For Colts game. Patriots D-formation against the run?

[zipster9]

3-4? 4-3? 2-5?

Who would be the players?

I don't think Alan Branch is ready to help on the run..

 

[oldrover]

Not worried about the run, as long as Vince is healthy and hungry...














"Indy O-line... mmm... tastes like chicken..."

 

[Oswlek]

Same as Denver. Play pass on every down and rely on the DT pairing to keep Indy from having too much room.

I don't think Alan Branch is ready to help on the run..

Why not? He was ready to help with 12 snaps two weeks ago, so you would think he could offer at least that much.

 

[oldrover]

Maybe that much, but from this piece, maybe not much more...

http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2014/11/alan_branch_still_focused_on_c.html

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Speaking of Branch..wonder how much we will see of him

 

[SVN]

Stopping the run is key. Good Rbs have been a problem for us especially those who catch passes too and bradshaw is a very good back.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Stopping the run is key. Good Rbs have been a problem for us especially those who catch passes too and bradshaw is a very good back.

In the last two years the Colts are a 4-7 team when rushing for < 100 yards.

There aren't any notable trends with Luck's passing yards and how they correlate to wins/losses...

You may have something...

 

[Oswlek]

Stopping the run is key. Good Rbs have been a problem for us especially those who catch passes too and bradshaw is a very good back.

Maybe. I know fans were mighty scared of Hillman, who was coming off four straight impressive showings, including going over 100 twice. I maybe misreading your comment, but I get the feeling your are saying "good RBs" in an effort to exclude NE's impressive showing against Denver.

Not that I think NE is especially good at stopping the run, but at this point I don't think we can say with certainty that NE's terrible showings against Mia, KC and NY have much predictive value. Even if they do, how they did against Denver does as well, and the Broncos are substantially better at running the ball than the Colts are.

And even then, Indy is not going to win this game running the ball, so I don't see any reason to say stopping the run is the key. I'd gladly allow 150 yards rushing if it means NE neuters Indy's passing attack.

 

[SVN]

Maybe. I know fans were mighty scared of Hillman, who was coming off four straight impressive showings, including going over 100 twice. I maybe misreading your comment, but I get the feeling your are saying "good RBs" in an effort to exclude NE's impressive showing against Denver.

Not that I think NE is especially good at stopping the run, but at this point I don't think we can say with certainty that NE's terrible showings against Mia, KC and NY have much predictive value. Even if they do, how they did against Denver does as well, and the Broncos are substantially better at running the ball than the Colts are.

And even then, Indy is not going to win this game running the ball, so I don't see any reason to say stopping the run is the key. I'd gladly allow 150 yards rushing if it means NE neuters Indy's passing attack.

I certainly think bradshaw is better than hillman. Not worried about richardson. We did stop buffalo effectively . But both chicago and nyj especially nyj really gave us problems. Especially those pass catching situations out of the backfield we have missed quite a few assignments in the past. Hopefully now that both collins and HT have settled down with mayo out, it should get better.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Maybe. I know fans were mighty scared of Hillman, who was coming off four straight impressive showings, including going over 100 twice. I maybe misreading your comment, but I get the feeling your are saying "good RBs" in an effort to exclude NE's impressive showing against Denver.

Not that I think NE is especially good at stopping the run, but at this point I don't think we can say with certainty that NE's terrible showings against Mia, KC and NY have much predictive value. Even if they do, how they did against Denver does as well, and the Broncos are substantially better at running the ball than the Colts are.

And even then, Indy is not going to win this game running the ball, so I don't see any reason to say stopping the run is the key. I'd gladly allow 150 yards rushing if it means NE neuters Indy's passing attack.

Bradshaw is a little more versatile no? I see him as much more of a catching threat then Hillman but I could be wrong...I just wonder who will spy Bradshaw...Collins??

 

[RobertWeathers]

And even then, Indy is not going to win this game running the ball, so I don't see any reason to say stopping the run is the key. I'd gladly allow 150 yards rushing if it means NE neuters Indy's passing attack.

