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

[One-If-By-Sea]

With Collins all but out id live on the edge and send the house at Stroud early and often. NE shouldn’t have many issues blanketing their WRs and Stroud is one of the worst QBs against a zero blitz.

I agree. With Gonzo on Higgins, Davis on Kirk, and Jones on Noel, where is Stroud going to pass?

 

[Uptown]

Not the biggest deal in the world, but still rather alarming. More so regarding the turnovers…Stroud either has games with mediocre passing yardage & like 1 TD, or games with greater yardage & multiple turnovers. He will get flustered & turn it over on Sunday. That’s his M.O…

 

[slash83]

I agree. With Gonzo on Higgins, Davis on Kirk, and Jones on Noel, where is Stroud going to pass?

He does have Schultz at TE but I’d take my chances on him not popping off for 150 yards and 2 TDs.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

He does have Schultz at TE but I’d take my chances on him not popping off for 150 yards and 2 TDs.

Valid point but with Elliss, Gibbons, and Woodson, we can contain Schultz. Maybe not shut Schultz down, but that is not necessary. Stroud might struggle getting to 150 passing yards (Herbert had 159).

 

[Salsalife]

I'm really worried about our receivers. The chargers figured out Diggs, totally shut him down. Drake had to hold the ball for a long time. Wish Mack practiced but he's out. I feel the backs have to fill in the gaps as receivers. Pop, chism, Williams have disappeared. Boutte seldom getting looks. Drake has to run unfortunately.

 

[Haterproof]

CC

I’m okay with an ugly win. All that matters is we advance to the afccg

That's what I'm expecting an old school backyard dogfight 20 - 17 type of a game! I hope I'm wrong and the Pats win comfortably for my heart's sake

 

[Zoomnbyu]

That's what I'm expecting an old school backyard dogfight 20 - 17 type of a game! I hope I'm wrong and the Pats win comfortably for my heart's sake

This. Pats have been trying to kill me for the last 25 years.

 

[Ring 6]

What he said. Ditto.

PLUS: The main point of Jumbo, IN THIS CONTEXT (vs HOU) is to DICTATE the PERSONNEL HOU puts ON THE FIELD. Then to take advantage of particular mis-matches by passing against a bigger slower lineup.

Also 6 linemen does MAYBE give you an extra half to second of protection, so Drake has a little more time to wait on someone who can’t break free against the HOU good CBs in the first 10 yards of their route. HOU was supposedly susceptible to big plays all year long, jumbo gets you access to dial up some of those.

Calling Jumbo 3-yards and a cloud of dust just shows you don’t listen to E Lezar, in any of his shows as he laid this out multiple times this week.

The discussion isnt using JUMBO it’s using it as a base offense. Of course you CAN throw from it, but you are extremely limited. You have one WR.
I seriously can’t believe you are touting 2 TE and 6 OL as a passing scheme.

 

[Brotherblues]

Rams, Bucs, Jags, Seahawks, Broncos all beat the Texans.

Reading this is like we are playing the 85 Bears, 2000 Ravens or 2002 Bucs. I don’t think they are on that level. You can score points on them.

Their defense might actually be widely acknowledged on par with those if they played under the same rules.

In this day and age it's impossible to have a true unscorable defense.

 

[Brotherblues]

Screens were virtually useless . They always have a spy at both ends for the screens and kill it behind the line of scrimmage resulting in loss of yards.

Two spies on the flats works against current Aaron Rodgers (lowest air yards per throw) but Maye (highest air yards) would eat that up. Don't expect that particular part of their gameplan against the Steelers to carry over much.

 

[Triumph]

Pats run game is plain flat better.

If Jennings can add something its going to be a quiet plane ride back to Texas.

 

[Triumph]

 

[Triumph]

 

[Vindicate]

I'm really worried about our receivers. The chargers figured out Diggs, totally shut him down. Drake had to hold the ball for a long time. Wish Mack practiced but he's out. I feel the backs have to fill in the gaps as receivers. Pop, chism, Williams have disappeared. Boutte seldom getting looks. Drake has to run unfortunately.

