What the Pats are not a passing team? They pass the ball 56% of the time. Which doesn't seem like a lot but when you consider the blow outs they had, thats when the bulk of the running plays came. After the game was over. So know your facts before you type please.
So as I said the only chance the Jags have is if the Pats are so arrogant that they want to run the ball at Spicer, it would only benefit the Jags.
How many games did you watch this past season?
Let me show you how this is going to go down....
First period...first possession (it matters not if they win the toss or not)...a few quick passes to Welker/Stallworth in the flat, maybe a sideline toss to Watson. Your boys are in nickel or dime package. Brady to Moss quick strike against double coverage...TOUCHDOWN!
Jaxsonville, following possession....6 plays, 14 yards, punt....
Patriots....rushing attempt, 3 yards (defense not softened up sufficiently yet)....quick strikes to Welker and Faulk....long gainer by Stallworth (30+ yards)....couple of more plays (take your pick), followed by a quick strike to Moss...TOUCHDOWN!!!!!
Here's what's happening, son. The Patriots are putting pressure on 2 fronts simultaneously, the defensive line and the secondary. The linebackers are coming up to the box to (1)stop the run and (2)put increased pressure on Brady. But it's not working, as Tom Terrific has lots of time to throw.
Because the stacking at the line isn't working, and those quick strikes out to the flat is killing them, because linebackers should be there to defense such things, they're forced to back off (first sign of a loooong day for Jaxsonville). This means the pass rush has to do more with less (yeah, like that'll work!), and with even more increased time, Brady becomes truly deadly (this is the increased pressure on the secondary).
Because (1)the defensive backfield
must respect the Patriots' deep threats, and (2)the linebackers are little more hesitant to commit to the box, and are increasingly wary of play-action threats, they'll be a little slower to respond to what's happening at the LOS.
Now the Patriots' offensive line has them where they want them, and they can literally own them on any given set. This opens the door for the running game.
As you've pointed out, they pass 56% of the time. That leaves 43% for the running game. Assume the Pats run 67 plays for the game. That puts the offense, on average, to run 28 plays.
Even if we accept your assumption about the Pats making their gains on the ground later in the game, in such a scenario, it means you lose.
And I don't buy into that assumption when they're playing this team.
Once the run is successfully exploited, however, you can be sure that what follows will border on chaos for the Jaxsonville D. I merely point to your team's performance in the second half of last week's game against a decidedly flawed Pittsburg team.
That's the way it's gone down for many of the Pats' games this year, and it's how it's going down for your boys.
Long evening for you. Get used to it.
