Espn 'scout' on mnf game

[SVN]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=13357

Welcome to The Show! On Wednesday, Gary Horton of Scouts, Inc. will stop in to talk about the NFL season and other news from around the league.




BJ (New York): Gary, who do you like monday night in the thunderdome, the vikes and their stout D and run game, or the pats with their stout D and run game??

SportsNation Gary Horton: (4:28 PM ET ) I like Minnesota, because I think they're starting to open up their offense after being too conservative early in the season. I think that the Patriots passing game is so conservative and so predictable that Minnesota can sit back in a Cover 2 and keep everything in front of them. It's hard to go against Bill Belichick in a big game, but I think Minnesota's defense probably is the difference in the game.

FWIW

 

[Patriotic]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=13357

Welcome to The Show! On Wednesday, Gary Horton of Scouts, Inc. will stop in to talk about the NFL season and other news from around the league.




BJ (New York): Gary, who do you like monday night in the thunderdome, the vikes and their stout D and run game, or the pats with their stout D and run game??

SportsNation Gary Horton: (4:28 PM ET ) I like Minnesota, because I think they're starting to open up their offense after being too conservative early in the season. I think that the Patriots passing game is so conservative and so predictable that Minnesota can sit back in a Cover 2 and keep everything in front of them. It's hard to go against Bill Belichick in a big game, but I think Minnesota's defense probably is the difference in the game.

FWIW

Gary Horton's street name is GaHo . . . should we be listening to this guy? Especially if GaHo is being interviewed by BJ.

 

[desi-patsfan]

even if its predictable, you still need to stop it. I dont see the vikes doing that.

 

[HAMMERMILL]

even if its predictable, you still need to stop it. I dont see the vikes doing that.

Total agreement-
The pats are usually predictible,they just execute better than their opponent

 

[BrianPat]

Total agreement-
The pats are usually predictible,they just execute better than their opponent

That's it right there !!!!

 

[VJCPatriot]

More bulletin board material for the Pats. Clearly dissing the Pats D here. So the Vikes D is top 5 but the Pats D isn't even mentioned in the same breath huh? You reading this Rodney? They don't think the Pats D deserves mention amongst the top 5 units!

 

[NE39]

Horton has spoken highly of Belichick in the past. In fact, he was a scout in Cleveland while Belichick was coaching there, although I don't know if he was hired or Belichick inherited him. I know his bio claims he was a college scout at Arizona State and Illinois from 1975-1985, and worked in the NFL for Tampa Bay and Cleveland from 1986 - 1995 (of course, he may not be much of a scout considering all those teams sucked when he worked there). He started The Warroom in 1996, which later became the Scouts, Inc. featured on ESPN.

At any rate, I wouldn't read too much into it other than he probably doesn't think as much of the Pats talent as we do.

 

[SackMeIfYouCan]

Horton has spoken highly of Belichick in the past. In fact, he was a scout in Cleveland while Belichick was coaching there, although I don't know if he was hired or Belichick inherited him. I know his bio claims he was a college scout at Arizona State and Illinois from 1975-1985, and worked in the NFL for Tampa Bay and Cleveland from 1986 - 1995 (of course, he may not be much of a scout considering all those teams sucked when he worked there). He started The Warroom in 1996, which later became the Scouts, Inc. featured on ESPN.

At any rate, I wouldn't read too much into it other than he probably doesn't think as much of the Pats talent as we do.

I dont care who says what.

It seems as if I am the only one in the nation (besides you New Englanders) that think the Pats are for real.
They are a great football team and I stand by my prediction that they will win it all.

Now, the Vikes...I will be at the dome screaming my lungs off until they dont work.
But that is because the Vikes are going to need all the help that they can get.
Seriously.

Sackman

 

[Richter]

So wrong, and misinformed, as most professional analysts are because all they do is listen to scouts and team sources instead of watching film and scouting players themselves. I expect a solid, convincing win by the Patriots this week, not as a homer pick, but because I believe they are both a better team than the Vikings, and because they match up extremely well with them. The defense should shut down the Vikings' running game consistently, and the defense of the Vikings' is susceptible down the field, especially Fred Smoot. The Patriots have started to show that they are willing to go down the field with their new receivers more often and have met with success. Considering all the factors, it's likely the Patriots will take an early lead that will allow them to render Minnesota's offense one-dimensional, and with the lack of quality and depth in the Vikings' receiving corps, the defense should turn the ball over a few times, the ultimate result being domination of the time of possession and 35+ carries for the backs with the offense going ball-control oriented in the second half. Patriots 27, Vikings 13.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Do you really mean that or is it a karma pick and you actually hoping/thinking the Vikes will beat us by 20 or so?

I dont care who says what.

It seems as if I am the only one in the nation (besides you New Englanders) that think the Pats are for real.
They are a great football team and I stand by my prediction that they will win it all.

