The First thing the Jets will do is put Revis on Welker. Rivas will hold Welker all day and get away with it like he always does.
1) Welker is a move guy. Putting Revis on Welker allows the Pats to manipulate Revis whenever they want. Move him to the same side as Cromartie and pick apart the opposite side.
2) It is easier to get away with holding on outside receivers running vertical routes. Grabbing Welker's jersey in the middle of the field as he changes direction is a bit harder.
Revis may end up on Welker in certain coverages but I highly doubt he will follow Welker around in man-to-man.
The Raiders went 90 yards in two plays, granted it was the end of the game, but that is exactly it, at this time you are suppose to let the guy catch the ball in front of you and tackle him in bounds and make them burn up the clock, no 90 yards in two plays!!!!
Granted the situation was meaningless and won't translate to this week's game, but I'm going to assign meaning to it and apply it to this week's game.
Unless Dirty Sanchez turns the ball over three times, I have a hard time seeing the Pats winning.
The San-grenade has 9 turnovers in 4 games. So you are saying that unless he has an average game for him, the Pats can't win?
Not only can't their defense stop anyone, is it me, or is EVERYONE open in the Pats secondary?? I can't even tell if they are playing man or zone! Everyone is open by ten yeards.
Yet teams can't seem to score more than 10 points in the 1st half of any game. Bizarre isn't it?
Once again, not even a hint of a pass rush. The Ravens have terrible corners, but Sanchez was literally ducking for his life.
The Ravens had 2 sacks and 10 QB hits. In week 1 (before the injuries started piling up), the Pats had 4 sacks and 11 QB hits against the Fins. If Haynesworth, Bodden and Dowling are back (and only Mayo is added to the injury list) then I expect the Pats to be able to get to Sanchez. If Mangold is still out or hobbled, even more reason to be optimistic.
Campbell was untouched yesterday, he was something like 8 for 8 on third downs.
Campbell dropped back to pass on 3rd down 12 times yesterday. He got 1st down yardage 6 times. So if 6 for 12 (which certainly isn't good for the defense) is something like 8 for 8, then you are correct.
As for hitting Campbell (Mark Anderson's forearm notwithstanding), you assume that was the plan. If the objective was to lose the game like the Jets did the week before, that would be a solid approach. While a 15 play, 8 minute FG drive may offend your delicate sensibilities, I loved every clock-killing, lead-preserving second of it.
Feel good if you want to, BUT, unless something drastically changes, the Pats aren't winning anything with this defense...
Technically they are winning something with this defense. Because this defense goes with this offense and this special teams to face those opponents. Happiness is a matter of which link on nfl.com you click on first...Standings or Stats.
Just for grins, which team has your "prototype" defense this year?
Ravens? Scheme works great against mistake-prone QBs and shaky OLs. Not so much otherwise (ask Tennessee).
Jets? Oakland ended that discussion.
Titans? Maybe once they play against an offense that can get out of its own way.
You don't need to be able to outswim a shark to survive. You just need to be able to swim faster than the guy next to you. Context is everything.