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

[condon84]

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.

Would love something like this. They can even keep both Rham and Hendo on the field and spread them out. I like both of our RBs against their LBs in coverage.

 

[Patsfan1645]

People gonna look at the final score but the game was a lot closer. Steelers held them to 7 points thru 3 qtrs, then Texans got a FG 2 minutes into the 4th qtr, then on the next drive Rodgers fumbles on 3rd and 12 and they got the return TD. Had Rodgers not fumbled Steelers punt and its still a 10-6 game, think it ends a lot closer than it did. Instead Texans get the return TD, Steelers pitiful offense goes back out and being down 11 Rodgers is out there throwing it deep 4-5 times and kill 2 minutes of the clock.

It's funny how much Rodgers polluted the Steelers, 3rd and 12 at the 46 in a 10-6 game Tomlin would have in years past played that conservative and had them run it and then punt it and try to pin them deep and play field position Instead Rodgers got them dropping back to throw it deep on 3rd and 12 only down 4.

Ultimately Steelers decided to play Rodgers football, instead of Tomlin football but problem is Rodgers can't play Rodgers football anymore and well you see the result

I would also consider that the Texans turned over the ball three times. If they did not turn it over would they have had more points? Stroud helped keep the Steelers in the game.

 

[The Brandon Five]

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.

I am pretty sure Hendo has four home runs this year.

 

[KCSVEN]

Went and watched every Drake throw from last year's game vs Texans. Was Drakes first start so nothing really translates. Texand blitzed a lot (rookie QB and all). Zach Thomas LT and D. Jacobs RT didn't help.
Main point? What a difference a year makes!

 

[Real fan 02]

Being in Houston, I've seen a lot of Texans, and it's not just the pass rush. The defense is no joke ... excellent all around. They keep it simple -- our guys can beat your guys, and they usually do. I'm glad we have McDaniels scheming -- we're gonna need it. The offense, of course, has been the opposite. Stroud was atrocious last night, but that is atypical. He's usually okay and can make a few nice throws. What scares me is last night was the first time they ran the ball with success. Not sure if that surprised pittsburgh, or that their bad O-Line is improving, but that was out of character. I think we win, but this is dogfight #2 with a meaner pitbull than the Chargers.

Thanks for this perspective. As an Observer.. I see that everything Houston does on defense starts with the pass rush.. to slow Houston rush you MUST take away one of Anderson or Hunter.. you cannot have both go off or the game is over.

Double Anderson and go up tempo on offense as FGs will be at premium I'm not expecting alot of scoring.

 

[Salsalife]

Any idea on Mack Hollins..tape him up....all hands on deck!

 

[JoeyCee]

Would love something like this. They can even keep both Rham and Hendo on the field and spread them out. I like both of our RBs against their LBs in coverage.

Do we HAVE 5 WRs?

 

[Triumph]

I wonder if Rodgers will be back or if the Steelers will go looking for some other recently-deceased corpse to be their QB?

Post game, Rodgers was campaigning for Tomlin to be back.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

Do we HAVE 5 WRs?

Spread might look like 2 RBs 2 WR 1 TE

 

[WazzuWheatfarmer]

Hope Houston shows up in letterman jackets.

lol! So true. One of my favorite Pats games ever.

 

[JMC00]

I wonder if Rodgers will be back or if the Steelers will go looking for some other recently-deceased corpse to be their QB?

I think they'll actually do a sensible move and go for Malik Willis. There is a small sample size on him but he's shown his time in GB you could put games on his plate and he can perform. Now can he do that consistently is the thing but definitely seems like he could be the quintessential Mike Tomlin QB where he'll win you a few games, lose you some games and just not **** it up and let the defense carry and Steelers end up 10-7, 9-8 and somehow in the playoffs.

.

 

[Zoomnbyu]

"No homerun hitters but all potential big play" -ers...

I've been thinking about this since LAC screwed up and let Vrabel sub in. We don't have a couple of over the top rockstars other than Maye but we have developed over the season a group of above average rotational pieces that sub in with limited if any drop off. Much like the first dynasty a lot of above average that isn't exhausted beats a few stars the majority of the time. For example, maybe sub out WC and JW with VL (I know right???) and BB to keep fresh. By end of the game flip the script on what the Texans did to the Squelers.

