Patriots Pregame Thread Pats-Ratbirds thread

[Triumph]

You could tell the game plan offensively was to run the ball they did that masterfully in the first half.. it seemed as if it was a shock to them that Buffalo was able to come back.. defense had no answers..

The Pats ran the ball better than the Bills.

191 yards - 4 TDs @ 10 ypc.

 

[Triumph]

But Barmore is there so they should be ok right? ...

He still could be injured.

 

[Real fan 02]

He still could be injured.

Has he been injured all season?

 

[Triumph]

Patiots went away from what was working offensively.. they have been beating man coverage all season.. McDermotts defense has been meh all season.. he didn't suddenly come up with a brilliant plan defensively the second half.. Josh Allen was the difference. If The defense holds Allen to at least two FGs we win.

Agreed

Taking away the 2 best NE receivers isn't some brilliant strategy.

 

[Triumph]

Has he been injured all season?

Maybe in some form.

 

[Real fan 02]

Maybe in some form.

As @UGAPatsfan perfectly said.. their is no threat from anyone else for a OC to have to worry about.. if Barmore is occupying multiple blockers shouldn't that allow for other guys to make plays?

 

[mgteich]

For me, if we re-sign or replace all our free agents (some hopefully with upgrades), we will have a top 5 Defense again next year, a top 5 Defense when healthy. We need to add a playmaker at LB as our highest off-season priority. We also need better backups at CB and S. I disagree with many that don't believe that we have a top Defense.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES
We are already a top 5 Defense when Williams and Spillane are healthy. The DT's are among the best. Sure, we can upgrade Gregory with a veteran and have an even better 6-man DT. Durden and Farmer are good backups.

Did any RB even have 50 yards when they were both Williams and Spillane were healthy?
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SECONDARY
Vrabel seems to believe that no one gets injured. The safeties and top CB's play 100% of the reps. Jones plays 100% of the reps at nickel. We're a top secondary when they are healthy. We NEED to have better backups than Woods, Battle and Pettus.
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LINEBACKER
Yes, we NEED to add a playmaker, presumably adding pass-rusher ro two. Of course, an upgrade to Ellis/Gibbens would be great.

 

[Real fan 02]

For me, if we re-sign or replace all our free agents (some hopefully with upgrades), we will have a top 5 Defense again next year, a top 5 Defense when healthy. We need to add a playmaker at LB as our highest off-season priority. We also need better backups at CB and S. I disagree with many that don't believe that we have a top Defense.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES
We are already a top 5 Defense when Williams and Spillane are healthy. The DT's are among the best. Sure, we can upgrade Gregory with a veteran and have an even better 6-man DT. Durden and Farmer are good backups.

Did any RB even have 50 yards when they were both Williams and Spillane were healthy?
==============================
SECONDARY
Vrabel seems to believe that no one gets injured. The safeties and top CB's play 100% of the reps. Jones plays 100% of the reps at nickel. We're a top secondary when they are healthy. We NEED to have better backups than Woods, Battle and Pettus.
===========
LINEBACKER
Yes, we NEED to add a playmaker, presumably adding pass-rusher ro two. Of course, an upgrade to Ellis/Gibbens would be great.

The numbers don't lie. That's the metric the NFL has been using stats since 1932..next gen stats began in 2014.

I say that..to say this. It's the metric that tells how a team performs in all phases.

Some posters chose to ignore a stats.

The defense is top 5 against the run with a healthy Williams and Spillane. Without them we see they bare towards the bottom of the league against the run.

Interceptions.. or the lack there of for a defense affects all 3 phases of the ball if your all pro CB and your starting 20 million dollar CB has 0 it's a huge contributor to why we are bottom of the league in the red area.

I just believe they don't have the depth particularly on defense.. for example the depth on offense seems to better than the depth on D.. when Boutte went out the offense still rolled.. for example all the grief I gave Lowe he's held up fine in the absence of Campbell..

Ideally your format you mentioned works perfectly.. we love to upgrade at every position on the defense.

I firmly believe we need edge rushers.. and a interior rusher next to Williams and Barmore..

 

[jdlboot14]

This makes it a sorta fair fight. We're both missing our important play-calling ILB. I hope Tavai and Gibbens can rebound and play with discipline and anticipation. Oh, and their shoulders better be bloody tackling Henry all night. I don't know about Elliss, he is like a mystery box. Some games he is everywhere making plays, others he is like a spinning top. We need a good one.

 

[Uptown]

 

[jdlboot14]

They haven't learned the lesson all season with TE's. We're going to get hurt by these 2 because we don't have the Safety experience or coverage ability. Maybe they should give Saunders a shot soon. He's a big physical presence and his college/preseason tape is pretty good.

 

[Uptown]

60 minutes. All 3 phases.

 

[TommyD4207]

As @UGAPatsfan perfectly said.. their is no threat from anyone else for a OC to have to worry about.. if Barmore is occupying multiple blockers shouldn't that allow for other guys to make plays?

Yes - and if the "other guys" are basically practice squadders...

 

[TommyD4207]

They haven't learned the lesson all season with TE's. We're going to get hurt by these 2 because we don't have the Safety experience or coverage ability. Maybe they should give Saunders a shot soon. He's a big physical presence and his college/preseason tape is pretty good.

They don't have the horses to learn the lesson.

That's the difference. Jack Gibbens and Jaylen Hawkins are /trying/ out there. But they are who they are,.

 

[TommyD4207]

But Barmore is there so they should be ok right? ...

Christian Elliss is out there - surely his multiple blown coverages and missed tackles will be timed perfectly, and prove him worthy of his future all-pro status.

 

[Real fan 02]

Christian Elliss is out there - surely his multiple blown coverages and missed tackles will be timed perfectly, and prove him worthy of his future all-pro status.

Hahaha... I knew that would get your attention Tommy...

 

[Real fan 02]

Yes - and if the "other guys" are basically practice squadders...

Looking for bounce back performances from the DL.. these guys have pride ND have been as a unit pretty stout all a season.. gonna be on them to hold up in the run game as Spillane is out..

 

[Real fan 02]

They don't have the horses to learn the lesson.

That's the difference. Jack Gibbens and Jaylen Hawkins are /trying/ out there. But they are who they are,.

Another guy I thought had the abilities and speed to challenge TEs. Was Marty.. he's been relegated as spot player now it seems?

 

[TommyD4207]

Looking for bounce back performances from the DL.. these guys have pride ND have been as a unit pretty stout all a season.. gonna be on them to hold up in the run game as Spillane is out..

Our special teamers play more snaps than anyone else in the league.
Hopefully next year, they'll be back to just playing on special teams.

 

[TommyD4207]

Another guy I thought had the abilities and speed to challenge TEs. Was Marty.. he's been relegated as spot player now it seems?

I thought he really was turning the corner, he had like 3 or 4 good games in a row, and then completely **** the bed against Buffalo. If he can't even spy Josh Allen, there's no point in him being here.