma, an explosive gasher Ridley, a dual threat Vereen, a more than serviceable Bolden, and THEN some fullback goodess in Develin. We run that ball down Denver's throat all day, keep Manning sucking his thumb on the sideline, and then stun them with with playaction whenever AD/KT beat their useless secondary.

I can't wait until we unleash our devastating run attack on them. Thrust it in their face, punch them in the mouth, and dare them to do anything about it. All I beg the almighty is that we show a little patience and give the run game time to set it. They'll be well prepared for it, so I don't expect good YPA in the first quarter or even half. Just hope Josh keeps his nerve and sticks with it, and we'll be looking at some real gashing runs in the second half.

I'm just worried about relying on the running game too much.

The Colts and Bills were something like 26th and 28th ranked against the run.

Not to take credit away from our RBs, because I've thought we had the best RB group in the league since early in the season. I just think Denver will present a tough challenge for running against. I believe we can do it very well, however we'll need a bit more balance compared to the last 2 games.

hwc said:

The Patriots are a power running team. I expect running to be the foundation of the game plan until the Broncos bring 8 in the box to stop it.

Click to expand...

I'm curious -- before the last two games, in which the Pats averaged TWICE their season average on the ground, would you have said that? Two games which, as it happens, were both played during major rainstorms?

I'll grant you that the Pats' running game is both talented and healthy, while the receiving corps is seriously depleted. But even so, this is an individual game-planning offense. I don't expect to see nearly so many handoffs to Blount this time around.

CISGS said:

What should our offensive gameplan be this week?

Apologies, the poll didn't post.

The options are :

A. Primarily Pass / Clock MGT Run
B. Primarily Run / Utilize Play Action
C. Shotgun Spread / Utilize Draws

Click to expand...

What personnel packages are you expecting for each of these on offense, and what packages does Denver usually use to counter? Especially by down and distance? Since we can't effectively go 5-wide anymore, I'm curious how we want to get Vereen out in space to catch passes ... do we ever use 20 personnel (say, with Blount and Vereen), and would that help us get Vereen matched up against slower LBs?

There's so much I was I had time to analyze and learn for this matchup ... Big Block ideas like 'run' versus 'pass' just don't say much anymore... you have to create mis-matches, and take advantage of them.

Well, my expectation is that DEN is going to blitz a ton this game. Straight blitzes. Disguised blitzes, etc. The reason is that they want to clog the running lanes and not give slot receivers that 3 seconds to beat an average - especially without Harris DEN pass defense.

To counter this, I would expect Vereen to get a ton of catches, get draw plays, etc. Also some quick screen plays to JE and DA.

I don't see Blount Force Trauma having a huge game but they may lean on him in the 2nd 1/2 to speed up the game and chew up the clock.

patchick said:

I'm curious -- before the last two games, in which the Pats averaged TWICE their season average on the ground, would you have said that? Two games which, as it happens, were both played during major rainstorms?

Click to expand...

Yes. I would have said it. The Pats have been a strong rushing team for several years now. This year, with the passing game struggling, the strength of their offense is rushing, especially in the red zone.

I believe that the only real shot the Pats have right now, is sticking to the power running game as their bread and butter. I'm not saying that Brady won't pass the ball, but they cannot allow the defense to key on the pass, rushing the QB and overloading our passing zones. Honestly, that didn't work in the post-season when we had Moss and Welker. It sure as heck isn't going to work right now. We can barely put three healthy wide receivers on the field and we don't have a single pass-catching tight end on the roster.

robertweathers said:

Well, my expectation is that DEN is going to blitz a ton this game. Straight blitzes. Disguised blitzes, etc. The reason is that they want to clog the running lanes and not give slot receivers that 3 seconds to beat an average - especially without Harris DEN pass defense.

To counter this, I would expect Vereen to get a ton of catches, get draw plays, etc. Also some quick screen plays to JE and DA.

I don't see Blount Force Trauma having a huge game but they may lean on him in the 2nd 1/2 to speed up the game and chew up the clock.

Click to expand...

If Denver does that we're going to score 35+

PatsSox363804 said:

If Denver does that we're going to score 35+

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Yep. Thats what I said in another thread. I expect the Pats to put up between 35-38 points.

I think the Pats will run to set up the pass. The Broncos don't have the secondary to put an extra guy in the box. So if you commit to the run, you will absolutely kill them with the play action even with a depleted receiving corp.

patchick said:

I'm curious -- before the last two games, in which the Pats averaged TWICE their season average on the ground, would you have said that? Two games which, as it happens, were both played during major rainstorms?

I'll grant you that the Pats' running game is both talented and healthy, while the receiving corps is seriously depleted. But even so, this is an individual game-planning offense. I don't expect to see nearly so many handoffs to Blount this time around.

Click to expand...

Thank you for posting exactly what I was thinking but much more accurately than I could have.

I don't think the Pats have a dominant power running game. I think they have a decent running game that has worked very well the last couple of games.

My guess is that Denver is thinking of the Pats as a run-first team and will load up the box. I think the pats are expecting that and will come out four or five wide and will see quite a lot of Vareen in the beginning of the game.

