Non-Moss Pats thoughts from Mike and Mike, Weis, Salisbury

[neuronet]

At least the Special Teams match-up is a real match-up. They actually play against each other.

The whole thing where they separate the sides of the ball and ask whose offfense is better or whose defense is better is meaningless. Those units never match up against each other.

Yes, that is silly when they do that. Usually NFL network folks are smarter than all that, looking at how our offense matches up against their defense etc..

 

[alamo]

In theory it could have meant that we allow a lot more short, easy FG attempts than SD. However a quick look at the stats shows that it's not that and it's just good fortune on SD's part (especially considering they're playing in the better weathered West Coast also).

Teams are 4/4 from 40-49 yards against us, 4/7 against SD. Inexplicably teams are only 6/8 against SD from 20-29 yards.

What does it mean ? SD has been lucky and we've been unlucky. It will balance out over time, maybe this week, maybe next year.

I interpret the opponent FG% made to be be much more dependent upon the offense/defense than the ST.

If your red zone defense gives up lots of TDs and fewer FGs then the overall FG percentage will go up since red zone FG misses are so rare.

As for 40-49, if you perceive that a FG miss will be a killer because you give your opponent a short field, then you are much more likely to punt. Or if you believe that your chances of going for it on 4th down and short are very good you'll go for it rather than kick.

Things like that. The ST rush may bepart of it, but certainly not all of it and maybe not even most of it.