Patriots Pregame Thread Week 2 discussion: Super Bowl XLIX Finalists visit Foxboro

[PP2]

(3) top notch receivers this week. Gonzo can't cover them all. Game will depend on how the other CBs do and if the DL can apply pressure for a second straight week.

If I know Mayo (in thinking that he will take from the BB playbook), he will just focus on taking out the first two. Put Gonzo on one, bracket the other, and let the third try to carry the offense.

 

[Real fan 02]

Lockett is 32 in a few weeks, so he is not elite anymore. Metcalf is a beast. Smith-Njigba is a quick guy. Gonzo on Metcalf, M Jones on Smith, and J Jones or Wilson or anyone on Lockett. Or double team Metcalf and Gonzo on Smith. Good receivers but not uncoverable.

Agreed. All you have to do is take away the offensive biggest threat and that forces them to play left handed. We have 3 excellent starting CBs.

 

[Lagaffe_07]

Agreed. All you have to do is take away the offensive biggest threat and that forces them to play left handed. We have 3 excellent starting CBs.

Forcing Burrow to throw to Iosivas is making the Bengals play left handed.

All 3 SEA receiver would be number 1 on our team right now. Lockett was there best receiver last week. I just think SEA wouldn’t consider having to throw to Lockett or JSN playing left handed. Though I think their receivers size match well with our corner.

 

[Huckleberry1]

The offense AVP wants to operate is predicated on punishing them with the run until they overcommit to stopping it, then punishing them with a deep shot over the top off of a bootleg or play action. So they really need Thornton to be successful or else their offensive potency will be capped. Hopefully it happens. In the meantime, Polk was also getting extremely open all day.

Love Polk, I think he’s going to end up being a Hines Ward type player for them.

The ask on Thornton really isn’t that big, his role is similar to what was asked of Will Fuller for years, run really fast downfield, and make enough plays to get the defense to back off. That’s it. He doesn’t have to put up huge number of catches, just a few plays a game that cause DC’s to recognize that he can’t run unabated to the end zone. I agree completely on what Van Pelt wants to do, but the receivers have to do their job, and the QB needs to play well enough to back the defense off.

 

[Real fan 02]

Forcing Burrow to throw to Iosivas is making the Bengals play left handed.

All 3 SEA receiver would be number 1 on our team right now. Lockett was there best receiver last week. I just think SEA wouldn’t consider having to throw to Lockett or JSN playing left handed. Though I think their receivers size match well with our corner.

DK is still thier most explosive playmaker as he can take a 60 yard bomb to the house. I believe it first start with taking away the run. Forcing gino Smith to hold on to the ball, and having Hawkins spy him as he's a mobile QB. Lockett has been a phenomenal WR. I think Jon should be on him matching speed with speed.

 

[TomPatriot]

Yes I remember I think that was his rookie season no?

Yes, I think so. Didn’t fight for the ball enough. Good player now though.

 

[PatsFan2]

Love Polk, I think he’s going to end up being a Hines Ward type player for them.

The ask on Thornton really isn’t that big, his role is similar to what was asked of Will Fuller for years, run really fast downfield, and make enough plays to get the defense to back off. That’s it. He doesn’t have to put up huge number of catches, just a few plays a game that cause DC’s to recognize that he can’t run unabated to the end zone. I agree completely on what Van Pelt wants to do, but the receivers have to do their job, and the QB needs to play well enough to back the defense off.

I think Thornton might be more than a deep threat I have watched him and his release is really good. Most times he beat his guy off the line and the QB don't see him. AVP needs to take advantage of that because with his speed Thornton can take it to the house.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

I’ll say it again. Their offensive potency is capped by Brissett. 26 yds on 5 play action passes. Receiver were open but Brissett was afraid of throwing into NFL windows because he doesn’t have the accuracy downfield.

Path to victory for any team against us is force Brissett to throw and you are in a pretty good shape.

As others have posted, the key for this offense is to be able to take advantage of teams who stack the line to stop the run. If Brissett can't throw over the top, we are back to where we were last year. At least Brissett does not seem prone to panicking and handing the ball to the other team.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

This will be a tough matchup. Per bedard the only pressure rate from week 1 higher than cincy on brissett was Seattle on bo nix. They can run the ball and held denver’s rbs to 64 yards on 20 carries. top likely wont be tilted in our favor again so our depth will be tested. When the schedules came out i thought this was the easiest game of the first 4 but thinking its going to be the 2nd hardest one after sf. Hopefully the boys are amped for the home opener and up to the challenge!

 

[Steve102]

There will never be another Tom. Even Kermit has many things to go right before he’s in any conversation to the GOAT.

