Shutting Down the Pass

[MainePatsFan26]

Hey all,

Belichick and Patricia are both known to like to take away your primary weapons. Obviously this means Julio Jones and the passing attack more generally. However, my question is to what degree we are willing for Atlanta to gain rushing yards if it means shutting down the Atlanta passing attack.

For instance, do we run sets with two offensive linemen or fewer to help us with zone and man to man? Are we willing to give up 200 yards on the ground if it means slowing down the Atlanta passing game?

I'd play lots of dime in this game with a 2-3-6 if it means forcing Atlanta to try to win in a manner different than they are accustomed. Thoughts on this "dare them to run" approach?

 

[fightingirish595]

I can't predict what we're going to do. But I'm sure you are aware of belichicks gameplan in Super Bowl 25. But he had LT then. I'd love to see something like that. If we could hold the ball for 40 minutes, there's no way we lose with our offense.

If you aren't aware of that plan in that Super Bowl! Check it out! Great Stuff

 

[MainePatsFan26]

I can't predict what we're going to do. But I'm sure you are aware of belichicks gameplan in Super Bowl 25. But he had LT then. I'd love to see something like that. If we could hold the ball for 40 minutes, there's no way we lose with our offense.

If you aren't aware of that plan in that Super Bowl! Check it out! Great Stuff

Thanks for the reference to Super Bowl 25. I just checked out some info about it and the 40+ minute time of possession. In Atlanta's five losses, two were with rushing yardage greater than their 120 ypg average and three with less. I don't think there is an easy solution to figuring out how to stop Atlanta, but I would be curious what would happen if we played that aggressive style of pass coverage discussed in the Super Bowl 25 article.

In today's NFL, you don't want to be called for pass interference down the field. However, I have no problem walloping and harassing receivers at the line of scrimmage. Heck, have a linebacker bash Julio Jones in the 5 yard zone before he is covered by Butler.

 

[fightingirish595]

Thanks for the reference to Super Bowl 25. I just checked out some info about it and the 40+ minute time of possession. In Atlanta's five losses, two were with rushing yardage greater than their 120 ypg average and three with less. I don't think there is an easy solution to figuring out how to stop Atlanta, but I would be curious what would happen if we played that aggressive style of pass coverage discussed in the Super Bowl 25 article.

In today's NFL, you don't want to be called for pass interference down the field. However, I have no problem walloping and harassing receivers at the line of scrimmage. Heck, have a linebacker bash Julio Jones in the 5 yard zone before he is covered by Butler.

Remember the Denver game in 2013? Moreno ran for over 200. and we won

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

They need to get physical with their wrs. I really hope bill has a plan here. Try and confuse matt ryan. He has played well within himself. I would like to see pressure on ryan. We have hardly gotten to the quarterback.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Force Ryan to throw to the other wide receivers, but beware the tight ends. The linebackers need to limit them big time.

 

[thecore762]

I can't predict what we're going to do. But I'm sure you are aware of belichicks gameplan in Super Bowl 25. But he had LT then. I'd love to see something like that. If we could hold the ball for 40 minutes, there's no way we lose with our offense.

If you aren't aware of that plan in that Super Bowl! Check it out! Great Stuff

This. Possession time is what will win us the game, I don't like our chances in a shootout, I'm sure our team will be prepared well, and the run game needs to be held in check while we need to also be physical with their receivers, knock them around, hit them hard and put them on notice that if they going to catch the ball that they are going to be hit hard.

Overall we need to keep their running backs inside and also keep Matt Ryan in check because we know he likes to run the ball time to time.

If we take away Julio and their running game then it's gonna be tough of them.

I have faith in Rowe and Ryan being able to keep their other receivers in check. We will definitely have to double up on Julio because he is a huge guy, not a speedster but can go up and get it and he has the size advantage over Butler.

If we win this game is because of our defense.

Our front 7 will need to have the game of their lifetime, also some of these guys being in the SB 2 years ago will help the newer guys get ready. It's always hard for a guy to handle all the pressure in their 1st SB appearance...

Our d-line has been solid and having a healthy Hightower going into this game is gonna be a huge thing for us. Also Van Noy and McLellin being solid 2nds on this team is helpful. Those guys gonna be the key to keep their running backs in check.

