Patriots Pregame Thread Pre-Game - Divisional Round Texans at Patriots

[TommyD4207]

The Pats get the early Sunday game.

Ooh, tough one for Joe Buck, he's gonna have to crack open a media guide and learn some names.

 

[PatsFan2]

Vrabel have to stress protecting the Football: we can't leave points on the football field. Andy B is going to be key no pun: could be one of those old School 13-10 Games.

 

[PatriotSpy]

some of those hits we saw against the giants this year…we need those this Sunday. Pats have to be the more physical team.

 

[ALP]

Interesting both sides have the same exact seeds. Being the 5/6 seeds does seem like the best spot if you’re not 1/2

Very arguably the four best teams in the AFC made the final four

 

[stephens44]

I recall early in the Brady era that Charlie Weiss would sometime break these tough defenses with 5 WR quick passing attack to negate the rush. Brady made that work and it usually gassed the D-line pretty good to open up the run game late. Curious if McDaniels will ever break that out again.

 

[DaBruinz]

Some familiar faces coming to town. The Texans have several former Patriots:
Trent Brown, Braxton Berrios, Jake Andrews, Myles Bryant, Jakob Johnson, Sidy Sow

Jake Andrews is the only STARTER for them.
Myles Bryant saw over 350 defensive snaps for Houston in weeks 10-18, but only 14 in the WCG.

 

[Vindicate]

It's going to be a very different world with Houston having to account for Henry, Diggs, Henderson, Stevenson, Boutte, Williams, and Maye's mobility. No homerun hitters but all potential big play/scoring options, that variability can be used to keep that defense on its toes more than they're used to. Any additional processing to slow their reaction time is a valuable gain.

 

[patfanken]

I recall early in the Brady era that Charlie Weiss would sometime break these tough defenses with 5 WR quick passing attack to negate the rush. Brady made that work and it usually gassed the D-line pretty good to open up the run game late. Curious if McDaniels will ever break that out again.

Good pick up that's exactly what BB did against a Pittsburgh defense that was touted as the best just like the Texans are now. He decided NOT to bang his head against a wall and he didn't have any better receivers that he does now. Just 5 reliable guys who ran good routes and caught the ball.

Now from what I'm hearing, the Texans aren't schematically complex. They subscribe to the Tony Dungy school of defense. Keep it simple and let your players play fast. Let them see the game from the same place on the field, rather than move them around all the time and you eliminate a lot of mistakes of bad alignment, over thinking, and slow reaction times. Let your players simply rely on just beating the other player when they meet on the field. Rely on your physical talents, techniques and reads and you will win the days. Be not only physically stronger, be MENTALLY stronger.

I haven't watched it much up close (didn't watch much tonight, but was impressed with what I saw). There are things you can do though other than the idea above, which is a good one. I got my speed option in the last game that I've been calling for, perhaps I'll get my tempo drive in this one.

The other thing I'll offer is something that is SOP when you want to get away from a particularly tough rusher. You "half roll" to one side or the other. Ideally you wind up behind one of the OT's. It takes you away from immediate pressure. It narrows your options thus making your decisions easier and get your throw out faster and more efficiently. Plus there are number of backside options when the D starts to over pursue from behind. Throws that Maye can make, not Jones.

Our offense is better than theirs. Their defense is better than ours, but not THAT much better (of late) Kind of a stand off with TO's and great individual plays deciding the outcome. Of course all my conclusions were reached assuming Gonzo plays.

 

[Lansdowne]

Some familiar faces coming to town. The Texans have several former Patriots:
Trent Brown, Braxton Berrios, Jake Andrews, Myles Bryant, Jakob Johnson, Sidy Sow

Jake Andrews is the only STARTER for them.
Myles Bryant saw over 350 defensive snaps for Houston in weeks 10-18, but only 14 in the WCG.

