Three unconventional predictions for the game

[Sicilian]

Red Hoodie

Brady getting in someones grill verbally shredding them at least once

Jon Bon Jovi and Jeffery Kessler in Kraft's box

No way in Hell a lawyer that fights for the union is going to be seen in an owners box.

 

[Joey007]

I really think that is a given. Cody Wallace seems serviceable but nowhere near athletic enough to handle Easy E or Seal.

Seal is a monster. I think he is in for a big year.

I think its still bold though. Multiple sacks in a game for an interior lineman who only had 1 sack last year (albeit was not healthy) is a pretty big step forward.

Seal definitely interests me. Makes me wonder how much playing time Brown will get if Seal is playing well.

 

[Ross12]

I think its still bold though. Multiple sacks in a game for an interior lineman who only had 1 sack last year (albeit was not healthy) is a pretty big step forward.

Seal definitely interests me. Makes me wonder how much playing time Brown will get if Seal is playing well.

I think rotating Brown and Siliga is one hell of a combo. Both will stay fresh and both will wreak some havoc.

 

[Sicilian]

I think its still bold though. Multiple sacks in a game for an interior lineman who only had 1 sack last year (albeit was not healthy) is a pretty big step forward.

Seal definitely interests me. Makes me wonder how much playing time Brown will get if Seal is playing well.

Hopefully he gets a bunch and Branch gets in a fair amount too. Keeping the big bodies fresh could help them stay relentless.

EDIT: Ross beat me by half a step!

 

[RobertWeathers]

No way in Hell a lawyer that fights for the union is going to be seen in an owners box.

All 3 of my predictions are jokes.

That red hoodie will stay home forever

I think Brady is going to do his best to control his emotions

Bob never has more than one celebrity guest in the booth.

Plus he won't piss off the other 31 and have JK in there.

 

[Sicilian]

All 3 of my predictions are jokes.

That red hoodie will stay home forever

I think Brady is going to do his best to control his emotions

Bob never has more than one celebrity guest in the booth.

Plus he won't piss off the other 31 and have JK in there.

Wow, the whole thing went completely over my head. My bad!

 

[Joey007]

Hopefully he gets a bunch and Branch gets in a fair amount too. Keeping the big bodies fresh could help them stay relentless.

EDIT: Ross beat me by half a step!

Thinking hopefully it'll mostly be Seal and Dom though. Branch is still serviceable but to me he is more insurance than a heavy (literally) part of the game plan at this point.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think its still bold though. Multiple sacks in a game for an interior lineman who only had 1 sack last year (albeit was not healthy) is a pretty big step forward.

Seal definitely interests me. Makes me wonder how much playing time Brown will get if Seal is playing well.

I agree on Easy E...until I read this and validated what I saw vs CAR. His burst was off the charts.

Easley is a carryover from last season. He was the team's first-round pick of the 2014 draft. Although first-round picks are often not heavily involved as rookies, the Patriots knew that they were likely going to be waiting for at least one year before they could get the most out of Easley. That is because the former Florida defensive tackle was coming off the second torn ACL injury of his career. The Patriots were still willing to invest a first-round pick in Easley despite those injuries because of his special talent.

Easley isn't Vince Wilfork. He's a lighter defensive tackle who is more of a penetrating presence than a nose tackle. That is why he spent some time as a defensive end last season. With Rob Ninkovich, Chandler Jones, Jabaal Sheard, and Trey Flowers available to play outside, there is no reason to think Easley will be moved to the edge this year. That should allow him to prosper. His ability to disrupt the pocket from the interior will be hugely valuable because it's so difficult to find defensive tackles who can explode off the line of scrimmage the way he can.....

The Patriots were banking on that burst returning after his second ACL surgery, one on each leg. During his rookie season he dealt with swelling and pain that shortened his season, and when he was on the field there wasn't any real reason for optimism.

During the preseason this year, that all changed.

Easley might not be an every-down defensive tackle, but the Patriots won't need him to be this season. Both he and this year's first-round pick, Malcom Brown, are outstanding penetrators who will provide huge value on passing downs. Easley can also be effective against the run as he can easily penetrate against zone-blocking schemes with his burst off the snap, and he has the strength to manhandle blockers against power runs. He won't be eating up two gaps, but the Patriots should not need him to in their 4-3 front.

...........He is isolated against the center and uses his hands to violently knock him backwards as he explodes through him. Although Easley doesn't touch Cam Newton on the play, his penetration through the middle of the pocket disrupts the quarterback and opens a lane for Jamie Collins to run through. The backside of this play offers up an example of what the Patriots are expecting this year. Their defensive back is beaten on an out route by Ted Ginn. Ginn may be in position to reach forward for a first down, but Newton misses him because of the pressure he's working under in the pocket. When people talk about the pass rush making the coverage better, this is the type of play they are highlighting.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/film-room/2015/film-room-chandler-and-easley

Here is Seal stuff from last year.

