Q. Did you notice how in the second half Sunday between the Patriots and Packers, Logan Ryan was no longer assigned to cover Davante Adams? In the first half, that looked like the sleeper matchup that Aaron Rodgers was going to go to all game long. Was that maybe a move that helped keep Green Bay within reach? -- Jason (Germany)
A. I'll tell you, Logan Ryan was hanging in there early, in good position. When a quarterback like Rodgers has his eye on you for most of the day, it's going to be a hard assignment. I thought the Patriots did a great job of taking away the top two weapons of the Packers' offense (I know
Jordy Nelson made a big play, and you give him credit). When you go against a team like this, the battle of your third and fourth defensive backs against the third and fourth options in the passing game is where the game will be won or lost. I did think
Patrick Chung played a good game in terms of supporting the run. As for Ryan and
Kyle Arrington, you're scrambling to find the right fit there when a quarterback like Rodgers is targeting that spot.
This was intellectual football on both sides. You could see the adjustments Mike McCarthy made. In the first half, one of them was coming out in "01" personnel (no backs, one tight end). You see one of your main weapons, receiver
Randall Cobb, getting handled at the line of scrimmage. So let's take our running back off the field and put Cobb in the backfield. So now it's Kyle Arrington on Cobb out of the backfield.
They're also using bunch formations to create traffic problems. I'm shaking my head rewatching the film, as there are brilliant adjustments on each side of the ball.
The wheel route to Cobb, when
Rob Ninkovich was on him, I don't think Ninkovich had him man-to-man. I just think he's doing what he's taught -- to peel off when that threat is presented to him. If you watch, Arrington has Cobb in man coverage from the LB level, and he's aligned at the LB level because Cobb is in the backfield, and that's where he should be aligned. Arrington gets caught up in a traffic situation from the bunch and he can't make it through to get his coverage. Ninkovich is doing the best he can to hold him off. But come on -- Ninkovich running with Cobb? There you have McCarthy telling Bill Belichick, "I have a bag of tricks, too."
Q. Followed the game Sunday here from Europe (another short night for me), and to be honest, I'm not too disappointed. The Patriots did not have their best game by any means (I saw a lot of room for improvement on offense and defense) and still they managed to stay in the game until the very end. The only downside for me was that the Packers managed to decide this game with their No. 3 receiver (Logan Ryan and Alfonzo Dennard were beaten several times). I thought our defensive back depth was better than their wide receiver depth, but I may have to reconsider that. What are your thoughts on this? -- Michael (Vienna)
A. This may be the story as the year unfolds, Michael. That's what the Patriots are coming to be known as throughout the league with this quality high-end secondary. I say "high end" when looking at the personnel:
Darrelle Revis,
Brandon Browner,
Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Kyle Arrington, Alfonzo Dennard and Logan Ryan. Now look past those first few spots, and start to look at the middle/end of that list of names. Based on Sunday, those are the players who will have a big say if this team makes a strong playoff push.