 

[Steve102]

Any idea on Mack Hollins..tape him up....all hands on deck!

He's out. IR. Eligible to return AFCCG.

 

[Pape]

Do we HAVE 5 WRs?

barely

Diggs
Boutte
Hollins [ir]
Douglas
Williams
Chism

Henry
Hooper

 

[Ring 6]

I’m going to go the opposite way here and say we need to open up the offense, throw the ball down the field and be aggressive.
This dunk and dunk, fear the pass rush, stay on schedule approach plays right into their hands. I’d rather get chunk plays, take a sack and have to convert some 3rd and longs, with the qb who is the best in the league at doing that, than try to convert 7 3rd downs on a drive.
We need to run our offense and not be scared into trying to be something we aren’t.

 

[bakes781]

Just watched every play by the Houston defense last night. Below is the strategy I would put in.

-If you go Jumbo it's going to be hard to run but play action off jumbo will be huge. Jumbo puts 9 in the box, still tough to run on. But throwing from that could be huge.

-The defense is very simple. Rush 4 most of the time. If playing zone keep everything in front and attack. They are super-fast and super hard hitting. If in Man, got to have RB's chip, you will have deep chances. Rodgers had 4 plays he had a chances to hit a deep ball. Missed 2 of them, bad read on 1 and got pressure too quick on another but 4 possible long chunk passes were there. The Boutte TD Drake through last year will be available. If Pats can hit them they can get some big passes and avoid the red zone with long TD's.

-Basically, in the pass game: determine if man or zone. If zone dink and dunk, if man look for the WR 1 on 1 on the outside. Use play action in jumbo. RB's need to look for the cutback, Texans are fast and can over-pursue on some plays. OL needs to get to second level quick. Safety and LB are quick, getting thru the line is doable but the second level is where the running game will win or lose.
Misdirection, like Drake PA bootleg should work also. Texans VERY aggressive. Screens? They are too fast and unless in man not going to work. Obviously, no turnovers and put pressure on Stroud. He is not very accurate in general and totally loses it with pressure.

You got to hit some deep passes, good thing Drake is the best at that. If you do that, they go 100% zone where you can get underneath throws and move the chains and Drake is accurate at that. Drake may have a few run opportunities but doubt anywhere near what he got with Chargers. If They play a lot of zone they are fast and violent closing tacklers. Rather Drake takes the 3 yards and gets down in this one.

Easier said than done. IF the OL can hold up long enough to give Bouttee and Williams time to get deep they have a chance.

 

[PatsFan2]

Agreed. Houston gave Pittsburgh every opportunity to win the game committing TOs.. Rodgers just quit. If we can get some TOs from Houstons offense it will be huge.

Another thing here.. double/chip Anderson. He's the all pro.. want to make him less effective. As pape stated thrle quick game, hurry up offense will be huge. Our defense is playing with alot of confidence need it to continue..

Also we NEED GONZO. He should clear protocols this week?

Nico Collins may not play for Houston? C. DAVIS on Jayden Higgins scares the crap out of me.. if Gonzo can't go..

Jayden Higgins is a Rookie Carlton Davis should be able to cover him.

 

[Triumph]

Do we HAVE 5 WRs?

Diggs, Boutte, PoP, Williams and Chism

Plus Rahm

 

[borg]

People gonna look at the final score but the game was a lot closer. Steelers held them to 7 points thru 3 qtrs,

Pats were held to 6 after 2 quarters, 9 after 3 quarters.
Just sayin.....

It's funny how much Rodgers polluted the Steelers

Ultimately Steelers decided to play Rodgers football, instead of Tomlin football but problem is Rodgers can't play Rodgers football anymore and well you see the result

1,000%
All in for a guy who looks 70 years old under that helmet.
Rodgers should have gotten on the avocado ice cream program two decades ago instead of peyote cleanses with actresses that don't bathe.

After seeing Stroud last night, I have a lot of confidence in the pats. He will beat himself.

In this 1st round, Maye's and Stroud's numbers were near identical in production and missteps.
Note: Pittsburgh's D was similarly problematic for Maye and the RBs (1 INT /4 fumbles ) back in September.
Just sayin......

 

[Thunderhead]

Don't like this matchup one bit. OL is going to get eaten alive again. Hope Drake doesn't get injured.