DEFENSIVE LINE – It’s unbelievable that Sealver Siliga went undrafted in 2011 and was available for the Patriots to sign off the street last season. Siliga can be a dominating presence in the middle of the Patriots’ defense, strong enough to hold up against single and double teams and agile enough to make key stops. He finished Sunday with six tackles and a sack in just his second game back from a broken foot.

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2014/12/patriots-film-review-sealver-siliga-proves-2013-dominance-was-no-fluke/

 

[RobertWeathers]

Wow, the whole thing went completely over my head. My bad!

I wasn't obvious. Should put a smiley face in there or something...

I did read in a Kessler interview that he was going to be at the game.

 

[Joey007]

I agree on Easy E...until I read this and validated what I saw vs CAR. His burst was off the charts.



http://www.footballoutsiders.com/film-room/2015/film-room-chandler-and-easley

Here is Seal stuff from last year.


Read more at: http://nesn.com/2014/12/patriots-film-review-sealver-siliga-proves-2013-dominance-was-no-fluke/

Good article. And yeah I was really encouraged by what I saw vs. Carolina. We haven't had that kind of pass rush in the interior of the line since Seymour. It's probably been one of our biggest weaknesses over the last few years.

 

[borg]

That would be/will be great, but IIRC from past games, the first play will be Bolden up the center for a gain of one.

No way Brady hands off...no way. Stars must shine....and Brady must be set free.
Frankly, if the Pitt LBs aren't launching over the center on that first play knowing Brady/BB/ NE want a special moment to ignite the already frenzied crowd......the D coordinator should be fired
This may be the only play Pitt will know ...100% "pass"

 

[RobertWeathers]

Good article. And yeah I was really encouraged by what I saw vs. Carolina. We haven't had that kind of pass rush in the interior of the line since Seymour. It's probably been one of our biggest weaknesses over the last few years.

Some of us older guys might remember Garin Veris from the 1980s. He was an undersized DT/DE in their 3/4 but his burst was insane. Had two straight double-digit sack years early then the knee injuries started to take their toll.

Easy reminds me of him a little.

 

[Joey007]

Some of us older guys might remember Garin Veris from the 1980s. He was an undersized DT/DE in their 3/4 but his burst was insane. Had two straight double-digit sack years early then the knee injuries started to take their toll.

Easy reminds me of him a little.

That is a little before my time (90's onwards) but that does remind me of Easley, even in the injury history. Hopefully injuries won't take his career like Veris's did.

 

[RobertWeathers]

That is a little before my time (90's onwards) but that does remind me of Easley, even in the injury history. Hopefully injuries won't take his career like Veris's did.

Gawd....I'd love to forget 1989-1992. However remembering it makes me appreciate everything that has happened since 1996. Having your team relevant and with hope is the best thing.

Those years were truly hopeless. Just a dark place.

 

[patriot1136]

Dobson will have a breakout game, ha! but hey it could happen

 

[Joey007]

Gawd....I'd love to forget 1989-1992. However remembering it makes me appreciate everything that has happened since 1996. Having your team relevant and with hope is the best thing.

Those years were truly hopeless. Just a dark place.

1994 was really the original special year for me. I became a fan from being a big fan of Bledsoe coming out of college. I remember they were 3-6 at one point then rallied to make the playoffs. It was really something though considering how bad they were the last few years before that. Bledsoe threw a lot of picks that year, but man he slinged it.

 

[RobertWeathers]

1994 was really the original special year for me. I became a fan from being a big fan of Bledsoe coming out of college. I remember they were 3-6 at one point then rallied to make the playoffs. It was really something though considering how bad they were the last few years before that. Bledsoe threw a lot of picks that year, but man he slinged it.

Ugh...I meant 1993- not 1996.

Its all about hope for me. Even though in 1993 they finished 5-11, Tuna was there. They had Drew. The won 5 of their last 6 games or so. There was hope. That was my senior year of college. Gawd. Dating myself here.

Now if this team doesn't go to the AFCCG it is a disappointment. Incredible.

Hell, I remember saying to my buddy at the start of the 2001 season that I would have been happy with a 8-8 record as it would have shown progress. Talk about low standards at the time.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

1st NE offensive play: 2 TE set / Brady play action fake to Bolden / pump fake to Gronk on a curl / seam pass completion to Chandler...gain of 27.

Does he become the new LaFell, opening a drive by passing to Chandler??

 

[Joey007]

Ugh...I meant 1993- not 1996.

Its all about hope for me. Even though in 1993 they finished 5-11, Tuna was there. They had Drew. The won 5 of their last 6 games or so. There was hope. That was my senior year of college.

I thought you were saying that in regards to them reaching the SB that year. 96 was a very special year to me as well with Curtis Martin also being an absolute boss during his time here.

Oh, but I do remember the last game of 93 them knocking Miami out of the playoffs. That was sweet.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

I wasn't obvious. Should put a smiley face in there or something...

I did read in a Kessler interview that he was going to be at the game.

Honorary captain?????