Patriots Pregame Thread 2023 Week 2 OFFICIAL Pre-Game Thread: Patriots vs Dolphins (EDIT: was Phish chatter)

[Patsfan1958]

 

[SlowGettingUp]

It's worth noting that both Brown and Sow are listed as "Questionable" - that technically means they have a reasonable chance of playing, otherwise they should have been listed as "Doubtful" or even "Out." I have to believe it's really unlikely they play, but does mean that they should be cleared for the following game.

 

[slash83]

He practiced yesterday. He was limited though. But according to Mike Giardi, it was just a rest day for him.

That’s great news!

 

[Uptown]

 

[patfanken]

a couple of comments as we head into the weekend:

1. The major focus of concern is obviously the OL. I am somewhat encouraged by the fact that both Brown and Sow are listed as Questionable and not doubtful. I fully expect to see Strange Andrews and Owenu and Anderson out there this week. Who the 5th guy will be is between your lips and god's ear.

2. You cannot help but be concerned about the health of Jon Jones. Hopefully today's DNP is more on the line of a vet day off, or some kind of maintenance day. I doubt we will know until after they warm up on Sunday night.. But here's the thing. This defense is NOT going to be all about JJones vs Hill. If the Pats are in any kind of man coverage it will only be at MOST 25% of the time and even then with some form of help over the top.

I'm expecting that the primary defense will be a few forms of match up zones that will look like 5 under 2 deep with occasional 5 man rushes. So there will be NO chance of repeating the Chargers defensive strategy like some have suggested with Bryant playing the role of JCJackson.

While Bryant is a quick twitch guy, the Pats actually have 2 better candidates for match up on Hill than him. Gonzales adds length as well as that 4.3 speed and rare quickness and Marcus Jones is no slow-poke either and Hill would be one of those rare WR's where his size is not a disadvantage.

3 Now I've suggested before that another way to combat the Dolphins explosiveness is to take a riff off the old idea we had back in 2001 and beat them up on the LOS. Well the rules are obviously different, but you still have those 5-7 yds where you CAN lay hands on him. Now the way the Dolphins protect Hill from that is through motion. They make effective use of speed motion too. Not only does it tell Tua what kind of coverage, but it is hard for the defender to follow and get outside position while chasing him.

Here's a thought. We are a rare team that has exceptional secondary speed not only at CB, but at S too. Back in the day, (and I mean REALLY back in the day) I had 2 kids of the same athletic ability playing CB for me. So instead of going WITH a motion man, I would rotate and play a man under 2 deep coverage. We have the talent to do the same thing. So instead of chasing after Hill in motion let him run INTO coverage.

Say he lines up wide to JJones side and motions across the formation. Jones lets him go and picks up the widest receiver to his side. Gonzales picks him up up on the other side of the formation. LB's and S's slide coverage on the rest. Let him sprint the 20 odd yds parallel to the LOS while his coverage waits for him with a jam.

This is just ONE idea that the Pats could ave waiting for the Phins; Now I don't know WHAT the coverages will be. But what I DO know is that none of the will be static. It will change early and often.

4. On the negative side (as it pertains to our OL situation) I will be VERY surprised to see the Dolphins repeat the Eagle strategy of playing a conservative defensive front. The will attack the Pats much more than the Eagles did, and I hope they are ready for it. One way to combat this is to play up tempo. Not all the time, but mix it up to keep the Phins off balance.

 

[Uptown]

 

[WinstonSmith]

It's probably not a good thing that this is relatively good news.

 

[jdlboot14]

So relieved about Andrews & Boutte. Sounds like Jones is going to be fine too.
I feel pretty good about seeing Onwenu and Parker on Sunday.

 

[long distance]

I am somewhat encouraged by the fact that both Brown and Sow are listed as Questionable and not doubtful.

i doubt Bill uses doubtful much if at all

 

[Patsfan1958]

 

[Love The Drake]

Tyreek Hill has request for Dolphins fans involving Mac Jones

Star wide receiver Tyreek Hill wants Dolphins fans to let their voices be heard this Sunday night at Gillette Stadium.

www.nbcsportsboston.com

Bulletin board.

Asked Dolphins fans to boo Mac Jones and call him sorry.

 

[Patsfan1958]

I have a feeling there's going to be a 4 way tie for first place in the AFC East after this weekend. Every team at 1-1.

 

[UrbanCowboy]

a couple of comments as we head into the weekend:

1. The major focus of concern is obviously the OL. I am somewhat encouraged by the fact that both Brown and Sow are listed as Questionable and not doubtful. I fully expect to see Strange Andrews and Owenu and Anderson out there this week. Who the 5th guy will be is between your lips and god's ear.

2. You cannot help but be concerned about the health of Jon Jones. Hopefully today's DNP is more on the line of a vet day off, or some kind of maintenance day. I doubt we will know until after they warm up on Sunday night.. But here's the thing. This defense is NOT going to be all about JJones vs Hill. If the Pats are in any kind of man coverage it will only be at MOST 25% of the time and even then with some form of help over the top.

