The Patriots Offense in the Playoffs

[BobDigital]

Gronk and Edelman will be the #1 and #2 options. Amendola has been dependable and as sure handed as any WR all year. Martin while not the most experienced player seems to have a knack for getting open about 20 yards down field a few times a game.

Obviously Lewis is a special player and White is not him. That being said where does his importance rank for you? I see him as a very dependable 3rd down RB at this point.

Lafell at this point all things considered is a guy I don't see the Patriots putting on the field that much with Edelman and Gronk back. I like Martin more as an outside options for occasional chunk plays right now.

How do you see it shaping out?

I see it as Gronk/Edelman/Amendola with White as your 3rd down back as your base passing formation. When you want to hit bigger plays probably take Amendola out and put Martin in. In the end zone throw in Chandler but between the 20s i think you have better options.

As for the running game I don't see it being a big factor. It will be okay but no team we are likely to face in the AFC playoffs has a run defense we can exploit with our below average running game.

 

[Kontradiction]

As much crap as Lafell is taking around here, you have to find a way to put him on the field because he makes the defense have to respect our offense deep and outside the numbers. There was a reason why Edelman and Gronk had more room to operate in the 2014 playoffs vs. previous years (even with Welker and Gronk). I agree that the drops are an issue, but he brings a skillset to the table that no other WR does. If you take him off the field more often than not, Brady is looking at tighter windows to thread the needle through to Gronk and Edelman.

 

[SalemPats]

3 WR/1 TE set - most WR sets
Outside WR (X, Z) - Edelman/Lafell
Slot - DA
TE - Gronk

If we split Gronk to the outside then it's either we move Edelman to the slot with Lafell on the outside on Edelman on the outside and DA in the slot.

Martin will play in 4 WR sets.

In 2 TE sets, i could see us going with Gronk/Chandler and Edelman.

 

[SalemPats]

As much crap as Lafell is taking around here, you have to find a way to put him on the field because he makes the defense have to respect our offense deep and outside the numbers. There was a reason why Edelman and Gronk had more room to operate in the 2014 playoffs vs. previous years (even with Welker and Gronk). I agree that the drops are an issue, but he brings a skillset to the table that no other WR does. If you take him off the field more often than not, Brady is looking at tighter windows to thread the needle through to Gronk and Edelman.

Lafell has been bad this year, but he's a bit more physical on curls than Martin and will see more playing time.

 

[PatsFan2]

Cannot disagree much though LaFell have three weeks to clean up his crap. Also I agree James White is looking better and better and I saw them call a Dion Lewis type Route for him Sunday night which shows they love his prospects as a Receiver. Martin other-than that muffed punt have been a pleasant surprise. I love the Offense going forward with Edelman coming back.

 

[PatsFan2]

3 WR/1 TE set - most WR sets
Outside WR (X, Z) - Edelman/Lafell
Slot - DA
TE - Gronk

That set with James White or Brandon Bolden as the single RB will be difficult to stop. The RB is atleast a Six or Seven yard dump off everytime. In that particular set with Gronk and Edelman drawing the coverage LaFell should be singled up on the outsides for comebacks - outs and slant routes.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Lafell was so huge last year. Idk what's going on this year with him. Did he lose a step? He drops passes left and right. It would help our offense that much if he was a factor in the passing game.

 

[Silver Blue&Red]

I've been looking through the threads, but havnt found all possible scenarios to clinch 1st seed. Does anyone know? How does "strength of schedule " happen ? Thnx

 

[ivanvamp]

Gronk and Edelman will be the #1 and #2 options. Amendola has been dependable and as sure handed as any WR all year. Martin while not the most experienced player seems to have a knack for getting open about 20 yards down field a few times a game.

Obviously Lewis is a special player and White is not him. That being said where does his importance rank for you? I see him as a very dependable 3rd down RB at this point.

Lafell at this point all things considered is a guy I don't see the Patriots putting on the field that much with Edelman and Gronk back. I like Martin more as an outside options for occasional chunk plays right now.

How do you see it shaping out?

I see it as Gronk/Edelman/Amendola with White as your 3rd down back as your base passing formation. When you want to hit bigger plays probably take Amendola out and put Martin in. In the end zone throw in Chandler but between the 20s i think you have better options.

As for the running game I don't see it being a big factor. It will be okay but no team we are likely to face in the AFC playoffs has a run defense we can exploit with our below average running game.

Lewis is a force. But oh well. White is slowly winning me over. He's made some big plays. Last four games:

vs Buf: 2 rec, 32 yds, 1 td (1 rushing td)
vs Den: 2 rec, 5 yds
vs Phi: 10 rec, 115 yds, 1 td
vs Hou: 4 rec, 38 yds (1 rushing td)

So in the last four games, he's caught 18 passes for 190 yards, and he's scored 4 touchdowns total.

His numbers would look even better if they didn't wrongly overturn his spectacular catch along the sideline against Houston.

