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Jacksonville at New England http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/columns/story?columnist=horton_gary&id=3190744
• NT Vince Wilfork is a huge key
Wilfork is a big key to the Patriots stopping the Jags' running game. Although he is a two-gap, read-and-react guy in their 3-4 defense, he can also be an excellent inside penetrator and he gets a lot of attention when he attacks the 'A' gaps. Rarely can he be single blocked by a center and usually a center and a guard have to double-team him. In fact, sometimes all three interior guys will block him.
With ILBs Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau getting up in age it is important that they don't have to get involved in a lot of physical contact. They are much more effective when they step up and fill or slide to the ball without having to take on and shed blocks. Because they are so instinctive, they make a lot of reaction plays, but a lot of it starts with Wilfork. The inside blitz package for the Pats can also be very effective if Wilfork is occupying two or three blockers. This will be a huge factor for the Pats' defense against the Jaguars' inside power running game.
• If they get open, QB Tom Brady will find them
The Jaguars' pass defense could be in big trouble this weekend versus the Pats' spread offense. New England will utilize a lot of three-wide receiver, one-tight end, one-back sets, but the Pats can also spread it out with an empty backfield and no-huddle schemes. Because of that the Jaguars will be hard-pressed to bring a safety into the box, which opens up the run game and Brady is uncanny on film at reading the safety and calling the play accordingly.
Brady looks to WR Randy Moss first and if he sees single coverage he will go deep to him. If the safety drifts to the perimeter to help over the top on Moss, Brady will look to Wes Welker and work the open zones out of the slot, where he likely gets single coverage by a nickel back in a matchup that Brady loves. If the Jags roll their coverage to Moss' side, Brady will look to his backside receivers or Kevin Faulk out of the backfield. These guys don't drop passes and they know that if they get open Brady will find them.
• NT Vince Wilfork is a huge key
Wilfork is a big key to the Patriots stopping the Jags' running game. Although he is a two-gap, read-and-react guy in their 3-4 defense, he can also be an excellent inside penetrator and he gets a lot of attention when he attacks the 'A' gaps. Rarely can he be single blocked by a center and usually a center and a guard have to double-team him. In fact, sometimes all three interior guys will block him.
With ILBs Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau getting up in age it is important that they don't have to get involved in a lot of physical contact. They are much more effective when they step up and fill or slide to the ball without having to take on and shed blocks. Because they are so instinctive, they make a lot of reaction plays, but a lot of it starts with Wilfork. The inside blitz package for the Pats can also be very effective if Wilfork is occupying two or three blockers. This will be a huge factor for the Pats' defense against the Jaguars' inside power running game.
• If they get open, QB Tom Brady will find them
The Jaguars' pass defense could be in big trouble this weekend versus the Pats' spread offense. New England will utilize a lot of three-wide receiver, one-tight end, one-back sets, but the Pats can also spread it out with an empty backfield and no-huddle schemes. Because of that the Jaguars will be hard-pressed to bring a safety into the box, which opens up the run game and Brady is uncanny on film at reading the safety and calling the play accordingly.
Brady looks to WR Randy Moss first and if he sees single coverage he will go deep to him. If the safety drifts to the perimeter to help over the top on Moss, Brady will look to Wes Welker and work the open zones out of the slot, where he likely gets single coverage by a nickel back in a matchup that Brady loves. If the Jags roll their coverage to Moss' side, Brady will look to his backside receivers or Kevin Faulk out of the backfield. These guys don't drop passes and they know that if they get open Brady will find them.
