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

[Ross12]

Can we get a shout-out for CB Charles Woods? Guy is a special teams corner that was brought in midseason and has been called into action as a top 2 outside corner multiple times mid-game when Gonzo or Davis get dinged up and he's really looked perfectly fine.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Can we get a shout-out for CB Charles Woods? Guy is a special teams corner that was brought in midseason and has been called into action as a top 2 outside corner multiple times mid-game when Gonzo or Davis get dinged up and he's really looked perfectly fine.

It seems like he overtook Alex Austin as the main backup.

 

[Triumph]

So they cut Johnson. Hm. Definitely signals the return of Jennings, since Johnson was active and used a lot on ST and also sprinkled in on offense a bit.

I thought Johnson did a solid job with what he was asked to do, and at least did not screw up, but was really just very average. Jennings might be able to give them a little more pop.

Pats need more in the run game vs Houston.

Ernie Johnson never really took off with NE.

Best way to counter the pass rush is to run directly at the pass rushers. Get that defense back on their heels to where they cant tee off on Maye or else the RB is past them. Plus, the NE OL is delivering the pain and not retreating into a defensive stance. I believe that we will see a concerted effort to establish the run.

 

[PatsFan2]

So they cut Johnson. Hm. Definitely signals the return of Jennings, since Johnson was active and used a lot on ST and also sprinkled in on offense a bit.

I thought Johnson did a solid job with what he was asked to do, and at least did not screw up, but was really just very average. Jennings might be able to give them a little more pop.

Big for nothing Alex Austin doesn't move the needle for me. He's a instant completion for opposing QB's.

 

[Rob0729]

I asked Google Gemini (I know, I know, AI) and it advised that while roughly 22% of players don't miss a game, players who suffer the concussion on a Monday night game miss time far more often - only 10-15% of players play the following week. It also advised that the median recovery time for a concussion is 9 days.

Yeah, on a normal week where you play both games on a Sunday, you aren't cleared to play until Saturday many times. Lose a day and then it makes it near impossible.

Besides, this is the second concussion for Collins this season (he missed a game in October while on the concussion protocol) and he had to be carted off. I cannot see an independent doctor clearing him this week. In fact, even if the Texans go to the Super Bowl, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't play another game until next season. Having two significant concussions so close to each other is dangerous.

 

[Ross12]

Yeah, on a normal week where you play both games on a Sunday, you aren't cleared to play until Saturday many times. Lose a day and then it makes it near impossible.

Besides, this is the second concussion for Collins this season (he missed a game in October while on the concussion protocol) and he had to be carted off. I cannot see an independent doctor clearing him this week. In fact, even if the Texans go to the Super Bowl, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't play another game until next season. Having two significant concussions so close to each other is dangerous.

If both games were at home with no travel involved, I could see there being a slim window of possibility. But considering the Texans had to spend Tuesday morning flying home from Pittsburgh, and then have to spend Saturday night flying to Foxboro, they only really have Wednesday, Thursday, Friday as true full practice days. Hard to see a guy clearing the full concussion protocol in that window.

Conversely, Gonzo does not have to travel at all either game so he has a lot more flexibility, plus an additional day.

 

[Triumph]

 

[Ring 6]

Big for nothing Alex Austin doesn't move the needle for me. He's an instant completion for opposing QB's.

I actually think this is very good news. Austin played well in prior treads and this year he got benched because of penalties but most of them were dubious calls. I feel much better with him out there than Charles Woods. Austin has had games for us where he played very well.

 

[Ring 6]

Yeah, on a normal week where you play both games on a Sunday, you aren't cleared to play until Saturday many times. Lose a day and then it makes it near impossible.

Besides, this is the second concussion for Collins this season (he missed a game in October while on the concussion protocol) and he had to be carted off. I cannot see an independent doctor clearing him this week. In fact, even if the Texans go to the Super Bowl, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't play another game until next season. Having two significant concussions so close to each other is dangerous.

And it looked like a brutal concussion. I had a couple in my playing days and they really just made me forgetful. Forgetting the snap count, lining up in last years defense, forgetting what team we were playing, but I was fine by the next day.
I can’t imagine if I couldn’t walk straight that I would be fine the next day.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I actually think this is very good news. Austin played well in prior treads and this year he got benched because of penalties but most of them were dubious calls. I feel much better with him out there than Charles Woods. Austin has had games for us where he played very well.

I thought he was a good one the last couple of years. I still have hope that this coaching staff and can get the best out of him. But it does seem like they've favored Woods.

 

[Ring 6]

Can we get a shout-out for CB Charles Woods? Guy is a special teams corner that was brought in midseason and has been called into action as a top 2 outside corner multiple times mid-game when Gonzo or Davis get dinged up and he's really looked perfectly fine.

The most action he’s gotten was against Buffalo and he didn’t look perfectly fine in that one.
Last week the pass rush made his job easy when he was in there.
He makes me nervous though. He is really a special teamer who is pressed into corner duty because we have no one else.

 

[Ring 6]

I thought he was a good one the last couple of years. I still have hope that this coaching staff and can get the best out of him. But it does seem like they've favored Woods.

I was a little surprised they benched him over the penalties, because they were some bad calls, so they may be down on him. It’s a good sign if they are activating him, we are paper thin in corner depth.

 

[Ross12]

I was a little surprised they benched him over the penalties, because they were some bad calls, so they may be down on him. It’s a good sign if they are activating him, we are paper thin in corner depth.

I also thought they were bad calls. Whether you are high or low on Woods, they still need another guy. Austin would be good to have there.

 

[Lagaffe_07]

 

[patchick]

If, as now seems likely, Collins is out and Gonzalez is in, it’s hard to see favoring Houston. The teams may be evenly matched when the Patriots are on offense, but going the other way…Collins had far more targets than any other receiver on EITHER team this season.

 

[DaBruinz]

So they cut Johnson. Hm. Definitely signals the return of Jennings, since Johnson was active and used a lot on ST and also sprinkled in on offense a bit.

I thought Johnson did a solid job with what he was asked to do, and at least did not screw up, but was really just very average. Jennings might be able to give them a little more pop.

I hadn't heard that Jennings practice window had been opened. It's more likely that they are brining Alex Austin back since they either have to activate him or IR him for the rest of the year.

 

[Triumph]

I find it interesting that both Texans rookie WRs are from Iowa St.

Higgins and Noel both saw action vs Pitt.

 

[Brady to Maye]

I think Maye tried to do to much and got lose with the football. The Texans got a great defense so the Maye has to pick his spots. I expect they will take care of the ball better and put up more points if the don't turn it over. I am hoping for a big game by May and Diggs.

 

[DaBruinz]

Big for nothing Alex Austin doesn't move the needle for me. He's a instant completion for opposing QB's.

Austin hasn't been good this year, but he's not "automatic". His previous body of work shows that he CAN do better. Whether he sees snaps at Special Teams only or also gets snaps on defense remains to be seen.

 

[DaBruinz]

I thought he was a good one the last couple of years. I still have hope that this coaching staff and can get the best out of him. But it does seem like they've favored Woods.

Austin hasn't played well this year in coverage. It's why he was benched from defensive snaps after week 4. Week 5-12 he saw ONLY Special Teams snaps.