After that it becomes a chess match.

robertweathers said:

Well, my expectation is that DEN is going to blitz a ton this game. Straight blitzes. Disguised blitzes, etc. The reason is that they want to clog the running lanes and not give slot receivers that 3 seconds to beat an average - especially without Harris DEN pass defense.

To counter this, I would expect Vereen to get a ton of catches, get draw plays, etc. Also some quick screen plays to JE and DA.

I don't see Blount Force Trauma having a huge game but they may lean on him in the 2nd 1/2 to speed up the game and chew up the clock.

Click to expand...

I think that will be a stupid strategy. Brady usually destroys the blitz because he always finds the mismatch. You need to pressure Brady rushing four. You blitz a lot and usually you can get to him once or twice, but he beats you far more. You look at the defenses that usually give him fits and the common factor is usually a strong four man rush that pressures Brady (usually up the middle).

Maybe if the Broncos had the secondary to account for some favorable mismatches for the Pats in a blitzing scheme, but I don't think they have the horses to do that (no pun intended). But I have rarely seen this strategy work consistently.

I think blitzing will also allow both Ridley and Blount to run wild and potentially Vereen. It is hard to clog the running lanes and blitz a lot. Typically when you blitz, it opens running lanes because the rushers are more intent at getting to the QB than gap control. Yes, it can make a big play at times in the running game, but it also leaves big holes in the second level which could give up huge running plays.

The blueprint to stop both QBs is pretty obvious. Pressure Brady with a four man rush to keep him off his game. Don't show your hand to Manning presnap and knock the timing off the receivers' routes. Not many teams can execute either gameplan.

Rob0729 said:

I think that will be a stupid strategy. Brady usually destroys the blitz because he always finds the mismatch. You need to pressure Brady rushing four. You blitz a lot and usually you can get to him once or twice, but he beats you far more. You look at the defenses that usually give him fits and the common factor is usually a strong four man rush that pressures Brady (usually up the middle).

Maybe if the Broncos had the secondary to account for some favorable mismatches for the Pats in a blitzing scheme, but I don't think they have the horses to do that (no pun intended). But I have rarely seen this strategy work consistently.

I think blitzing will also allow both Ridley and Blount to run wild and potentially Vereen. It is hard to clog the running lanes and blitz a lot. Typically when you blitz, it opens running lanes because the rushers are more intent at getting to the QB than gap control. Yes, it can make a big play at times in the running game, but it also leaves big holes in the second level which could give up huge running plays.

The blueprint to stop both QBs is pretty obvious. Pressure Brady with a four man rush to keep him off his game. Don't show your hand to Manning presnap and knock the timing off the receivers' routes. Not many teams can execute either gameplan.

Click to expand...

I watched the game from November earlier and every time the Broncos got pressure it came from Miller. Even when Phillips stripped Brady (for a second until Brady recovered and threw for a first down) Miller was the one who really forced it by rushing from the other side. I have no idea how they are going to get pressure on Brady tomorrow without blitzing, especially since the line has been playing better as of late.

Our best backs were benched in the 1st quarter in week 12. Bolden was our leading rusher and had 4.5 yards per carry. There's no reason to believe that Blount and/or Ridley can't do better, especially given that our offensive line is dominant right now.

Patjew said:

I think the pats are expecting that and will come out four or five wide and will see quite a lot of Vareen in the beginning of the game.

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I don't think they have four or five wide. Just barely if you count Dobson or Thompkins. I don't think they can build a game plan around the assumption that either of them will be healthy or effective. Lack of depth at receiver/tight end is the Pats overwhelming weakness on offense. I don't know why they would game plan to highlight their biggest weakness.

Why wouldn't you try to feature the most productive offensive player in the AFC over the past few weeks?

Rob0729 said:

I think that will be a stupid strategy. Brady usually destroys the blitz because he always finds the mismatch. You need to pressure Brady rushing four. You blitz a lot and usually you can get to him once or twice, but he beats you far more. You look at the defenses that usually give him fits and the common factor is usually a strong four man rush that pressures Brady (usually up the middle).

Maybe if the Broncos had the secondary to account for some favorable mismatches for the Pats in a blitzing scheme, but I don't think they have the horses to do that (no pun intended). But I have rarely seen this strategy work consistently.

I think blitzing will also allow both Ridley and Blount to run wild and potentially Vereen. It is hard to clog the running lanes and blitz a lot. Typically when you blitz, it opens running lanes because the rushers are more intent at getting to the QB than gap control. Yes, it can make a big play at times in the running game, but it also leaves big holes in the second level which could give up huge running plays.

The blueprint to stop both QBs is pretty obvious. Pressure Brady with a four man rush to keep him off his game. Don't show your hand to Manning presnap and knock the timing off the receivers' routes. Not many teams can execute either gameplan.

Click to expand...

That is the blueprint no question and that is why DEN needs to gamble and blitz because they don't have an abundance cover guys or besides Phillips have guys that can pressure the QB consistently. If Fox wants to send four then TB will run-draw or hit Vereen/Develin in the flat. Its a big-time gamble no question. They'll mix it up certainly but they will blitz more frequently for the reasons I've outlined.

On the other hand the Pats do have a decent pass rush and 4 guys who can cover and 5 if you count DMC so they can send 4 or 5 and man/zone the rest in 5, 10 and 15 yard increments.