Someone will. Maybe not in our lifetimes though.

 

[Real fan 02]

This will be a tough matchup. Per bedard the only pressure rate from week 1 higher than cincy on brissett was Seattle on bo nix. They can run the ball and held denver’s rbs to 64 yards on 20 carries. top likely wont be tilted in our favor again so our depth will be tested. When the schedules came out i thought this was the easiest game of the first 4 but thinking its going to be the 2nd hardest one after sf. Hopefully the boys are amped for the home opener and up to the challenge!

I always start with the QB and then the skill positions. Gino Smith is still geno Smith. Stuff the running game, man up on the WRs and force him to beat you. Burrow is a top 5 QB we pressured him into mistakes. I have high confidence we can do the same to Smith. I still Believe DK is the biggest threat. I like gonzo to really lock him up. J. Jones on Lockett and Marcus on Smith-njigba. You want teams stacking the box the TEs can do work behind the LBs . This would be a nice game for screens and taking some deep shots with Tyquan and baker.

 

[Triumph]

Lockett is 32 in a few weeks, so he is not elite anymore. Metcalf is a beast. Smith-Njigba is a quick guy. Gonzo on Metcalf, M Jones on Smith, and J Jones or Wilson or anyone on Lockett. Or double team Metcalf and Gonzo on Smith. Good receivers but not uncoverable.

Lockett had a 86% catch rate last Sunday.

He is definitely elite and likely Geno Smiths 1st read.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Lockett had a 86% catch rate last Sunday.

He is definitely elite and likely Geno Smiths 1st read.

If the "elite" wide receivers we face every game are like Lockett, the Pats defense is going to be very good.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I always start with the QB and then the skill positions. Gino Smith is still geno Smith. Stuff the running game, man up on the WRs and force him to beat you. Burrow is a top 5 QB we pressured him into mistakes. I have high confidence we can do the same to Smith. I still Believe DK is the biggest threat. I like gonzo to really lock him up. J. Jones on Lockett and Marcus on Smith-njigba. You want teams stacking the box the TEs can do work behind the LBs . This would be a nice game for screens and taking some deep shots with Tyquan and baker.

That would be my plan as well, Force geno to beat you. Offensively though it could be a long day unless lowe improves a bit. Maybe hes closer to 100% now? Im interested to see how the right side will look. Is the plan to start layden again and onwenu at rt? I think that combination has alot of potential but layden is a bit of a risk right now. i kinda feel like they might stick with that plan as long as jacoby aka crash test dummy is in

 

[Triumph]

Last week, the Pats controlled the ball and the clock.

NE had an 8 minute TOP advantage and Cinci only had 8 drives to NEs 10 drives. I thought that the game went by fast. The 1st half flew by. Burrow to Chase never got going and perhaps Higgins MIA really fouled the Bengals all up? The Bengals were shut out until a 1:10 remained in the 3rd quarter.

I sure hope that the Pats can put together a better passing game this weekend. I suspect that NE wont have the luxury of playing with the lead all game.

 

[Triumph]

If the "elite" wide receivers we face every game are like Lockett, the Pats defense is going to be very good.

Lockett has been huge assisting Geno resurect his career.

He is short and quick and knows where to be when the pass rush is there.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Lockett has been huge assisting Geno resurect his career.

He is short and quick and knows where to be when the pass rush is there.

Yes, I agree that Lockett is quick and helps Geno as a safety valve. Wins with good athleticism and short area releases. But, we have J Jones and M Jones who are both good at covering that type of receiver.

If we were depending on Myles Bryant, I would be concerned about Lockett having a monster game.

 

[Vindicate]

They need a QB that can throw a deep ball. Brissett threw two deep balls to Thornton that were way off. Without a QB that can throw a deep ball the offense will never be complete. Thornton is not the issue.

Polk drew the 3rd or 4th CB of the Bengals. It was good that Polk got open, but we need to see how Polk performs against a top CB.

Will Polk be in situations where he's covered by a top CB? Do we think defenses will start covering him like that?

 

[Vindicate]

Lockett has been huge assisting Geno resurect his career.

He is short and quick and knows where to be when the pass rush is there.

Lockett is such a consistently good WR, wild how he never stops. A WR I would have loved to see in a Pats uni.

 

[Lagaffe_07]

As others have posted, the key for this offense is to be able to take advantage of teams who stack the line to stop the run. If Brissett can't throw over the top, we are back to where we were last year. At least Brissett does not seem prone to panicking and handing the ball to the other team.

He did throw a backfoot Mac Jones pass. He was lucky that Henry is a good CB.