Belichick built this secondary for this matchup

[hwc]

I'm most excited to see the Pats secondary deployed against Manning on Sunday. Belichick is one of the great defensive minds in the history of the league. The Broncos have one of the great passing offenses in the history of the league. It is obvious that Belichick has built this secondary, piece by piece, to match up with the Broncos and the modern era NFL passing game.

He always talks about matchups. He's got the DBs for any kind of matchup. He's got the shut down cover corner in Revis. He's got the big physical corner in Browner. He's got the center fielder with range in McCourtey. He's got a good tackling safety to limit the gains on the short middle stuff. And, probably most important, he can go six deep with NFL caliber CBs in Revis, Browner, Dennard, Arrington, Ryan, and Butler -- a lot of depth for nickle and dime cover packages.

I don't, for a minute, think Belichick has showed his hand with this secondary. I think he's been building towards this week and the matchup with the Broncos. And, I think he has the horses back there to play some serious games. He hasn't had this kind of firepower since the Law/Harrison days.

I have no idea what to expect, but whatever it is, I can't wait to see it.

 

[slash83]

He's got the weather on his side also...

 

[PATS16N0]

I can't wait either. It is a pretty exciting game. Tom Brady v Peyton Manning always gets billed by the NFL as the mid-season Superbowl, and fans around the league prioritize watching it.

The best part about that is we always kick his ass, too.

I just feel great about this game, confident, like I did in 2012. In 2013 I was expecting a close win, and never doubted Tom's comeback, and with all our injuries in the AFCCG, I secretly and sadly thought we were going to lose. This year, I just feel great about it, like usual. The whole universe feels put back in place.

We're going to beat Denver and Peyton yet again in front of the entire country.

It's going to be great.

This team is still pissed off. Fiery Tom is gonna' come out and start raging and Peyton is going to get that frightened look on his face. You know the one. I can't wait.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

If the run D makes the Broncos pass frequently (making them pass from 2nd/3rd and long-ish enough times), I look forward in seeing how this 'secondary built for Denver' performs. The results of their performance will go a long way in telling me if they are as 'SB good' as I hope/suspect they are.

 

[supafly]

If the run D makes the Broncos pass frequently (making them pass from 2nd/3rd and long-ish enough times), I look forward in seeing how this 'secondary built for Denver' performs. The results of their performance will go a long way in telling me if they are as 'SB good' as I hope/suspect they are.

Yeah, we'll know a lot more about the team come Sunday around 7:30--8:00. As of now, we can be happy that the 2014 team is competing at a high level despite a slow/rough start with some injuries and turnover.

A win vs. DEN would put us at 7-2 going into the bye with the #1 seed in play. That would be huge down the line for round #2.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Yeah, we'll know a lot more about the team come Sunday around 7:30--8:00. As of now, we can be happy that the 2014 team is competing at a high level despite a slow/rough start with some injuries and turnover.

A win vs. DEN would put us at 7-2 going into the bye with the #1 seed in play. That would be huge down the line for round #2.

Agreed. I definitely like this secondary already. However, this is where the proverbial rubber meets the road; is this secondary that on paper appears to be the best we have seen around here in many years up to slowing down (to a satisfactory degree) what is one of the best passing offenses in the NFL? If it can do that then what it is on paper will be confirmed in practice too.

No doubt the gravity of this game is BIG. A win means the Patriots are statistically more likely to be the #1 seed than any other team. On the other hand a loss means the Broncos must go no better than 5-3 the rest of the way (and they have 2 games against bottom dwelling Oakland upcoming) if the Patriots can win all 7 of their remaining games. In realistic terms a loss makes the #1 seed a distinctly sharp unlikelihood.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

I think BB himself would say he built this secondary "for the good of the team, to compete against all teams".

 

[woolster22]

If the run D makes the Broncos pass frequently (making them pass from 2nd/3rd and long-ish enough times), I look forward in seeing how this 'secondary built for Denver' performs. The results of their performance will go a long way in telling me if they are as 'SB good' as I hope/suspect they are.

The real question about Sunday is pick plays, defensive holding, and pass interference (both ways). Unfortunately, we have one of the most flag happy crews in the league set to ref this weekend. If anyone watched the San Diego sham, you understand my trepidation.

If I had tickets I'd buy the biggest boots I could find, and stuff the toes with c batteries...just saying...









...I'm joking! Well, until the first garbage defensive holding or hands to the face while Welker straight blocks [defensive back's name here] without a flag.

I hope one of our ST'S specialists is thrown on the field the first time WW gets out there. Light his pick running ass up and set the tone for flags. I want the defensive lineman going low on their oline the same play, assuming those dbags have already done it on a zone run outside. Set the god damn tone after those sleaze balls try it themselves.

Most importantly, if ANYONE gets a shot on Goober, light his ass up. Based on this crews history (you all remember a few weeks back), you are getting the flag anyways, make it worth it.

Part of me prays BB comes up with a "goon" set. Show the zebras what truly deserves the laundry early, and as often as possible.

If this is an abomination like last Thursday, I'll lose my mind.

BTW, where is senator dbag railing for his investigation after that railroading? Cali, throw your ineptitude at something that can help us massholes! Lol, again, only kind of joking...Hey now, maybe that's why Pitt got that garbage SB? All those terrible calls...

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Ofcourse it will be an abomination by the refs. The "emphasis" was MADE FOR PEYTON after his humiliating SB loss.