 

[n1997y]

...

I have faith in Rowe and Ryan being able to keep their other receivers in check. We will definitely have to double up on Julio because he is a huge guy, not a speedster but can go up and get it and he has the size advantage over Butler.

If we win this game is because of our defense.
...

Hunh? Jones is definitely a speedster. With size. And physicality.

I'm not sure Butler plays him, at least not all the time. I think it's more likely Jones gets doubled, probably Ryan with McCourty over the top, while Butler gets Sanu one on one. Wondered about Rowe on Jones, size against size, but I'm not sure Rowe can do as well jamming him off the line as Ryan. No matter, in BB I'll trust to figure out the details. Main thing is that I think we've got the DBs to match up well enough.

Other thing I expect to see is more emphasis on pressure. Might be sending an extra rusher, corner blitzes, things like that. Really hoping the D line can maul the Falcons' OL. Not really worried about them running, I think our DL can handle that well enough. Challenge might be if Atlanta can get their backs into the passing game as receivers, especially if Pats are sending an extra rusher. Might boil down to whether Matty Ice can read and react quickly enough to hit the safety valve before the rush gets home. Hopefully he can be baited into making a mistake and turning the ball over trying to make some of those plays.

Definitely agree, defense will be the key to the win. I think the Patriots' defense will do better at stopping Matt Ryan than the Falcons' defense will do against Tom Brady.

 

[deroc5050]

I think its going to be very similar to the Pittsburgh gameplan defensively. Atlanta will get 5-10 yards though the air if they want it, but tackle immediately and keep them out of the end zone. I think both teams are going to be driving up and down the field all day long. Who kicks FG's and who scores TD's will decide the game.

I honestly think this will be a 1 possession game in the 4th quarter.

Will Atlanta hit on some big plays? I just have no idea what to expect. On paper it would seem the Patriots are superior defensively.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Rowe did a nice job against A.J. Green earlier in the season. He had safety help a lot, but size matters. A freak like Julio is never truly covered, and Ryan will throw it up for him and let him just outjump smaller corners. Rowe's size will minimize that factor.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I really hope bill has a plan here.

I'll text him so he doesn't forget.

 

[slash83]

I'll text him so he doesn't forget.

**** some people say Lmao

 

[Uptown]

Hunh? Jones is definitely a speedster. With size. And physicality.

I'm not sure Butler plays him, at least not all the time. I think it's more likely Jones gets doubled, probably Ryan with McCourty over the top, while Butler gets Sanu one on one. Wondered about Rowe on Jones, size against size, but I'm not sure Rowe can do as well jamming him off the line as Ryan. No matter, in BB I'll trust to figure out the details. Main thing is that I think we've got the DBs to match up well enough.

Other thing I expect to see is more emphasis on pressure. Might be sending an extra rusher, corner blitzes, things like that. Really hoping the D line can maul the Falcons' OL. Not really worried about them running, I think our DL can handle that well enough. Challenge might be if Atlanta can get their backs into the passing game as receivers, especially if Pats are sending an extra rusher. Might boil down to whether Matty Ice can read and react quickly enough to hit the safety valve before the rush gets home. Hopefully he can be baited into making a mistake and turning the ball over trying to make some of those plays.

Definitely agree, defense will be the key to the win. I think the Patriots' defense will do better at stopping Matt Ryan than the Falcons' defense will do against Tom Brady.

Yeah, Jones is pretty much the ultimate wide receiver. He has NO weaknesses! Unfortunately, for him BB will be playing corner Feb 5th

 

[luuked]

I think its going to be very similar to the Pittsburgh gameplan defensively. Atlanta will get 5-10 yards though the air if they want it, but tackle immediately and keep them out of the end zone. I think both teams are going to be driving up and down the field all day long. Who kicks FG's and who scores TD's will decide the game.

I honestly think this will be a 1 possession game in the 4th quarter.

Will Atlanta hit on some big plays? I just have no idea what to expect. On paper it would seem the Patriots are superior defensively.

I agree. I think we will concede the underneath game and limit big plays via coverage, YAC with solid tackling and disrupting their RBs via our DEs. Atlanta relies heavily on YAC and preventing that is coincidentally a big strength of ours:



People that expect BB & MP come up with a plan to "shut them down" will be disappointed. They will make them earn every yard on their drives though. And a well executed disguise/trap coverage/ect -- now and then -- will give us a shot at a turnover or at least drive killing sequence.

