Do You Expect Rowe to be Picked On?

[FourierSeries]

Do you think Atlanta had success against Seattle as that is basically the Defense they play? That is, they see it every day in practice and know how to exploit it?

Maybe, but it probably had more to do with the lack of ET and Sherman's injury.

 

[Adam Seward]

If you believe Mike Lombardi knows his stuff, he says the idea is to use pieces in the secondary like matching up a basketball team. PG on PG, SF on SF, C on C, etc.

No sense in putting Rowe on Gabriel and getting him torched because he is the perceived "number 3", foolishly matching weakness to their strength.

I expect to see Rowe matched to a big guy at the line, be it Julio, TE or otherwise. With Julio I'd expect safety help throughout, to avoid a Plex over Hobbs 2.0 scenario over a little guy or to avoid Rowe getting dusted like a rug.

We did enough against AJ Green and Demarious Thomas. I think if we scheme to take Jones away with Rowe, we will.

 

[mosi]

I think you can be a lot more physical in the SB as the refs are loath to call penalties. Go back and watch the 2014 SB and watch Matthews make all the catches out of no-where. He did it by pushing off repeatedly. Arrington was too small to fight. Rowe, who is like Browner, may be able to play rough and get away with it.

 

[SomePatsFan13]

No. He's played very well. He didn't get "burned," either. He was right there with each receiver, and got his hand in to affect the catch.

Let's be honest, he got burned twice. Those rookies catch those passes we may be talking about the draft instead of the Super Bowl.

Rowe has been streaky. The guy can flat out ball sometimes and then other times, he gets lost. It happens with young players that are trying to find their niche. I've always said that guy would be much better placed as a Free Safety than a Corner, because he has good ball instincts, but sometimes he gets beat off the line. It's a stark contrast to guys like Butler who can jam a fast WR at the line and still have the speed to catch up if the WR breaks past the jam.

I say Rowe does get burned at least once in this game. I hope I am wrong but it has been a psuedo pattern with him this year.

 

[patfanken]

Interesting take from Chatham on how NOT to defend the Falcons



Sounds like we gotta bully 'em right off the line. Hammer them. Discipline.

Fortunately, we're pretty good at the whole, you know, discipline thing.

Some comments on the comments:

1. Matt Chatham's clip should be a sticky and read by every member of the board.

2. Rowe is what he is and he had a very productive year for us because the Pats knew exactly what his weak points were.

3. As to the OP, I think he's a perfect match for Saunu. He's go the size not to be bullied by Mohammed, and he is a match in speed. I can see Ryan on Jones with Safety help and Butler on Gabriel matching speed with speed.

4. But that's just basic stuff. A key for the Pats is NOT give Ryan anything consistantly. In other words be exactly the opposite of the Falcons. They Falcons have had a great season becaue they "do what they do". The Pats have had a great season because they don't ever "do what they do"

5. I think Chatham gave ys an important insight that I think we'll see a lot of, and that the emphasis of the Pats to chip the RB's every time. That will of course slow down the outside pass rush and frustrate a lot of the game day posters, but if you recall it's what the Pats did so beautifully back in 2001.

6. Ryan relies on his RB's as his comfort throws, just like Brady does to some extent. In order to make Ryan uncomfortable taking away that part of his game will make the entire process harder for him. It also makes it critical to get some inside pressure in Ryan's face.

7. One way to pressure Ryan and confuse him will be to do some kind of 7 or 8 man look on the line where only 4 people rush, but it's a different 4 every time. We HAVE the people who are versatile enough to make it work. Again we don't want to let Ryan be comfortable in his reads when he gets to the LOS. Seattle (as we saw in the clip) never changed what they did and Ryan ate it up.

8. Those are just random thoughts. I have no idea exactly what they ultimately will do, but it will be something that stops the run with 7 people, and drops 7 or 8 most of the time.

 

[PatsDeb]

Frankly, I expect all our corners to get picked on. Perhaps they stay away from Butler, but if he's on Jones, no way they don't try to test him. We just have to hope they are up to the challenge. If ever there was a bend, don't break game, this is it. Go Patriots!!

 

[MrTibbs]

Yes. Right now he is the weak link of the secondary. Not that he is horrible though.

