Patriots Should Start Garoppolo Next Sunday

Is LaFell actually hurt (he's been listed as questionable past couple of games? Or is BB just getting funky with the injury report again?

What some of us need to keep in mind is that there might still be some incentives in terms of playing time or performance on the line for various players. I doubt that BB will prevent those players from achieving that.

I really think that we will see a bigger rotation and less snaps but the starters will still play throughout the third quarter (depending on what the score is).

FrodoBagginz said:

I say start Brady for 1 or 2 quarters and then put Garroppolo in.

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MassPats38 said:

Brady said he doesn't want to rest, so give him the 1/2 to work the offense. Rest anyone dinged up. With a week off after this game, they can use meaningful reps to get back in sync.

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FreeTedWilliams said:

Depending on how the possessions/game goes. I suspect that Brady will play into the second quarter. I will breathe a sigh of relief when Garoppolo comes in and Brady puts on his knit hat.

I would not even dress Edelman and Gronk. Amendola and Wright can easily take their spots. I would like to see Fleming get a shot at guard. It's hard to rest everybody because you only have 45 guys.

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This!!!
Agree with all the above. Just started reading the thread.
Let the O and OL work their issues for a few series, then sit.
The healing guys like The Squirrel and Connoley need to sit out completely.

Froob said:

Is LaFell actually hurt (he's been listed as questionable past couple of games? Or is BB just getting funky with the injury report again?

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If I'm not mistaken, there isn't decision making in injury reports any more, its just based upon participation in practice

AndyJohnson said:

If I'm not mistaken, there isn't decision making in injury reports any more, its just based upon participation in practice

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Interesting, Vereen and LaFell have been questionable for a few games but I feel like it really wasn't close to "50-50." Maybe they should re vamp that.

PatsWickedPissah said:

This!!!
Agree with all the above. Just started reading the thread.
Let the O and OL work their issues for a few series, then sit.
The healing guys like The Squirrel and Connoley need to sit out completely.

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Who is the squirrel? Edelman? Odd nickname.

I disagree here though. Unless they are in great danger of aggravating the injury, they need to play.
Otherwise on Jan 10 they will take the field after no having contact since Dec 13. Basically its like asking them to sit out all preseason games (and most practices) and be ready to go week 1. Don't like that plan.

Vataha said:

Sit:
Brady (Garoppolo)
Solder (Fleming)
Connolly (Kline)
Volmer (Cannon)
Wendell (Devey)

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This is pretty much as close to putting up a hit on Garoppolo as you could do legally.

We've been here before. The is a word for those who do not learn from experience (welker). Belichick is not one of those people. Obviously, we should sit the injured: Edelman, Blount, Connolly and Arrington. Playing guys like Gronk, McCourty, Wilfork, Vollmer, Vereen, Chandler Jones and Revis borders on negligence.
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I would suit up Brady and expect him not to play. This is the game that a backup should play.
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So, the OL will likely be Solder, Wendell, Stork, Fleming and Cannon. That's fine. Fleming could use the reps as a RG. Kline and Devey would be the Game Day backups.
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I'm not even sure that I'd start LeFell or Browner. On offense, I'd play a lot of Wright-Hooman-Tyms-Amendola. We'll see if the running game can be established. We have Manieri as the 6th OL and Develin as our FB. Gray might succeed behind them or not.
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Marinlik said:

This is pretty much as close to putting up a hit on Garoppolo as you could do legally.

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I agree. The line should be Solder-Wendell-Stork-Fleming-Cannon with Kline and Devey as backups. Vollmer and Connolly shouldn't play.

Froob said:

I honestly can't see us moving the ball very far minus gronk and Edelman. LaFell and Vereen would be our only targets. Might be better not to play Brady at that point.

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I think Lafell sees his reps seriously limited. He has been banged up a lot lately, and has been a solid cog in the pass game.

robertweathers said:

They've faced good, physical defenses with a pass rush.

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I think it is still up-in-the-air how meaningful the recent dip is, but what is most troubling is that this isn't actually the case. GB, SD and NY aren't good defenses at all. GB's is meh and the other two are downright bad.

