Patriots Pregame Thread Pre-Game - Divisional Round Texans at Patriots

[SlowGettingUp]

Great thread:

 

[UrbanCowboy]

It's amazing what a great pass rush will do for a mediocre CB like Jackson.

Carlton Davis had that in Tampa and he looked fantastic.

The problem with Davis now is that we take forever to get to the QB. A guy like Jackson might be worse.

The one thing that scares me about Davis is his health.

Davis reminds me of Brandon Browner who was a CB on the team that won the seattle super bowl. he was super handsy and aggressive, a bit on the decline, but generally got the job done. Davis seems the same, just got to live with a couple penalties each game but overall solid.

 

[dannydyn]

We need to run our offense. Our offense is based upon the ball and decision making behind in Drake Mayes hands, and running just enough to keep defenses from selling out against the pass.
Maye isn’t throwing deep every play, but his strong decision making leads to us often throwing 20 yard seam patterns on 1st or 2nd and 5-10 rather than dunking and dunking and playing to convert 3rd down and 4.
Long sustained drives as a game plan is a loser mentality and loser result. Long sustained drives occur organically, not by strategizing that you want to run an offense that can’t get chunk plays and need to convert 7 3rd downs to score. They occur when you are ahead and the defense can’t stop your running game. We will not run the ball consistently well against this defense to have any hope of that being a good game plan.
Once we open up the defense with down the field throws, we can have success in the running game. But success in the running game isn’t a ticket to playing for 3rd and short, it’s a ticket to rip big plays in the passing game.
We need to be who we are and take advantage of our strengths, not play scared. And yes Maye should run whenever he has the chance, he is a weapon.

I could summarize everything you wrote in one sentence: the run game sets up the play-action-pass.

 

[DaBruinz]

Any idea on Mack Hollins..tape him up....all hands on deck!

Hollins isn't available to start practicing yet.. The Houston Game is Game 4 of the mandatory time on IR.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Great thread:

Another Twitter guy making a statement without any explanation.

 

[NFLmac]

Don't forget former Patriots TE coach, Nick Caley, is their OC. Caley grew up as a coach under McDaniels. I wonder how that will factor into the game. How much can Caley give to the Texans about McDaniels and how much does McDaniels know about Caley that he can give to Vrabel?

Just learned Josh McDaniels brother, Ben,
is a wr coach for the Texans. Does anyone know how long he’s been there??

 

[ViperGTS]

Just learned Josh McDaniels brother, Ben,
is a wr coach for the Texans. Does anyone know how long he’s been there??

Probably some, but McDs offense is much changed since Caley was here. And the QB running it has changed. I doubt there is a ton that can be carried over.

Edit quoted the wrong post but he has been with Houston since 2022.

 

[uknepatsfan]

Let’s pump the brakes on the idea that the Texans get sacks on every pass attempt. They averaged less than 3 sacks per game this year. The 2022 Patriots had more.
Yes they have good pass rush. Yes AT TIMES they will get to the QB. This year they did 47 times out of 585.
We can’t scrap our entire offense and change what we do because one time out of 13 they sack the qb.
There will be plenty of opportunities to throw the ball when we have them blocked. We really just need to accept that sacks happen. And this is the best offense i have ever seen at coming back from a sack and converting a first down.

This.

Most every post I read seems to be people crapping their pants like every play is going to be a sack, no one ever scores points or moves the ball on this Texans D and there is no point turning up as this defense will sweep all aside and conquer.

Yes they are a helluva good defense, but they lost 5 times and one of them to a team the Pats beat.

Look at what Ashton Jeanty did to them last month, if you don’t think they could ever possibly give up a big play.

 

[DaBruinz]

The key is not turning the ball over like we did on Sunday. I don’t think we can get away with those blunders for a second week in a row. Josh has to scheme it up to help the left side of the line or it’s going to be a long day. They can’t do it themselves.

Marrone needs to get Will Campbell's head out of his arse on Pass Protection. Campbell needs to be standing these guys up and not walking back into Maye. Either meet the bull rush head on with power or drive them really wide so they take themselves out of the play.

 

[mgteich]

Do we HAVE 5 WRs?