I think Brady is getting more and more comfortable with him. He doesn't need to be a star, but just keep doing what he's doing.

FWIW, while Lewis was incredible (10.5 ypc), White has been solid at 9.5 ypc. Last year Vereen averaged 8.6 ypc. So White has been, in terms of this stat, more effective than Vereen was last year. And Vereen was more than good enough for the Pats to win a championship with.

 

[Concussion Protocol]

The LaFell hate has gotten a bit over the top. He's struggled, no doubt, but this whole offense has looked out of synch and out of sorts since the Washington Football Team game. LaFell is about 6% of my offensive concern. The offensive line is like 85%.

 

[JJDChE]

IF Edelman comes back 100% in the playoffs, this offense is going to stomp some people. Same goes for the defense. With Collins, Hightower and McCourty healthy this defense can be outstanding. i really like how things are shaping up for a playoff run.

While all the injuries really suck, it does force more players into starting roles and gets them live game experience, which is invaluable. Come playoffs, having those extra guys on the bench who have that experience can be a big factor.

 

[Bobsyouruncle]

I want to see an offense using only Lafell and Chandler to see if they can break the record for drops.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

I've been looking through the threads, but havnt found all possible scenarios to clinch 1st seed. Does anyone know? How does "strength of schedule " happen ? Thnx

Strength of schedule is the combined winning %age of everyone you played, counting twice the record of teams you played twice.

 

[AzPatsFan]

As much crap as Lafell is taking around here, you have to find a way to put him on the field because he makes the defense have to respect our offense deep and outside the numbers. There was a reason why Edelman and Gronk had more room to operate in the 2014 playoffs vs. previous years (even with Welker and Gronk). I agree that the drops are an issue, but he brings a skillset to the table that no other WR does. If you take him off the field more often than not, Brady is looking at tighter windows to thread the needle through to Gronk and Edelman.

Once again the know littles are braying. La Fell is the only WR that gets passes thrown outside and deep. He used to have Dobson to spell him. But he is on IR now.

Now he runs all those 20-40 yard patterns every down, 70 times a game, without a blow.

Is it any wonder that he tries to pace himself somewhat?

Not according to the know-nothings. Martin is not big enough, fast enough, or reliable enough to catch outside the numbers. Not to mention his inability to block outside runs or screens.

 

[IllegalContact]

LaFell needs to be out there..........he's not as high percentage as the others, but he opens things up

I think he'll start making more and more of those catches......he has the ability to get good after sucking....he showed that last year.

 

[Haterproof]

IF Edelman comes back 100% in the playoffs, this offense is going to stomp some people. Same goes for the defense. With Collins, Hightower and McCourty healthy this defense can be outstanding. i really like how things are shaping up for a playoff run.

While all the injuries really suck, it does force more players into starting roles and gets them live game experience, which is invaluable. Come playoffs, having those extra guys on the bench who have that experience can be a big factor.

I'm with you! Hell as good as the defense is playing Brady might not even have to be Brady! LMAO! Just manage the game Tom!

 

[Bobsyouruncle]

I've been looking through the threads, but havnt found all possible scenarios to clinch 1st seed. Does anyone know? How does "strength of schedule " happen ? Thnx

Here's the tie breakers:

NFL Tie-Breaking Procedures

Bottom line though is strength of schedule will likely not decide the number one seed. Of the Pats are tied with Denver, Denver owns the head to head. If it's another team there's several other tie breakers before SOS.

 

[Sicilian]

As much crap as Lafell is taking around here, you have to find a way to put him on the field because he makes the defense have to respect our offense deep and outside the numbers. There was a reason why Edelman and Gronk had more room to operate in the 2014 playoffs vs. previous years (even with Welker and Gronk). I agree that the drops are an issue, but he brings a skillset to the table that no other WR does. If you take him off the field more often than not, Brady is looking at tighter windows to thread the needle through to Gronk and Edelman.

A point that was emphasized this past Sunday by the fact that he had more snaps than any other WR (including Amendola). Now some of that is Danny being limited by injury, but it also shows that LaFell brings a skill set that is necessary and not provided by anyone else currently on the roster.

 

[n1997y]

I like what Martin was able to show as a receiver. Apart from muffing the one punt he looked pretty good in the Houston game. I thought Brady was complimentary to him as well, so he may get more chances in the next few games, especially if Jojo continues to play at his present level.

I also like the prospects for Bolden getting more touches. He seems to do okay when he gets the occasional play at RB so I'm hoping a more regular workload will give him the chance to step up and shine. I think he's good enough as a receiver to play the sort of role Vereen played, and he may be a better runner. He and White both give the offense multiple dimensions, it would be very interesting to see them used in a two back set...

 

[oldrover]

Lafell was so huge last year. Idk what's going on this year with him. Did he lose a step? He drops passes left and right. It would help our offense that much if he was a factor in the passing game.

Hey, he held on to THIS one...








...oh wait... never mind...