Pats vs. Rams Superbowl pre-game analysis

[PP2]

 

[luuked]

Jesus this is some good stuff from Light. The multiple layers of X/O battle. Play, Counter, Adjustment, Counter-adjustment.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

I think I just lost the rest of my productivity today at work. Great stuff here!

 

[luuked]

I think I just lost the rest of my productivity today at work. Great stuff here!

From a schematic point of view it seems like Patricia found a good way to shut down the Rams bread and butter but I wonder if we have the horses on our front to replicate that. Any opinion ?

Mostly wondering about EX fronts.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

From a schematic point of view it seems like Patricia found a good way to shut down the Rams bread and butter but I wonder if we have the horses on our front to replicate that. Any opinion ?

Mostly wondering about EX fronts.

Well, they still scored 30 on the Lions. And, despite Harrison shutting down the inside run, the Lions still showed vulnerability on the edges. I think we'll see a few of these looks that Light describes, but I'm going to cop out and say it comes down to execution more than anything -- look at the Gurley TD run on OZ, for example, and tell me that the players maintained gap integrity. If our guys get off blocks better (and the secondary isn't ignoring the handoff; #their 24 lacks awareness), then the run is a few yards instead of a walk in TD.

 

[Redman443]

Bill and josh will need to devise some new plays for the super bowl on offense.

 

[The Brandon Five]

I am reading that Aaron Donald is 280 lb. I know he is quick, but shouldn’t the Pats be able to run on a guy that size?

 

[VectorPrime]

I am reading that Aaron Donald is 280 lb. I know he is quick, but shouldn’t the Pats be able to run on a guy that size?

You’d think so.

 

[PP2]

From a schematic point of view it seems like Patricia found a good way to shut down the Rams bread and butter but I wonder if we have the horses on our front to replicate that. Any opinion ?

Mostly wondering about EX fronts.

This is where I disagree with James Light- I doubt we'll see the EX front as a base because McVay/Goff have seen that before and are familiar with it. We may run it where the situation demands it, but for the most part, we are going to devise a base that Goff has never seen before and one which will continually throw Goff off.

There's more than one way to counter the OZ stuff Rams love to run.

EDIT: Now that I think about it some more, we may run the EX but with window dressing- disguise it, make it look like it's something else right up to the snap.

 

[PP2]

I am reading that Aaron Donald is 280 lb. I know he is quick, but shouldn’t the Pats be able to run on a guy that size?

His size/speed is going to be neutralized by the element of surprise. He is not going to know who's going to block him every time we run. A good number of them will be wham blocks.

That's the genius of Scar and his elaborate blocking schemes. He puts a lot of work into devising them.

 

[Uptown]

Simple: Stop the run, pressure Goff & keep their D on the field. They lack depth.

Ball Game.

We ARE going to win the SB.

 

[Uptown]

Who was more dominate? JJ Watt in his prime when he had two 20.5 sack seasons or Aaron Donald this year with 20.5 sacks?

Watt. He played all over the DL, more versatile & played on offense.

 

[Uptown]

Whenever the Pats play poorly in the playoffs leading up to a Super Bowl they somehow manage to make it in they always lose in the big game.

2007 - Pats struggled against Jax and SD; SB 42 loss

2011 - Pats struggle against Baltimore (lucky to win that one IMO); SB 46 loss

2017 - Pats struggle against Jax; SB 52 loss

2018 - Pats play well against LAC and KC

Pats did not struggle against JAX in 2007 playoffs at all, but I see your point.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Every game plan is different. Was expecting the Cowboys and Saints to run to the outside of this Rams defense that was giving up 5ypc all year.

What scheme change did they run to limit that effectiveness the last 2 games on defense?Held each team to about 50 yards per game.

 

[TB_Helmet]

I am reading that Aaron Donald is 280 lb. I know he is quick, but shouldn’t the Pats be able to run on a guy that size?

Well the Rams were last in the league in yards per rush this season so I'm gonna say yes!

 

[venecol]

Simple: Stop the run, pressure Goff & keep their D on the field. They lack depth.

Ball Game.

We ARE going to win the SB.

Insert the name Brady and it sounds like what they need to do to stop the Patriots.

Not sure how simple it will be for either team but I trust BB will make it happen.

 

[drewskie]

The more I evaluate this matchup, the more I realize that the Rams recipe to beating us hinges on two things:

1. By far, its Gurley and his pass catching ability in the flat and on wheel routes.

2. Donald, Suh, and Brockers with their pass rush but I have confidence the OL will have a game plan keeping them off balance especially Donald.

Take care of the ball, force Goff into mistakes.

Philly presented matchup problems for us on defense especially with the personnel we had last season. That and the RPO offense which the Rams certainly arent wont be part of the equation, or will it? Lol.

In all our losses we didnt play particularly well leading up to the big game. Health wise (touch wood) and playing wise, we are peaking at the right time.

 

[Uptown]

Insert the name Brady and it sounds like what they need to do to stop the Patriots.

Not sure how simple it will be for either team but I trust BB will make it happen.

I omitted Brady because I expect Brady to do Brady-like Bradyness.

 

[WHPats]

I am reading that Aaron Donald is 280 lb. I know he is quick, but shouldn’t the Pats be able to run on a guy that size?

I agree, he’s an elite athlete no doubt but he’s giving up a lot of size to our interior O-Line. He’s almost deified as some sort of Lawrence Taylor defensive tackle reincarnation. I certainly agree he’s their best player and an elite talent no doubt, but he’s human and there are ways to neutralize him. Confident BB and Josh are on top of it. I don’t think this vaunted Rams D-line has played an O-Line that’s playing as well as ours is right now either.

 

[ralmat55]

I’m more concerned with Gurley as a receiver than as a runner.

That’s I’ve got for now but wanted to bump this thread up the page as it was about to slip off page one entirely and it shouldn’t. There’s good stuff here.