Here's the thing you guys need to worry about - how's Brady's knee going to impact his ability to slide away from the rush, and how will it stand up to getting hit? I think as each game passes Brady will regain his naturally instinctive method of sidestepping the threat around him. I think as long as the hits he takes are legal, and no odd angles from tumbling bodies, he should hold up well enough.
The Pats are not going to have much success running the ball against this Jets D; Why not? I would be curious why you think we won't. We have a healthy RB corps, and signed a 3rd year blocking TE from the Giants who seems to block pretty good.
I'd expect to see the Pats try to spread the Jets out with multiple WR sets. But don't expect the Jets to react to that the way you've been used to over the past few years. If Galloway is closer to the same page as Brady, Welker is on his feet, and the Thomas/Watson/Edelman combo are average....you have an air attack problem coming your way.
Under Mangini and Sutton, if teams ran 4 or 5 WR sets, the Jets would either drop a ton of men into coverage (allowing good QBs to stand back and pick them apart) or blitz 5 or 6 men directly into blockers. That's not this D's philosophy. Think Ravens - if you go 4 wide, the Jets will likely rush 6 - but they'll rush 6 while overloading a portion of your blocking, rather than spreading them across your offensive front. I'd expect to see a steady diet of David Harris and Bart Scott coming through the gap opened by whoever is helping out on Jenkins. Brady is one of the best at recognizing the Defensive alignments and audibilizing (sp) the right play/pickups.
If Brady can hit quick passes behind blitzing LBs, it will be a long day for the Jets. On the other hand, if the Jets can pressure Brady up the gut - and that will happen at least once or twice, the question is whether they can do it consistently - then the Jets will have a real chance of winning the game. Same is true of any offense and QB in the league. All depends on the OL; if they hold for even 2 seconds, Moss will kill you on the slant, or Welker, or RB on the screen.
(BTW, to whoever said Sanchez will be looking at schemes he hasn't seen - he practices against the Jets D every week. His been seeing ridiculous pressure schemes in practice since the jump. He'll make his share of rookie mistakes, but he won't be particularly rattled).There is a world apart from a practice D and an opposition D. Speed, contact, positioning...etc. I think Sanchez will do well enough. But do YOU think he can outgun Brady and our offensive threats in a shootout?