 

[PATS16N0]

The real question about Sunday is pick plays, defensive holding, and pass interference (both ways). Unfortunately, we have one of the most flag happy crews in the league set to ref this weekend. If anyone watched the San Diego sham, you understand my trepidation.

If I had tickets I'd buy the biggest boots I could find, and stuff the toes with c batteries...just saying...









...I'm joking! Well, until the first garbage defensive holding or hands to the face while Welker straight blocks [defensive back's name here] without a flag.

I hope one of our ST'S specialists is thrown on the field the first time WW gets out there. Light his pick running ass up and set the tone for flags. I want the defensive lineman going low on their oline the same play, assuming those dbags have already done it on a zone run outside. Set the god damn tone after those sleaze balls try it themselves.

Most importantly, if ANYONE gets a shot on Goober, light his ass up. Based on this crews history (you all remember a few weeks back), you are getting the flag anyways, make it worth it.

Part of me prays BB comes up with a "goon" set. Show the zebras what truly deserves the laundry early, and as often as possible.

If this is an abomination like last Thursday, I'll lose my mind.

BTW, where is senator dbag railing for his investigation after that railroading? Cali, throw your ineptitude at something that can help us massholes! Lol, again, only kind of joking...Hey now, maybe that's why Pitt got that garbage SB? All those terrible calls...

I love all of this and agree completely. Denver has quietly become the dirtiest team in football and we'll have to set the tone early. I'm supremely confident in the Patriots this week, but my minor concern is injuries, Broncos diving at knees, hurting our players with illegal pick plays and, of course, the chop block. I'd honestly just like to see us fight fire with fire with this team and see our guys laying theirs out.

The only thing I disagree with is I'd actually throw the batteries. I'd target Ward knowing that if I missed it would still hit Peyton's forehead.

 

[woolster22]

I love all of this and agree completely. Denver has quietly become the dirtiest team in football and we'll have to set the tone early.

The only thing I disagree with is I'd actually throw the batteries. I'd target Ward knowing that if I missed it would still hit Peyton's forehead.

Pfft, doesn't matter if you miss your intended target, there is no way anything could miss that forehead!

Well, unless you threw them into the stands behind you?

 

[DarrylS]

I think BB has changed his defensive philosophy completely, it seems that he used to think he could take a very good offensive player or marginal player off of the street, coach them up and plug them in. Obviously that did not work all that well...

So he has morphed into a talented D backfield... which is somewhat of a change. IMO it has to do with two things... preparing for life after Brady and the league is changing into a passing league.

I also think he has more moving pieces so some of what we will see on Sunday and henceforth will defy traditional labels and description...

I do not think the did this for the Bronco's exclusively, he did it because the NFL is becoming a passing league...

 

[mayoclinic]

Good OP. I, too, am very excited to see what the secondary does against Denver, and expect some wrinkles.

Two notes:

1. Brandon Marshall said on twitter that the Pat's D showed things that they hadn't seen on tape for the past 2 years.

2. Jimmy Garoppolo has been simulating Manning this week.

Both of those things make me feel quite giddy.

 

[tasmlab]

This is all reminiscent of how Rex Ryan framed his first and second year jets, essentially building a Tom Brady - beating defense. Which worked to a degree, but he later confessed that he needed to build a team that could match anybody.

 

[saspack]

Going to be a long day for the secondary if no pass rush

 

[patriot1136]

I hate the Broncos, those dirty cheating bastards. We must light them up tomorrow. I think we can take them but I'm worried about the officiating (they're out to get us) and I'm worried about Denver and their chop blocks and picks

 

[RayClay]

I'm most excited to see the Pats secondary deployed against Manning on Sunday. Belichick is one of the great defensive minds in the history of the league. The Broncos have one of the great passing offenses in the history of the league. It is obvious that Belichick has built this secondary, piece by piece, to match up with the Broncos and the modern era NFL passing game.

He always talks about matchups. He's got the DBs for any kind of matchup. He's got the shut down cover corner in Revis. He's got the big physical corner in Browner. He's got the center fielder with range in McCourtey. He's got a good tackling safety to limit the gains on the short middle stuff. And, probably most important, he can go six deep with NFL caliber CBs in Revis, Browner, Dennard, Arrington, Ryan, and Butler -- a lot of depth for nickle and dime cover packages.

I don't, for a minute, think Belichick has showed his hand with this secondary. I think he's been building towards this week and the matchup with the Broncos. And, I think he has the horses back there to play some serious games. He hasn't had this kind of firepower since the Law/Harrison days.

I have no idea what to expect, but whatever it is, I can't wait to see it.

I agreed, although it worked pretty well against the tall receiver match ups of the Bears.

Browner is a real vocal leader out there, getting the crowd worked up. I hope to heaven they let him play. They let him rag doll people at Seattle, I just want them to let him play here within the rules.

 

[A man named Brady]

If we beat Denver. I can honesty see us running the table. The pack,Colts, and chargers don't scare me

 

[mayoclinic]

If we beat Denver. I can honesty see us running the table. The pack,Colts, and chargers don't scare me

The teams don't scare me, but the Colts and Chargers are on the road. And the mental effort of running the gauntlet against the Broncos - @Colts - GB - @Lions - @Chargers could be draining. The 2010 team ran the table against a brutal 2nd half schedule, then went out with a whimper against the Jets in the divisional round.

 

[SVN]

Yes, but he didnt count on his MLB and chief pass rusher being injured which might lead to not seeing the full potential of this secondary.