Game thoughts - Pats/Skins

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

I didn't see any game review threads. Not that I fault anyone because of the 52-7 score, but there were some interesting things to take away from the game nonetheless...

1. The Skins were determined to take away the deep and intermediate passing game by rushing 4 and dropping the LBs deep into coverage. The Pats countered by running the ball (well) and throwing underneath to Faulk, Maroney and Welker. For perhaps the first time all year, the Pats actually respected a D and took what the D gave them instead of imposing their will...and still destroyed them. I thought the Skins played the exact type of D they needed to throw the Pats off their usual gameplan, yet still got taken out to the woodshed. That's remarkable.

2. The Skins used London Fletcher a lot on Welker. The guy is one fast LB and is having an All Pro season. They figured he could beat the snot out of Welker, making him pay for every catch. What amazed me was that the Pats and Welker didn't back down. The Pats continued to throw across the middle to Welker, Welker continued to take each and every hit from Fletcher and he bounced right up after each catch. Welker even dished out some punishment of his own, executing a nice block on Fletcher on one of the early running plays.

3. The Skins showed that if you're going to drop everyone deep into coverage and force Brady to check down, your front four better bring some heat or else you'll still get killed. The offensive line again had an outstanding performance.

I'm still in awe of the Pats' dismantling of that Skins D. That was no paper tiger of a defense, despite some injuries in the secondary. The Pats had a great gameplan against it and executed it perfectly.

Regards,
Chris

 

[SVN]

I didn't see any game review threads. Not that I fault anyone because of the 52-7 score, but there were some interesting things to take away from the game nonetheless...

1. The Skins were determined to take away the deep and intermediate passing game by rushing 4 and dropping the LBs deep into coverage. The Pats countered by running the ball (well) and throwing underneath to Faulk, Maroney and Welker. For perhaps the first time all year, the Pats actually respected a D and took what the D gave them instead of imposing their will...and still destroyed them. I thought the Skins played the exact type of D they needed to throw the Pats off their usual gameplan, yet still got taken out to the woodshed. That's remarkable.

2. The Skins used London Fletcher a lot on Welker. The guy is one fast LB and is having an All Pro season. They figured he could beat the snot out of Welker, making him pay for every catch. What amazed me was that the Pats and Welker didn't back down. The Pats continued to throw across the middle to Welker, Welker continued to take each and every hit from Fletcher and he bounced right up after each catch. Welker even dished out some punishment of his own, executing a nice block on Fletcher on one of the early running plays.

3. The Skins showed that if you're going to drop everyone deep into coverage and force Brady to check down, your front four better bring some heat or else you'll still get killed. The offensive line again had an outstanding performance.

I'm still in awe of the Pats' dismantling of that Skins D. That was no paper tiger of a defense, despite some injuries in the secondary. The Pats had a great gameplan against it and executed it perfectly.

Regards,
Chris

marlin jackson of the colts was on ESPN. Said normally on nickel he plays on the slot receiver so he will matched up on Welker. Said he doesnt know the plan for this week but thats how he has been used in the past.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Two other observations...

1. I missed most of the 1st half because the Pats cheerleaders were decked out in smokin' hot costumes. Nurses, French Maids, Bees, whatever. The really hot ones are NOT captured in the picture thread. My guest commented that it was a far better show than he'd seen at upscale Gentelmens' Clubs. Not that he'd ever been to one, just heard about them.

2. Anyway, back to football. BB spent the 1st few offensive drives crouched with the DL mostly and LBs some reviewing the faxed photos of the Skins O with his guys. He intently diagrammed stuff on that small whiteboard. He paid absolutely no attention whatsoever to the big scoring drives by the Pats O. After a few defensive series with the Skins' O solved, he assumed his 'TV' position on the sidelines. I sit right behind the bench and wish I could read lips.

I'll post a crappy photo of BB I took in the Photo thread.