I really don't think they went into that game thinking they'd target the receivers a lot. I don't think they're expecting to hit receivers a lot this game, either. McDaniels likes his backs and TE's against aggressive lines. However, Diggs could be used more on the intermediate.

And it takes resources to shut Diggs down. Every player in the league has a "figured out" point, it's a question of if the investment is worth it considering all the other options. Pass defense of the Chargers was better, as well. Furthermore, Texans are more suspect to deep passes, and we might see Williams/Diggs/Boutte pick those up.

Don't be surprised, though, if Diggs has another low production day unless it gets to the game really being on the line. And if we're lucky enough to advance, and we face the Broncos, expect the same.

 

[Triumph]

Maye WILL get sacked, that is unavoidable. Question is for how much yardage and what down/distance.

For sure.

Just don't allow this game to turn into a Texas sackfest. Pitt ran the ball 18 times and gave up. Rodgers never had a prayer harassed all game as he tried to generate offense throwing. Sacked only 4 times, but he threw the ball away numerous times for a 53% completion rate. Pitt converted 2 - 3rd downs out of 15.

Oddly enough, LV gave Houston a game only losing 21 to 23. LV ran the ball for 145 yds and a TD, LV passed for a 69% completion rate and 2 TDs.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Valid point but with Elliss, Gibbons, and Woodson, we can contain Schultz. Maybe not shut Schultz down, but that is not necessary. Stroud might struggle getting to 150 passing yards (Herbert had 159).

Without Nico, Schultz has been the only other major receiver threat for Stroud this season. If we shut him down, Stroud is going to struggle with throwing the ball.

 

[mike_usagisan]

For sure.

Just don't allow this game to turn into a Texas sackfest. Pitt ran the ball 18 times and gave up. Rodgers never had a prayer harassed all game as he tried to generate offense throwing. Sacked only 4 times, but he threw the ball away numerous times for a 53% completion rate. Pitt converted 2 - 3rd downs out of 15.

Oddly enough, LV gave Houston a game only losing 21 to 23. LV ran the ball for 145 yds and a TD, LV passed for a 69% completion rate and 2 TDs.

Taking some sacks and having to punt is ok this game. Turning the ball over is not.

 

[FCB02062]

I'm really worried about our receivers. The chargers figured out Diggs, totally shut him down. Drake had to hold the ball for a long time. Wish Mack practiced but he's out. I feel the backs have to fill in the gaps as receivers. Pop, chism, Williams have disappeared. Boutte seldom getting looks. Drake has to run unfortunately.

Did you not watch the second half? McDaniels figured out the SD Defense, maye was lights out, and the pass catchers were good.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

For sure.

Just don't allow this game to turn into a Texas sackfest. Pitt ran the ball 18 times and gave up. Rodgers never had a prayer harassed all game as he tried to generate offense throwing. Sacked only 4 times, but he threw the ball away numerous times for a 53% completion rate. Pitt converted 2 - 3rd downs out of 15.

Oddly enough, LV gave Houston a game only losing 21 to 23. LV ran the ball for 145 yds and a TD, LV passed for a 69% completion rate and 2 TDs.

One thing I’ve learned from many years of watching is you really can’t determine how a game will go based on the results of other games.
Our offense is far different, and far better than Pitts.
Maye is extremely mobile whereas Rodgers is not.
We could win this game throwing for 300 or running for 150+.
No matter how we win it will be hard, Houston makes you earn every yard.
Ultimately it would be great to run the ball well and be balanced, but there were several games with Brady and McD against great Ds where we passed our way to victory.
Obv much prefer we don’t have to win that way, but trust in Maye and McD that we could if needed.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Taking some sacks and having to punt is ok this game. Turning the ball over is not.

100%.
Sacks are bad but manageable.
TOs can kill you.