Of course, all three happened on the road, something NE won't have to worry about for at least a month, and as much as people mock him, Rex does give NE fits.

mgteich said:

I agree. The line should be Solder-Wendell-Stork-Fleming-Cannon with Kline and Devey as backups. Vollmer and Connolly shouldn't play.

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You are good with Connolly starting a playoff game after sitting idle for a month? Vollmer for 3 weeks?
OL needs to play. The best way to screw up a football team is to have them not play football. It can no longer be made up for by hitting in a more controlled setting of practice.
Players gotta play.

AndyJohnson said:

Who is the squirrel? Edelman? Odd nickname.

I disagree here though. Unless they are in great danger of aggravating the injury, they need to play.
Otherwise on Jan 10 they will take the field after no having contact since Dec 13. Basically its like asking them to sit out all preseason games (and most practices) and be ready to go week 1. Don't like that plan.

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When asked which nickname he prefers, Minitron, etc. Edelperson replied, "Squirrel!"
You can take it up with him, but if you watch the games, his relatively small stature, quicker than most everyone, elusive direction changing moves, he certainly does look like a Squirrel out there.

mgteich said:

We've been here before. The is a word for those who do not learn from experience (welker). Belichick is not one of those people. Obviously, we should sit the injured: Edelman, Blount, Connolly and Arrington. Playing guys like Gronk, McCourty, Wilfork, Vollmer, Vereen, Chandler Jones and Revis borders on negligence.

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So being ready to play in 2 weeks doesnt matter? It does to BB.
And apparently he hasn't learned the lesson you think he is stupid to not have learned as he has played starters in 'meaningless' games since.

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I would suit up Brady and expect him not to play. This is the game that a backup should play.

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I see this as a tune up to get ready for a playoff game, not a good time for a vacation.
We have more chance to lose by having players out of sync than by sustaining an injury.

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So, the OL will likely be Solder, Wendell, Stork, Fleming and Cannon. That's fine. Fleming could use the reps as a RG. Kline and Devey would be the Game Day backups.
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I'm not even sure that I'd start LeFell or Browner. On offense, I'd play a lot of Wright-Hooman-Tyms-Amendola. We'll see if the running game can be established. We have Manieri as the 6th OL and Develin as our FB. Gray might succeed behind them or not.
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I don't think we can play a game with 26 guys.

Play Brady for 1/2 or maybe up to 3/4 of the game, then put Jimmy G. in.

Sit Gronk down for the game. Superglue his ass to the bench if you have to, but do NOT let him on the field.

terabthia2 said:

Play Brady for 1/2 or maybe up to 3/4 of the game, then put Jimmy G. in.

Sit Gronk down for the game. Superglue his ass to the bench if you have to, but do NOT let him on the field.

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I could see that, let Wright get some more playing time also. But BB is not happy with the offense so I see everyone playing for at least 1 qtr.

JFK said:

Play Brady and have him throw deep 12 times in a row.
Then bench him

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Came in here to say this lol

Froob said:

Interesting, Vereen and LaFell have been questionable for a few games but I feel like it really wasn't close to "50-50." Maybe they should re vamp that.

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Vereen and LaFell are definitely hurting so they have to be on the injury report even if the Pats know they will play. Take the last SB for instance. The Pats knew Gronk would play but he was severely limited.

Rodney sees it the same way I do

http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports...-sunday-i-would-play-my-guys-at-least-a-half/

Oswlek said:

I think it is still up-in-the-air how meaningful the recent dip is, but what is most troubling is that this isn't actually the case. GB, SD and NY aren't good defenses at all. GB's is meh and the other two are downright bad.

Of course, all three happened on the road, something NE won't have to worry about for at least a month, and as much as people mock him, Rex does give NE fits.

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Yea good might have been a stretch for all of them. I think the GB and SD's defenses are decent to good. GB and NYJ pass rushes are good. NYJ defense is bad but on Sunday gave TB and the line fits.

I think the "dip" is due to a combination of factors. One of which is that since October, with the exception of the Bears, this team has had zero cupcake games. Part of me thinks that they are a little mentally fatigued and have been taking EVERYONES best punch.