AFC Championship Game : Patriots vs. Colts -- Pre-Game Thread

pats4life12 · Jan 12, 2015

PatriotsReign said:
I am "pumped & jacked...." still the most idiotic comment I've ever heard a coach make!

I guess that's why the patriots hired BB and not me.

BobDigital · Jan 12, 2015

AndyJohnson said:
Not sure I agree, but still not sure how 20/88 indicates they have improved.
Again, if Manning wasn't horrible, they would have been able to run a lot more, and probably broken off some big runs. In any event 20/88 is not good.

Dismissing the fact doesn't mean it isn't true. There is no question that they loaded up to stop the run.
If they play us the way they played Denver, not only can we run effectively, but Brady will light them up.

I don't know how that game is any indication they have improved against the run, unless you add things that didn't really happen and project that maybe it would be different.

Well you brought up some good points there. And you are right. I probably should give more evidence to indictate that their run D has improved since facing the Pats (the biggest difference being getting Author Jones back IMO).

They got him back week 12 (we happened to play them on week 11 and ran for 246 yards). Since getting Jones back week 12 they have allowed 80, 84, 115, 137, 127, 142 and in the playoffs 110 and 88 yards. So at least by volume they have done better. Now lets look at YPA which is my fav stat for rushing.

They are in order starting week 12 - 3,5, 4.0, 3.6, 3.3, 3.2 & 5.9 (week 17 so IDK how much it means).

In the playoffs they averaged 5.2 against the Bengals (while holding Hill to 3.6... Dalton went 4 for 34 and Burkhead (a 3rd down back) had 1 carry for 23 but being a RB it should count. Maybe this means Vereen could have more success, Also that 23 yard run came on the Bengals first play. Maybe nerves factored in but they settled down nicely after.

Denver had no QB runs and did nothing fancy so that 88 in 20 runs is completely legit and not 1 broken play at the start but consistent chunks throughout the game. He had a long of 22 but there is no "first play excuse" for that one so it was completely on the Colts with no excuse

Overall though the only back that has had success consistently getting positive yards on them was Anderson since playing us. I think we should expect a much better performance from them this game.

Dragda · Jan 12, 2015

zipster9 said:
Fleener will be an issue. Who will cover him? He is no slow TE.

It depends on the personnel package on the field. Chung, Harmon, Collins, Hightower, or Arrington.

RobertWeathers · Jan 12, 2015

BobDigital said:
Overall though the only back that has had success consistently getting positive yards on them was Anderson since playing us. I think we should expect a much better performance from them this game.

If you go back and look at all their games, the only two times they allowed a runner to scamper for +100 yards were Foster & Gray. Bell, Forcett, Hill, Morris, Foster #2, Murray were all somewhat kept from having Jonas Gray-like days...

IMO their run D is not as bad as people make it out to be and with Jones back, Stork out and Gray not the same Gray he was that night, I am not expecting anywhere close to the gashing they gave them back in Nov.

I'm still thinking this through but I think the Pats will shred them through the air with a little running mixed in.

NYCPatsFan · Jan 12, 2015

goheels22002 said:
Arthur Jones played yesterday against the Broncos and was around the ball all day. The Colts looked good against the Broncos, but as we know, Manning was inaccurate and injured. Manning got harrassed some, but if Brady were throwing against the Colts secondary, and they gave him room along the sidelines like they did to Manning, it would balance things out. The Broncos didn't run the ball enough. 20 rushes to 46 passes when your QB is injured and inaccurate against a team that is vulnerable to the run seemed like bad play calling. CJ Anderson was fairly successful running against the Colts, but they didn't stick with it, nor did they give the Colts different looks in the backfield

One asset that the Patriots have in the running game is a diverse attack. Vereen, Blount, Gray, Bolden, and Edelman on sweeps. Expect a lot of different running plays next week. If one of the backs is finding success, the Patriots will keep pounding at that until they stop it. That also leaves those DBs out there having to handle a quick hitting throwing attack. The Colts got steam-rolled last time. I don't see why it will be much different.

The Colts shut down the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round at home in a game that many people thought the Bengals could win. I don't know what to make of the Bengals. I didn't watch that game, so I don't know if the Bengals caved in to the bright lights again, or if the Colts defense was all that great.

The comment about the Colts getting better defensively? I don't know. They got blown out by the Cowboys 42-7 on December 21st and they handled the Titans and the Texans who were playing without a quarterback.

I agree that Manning was injured and so couldn't offer much of fight. Plus Brady is doing a lot of running this season - probably has more yards this season than his entire career

- and so our O will certainly be more challenging.

And good point on the teams they faced in Dec. I neglected to check it. It actually makes me feel better now.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

patsfanincleveland · Jan 12, 2015

Sicilian said:
I'm not usually a fan of the idea of a "blueprint", because I think things are more often tailored to the individuals on the team. For example, I wouldn't consider Pittsburgh's offense to resemble ours in any way, shape, or form. Doesn't mean we can't learn something from that game, just that I doubt we can copy the gameplan with such a different set of personnel.

That's why you have to watch the game.

The Colt's secondary is designed for press man coverage. Pittsburgh obliterated them with formations.

PATSYLICIOUS · Jan 12, 2015

As I said in the other thread, I do wonder whether we'll get some home cooking from the refs this weekend. First off, I would imagine the NFL wants Pats-Seahawks for the SB, would be an awesome matchup. Either Pats/Hawks or Pats/Pack would be a far better draw than anything with Indy in it IMO. Second of all, they freaking owe us after last week's debacle.

Hoping for a good mix of run and pass here, I think we can be successful at both against this defense. As great as Brady is, it's tough to rely on one facet carrying you through everything we need the defense to start making some stops and some help from the run game. If our run blocknig can dominate the way it did the last couple meetings even better but it's hard to expect that, as long as we have enough success to make the PAP effective.

