Good stuff from Bedard on Tomorrow's match-up

[Ian]

Rob Gronkowski and Rex Ryan in Greg Bedard's Week 6 notebook | The MMQB with Peter King

Part of his "1st & 10":

3. The Patriots’ rushing attack will determine whether or not they can knock off the unbeaten Saints at Gillette Stadium this weekend. New Orleans uses almost all nickel and dime defensively—with rookie safety Kenny Vaccaro playing as a pseudo linebacker. If the Patriots can’t force the Saints to commit to stopping the run, it will be a very long day for Tom Brady in the pocket. Surprisingly, the Saints don’t do a whole lot of scheming in Rob Ryan’s defense, probably because of the newness of the scheme. They do, however, get creative on third down. Expect the Saints to have a tough time fooling the Patriots. Brady and his line are the best combination New Orleans will have faced through six weeks—even if center Ryan Wendell can’t go because of a concussion. (His backup, Dan Connolly, won that job in 2011, after Dan Koppen had been cut, so Connolly can get it done). Also working against the Saints: the Patriots’ line is coming off its worst performance in quite some time. In their 13-6 loss to Cincy last Sunday, the Pats finished with just 248 total yards (a mere 82 on the ground). This was likely a long week of practice under the glare of veteran line coach Dante Scarnecchia.

 

[Ozymandias]

I agree. The running game will pretty much be the key in most instances. In the losses since last year and this year's they had an anemic rushing attack forcing the team to become one dimensional. That's exactly what the Saints want. They're going to try to exert their will and turn this game into a shootout. Unfortunately, the Patriots just don't have the horses to win a track meet.

They're going to have to commit to rushing the ball, and effectively to keep Brees and his offense off the field. That's the most logical way to win here. Trying to match them point for point will be disastrous.

 

[Mack Herron]

I agree. The running game will pretty much be the key in most instances. In the losses since last year and this year's they had an anemic rushing attack forcing the team to become one dimensional. That's exactly what the Saints want. They're going to try to exert their will and turn this game into a shootout. Unfortunately, the Patriots just don't have the horses to win a track meet.

They're going to have to commit to rushing the ball, and effectively to keep Brees and his offense off the field. That's the most logical way to win here. Trying to match them point for point will be disastrous.

Surely they can execute this game plan.

 

[JMC00]

Go with a line of Solder-Mankins-Wendell-Connolly-Cannon-Vollmer and just run, run, run.

 

[kudzif]

Fate of the patriots run offense depends on how good the opponents run defense is . If its a bad run defense we can run on it , but we never do well in the running game when facing good run defenses.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Fate of the patriots run offense depends on how good the opponents run defense is . If its a bad run defense we can run on it , but we never do well in the running game when facing good run defenses.

nO's run defense not very good.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Go with a line of Solder-Mankins-Wendell-Connolly-Cannon-Vollmer and just run, run, run.

6 men on the O line?......is this allowed? and if so in which position of tackle or guard is that guy labeled A or B?

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

nO's run defense not very good.

N.O. is 18th ranked against the run.....N.E. Is 23rd so if the Saints run D is not very good then the Pats rushing D is even worse

 

[Deus Irae]

N.O. is 18th ranked against the run.....N.E. Is 23rd so if the Saints run D is not very good then the Pats rushing D is even worse

You're looking at total yards. The Saints are dead last in defensive yards per attempt, at 5.4.

The Saints have allowed 543 yards on 100 rushing attempts. The Patriots have allowed 582 yards on 142 rushing attempts.

 

[jays52]

6 men on the O line?......is this allowed? and if so in which position of tackle or guard is that guy labeled A or B?

Depending on the set and which side of the formation they are on tight ends play on the line.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

WHy i think Ridley will be the key..he has a big game..they have a chance

 

[SVN]

Iam sure ryan is going to change up the defense .Even the bengals wanted to stop the run and make us one dimensional. Will be shocked if he doesnt try that with our rookie receivers and will be shocked if JMcD doesnt open in shotgun 3 WR set

 

[cstjohn17]

Good read, this was one of the Pats downfalls last year. Really good teams like Baltimore were able to stop the run in their nickel defense. I expect the Saints to play base against the Pats and force them to pass.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Good read, this was one of the Pats downfalls last year. Really good teams like Baltimore were able to stop the run in their nickel defense. I expect the Saints to play base against the Pats and force them to pass.

every team in the NFL this year should force them to pass...look at who they have at TE/WR

 

[cstjohn17]

every team in the NFL this year should force them to pass...look at who they have at TE/WR

Yep, no offense to Mike Mulligan but I will be stunned if the Saints play a light unit.

 

[DocHoliday]

6 men on the O line?......is this allowed? and if so in which position of tackle or guard is that guy labeled A or B?

How else do you do goal line plays? You play them as a TE, but announcers just call then an extra lineman.

 

[pherein]

WHy i think Ridley will be the key..he has a big game..they have a chance

Yeah its one thing Ive seen kill even the best offense, and Ive seen it enouph to know that a solid defence, and a team that can do 7-8 minute drives and score, cant kill even the best offense in the NFL. Its one reason I am way more afraid of KC than the Broncos.
49ers offence was ok, but their defence was #1. Alex smith took forever to make TD's, short plays, runs, and kept us of the field. We would come back and score in 2 minutes in that playoff game. They would take the field score and kill 7 minutes again, making the game manageable.
I really dont see Broncos beating KC, later, and ID rather play Broncos than KC myself.