Bill Barnwell with a great, in-depth analysis of Pats vs. Falcons

[BigPeteG]

I think it all comes down to Brady. Really.

If Brady has a good game we can score 40+ points on these guys.

Sometimes though - he just doesn't have it. if that happens I don't think we can win. You know the games where he starts out slow. Gets frustrated. heaves the ball down the field to try to get a quick score. it's the rare 'bad brady'.

Our defense might be better then normal - but the falcons can still score 20+ on pretty much anyone. i just dont think any defense can stop them..

 

[TommyD4207]

Good thing for them there's this thing called "halftime". Which at the Superbowl is over twice as long as it usually is.

You can't shoot 'em up twice in the same day.

 

[primetime]

The point about how Beasley's huge sack numbers are mostly a mirage because they came in bursts against bad rookie QBs is valuable. I recall the Patriots bullying the hell out of Jared Goff too. 15.5 sacks is a lot but like 2/3 of them came in 3 games against Paxton Lynch, Jared Goff, and Carson Wentz. Shows why sacks aren't a valuable measurement, really. If the Falcons need to blitz to pressure Brady, he's going to pick then apart in short order, and Dion Lewis and Blount should have a field day running out of the no huddle.

 

[TomPatriot]

It was certainly unconventional to blitz Rodgers. To do that, you play man. That turns the DBs backs to Rodgers. The theory is he will run wild. That is basically what happened in the 2nd half of week 8. He ran a lot in the 2nd half once we made our adjustment to aggressive man coverage, but all his running only led to 8 points because we sacked him a few times to kill drives.

Atlanta is pretty simple since week 8. They attack like they don't care what happens on both sides of the ball until they get a two score lead. At that point they drop into the traditional Seattle 3 deep and bleed stats while the clock runs. One of the great myths in the NFL is that "Atlanta's prominent defense is a 3 deep zone in the model of the Seattle Seahawks." I don't know why announcers say that or why most fans repeat it. Since week 8, we save that scheme for when we feel really comfortable. We attack a bunch and hope we make as many big plays as we give up. When you start 7 1st and 2nd year guys make it simple. Put them in man and let them use their talent. Right now, they just don't play zone consistently well enough to sit in that coverage in tight games. They miss too many assignments. Quinn is trying to get there, but they are too raw atm.

This change happened about the time Trufant went to IR and we had to use two young CBs.

I disagree in part. Falcons usually use Beasley as the Leo. They play that same 4-3 base with 3-4 tweaks as the Hawks did. They disguise more than they admit. Their coverages are disguised as Cover 3 and then morphed into man and vice versa, just like Seattle. You are right about when they play man and cover 3, in general though. That's an astute observation.

Fwiw, I am a definite Quinn fan. Excellent coach and a class act. No surprise Falcons are in the SB.

 

[lusdawg]

You can't shoot 'em up twice in the same day.

No, but I think what they inject with makes a difference ... Lidocaine lasts 1-2 hours, but marcaine lasts 6-8.

 

[jimnance]

I've been polite since I got here, but if you speak about the Falcons and use the word "finesse" you lose credibility with both me and knowledgeable Patriots fans.

Keanu Neal

My credibility is fine. One or 2 players does not constitute a "physical" team.

In order to be " not finesse" you MUST be strong vs the run especially between the tackles. We both know falcs are soft as butter at that. Very weak run d. Small undersized d with speed. Bad tackling team. Your d is the epitome of finesse. One hardhitter doesn't make it physical.Patriots are extremely physical on every level of their d. They have numerous guys who bring wood and are #1 on yac.one of top rushing D's. On O, ALL the Pats wrs are good-great blockers except rookie Mitchell. They have a very tough fb. Tough blocking te who can also punish with recs. Very good ol. 250lb Blount. Don't even attempt to compare the finesse falcons with the Patriots- there's no comparison.