SI.com Gameplans

[SVN]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/bucky_brooks/10/04/gameplan.week5/index.html

Cleveland at New England

Browns' Game Plan

• Use Jamal Lewis to open up the passing game. The Patriots will creatively come up with a defensive game plan to take away the Browns' top two threats (Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards) by using an assortment of double coverages. To keep the Patriots from focusing exclusively on the passing game, the Browns must get Lewis involved early. The Patriots have shown some vulnerability against the run.

• Take away Moss. The Patriots have used Randy Moss to set the table for the offense. With defenses reluctant to pay special attention to Moss, he has made them pay with 505 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. The Browns can't let Moss have a big impact and should make Tom Brady find another target by rolling the coverage to Moss' side or sending a bracket from a linebacker or safety.

Patriots' Game Plan

• Look for the long ball. Facing a Browns' defense that has given up 17 passes over 20 yards, the Patriots will look to throw the ball down the field more this week. Expect Moss and Donte Stallworth to work on Eric Wright as the Patriots look to go deep early and often.

• Neutralize Kellen Winslow. The Browns' star tight end is the focal point of the passing game. His versatile talent allows the Browns to line him up all over the field to take advantage of mismatches in space. The Patriots have the personnel to neutralize Winslow by mixing up their nickel and dime packages to keep a defensive back with him on passing downs. Rodney Harrison's return will allow the Patriots to use Brandon Merriweather on Winslow in their sub-packages.

 

[patsox23]

"The Patriots have shown some vulnerability against the run."

This is one of the fallacies the press continues to push. The Patriots have GIVEN the run at times, but it's ridiculous to suggest they're "vulnerable" to it.

"Take away Moss. The Patriots have used Randy Moss to set the table for the offense. With defenses reluctant to pay special attention to Moss, he has made them pay with 505 receiving yards and seven touchdowns."

Ohhhhhhhh, okay. Yeah. Just "take him away." Got it. Roger that.

Meanwhile, even the premise is wrong. Defenses have NOT been "reluctant to pay special attention to Moss." They just haven't stopped him anyway. I'm not saying they've double- and triple-teamed him every snap or anything, but it's silly to suggest teams are just playing Randy straight up.

Asinine. Pats roll.

 

[Kdo5]

Cleveland at New England

Browns' Game Plan

• Use Jamal Lewis to open up the passing game. The Patriots will creatively come up with a defensive game plan to take away the Browns' top two threats (Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards) by using an assortment of double coverages. To keep the Patriots from focusing exclusively on the passing game, the Browns must get Lewis involved early. The Patriots have shown some vulnerability against the run.

• Take away Moss. The Patriots have used Randy Moss to set the table for the offense. With defenses reluctant to pay special attention to Moss, he has made them pay with 505 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. The Browns can't let Moss have a big impact and should make Tom Brady find another target by rolling the coverage to Moss' side or sending a bracket from a linebacker or safety.

Patriots' Game Plan

• Look for the long ball. Facing a Browns' defense that has given up 17 passes over 20 yards, the Patriots will look to throw the ball down the field more this week. Expect Moss and Donte Stallworth to work on Eric Wright as the Patriots look to go deep early and often.

• Neutralize Kellen Winslow. The Browns' star tight end is the focal point of the passing game. His versatile talent allows the Browns to line him up all over the field to take advantage of mismatches in space. The Patriots have the personnel to neutralize Winslow by mixing up their nickel and dime packages to keep a defensive back with him on passing downs. Rodney Harrison's return will allow the Patriots to use Brandon Merriweather on Winslow in their sub-packages.

??? Who wrote this? Have they even watched us?

And Brady has many targets besides Moss..Welker, Stallworth, Watson, Morris, Faulk & more. Plenty of guys to go to.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Yeah That Ladanian Tomlinson (the alleged best RB in the NFL) must have had 175-225 yards against us this year,right? - No wonder we are not so great against the run,He killed us!

 

[Brady to Brown]

I hope to see the Browns double or even triple team Moss.

Lets see some Gaffney, Maroney, Faulk, Stallworth, Welker and Watson.

 

[Ishdul]

Seriously, we're 3rd in the league against the run with less that 70 yards against us per game with 3.4 YPC (tied for 3rd) and a long of 16 yards (2nd) against us despite also having a dominating pass defense (which is actually comparatively weaker by a hair)... If you go by straight league rank, the rushing defense is the BEST part of our team.

 

[old 55]

I saw an analysis saying that we would run against the Browns because of their soft run D.

I think we take whatever they give us. If they overplay the pass, Morris and the O line have shown we're capable of driving and scoring on the ground too.

The pass will be there if they try to adjust to stop the run.

We need to contain their kick returner too.

 

[fair catch fryar]

I saw an analysis saying that we would run against the Browns because of their soft run D.

I think we take whatever they give us. If they overplay the pass, Morris and the O line have shown we're capable of driving and scoring on the ground too.

The pass will be there if they try to adjust to stop the run.

We need to contain their kick returner too.

It's not about the Pats taking what ever they'll give. With this offense against their defense....the Pats will take whatever they want! I predict Tom Brady's biggest day so far. He will distribute the ball more this week and Moss will probably only have a measly 90 yards and 1 TD.

 

[SVN]

i predict a tough first half like the buffalo game where the offense is meander around and then get it together in the 2nd half. Iam sure romeo will give new looks and the browns offense is more aggressive then most.

 

[363839]

I hope to see the Browns double or even triple team Moss.

Lets see some Gaffney, Maroney, Faulk, Stallworth, Welker and Watson.

You forgot Sammy Morris.

 

[BB_dynasty]

They say teams aren't paying special attention to Moss, but they are. It is just that Moss can outrun them all while jogging.

 

[bbabin]

??? Who wrote this? Have they even watched us?

And Brady has many targets besides Moss..Welker, Stallworth, Watson, Morris, Faulk & more. Plenty of guys to go to.

In regards to your picture, it's a good thing there wasn't a quarterback's leg under Moss's elbow. That would have been a clear violation of the rules.