Patriots Pregame Thread We are on to the JETE

[Ochmed Jones]

it would be beyond devastating if Brady poops his pants and we lose to the jets.

 

[Tunescribe]

it would be beyond devastating if Brady poops his pants and we lose to the jets.

Not happening.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Solution: use both Michel & White in the offensive backfield at the same time.

I DO like this idea, but White means no Devlin, and he's helpful to run behind for Michel.

I'm surprised Michel only has 7 catches on the year. I wasn't expecting him to take White's role, but I figured he'd catch 1 - 2 a game. My post draft expectation was 200 - 225 carries (thought he might hit 1000 yards -- 1200 if he played all 16 games -- and he's been on about that pace). Where I was way off? I thought he'd have about 20 - 30 catches for another 200 yards and a handful of TDs. If he'd been healthy, 1400 yards from scrimmage and 12 TDs was probably achievable. Next year he needs to take the next step. If he can match Burkhead in the passing game, he'll be a total weapon.

 

[JPPT1974]

Think that is why they wanted White. So that White can catch and Michel can only concentrate on running I guess.

 

[captain stone]

I DO like this idea, but White means no Devlin, and he's helpful to run behind for Michel...

How about a Power T formation with Brady under Center, Develin behind him, and both Michel & White behind Develin? Depending on whether the rest of the formation consists of 2 TEs, 2 WRs or 1 TE/1 WR, both the run and pass are viable options here. And let's face it, we're not running any 5-wide or even 4-wide formations any time soon; so we might as well try to have the best remaining personnel on the field as often as possible,

 

[gitgronked82]

How about a Power T formation with Brady under Center, Develin behind him, and both Michel & White behind Develin? Depending on whether the rest of the formation consists of 2 TEs, 2 WRs or 1 TE/1 WR, both the run and pass are viable options here. And let's face it, we're not running any 5-wide or even 4-wide formations any time soon; so we might as well try to have the best remaining personnel on the field as often as possible,

Well this isn’t exactly 2018 football

 

[luuked]

Been saying this for what feels like forever now.

Thats why getting Burkhead involved now is so important. And why this offseason will be huge for Michel in terms of strength and conditioning. He needs to become a reliable option in pass pro otherwise this trend will never change substantially and he will never truly hit his potential.

 

[luuked]

Think that is why they wanted White. So that White can catch and Michel can only concentrate on running I guess.

You really dont want that. Michel just is not trusted enough (yet?) to pick up blocking duties so remains on the shelf for the most part as a passing option.

As we have seen against Atlanta in the SB missing just one assignment can be devastating to the game (and your QBs health).

 

[luuked]

Well this isn’t exactly 2018 football

Whatever works. I mean how many teams are even still using a FB as much as we do in 2018?

 

[maineman209]

This has to change. Teams are going to know what's coming...

Sounds like it's bait-and-switch time.

 

[maineman209]

Well this isn’t exactly 2018 football

Which might be an advantage against some younger defenses. Recently, there was a comment from a rookie LB or DL about how he'd never played against an offense that used a fullback before playing the Pats. He felt that it changed all the keys that he was familiar with reading.

 

[maineman209]

Whatever works. I mean how many teams are even still using a FB as much as we do in 2018?

I haven't done any research to verify this yet, but I get the sense that many teams carry a "FB" on their rosters, but few of them use that player in the more traditional way that the Pats have used Develin. Most seem to use their "FB" solo in the backfield as a big RB, and/or receiving TE, rather than as a blocker for an RB on A-gap/B-gap runs.

It was interesting to me that, against the Bills, the Pats had Allen motion into the backfield and line up as a FB on several plays - sometimes with Develin present, sometimes without. That little feature, combined with McD's much more extensive use of Develin this year as a ball-carrier and receiver (lined up wide at times), leads to a lot of new wrinkles that opposing defenses in the playoffs will need to study and account for.

We've seen this all before, though.

 

[luuked]

It was interesting to me that, against the Bills, the Pats had Allen motion into the backfield and line up as a FB on several plays - sometimes with Develin present, sometimes without. That little feature, combined with McD's much more extensive use of Develin this year as a ball-carrier and receiver (lined up wide at times), leads to a lot of new wrinkles that opposing defenses in the playoffs will need to study and account for.

We've seen this all before, though.

Josh is a lot more creative with the backfield this year than he had been the last couple of years. I think the last time they pulled so many wrinkles was back with Hernandez on the roster in 2012. The one play where Edelman set up initially in the backfield and it made the Bills check to a coverage with a LB on him was absolutely magnificent.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

 

[Kontradiction]

 

[Uptown]

 

[maineman209]

White's total rushing attempts 2014-2017 = 113/431 yds
... 2018 = 90/395 yds

White's highest previous passing targets, 2016 = 86/551 yds, 5 TDs
... 2018 = 118/712 yds, 6 TDs

White's career total TDs, 2014-2017 = 14
... 2018 = 11

White's highest previous scrimmage touches ...
2016 = 99/717 yds, 5 TDs
2017 = 99/600 yds, 3 TDs
2018 = 173/1107 yds, 11 TDs

 

[gitgronked82]

Josh is a lot more creative with the backfield this year than he had been the last couple of years. I think the last time they pulled so many wrinkles was back with Hernandez on the roster in 2012. The one play where Edelman set up initially in the backfield and it made the Bills check to a coverage with a LB on him was absolutely magnificent.

Yeah he did that a couple times iirc

Maybe he’ll start handing it off to Jules some ha. Or run the option with him and Brady!

 

[maineman209]

Yeah he did that a couple times iirc

Maybe he’ll start handing it off to Jules some ha. Or run the option with him and Brady!

What I'm looking for is a sweep motion from left-to-right by Dorsett or Patterson while the Pats appear to set up a screen to White on the left. Then, Brady tosses one to a wide-open Dorsett/Patterson on a hitch-and-go to the right.

I actually like Dorsett better than Patterson for this since he's likely to get less attention.