How Can the Pats Stop the Ravens?

cmasspatsfan said:

Merlonis an idiot, if they play them again the results will be different.

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You might have a poll. I believe that if we played BALT today in BALT we would be at least 60% to lose, 70% isn't a far reach.

Of course, we aren't playing BALT this week. Our coaching staff has several weeks to prepare (as does theirs). Our offensive players will be experienced in playing with each other (and for the rookies, in the NFL). Much will depend on health. But, yes, we are likely to improve more than BALT, and we should have a good chance to win.

PatsDeb said:

It's funny how these things play out year after year. I was out grocery shopping last night so I listened to EEI for a a few minutes. Whomever was subbing for Mutt at Night was waxing poetic about how, "the Pats are 10-1, but they are nowhere near as good as their record." and the old tried and true, "they have benefited year after year from being in the worst division in football," and "having the 2nd easiest schedule." He even said the NFC East is way better than the AFC East (meanwhile, haven't we beat every team from the NFC East already this year?). "Buffalo is a fraud." "The Pats aren't the favorites to win the Superbowl any more." On and on. Ha. I'd say the stars are still lining up for the line this year to be, "Here comes the new boss, same as the old boss."

Pats down and out. A new darling at the top of the NFL heap. Brady pissed. We'll see, NFL. We'll see...

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Someone should tell them the AFC East is 9-4 vs the NFC East this year

QB12 said:

Their center is out for the year.

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I knew he was hurt when I posted it but didn't know he was IRed....

robertweathers said:

Yea hes a handful. Hes so freaking quick which is why i'm not buying into the Kap and Cunningham comparisons.

Hes a lot more like Michael Vick when he was with ATL and with him there was another school of thought.

The other strategy is to keep him in the pocket with 3-4 rushers controlling the LoS (not charging upfield) and let the LBs/secondary play zone close to the LoS. Dare him to throw it vs either man or zone. The gap controllers spread wide with the ends setting an edge and the off the line players are waiting. It'll force LJ to read the gap, commit and then a combination of players are waiting.

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This is good for defending the pass but they are a run first team. What do the Pats do to perform better a second time around? The defenders had no push on run plays in the first game and first contact seemed like after 4 or 5 yards.

I agree that we should force Jackson to throw. We need to shut down the running game.

I don't know how many it will take to keep Jackson in the pocket. If we put a spy on him, it would have be someone whims very fast, and very quick.

robertweathers said:

Yea hes a handful. Hes so freaking quick which is why i'm not buying into the Kap and Cunningham comparisons.

Hes a lot more like Michael Vick when he was with ATL and with him there was another school of thought.

The other strategy is to keep him in the pocket with 3-4 rushers controlling the LoS (not charging upfield) and let the LBs/secondary play zone close to the LoS. Dare him to throw it vs either man or zone. The gap controllers spread wide with the ends setting an edge and the off the line players are waiting. It'll force LJ to read the gap, commit and then a combination of players are waiting.

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juny said:

This is good for defending the pass but they are a run first team. What do the Pats do to perform better a second time around? The defenders had no push on run plays in the first game and first contact seemed like after 4 or 5 yards.

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Not sure you followed my point.

I have zero issue with LJ handing off to Ingram and facing a 4-3 or 3-4 vs a set edge w/ Chung roaming round. Ingram does not scare me. I want the ball out of LJs hands quickly and often. Let him hand it off to Ingram or throw it to WRs and TEs. Minimize the improvisation

The key to this strategy is we MUST score points.

robertweathers said:

Not sure you followed my point.

I have zero issue with LJ handing off to Ingram and facing a 4-3 or 3-4 vs a set edge w/ Chung roaming round. Ingram does not scare me. I want the ball out of LJs hands quickly and often. Let him hand it off to Ingram or throw it to WRs and TEs. Minimize the improvisation

The key to this strategy is we MUST score points.

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They still have to make huge adjustments to account for Ingram. He torched them in Baltimore with 7.7 yards/carry.

Agree Pats have to score points. they will have to play ball control offense and limit the number of possessions (similar to some games vs peyton's offenses)

robertweathers said:

I do think we'll do enough offensively and defensively to at least keep BAL from running away.

The SF front 4 scare me but I think defensively we'll handle them.

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I think SF is by far the worst matchup for the Patriots. I don’t like how the Patriots match up on either side. I mean, we can handle them in terms of holding them to under 30 points, but the 49ers aren’t reliant on WRs to win matchups which makes them different from the other NFC contenders. Even worse matchup with our offense against that defense, with a really dominant interior pass rush.

juny said:

They still have to make huge adjustments to account for Ingram. He torched them in Baltimore with 7.7 yards/carry.

Agree Pats have to score points. they will have to play ball control offense and limit the number of possessions (similar to some games vs peyton's offenses)

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They did.

1st 1/2- 8 carries 97yds
2nd 1/2 7 carries 18yds

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

I think SF is by far the worst matchup for the Patriots. I don’t like how the Patriots match up on either side. I mean, we can handle them in terms of holding them to under 30 points, but the 49ers aren’t reliant on WRs to win matchups which makes them different from the other NFC contenders. Even worse matchup with our offense against that defense, with a really dominant interior pass rush.