No surprise there’s a lot of Patriots DNA on the Texans and that includes their front office and coaching staff:
Nick Caserio, James Liipfert, D.J. Debick, Steve Cargile, Nick Caley, Cole Popovich, Jerry Schuplinski, Cory Undlin, Frank Ross

 

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

We're on to Houston.

 

[Pape]

Speed kills

Going to have to get the ball out quickly to blunt that pass rush... Get the ball out in under 2.5 seconds... and on obvious passing downs bring in a jumbo set... use option plays as well... attack the weaker side of that defense... we do not want to be in the position of facing 2nd/3rd & long all night long...

 

[SVN]

Speed kills

Going to have to get the ball out quickly to blunt that pass rush... Get the ball out in under 2.5 seconds... and on obvious passing downs bring in a jumbo set... use option plays as well... attack the weaker side of that defense... we do not want to be in the position of facing 2nd/3rd & long all night long...

Maye needs to protect the football with both hands. He was very loose with it yesterday.

 

[PatriotSpy]

Houston’s D is aggressive. Take from that what you will.

I would like to see quite a bit of condensed formations. I don’t think five wide is an answer to anything against the Texans. Expecting Maye to execute lengthy drives with many short throws from an empty backfield might be too much for him at this point and that’s not something we’ve been doing this year anyways. Brady was in the system for a couple years before he started orchestrating much of a drive with an empty backfield in 2002 (the beginning of the kc game stands out to me)

Move the pocket every now and then. Roll Maye out. Rodgers had a nice completion from a rollout last night.

Above poster mentioned the Texans keeping it more simple and playing fast. I think that is to Maye’s advantage. Just make them over commit…

 

[Real fan 02]

Vrabel have to stress protecting the Football: we can't leave points on the football field. Andy B is going to key: could be one of those old School 13-10 Games.

Twin I have give Texans respect.. Campbell has a tough job.. Josh is going to have to double Anderson.. Houston front is just to dangerous.. they have no weaknesses in thier front 7..

On offense the WR Higgins is good.. I'm praying gonzo can go.. this is going to be a FG game no TDs...

 

[Real fan 02]

Speed kills

Going to have to get the ball out quickly to blunt that pass rush... Get the ball out in under 2.5 seconds... and on obvious passing downs bring in a jumbo set... use option plays as well... attack the weaker side of that defense... we do not want to be in the position of facing 2nd/3rd & long all night long...

Rham... rham and hendo on screens and check downs will be vital.. Rodgers flat out quit on his team last night and that's how a future HOF wants to go out.. embrasssing.. I'd also say you have to take away at least one of Hunter or Anderson.. so Anderson would be my pick. Double him and max protect everything else..

 

[Huckleberry1]

Texans have won every Game with that Defense.

Except the ones they lost.

 

[slash83]

I don’t remember seeing a single screen called by McDaniels. I expect that to change against Houston, very aggressive front that wants to get upfield. I wonder if Josh held back against LA to open it up vs Houston.

 

[Huckleberry1]

The Patriots will have to score more points than the Texans do to beat them .

 

[Gumby]

FYSA: Ref info for game

The NFL announced with a post on X on January 12 that Houston will face New England on the road on January 18 at 2 p.m. CT. on ABC, ESPN, and the ESPN App. They announced earlier in the day that Shawn Smith’s crew will officiate the game.

Smith called the ninth-most penalties during the regular season, per NFL Penalties.

I’ll have to go and look who they reffed this past weekend and if he ever did any Pats or Hou games this year.

9th most isn’t so bad I guess.
- - How many ref teams are there anyway? Do they need more than 16 for depth reasons?
9th most sounds kinda bad, but 9 of 16 is like exactly AVERAGE.

 

[Triumph]

How do you think they counter that?

Certainly McDaniels & company can not just rely on them to successfully block for themselves.

Running the ball.
Misdirection plays like the Pats used on the Browns.
Spread offense so Maye can get the ball out quick to the best matchup.
Screens of all varieties.
Some Wildcat.
Hurry up offense so that Houston cant get into a rhythm like last night.