Indy doesn't win by running the ball, winning ToP and keeping TB off the field? Their D vs the Pats O needs a little protection...

 

[Oswlek]

I certainly think bradshaw is better than hillman. Not worried about richardson. We did stop buffalo effectively . But both chicago and nyj especially nyj really gave us problems. Especially those pass catching situations out of the backfield we have missed quite a few assignments in the past. Hopefully now that both collins and HT have settled down with mayo out, it should get better.

Pass catching definitely worries me, but that isn't really the running game just the RB position. The bold is the key quote in my mind. Since the dreadful first month, the only time an offense was really able to pound it on NE was after NE lost their best run stopping LB and had a short week to react. I still question how much those games say about NE's expected performance moving forward.

Bradshaw is a little more versatile no? I see him as much more of a catching threat then Hillman but I could be wrong...I just wonder who will spy Bradshaw...Collins??

Absolutely, but that isn't stopping the run.

Indy doesn't win by running the ball, winning ToP and keeping TB off the field? Their D vs the Pats O needs a little protection...

You seem to be putting words in my mouth. Of course running is helpful, but Indy cannot beat the Patriots if they are forced to rely prominently on rushing the ball. Said another way, do you think NE can beat Indy by committing entirely to the run? Or that anyone on Indy's sideline would say, "the key to beating the Patriots to contain their running game"?

 

[RobertWeathers]

You seem to be putting words in my mouth. Of course running is helpful, but Indy cannot beat the Patriots if they are forced to rely prominently on rushing the ball.

I'm just going by what you wrote. If you intended to imply something different, that's fine.

Rely on running the ball? No. They will need to make some plays in the passing game as NE WILL score. If Indy runs 35 times for 200 yards then they most likely win at home.

Said another way, do you think NE can beat Indy by committing entirely to the run? Or that anyone on Indy's sideline would say, "the key to beating the Patriots to contain their running game?

What does committing entirely to the run mean? Running 50 times and throwing it 20?

I think it's a similar outcome to what I stated above. If Gray and Vereen have monster days and that helps TB w/ the play action and he also makes plays in the passing game and thus preventing Luck from going off at home-yes.

 

[Oswlek]

I'm just going by what you wrote. Intended to imply something different, that's fine.

I honestly think what I wrote was pretty clear. Did you see the comment I responded to?

 

[RobertWeathers]

I honestly think what I wrote was pretty clear. Did you see the comment I responded to?

I just re-read it. I think I know what you are trying to articulate. The OP went off on a tangent and talked about Bradshaw's pass-catching capabilities.

If the Pats are able to contain Indy's running game w/ 4 in the box...we win. Indy runs for 150 and Luck misses a lot on 3rd down...Im good with that.

 

[Oswlek]

I just re-read it. I think I know what you are trying to articulate. The OP went off on a tangent and talked about Bradshaw's pass-catching capabilities.

If the Pats are able to contain Indy's running game w/ 4 in the box...we win. Indy runs for 150 and Luck misses a lot on 3rd down...Im good with that.

Yes, it was really just a long winded way of saying, "I'd rather they focus their efforts on stopping the pass."

 

[Brady6]

I think they'll play the entire game out of a 2-4-5 and 2-3-6 package, with the exception of goal line and short yardage.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Personally I am looking forward to those patches of a game where the Patriots task their secondary with getting it done completely on their own. Is Revis, Browner, McCourty and Chung (that cheats toward the line often) so good on their own that our D can plays lots more 'attack the line/QB/RB!'?

Can the secondary on their own keep the long gainer quick scores to almost none as well as break up enough passes to force teams into plenty of low percentage/high difficulty third down conversion situations?
If the secondary is capable of that, and even with quite a bit of one trick pony immovable beef in the middle of the D line, I very much look forward to seeing what kind of misery our Ends and LBs can cause opposing offenses.
(written with the caveat that this is over simplified. Situations will require the Patriots to use specific personnel packages and schemes at any given moment).