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

[VJCPatriot]

Honestly, the Patriots could simplify their looks and be just as effective.
Houston runs a high school offense, Stroud only has half-field reads, and was still running for his life.

Houston's defense is extremely talented. Notably they are 2nd in points allowed, 6th in total yards, 3rd in interceptions, and 6th in 1st down percentage allowed.

Yes that's scary.

But CJ Stroud has been known to be prone to fumbles at times. If we can force him to feel uncomfortable and make mistakes, our defense can generate scoring opportunities for our offense to get a short field.

It feels like turnovers could easily decide this game.

 

[203Pat]

Houston's defense is extremely talented. Notably they are 2nd in points allowed, 6th in total yards, 3rd in interceptions, and 6th in 1st down percentage allowed.

Yes that's scary.

But CJ Stroud has been known to be prone to fumbles at times. If we can force him to feel uncomfortable and make mistakes, our defense can generate scoring opportunities for our offense to get a short field.

It feels like turnovers could easily decide this game.

This right here. We need to win the turnover battle.

 

[PlainOldEd]

FYSA: Ref info for game


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.

the google says there are 17 regular season ref teams.

 

[p8ryts]

Will Campbell and Jared Wilson will need to step it up this Sunday. That pass rush gets a decent amount of sacks but a lot of pressure. One of the few flaws in Drake's game is feeling the pressure a split second too late and getting stripped so he needs to make sure to tuck it if it's a busted play.

I felt better after watching “after further review”. That was a good game for experience in preparation for Texans.

 

[Real fan 02]

I'm hoping Bryce Stroud shows up: if he does we won't have to worry about Higgins because he'll miss him.

This game is going to be on the defenses.. our defense is playing with alot of swagger and confidence coming off 6 sack performance they need to play with the same intensity... I want C. Davis to do well.. but like you I'm a realist fan and recognize our weaknesses.. we need to upgrade CB2 in FA.. look at Houston they have 2 excellent CB... or.... look at Mike Jackson in Carolina... we had him in NE before he's a stud #2..

 

[SlowGettingUp]

The Texans play nickel almost exclusively (like 80%). So I expect we will see a lot of heavy personnel (including jumbo with 6 OL) by the Pats and try to run it down their throats, interspersed with play action deep shots. The heavy personnel helps also with pass protection.

The Texans don't give up YAC so it's really hard to dink and dunk it down the field.

From the Chargers game (per Callahan) - note how often we used 2 RBs:

Personnel breakdown: 44% of snaps in 11 personnel, 31% of snaps in 22 personnel, 11% of snaps in 12 personnel, 8% of snaps in 21F personnel, 3% of snaps in 21H personnel, 2% of snaps in 13 personnel.

 

[VrabelJr]

A couple of familiar faces on Houston’s OL: Trent Brown and Jake Andrews

 

[p8ryts]

The Texans play nickel almost exclusively (like 80%). So I expect we will see a lot of heavy personnel (including jumbo with 6 OL) by the Pats and try to run it down their throats, interspersed with play action deep shots. The heavy personnel helps also with pass protection.

The Texans don't give up YAC so it's really hard to dink and dunk it down the field.

From the Chargers game (per Callahan) - note how often we used 2 RBs:

Personnel breakdown: 44% of snaps in 11 personnel, 31% of snaps in 22 personnel, 11% of snaps in 12 personnel, 8% of snaps in 21F personnel, 3% of snaps in 21H personnel, 2% of snaps in 13 personnel.

Jeez, now we got 21f and 21h. I need a new playbook.

 

[Real fan 02]

I'm hoping Bryce Stroud shows up: if he does we won't have to worry about Higgins because he'll miss him.

Remember JC Jackson playing with steph.. JC was able to be a ball hawk becuase of Steph presence.

 

[Rob0729]

 

[FCB02062]

Can't count on turnovers.

 

[upstater1]

This game is going to be on the defenses.. our defense is playing with alot of swagger and confidence coming off 6 sack performance they need to play with the same intensity... I want C. Davis to do well.. but like you I'm a realist fan and recognize our weaknesses.. we need to upgrade CB2 in FA.. look at Houston they have 2 excellent CB... or.... look at Mike Jackson in Carolina... we had him in NE before he's a stud #2..

It's amazing what a great pass rush will do for a mediocre CB like Jackson.

Carlton Davis had that in Tampa and he looked fantastic.

The problem with Davis now is that we take forever to get to the QB. A guy like Jackson might be worse.

The one thing that scares me about Davis is his health.

 

[The Gr8est]

Nice post: we have to add some moving pockets too get the Texans out of their comfort rush zones. Some rolling pockets would give Maye a chance to run we have to keep the pressure on them on Offense. IF we're getting Three on most of our Drives we could eventually wear them down. Their Offense is not all there so they'll probably Punt a lot; the Texans are also very conservative. A Mobile QB like Maye can give them some Issues: our WR's and TE's need to make plays.

Hmmmm……

How would Matthew Stafford approach this?

Give him a chance to run?

 

[203Pat]

I felt better after watching “after further review”. That was a good game for experience in preparation for Texans.

What is after further review?

 

[TheRainMaker]

The one matchup I didn't want. That pass rush can blow T's up! Pats are going to have to exercise their demons from last season again like they just did with the Chargers.

 

[upstater1]

Nice post: we have to add some moving pockets too get the Texans out of their comfort rush zones. Some rolling pockets would give Maye a chance to run we have to keep the pressure on them on Offense. IF we're getting Three on most of our Drives we could eventually wear them down. Their Offense is not all there so they'll probably Punt a lot; the Texans are also very conservative. A Mobile QB like Maye can give them some Issues: our WR's and TE's need to make plays.

Agree 100%. A very astute comment. Even old man Rodgers, who clearly no longer has his legs, was highly effective rolling out a few times.

The Texans adjusted and had a guy looking for rollouts after Rodgers threw his biggest pass plays this way.

But Maye's legs are a bigger problem than Rodgers's if the Texans start looking for rollouts.

I was thinking the same thing about Maye rolling out this morning.

 

[PatsFan2]

Hmmmm……

How would Matthew Stafford approach this?

Give him a chance to run?

Stafford running makes Brady look like Usain Bolt.

 

[Real fan 02]

It's amazing what a great pass rush will do for a mediocre CB like Jackson.

Carlton Davis had that in Tampa and he looked fantastic.

The problem with Davis now is that we take forever to get to the QB. A guy like Jackson might be worse.

The one thing that scares me about Davis is his health.

You make good points.. that's accurate. What I noticed with Davis he mis-times his coverage alot.. plays to far off his man.. he gives up easy completions to guys that aren't even nfl starters... but due to the lack of depth/performance at CB and his salary he's a starter for this years team. Again.. he's a good player just not what I was hoping for as A CB2..

 

[ScottishPatriots]

CJ Stroud passer rating, completion percentage and W-L record drops drastically outdoors

 

[Real fan 02]

The one matchup I didn't want. That pass rush can blow T's up! Pats are going to have to exercise their demons from last season again like they just did with the Chargers.

And they flip Anderson and hunter all the time.. this is a HUGE challenge for the OL.. going to have to play with 6 OL ?