SVN · Jan 12, 2015

bruschi's review of the colts

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story...schi-tap-new-england-patriots-baltimore-colts

Jamal, you're right. This is a different Colts team than we saw earlier this year. A big difference is having Jones back and also the potential subtraction of center Bryan Stork. Of course, the Patriots will be secretive on the Stork injury, but watching it again this morning it looked bad. The good thing is that Stork had a knee brace on, which might have protected him from serious injury. But his availability for the next two games is in question.

The prior Patriots-Colts matchup, the New England OL was at full strength -- Solder-Connolly-Stork-Wendell-Vollmer. When Josh Kline is in there as a replacement on the inside, there is more penetration in the run game and more pressure in the pocket. This is a big injury to Stork.

Q. Hey Tedy! Big fan of yours from Brazil! On to Indy then... I think our D did a great job against the Colts receivers in November, but I am concerned about how we will match up against TE Coby Fleener, as he had a great game. Brandon Browner was against him for most of that game. Do you think we keep it that way? Maybe a little help from Jamie Collins or Patrick Chung? Thanks! -- Dan B. (Dourados, Brazil)

A. Not just Fleener, but I think another big difference from the Nov. 16 game to now is that Colts TE Dwayne Allen had an early injury in the game. Both coaches talked about adjustments made during the game, and I think it was tied to Allen. I see Allen as the better tight end than Coby Fleener; he's a really good player. So they're going to have to deal with two tight ends -- Fleener and Allen. It's been Collins and Chung a lot of the time on opposing tight ends, especially the ones who can line up in the backfield and do multiple things, and that's what Allen does.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Brady_to_Moss · Jan 12, 2015

WOnder which TE they will focus on more...Allen is the better of the two...

Archeryaddict12 · Jan 12, 2015

Hoping stork just got lucky and can go

Jimke · Jan 12, 2015

The Patriots were lucky that the Ravens played them tough. It should keep them from being
over confidant playing a team they beat the heck out of earlier. I painfully remember the Patriots
being on the losing side of one of the biggest upsets in NFL history. Matt Patricia's guys better
improve a lot on both rushing and pass defense.

SVN · Jan 12, 2015

I think the fins game in december and the ravens game should encourage the colts to throw more vs this secondary. Their TE's are going to be a problem and BB plays a lot of zone vs mobile Qbs too. Should be an interesting matchup. We cant play from behind because their defense is pretty good in stopping the pass. As usual Iam worried pats will overthhink it and come out throwing instead of testing to see if the colts can stop the run.

Brady_to_Moss · Jan 13, 2015

We need a poll...who is Gronk "throwing out of da club" in this one?

Crimson_Patriot · Jan 13, 2015

Pagano called the NFL to learn more about the Four OL formation. http://nesn.com/2015/01/chuck-pagano-calls-nfl-to-learn-more-about-patriots-four-ol-formation/

PatriotSeven · Jan 13, 2015

Crimson_Patriot said:
Pagano called the NFL to learn more about the Four OL formation. http://nesn.com/2015/01/chuck-pagano-calls-nfl-to-learn-more-about-patriots-four-ol-formation/

BB's in his head and winning already. That formation is keeping Pagano busy worrying about it this week, teaching his players how to defend against it, while BB is busy doing what we do. Probably won't even run it again for who knows how long.

dales804 · Jan 13, 2015

Reiss has some interesting insight on Vereen that might've gone unnoticed by some and I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere:

Running back Shane Vereen, who took a hit to the helmet on the fourth-quarter play he fumbled, was on the field for three snaps after that play, and was out of the locker room quickly after the game. One thing we want to watch for this week is if he shows up on the injury report.

If he can't go, will Bolden continue to get snaps, will Gray be active or maybe James White?

Sicilian · Jan 13, 2015

PatriotSeven said:
BB's in his head and winning already. That formation is keeping Pagano busy worrying about it this week, teaching his players how to defend against it, while BB is busy doing what we do. Probably won't even run it again for who knows how long.

Agreed 100%. If this takes even a few minutes of each practice away from the Colts it's an advantage, because I doubt we're going to run it against Indy. We should feel pretty confident we can move the ball in multiple ways with standard plays/formations.

dales804 said:
Reiss has some interesting insight on Vereen that might've gone unnoticed by some and I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere:

If he can't go, will Bolden continue to get snaps, will Gray be active or maybe James White?

If Vereen can't go, my guess is Bolden gets his snaps, which should be fewer in general because both Blount and Gray have shown they run well against this team. That combo will get the bulk of the snaps.

dales804 · Jan 13, 2015

Sicilian said:
If Vereen can't go, my guess is Bolden gets his snaps, which should be fewer in general because both Blount and Gray have shown they run well against this team. That combo will get the bulk of the snaps.

I agree. Threw the White thing out there as some have him as Vereen's possible replacement. He's been used rather sparingly this year, however. Tough to put him in on the biggest stage of the year with so little experience.

Sicilian · Jan 13, 2015

dales804 said:
I agree. Threw the White thing out there as some have him as Vereen's possible replacement. He's been used rather sparingly this year, however. Tough to put him in on the biggest stage of the year with so little experience.

Yeah, I think White is an emergency backup at this point, and shouldn't be counted on unless there are two or three injuries ahead of him. Hell, if we get past Indy and are facing say the Seahawks, even with Vereen and someone else out I doubt we see much of White. I think he just needs to soak up as much experience as he can this year and try to make his mark in camp this August.

The Brandon Five · Jan 13, 2015

Brady_to_Moss said:
We need a poll...who is Gronk "throwing out of da club" in this one?

I vote for Landry.

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