I'm expecting that the primary defense will be a few forms of match up zones that will look like 5 under 2 deep with occasional 5 man rushes. So there will be NO chance of repeating the Chargers defensive strategy like some have suggested with Bryant playing the role of JCJackson.

While Bryant is a quick twitch guy, the Pats actually have 2 better candidates for match up on Hill than him. Gonzales adds length as well as that 4.3 speed and rare quickness and Marcus Jones is no slow-poke either and Hill would be one of those rare WR's where his size is not a disadvantage.

3 Now I've suggested before that another way to combat the Dolphins explosiveness is to take a riff off the old idea we had back in 2001 and beat them up on the LOS. Well the rules are obviously different, but you still have those 5-7 yds where you CAN lay hands on him. Now the way the Dolphins protect Hill from that is through motion. They make effective use of speed motion too. Not only does it tell Tua what kind of coverage, but it is hard for the defender to follow and get outside position while chasing him.

Here's a thought. We are a rare team that has exceptional secondary speed not only at CB, but at S too. Back in the day, (and I mean REALLY back in the day) I had 2 kids of the same athletic ability playing CB for me. So instead of going WITH a motion man, I would rotate and play a man under 2 deep coverage. We have the talent to do the same thing. So instead of chasing after Hill in motion let him run INTO coverage.

Say he lines up wide to JJones side and motions across the formation. Jones lets him go and picks up the widest receiver to his side. Gonzales picks him up up on the other side of the formation. LB's and S's slide coverage on the rest. Let him sprint the 20 odd yds parallel to the LOS while his coverage waits for him with a jam.

This is just ONE idea that the Pats could ave waiting for the Phins; Now I don't know WHAT the coverages will be. But what I DO know is that none of the will be static. It will change early and often.

4. On the negative side (as it pertains to our OL situation) I will be VERY surprised to see the Dolphins repeat the Eagle strategy of playing a conservative defensive front. The will attack the Pats much more than the Eagles did, and I hope they are ready for it. One way to combat this is to play up tempo. Not all the time, but mix it up to keep the Phins off balance.

Were you surprised at how much uptempo we played against the Eagles? I would have figured with three new starters (mafi, sow, anderson) that it would be difficult to pull that off. Seemed like it worked really well. How hard is it to go up tempo with new lineman?

 

[1960Pats]

We’ll need Onwenu and Strange back.

The offensive line is a walking mash unit, hell most of our other WR’s are hurt… but we’re obsessed on the one healthy one.

The OL looked okay vs Philly but the WRs did not. There were too many drops on catchable balls.

I've gradually become more optimistic about the Pats this year. They still have a ways to go but if Jones can elevate his game a little they could make some noise.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Were you surprised at how much uptempo we played against the Eagles? I would have figured with three new starters (mafi, sow, anderson) that it would be difficult to pull that off. Seemed like it worked really well. How hard is it to go up tempo with new lineman?

I kept wondering why we were running on first down when we weren't getting anything. And then it became clear we were doing it to bring on their heavy personnel and then we'd hurry up and do a pass play on second down without allowing them to sub.

 

[1960Pats]

Not the Squish game. But in checking my own faulty, aged memory I found this great write-up of the game:
Squish the Fish: 1985 Patriots run one of the greatest in NFL history

I mark this game as the point where the Patriots again became a real football team. I say "again" because the OGs will know that the Pats were contenders in the Holovak years and then re-emerged from football hell in the Fairbanks what-could-have-been period. But it was the incredible road playoff run culminating in the Squish the Fish game that ranks as the most exciting stretch of football for me.

That was a great write up. Thanks.

I actually have all three of those playoff games on VHS and my son gave me a converter for Christmas. Maybe I'll do something and see if I can find out which game or games had a TD scored by the kickoff team. There may have been more than one.

On a side note, it still bugs me that Cant Newton managed to tie Grogan's QB rushing TD record in the one year that he lined up at the position for the Pats.

 

[Wozzy]

The OL looked okay vs Philly but the WRs did not. There were too many drops on catchable balls.

I've gradually become more optimistic about the Pats this year. They still have a ways to go but if Jones can elevate his game a little they could make some noise.

They lost two more starting linemen since the Eagles game.

If they don’t get anyone back healthy for the Dolphins and David Andrews is too injured they could be missing 5 starters to injury.

 

[1960Pats]

They lost two more starting linemen since the Eagles game.

If they don’t get anyone back healthy for the Dolphins and David Andrews is too injured they could be missing 5 starters to injury.

I think everyone's okay to play this week.

 

[amfootball]

I think everyone's okay to play this week.

I doubt the Olinemen with concussions play ... guess we'll see.

 

[PScottman]

I doubt the Olinemen with concussions play ... guess we'll see.

Particularly against the poster child for how poorly the concussion protocol is administered (Tua) league wide - the "independent" doctor will skew more cautious and hold them both out.