Now, the Vikes...I will be at the dome screaming my lungs off until they dont work.
But that is because the Vikes are going to need all the help that they can get.
Seriously.

Sackman

 

[tailgater]

Getting the early lead would be huge, particularly since Minnesota has scored first in each of their games. If the Pats could come close to duplicating the first drive from last week (shades of the 2004 offense), that would send a strong message to the Vikings (and Horton).

The Pats might struggle to run the ball, but can the Viking defense defend against Brady? As long as the WR's continue the improvement they showed last week, I don't think they're good enough.

 

[SackMeIfYouCan]

Do you really mean that or is it a karma pick and you actually hoping/thinking the Vikes will beat us by 20 or so?

Karma pick?
I don't get it.
Meaning I wrote that so you guys like me and give me good Karma?
No.
I will be here all week, and then I wont be back until the Vikes play the Pats again...or the Pats make it to the SB...so I dont care much about the Karma.

I am hoping that the Vikes win, absolutely.
By 20?
Even better.

But, I am a realist.
I might be biased, but I try my hardest not to be.

Patriots should win.
(now give me my karma!)

 

[CheerforTom]

Karma pick?
I don't get it.
Meaning I wrote that so you guys like me and give me good Karma?
No.
I will be here all week, and then I wont be back until the Vikes play the Pats again...or the Pats make it to the SB...so I dont care much about the Karma.

I am hoping that the Vikes win, absolutely.
By 20?
Even better.

But, I am a realist.
I might be biased, but I try my hardest not to be.

Patriots should win.
(now give me my karma!)

Better be careful, man. You're on course to actually make a good name for another team's fan base. We're so used to the trolls around here that most of us have forgotten there's another kind!

Good to have you in any case.

 

[captain stone]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=13357

Welcome to The Show! On Wednesday, Gary Horton of Scouts, Inc. will stop in to talk about the NFL season and other news from around the league.




BJ (New York): Gary, who do you like monday night in the thunderdome, the vikes and their stout D and run game, or the pats with their stout D and run game??

SportsNation Gary Horton: (4:28 PM ET ) I like Minnesota, because I think they're starting to open up their offense after being too conservative early in the season. I think that the Patriots passing game is so conservative and so predictable that Minnesota can sit back in a Cover 2 and keep everything in front of them. It's hard to go against Bill Belichick in a big game, but I think Minnesota's defense probably is the difference in the game.

FWIW

Not an unreasonable forecast.

In order for the Pats to win, they must, on offense:
1) Run the football: for 1st downs; to create 2nd/3rd and short; for TDs; to kill the clock; to break the opponent's spirit. If Graham's a No-Go, then Heath Evans must be used as a FB more often. Dillon and Maroney run better behind him. Over the last 2 games, Dillon/Maroney/Faulk/Evans have 53 carries for 155 yards, a 2.9 yard average. That ave. must increase by at least 1 yard/carry on Monday. P.S.: Maroney returns to his old stomping grounds, so he should be super-psyched for the game.
2) Complete some deep passes: to force the safeties to play farther away from the LOS, which in turn will allow the RBs more room to run; to give TB and his WRs some confidence; to plant seeds of doubt in the mind of the Vikings' DC. Over the last 2 games, Reche Caldwell has 6 catches for 27 yards, a 4.5 yard ave. For a supposed #2 WR - for now - those figures are Unacceptable. Spin it any way you wish, but that simply will not get it done.

On defense, the Pats must:
1) Prevent Chester Taylor and Mewelde Moore from gaining the edge. With their speed, they could run past the LBs and deep into the secondary.
2) Force Brad Johnson to throw before he wants to do so. He may be old and slow, but unlike Bledsoe, he can buy some time. It would therefore behoove the defense to apply some consistent, up-the-middle pressure similar to that applied vs. the Bungles.

And finally, the Pats must win the battle of STs: superior KO and Punt coverage; adequate gains on KOs and Punts; make all FGs and PATs; and...No Turnovers. Give the fans no reason to become the 12th man.

 

[captain stone]

Here's a couple of points re: the offense I wanted to add, but forgot to do so , last night/this morning.

I would like to see tried some power sweeps (to the outside, obviously) by Maroney, with Evans in front. The ball can come to him via either pitchout or a "Stretch"-type of handoff (if Pay-a-Ton can do it, so can Our Tom). Let's take better advantage of Kool-Aid's speed. Running him up the middle doesn't do that.

Please, for the love of God, when there is a 3rd down and 3 yards, or less, to go: No Empty Backfield Formation. Words cannot describe, without being censored, my complete disdain for this lineup. Half of the playbook is needlessly thrown away, and the defense has only one thought: Kill the QB. Not worth it, given the down/distance.

 

[Kontradiction]

It seems like we always get dissed before the big games and then get our asses kissed after them. This isn't anything new.