Ryan is the weak link. I swear, wherever the opposing QB sees #26 that's where the ball is going.

 

[Wheelman]

I only remember Rowe getting burned on one play where he gave up the TD. What are the other plays you speak of where he got burned?

 

[jah]

Ryan is the weak link. I swear, wherever the opposing QB sees #26 that's where the ball is going.

I would say that's true for about 5-10 minutes of every game. Otherwise, he's the definition of solid.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Rowe's not exactly slow. He's very athletic. I hope he has a good game. Our secondary has to show it can finish. Hopefully they will.

 

[BobDigital]

Ryan is the weak link. I swear, wherever the opposing QB sees #26 that's where the ball is going.

Ryan has played well the 2nd half of the year and particularly well the last 4 games. He will not be the weak link this game if the past few games are any indication.

 

[ausbacker]

Let's be honest, he got burned twice. Those rookies catch those passes we may be talking about the draft instead of the Super Bowl.

Rowe has been streaky. The guy can flat out ball sometimes and then other times, he gets lost. It happens with young players that are trying to find their niche. I've always said that guy would be much better placed as a Free Safety than a Corner, because he has good ball instincts, but sometimes he gets beat off the line. It's a stark contrast to guys like Butler who can jam a fast WR at the line and still have the speed to catch up if the WR breaks past the jam.

I say Rowe does get burned at least once in this game. I hope I am wrong but it has been a psuedo pattern with him this year.

Even though I understand the word may, no, we wouldn't be.

 

[yopats]

Rowe's not exactly slow. He's very athletic. I hope he has a good game. Our secondary has to show it can finish. Hopefully they will.

Spot on.

 

[SomePatsFan13]

Ryan has played well the 2nd half of the year and particularly well the last 4 games. He will not be the weak link this game if the past few games are any indication.

Agreed. Ryan has absolutely come alive this year.

I think that LR has become a legit #2 corner this year after his horrendous year, last year. Butler and Ryan are becoming an elite 1,2 punch on defense. If they can remain consistent, I'm willing to put our secondary against any offense-- Malcolm is elite, McCourty is elite, Ryan has been very good, and Chung is borderline elite (he is elite at stopping the run especially). Then you plug slot guys like Harmon and Rowe into the mix, and I'm not worried about our secondary like I was in 2013 (**** Talib) and 2015.

 

[Froob]

We also have smaller and quicker CBs in Cyrus and Jonathan Jones available.

Just because he won't be returning kicks doesn't mean Cyrus won't be active and useful.

My god, could you imagine if Cyrus made the game winning play?

 

[PatsBoy12]

I believe that any corner not receiving help over the top will be targeted, including Butler.

 

[Bobsyouruncle]

In 2014 was it Ryan who was on that tall Seattle receiver? He kept getting burned so Browner got moved to him.

I don't know really, but the saying you can't coach height is true. We may need him simply because there's nobody else with his size.

 

[captain stone]

Question is as title says - do you expect the Falcons to pick on Rowe?

Yes; early and often.

 

[BobDigital]

In 2014 was it Ryan who was on that tall Seattle receiver? He kept getting burned so Browner got moved to him.

I don't know really, but the saying you can't coach height is true. We may need him simply because there's nobody else with his size.

That was Arrington. Ryan played maybe 1-2 snaps that game. Butler actually pasted him on the depth chart about half way through the year so he rarely saw the field. That is not an insult to Ryan though.

Arrington was at times a shut down slot CB, Browner was the big CB, Revis was still top 5 and Butler was an up and comer.

 

[Todd Bradley]

That was Arrington. Ryan played maybe 1-2 snaps that game. Butler actually pasted him on the depth chart about half way through the year so he rarely saw the field. That is not an insult to Ryan though.

Arrington was at times a shut down slot CB, Browner was the big CB, Revis was still top 5 and Butler was an up and comer.

Not true at all.

Ryan played a majority of the game. Arrington was sat mid-3rd Quarter after Seattle's opening drive in favor of Butler.

Ryan was the one who gave up the Touchdown to Matthews right before the half. He also gave up a key 3rd down catch to Lockett at the end of the game to keep Seattle's final drive alive.

It wasn't exactly Ryan's best game as a pro, but he did play.