 

[libra957]

The falcons have this one quarter where they absolutely explode, the world is just waiting for Atlanta to"expose" our defense that no one respect.

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

On the surface you may call me crazy but please give this theory a shot as I think it is a realistic strategy that may work.

- Give Them Julio Jones....take everyone else aways-

If you look up and crunch some numbers on the falcons seasons, specifically in terms of the offense..you'll see Jones production for a large part doesn't change wether the falcons win or lose. On the other hand: Games where Sanu and Gabriel struggle...the falcons lose. The games where the 2 do well..They win.

Same thing with the running backs...games where falcons lost for the most part, they had little impact through the air..games they won they got plenty of looks and were productive .

I think concentrating on just taking away Jones may be a fatal error. The ends and linebackers will have to marshall faulk the backs..stick Butler on Sanu and let the rest fall into place.

Jones is going to make big catches wether you try to take him away or not...but stats show he isn't the x factor in winning and losing.

Just my very amateur point of view.

Go Pats!

 

[sambam94]

Atl dead last giving up yards after catch and the Pats offense 3rd? Brady is going to shred the Atl defense

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Saw this interesting comment on another forum:

I recall Belichick defending Marvin Harrison in the 2004 AFC Championship game by putting Rodney Harrison on the line to hit Marvin, while Ty Law sat back at the safety spot and defended Marvin whenever Marvin got past Rodney. Marvin Harrison had one catch for 6 yards in the first half and 3 for 19 with a fumble on 7 targets for the game. The Colts racked up 79 points in their first two playoff games, but only managed 14 points in that game.

I don't know that he's done it recently, but the plan to slow down the Bills was hit the receivers hard at the line. The plan to slow down Marshal Faulk was to hit him hard at the line, often with Vrabel or McGinest. The plan to slow down Harrison was to hit him at the line. A consideration to slow down Jones has to be to try to beat him up at the line to interfere with route running and timing and to wear him down over the course of the game.​

The problem with that strategy is that Julio Jones is a large, powerful human. Faulk and Marvin Harrison were finesse players. Julio is too strong to jam consistently without risking him tearing the cornerbacks arms off and catching the pass with those arms instead of his own. Would Rowe, for instance, have the ability to jam Jones at the line and stay with him?

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

Stick Rowe on Julio...keep McCourty Up top Over him. Keep Julio in Front of McCourty at all times. Let Rowe jam him up a bit..Make Julio work for every inch. He's going to make plays. He's going to make people look dumb...but he's not going to soley win you a game.

 

[Ring 6]

Saw this interesting comment on another forum:

I recall Belichick defending Marvin Harrison in the 2004 AFC Championship game by putting Rodney Harrison on the line to hit Marvin, while Ty Law sat back at the safety spot and defended Marvin whenever Marvin got past Rodney. Marvin Harrison had one catch for 6 yards in the first half and 3 for 19 with a fumble on 7 targets for the game. The Colts racked up 79 points in their first two playoff games, but only managed 14 points in that game.

I don't know that he's done it recently, but the plan to slow down the Bills was hit the receivers hard at the line. The plan to slow down Marshal Faulk was to hit him hard at the line, often with Vrabel or McGinest. The plan to slow down Harrison was to hit him at the line. A consideration to slow down Jones has to be to try to beat him up at the line to interfere with route running and timing and to wear him down over the course of the game.​

The problem with that strategy is that Julio Jones is a large, powerful human. Faulk and Marvin Harrison were finesse players. Julio is too strong to jam consistently without risking him tearing the cornerbacks arms off and catching the pass with those arms instead of his own. Would Rowe, for instance, have the ability to jam Jones at the line and stay with him?

You aren't jamming him to hold him there. You are jamming him in order to throw off TIMING.
The Faulk rules were because in film study they realized the offense, reads and timing flowed through Faulk. They hit him to disrupt the timing and it worked for about a half.

The fact that Jones is bigger actually makes it easier to get a jam on him than a small quick guy.
In this case you aren't playing bump and run you are playing bump and double.
I like the idea.