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We need to run the ball vs SF (which is possible) which to your point is not a great matchup.

Very similar to the 2018 Rams. Killer pass rush but can be run on a little.

mgteich said:

I agree that we should force Jackson to throw. We need to shut down the running game.

I don't know how many it will take to keep Jackson in the pocket. If we put a spy on him, it would have be someone whims very fast, and very quick.

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In my opinion a spy won't work... Too much traffic... It comes down to they have so much beef with their single wr set... It will be interesting how San Fran plays this and can they slow it down... My feeling unless Jackson is less mobile you will have to counter with a one corner set and mccourty and ching with the rest dline and lb's

Got to counter strength with strength... Need more penetration versus giving up 4 yards each run

robertweathers said:

Not sure you followed my point.

I have zero issue with LJ handing off to Ingram and facing a 4-3 or 3-4 vs a set edge w/ Chung roaming round. Ingram does not scare me. I want the ball out of LJs hands quickly and often. Let him hand it off to Ingram or throw it to WRs and TEs. Minimize the improvisation

The key to this strategy is we MUST score points.

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Pats will get gouged again against Baltimore if they go 3-4

Luckily we are deep at linebacker

Need more big bodies ... Less dbs

Who’s hungry?

DaBruinz said:

If you've watched Jackson, you'd know that he doesn't have any "set responses". It's different every time. Sometimes it's to run. Others its a sidearm pass. He has a veritable cornucopia of tricks to pull from..

The best bet is to play a 2 gap set, have the ends set to keep him inside. Spy with either DMac or JMac, and shut down his receivers with Jackson, Gilmore, and Jones.

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Of course, he is the most dynamic player in football. My point is that it is worth looking into how he responds to different blitz packages. While the ends are standing up the tackles ready for contain they can anticipate an inside or outside leverage based upon Jackson's first step tendencies when he sees a mike will Sam or safety blitz.

BaconGrundleCandy said:

Thank you & it is interesting.

Again think of Big Ben, Manning, Cam, other "big" guys breaking down. Manning was outstanding at avoiding hits but his body couldn't take the wear n tear of the game. We've seen it w Ben for years. Cam.

Rivers is another bigger QB who's arm clearly hasn't been the same for a minute now.

At the very least it seems "bigger isn't better" & "running/mobile QB" doesn't = guaranteed injury/certain death that some make it seem.

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All those guys have broken down due to age, not playstyle, except for Cam who takes hits because of running.

DaBruinz said:

If you've watched Jackson, you'd know that he doesn't have any "set responses". It's different every time. Sometimes it's to run. Others its a sidearm pass. He has a veritable cornucopia of tricks to pull from..

The best bet is to play a 2 gap set, have the ends set to keep him inside. Spy with either DMac or JMac, and shut down his receivers with Jackson, Gilmore, and Jones.

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I would not use DMac for that. We need someone to choke off the vertical routes for Sneed and Hollywood. JMac would be better suited if we’re going to go the spy route. You’ll have to remind me the last time Bill decided to spy a QB all game, though.

What do you think that we tried to do last time?

I believe that any successful strategy against the ravens start with a spy on Jackson.

supafly said:

I’m gonna go with gap responsibility and setting the edge against the option attack, probably from a big nickel defense. I don’t know what else they’d do?

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Bradybranch said:

All those guys have broken down due to age, not playstyle, except for Cam who takes hits because of running.

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Ben has taken way too many hits.

It's certainly has something to do w playing style, no doubt.

I'm just speaking to the fact that people Will look at a bigger QB & think/expect he has a better chance at holding up bc of body-type.

Those guys wear down, get hurt etc just as much.

MrBigglesWorth said:

Pats will get gouged again against Baltimore if they go 3-4

Luckily we are deep at linebacker

Need more big bodies ... Less dbs

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This I wholeheartedly agree with-- Jackson damned near REFUSES to throw outside the numbers. Every pass is directly over the middle.

The only problem is, none of our LBs have the speed to keep up with him. If I were trying to tailor a defense against this guy, I'd use 2 CBs to stick the WRs, one FS (McCourty) for back up, bring a SS up towards the line as an extra LB to QB Spy (either Chung or Harmon, but I believe Harmon is faster) and a nose tackle. Everyone else is a Linebacker playing zone or blitzing. Every. Single. Down.

Hit Jackson when you can, and hit him hard, I don't even care if some of those hits are a bit late. Punish him for running. Make him think twice about it, THEN you force him into mistakes. The guy's first instinct is to run, he doesn't want to pass the ball. You have to force him to hesitate, and those split seconds will give the pass rush an opportunity to either get to him or force a bad throw. With McCourty camping the middle, he can't go to his favorite spot in the passing game.

I think Hightower is too slow to be a DE, so I'd play him as the MLB, let him bullrush the A or B gaps. Collins is great on the edge (although not as fast as Jackson) and so is Van Noy and Winovich. As long as Jmac and Gilly are locking up their guy, their passing game is toast.