???
We had 5 WR's active on Sunday. We also have Henry, Hooper, Stevenson and Henderson.

Our issue is NOT lack of receiving targets.

We have 3 issues that will determine the game.
1) the play of the left side of the OL
2) Josh's ability to scheme against the top Defense in the NFL
3) Maye's ability to execute, especially late in the game

 

[Triumph]

Martz was fired 4 years after his last SB. BB was fired 5 years after his last SB.
For you to imply Martz was fired because of that Sb is either stupid, disingenuous or both.

McDaniels really was fired too. And the lack of an effective passing game ( predicated by the weak production he got by playing a poor wr as his #2) had a lot to do with it. That is a fact.

If anyone is Liar it's you.

Stupid too.

 

[Ring 6]

If anyone is Liar it's you.

Stupid too.

Wow great comeback.

 

[Ring 6]

???
We had 5 WR's active on Sunday. We also have Henry, Hooper, Stevenson and Henderson.

Our issue is NOT lack of receiving targets.

We have 3 issues that will determine the game.
1) the play of the left side of the OL
2) Josh's ability to scheme against the top Defense in the NFL
3) Maye's ability to execute, especially late in the game

So we don’t have to play defense or special teams?

 

[DC Patriots]

Sort of off topic with all the focus on the Texans defense, but I think folks lose sight of the fact that the Patriot’s defense is different when Milton Williams, Gonzo and Spillane are all healthy and on the field. If Gonzo can play, given how the Texans offense is, unless they give up points to the Texans defense or special teams, I think 20 points probably gets it done.

And I think Josh and Maye get us to 20

 

[Real fan 02]

That's what he gets: he should have demanded a Trade to the Patriots. He had enough evidence with Maye last year.

He thought he was coming here to face a Rebuild.. now he's on a team that will be looking in the draft for a QB..

 

[Real fan 02]

Sort of off topic with all the focus on the Texans defense, but I think folks lose sight of the fact that the Patriot’s defense is different when Milton Williams, Gonzo and Spillane are all healthy and on the field. If Gonzo can play, given how the Texans offense is, unless they give up points to the Texans defense or special teams, I think 20 points probably gets it done.

And I think Josh and Maye get us to 20

You make compelling points.. my concerns are if gonzo can't go.. CJ will attack that part of the field all game.. remember how it looked the first few games when Gonzo was out? I noticed when gonzo left the game Marcus moved to the outside.. Higgins and Collins are 6'5 beast at WR.. 20 points absolutely is attainable.. but I'm sensing a defensive as struggle all game..

 

[DaBruinz]

You can exploit their zone.

Rodgers had those plays last night.

My biggest concern is not whether Drake can exploit those zones, I think he can.

My concern is our WRs. I'd be a lot more confident with Mac Hollins in this game.

Boutte, Diggs, Henry and Hooper have to come up big.

Let's try a crosser with Kyle Williams.

Crossers/ Slants to Williams would be good. Or even lining Henderson up like that.. that's how to get the mismatches.

I'd also like to see them bring back the short out route.. This was one of Edelman's signature plays.. On short yardage, he'd run to the sticks, cut and run an out and the ball was put only where he could get it.. Great for 1st Downs and TDs..

 

[Real fan 02]

Don't get me wrong that isn't a suck bag defense. They are very, very good but I trust McD and others to figure it out.

Josh will absolutely devise a plan.. I'm thinking staying in the quick passing game, hurry up offense.. not allowing Houstons front to get set/sub in and out is a great formula..

 

[Real fan 02]

We can't have fumbles or pick 6s on the boundaries. Things that can be returned for TDs. I think we need to live with the possbility of interceptions happening 25 yards downfield.

I will not be upset if that happens.

Their DBs need to be challenged here.

If it's throws to the sidelines or boundaries sure absolutely go for it.. but we must understand that Texans secondary are ball Hawks led by Stingley Jr. Williams will be a huge factor on the outside if we can get that going..

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

Already a successful season with a playoff win and a 14-3 record. Don’t let the Brady dynasty fool you into believing this wasn’t a good season for the team and franchise.

With that said, I want more. You really don’t know when you’ll be back. This is the year to get to the Super Bowl and become champions.