This is the best pass D Denver has faced

[PattieswinSB]

How does this run D compare?

 

[Deus Irae]

Collins on J. Thomas. BB should have been making sure Jamie has been going to sleep every night with a Julius Thomas picture sewn into his pillow.

That was my thinking all week long. However, that leaves Gregory on Moreno, which seems a bit odd to me, so I've been trying to see an alternative that works as a main. I guess they could go with both safeties playing back and rely on the other LBs handling Moreno in the passing game, but that would leave a numbers advantage up front for the Broncos all game, and would seem to be a big mismatch in Moreno's favor.

It also puts Collins in a hell of a spot, considering he's only really had one strong game.

 

[Nunchucks]

How does this run D compare?

I think it is bigger up front.

 

[Huckleberry1]

How does this run D compare?

Better than it was when they faced them the last time but it doesn't really matter that much because they demonstrated the last time when denver rang up almost 300 yards on the ground and lost.

 

[Mack Herron]

Inviting them to run was/is part of the strategy to not letting Manning beat you.

 

[shmessy]

That was my thinking all week long. However, that leaves Gregory on Moreno, which seems a bit odd to me, so I've been trying to see an alternative that works as a main. I guess they could go with both safeties playing back and rely on the other LBs handling Moreno in the passing game, but that would leave a numbers advantage up front for the Broncos all game, and would seem to be a big mismatch in Moreno's favor.

It also puts Collins in a hell of a spot, considering he's only really had one strong game.

Actually, IIRC, Collins had a very good game in the 1st Denver go round - - and knocked away a key pass to Welker late.

I agree with you about Moreno (and Ball, to a lesser extent), Moreno is the key player in the game.

I'm not worried about the best Pats secondary since the late 1970's keeping Manning from taking over the game. I AM worried about Moreno who gained over 200 yards against this D last time (before Siliga, but WITH Spikes) and who is one of the best RB receivers in the NFL. I'm simply not sold on our D's front 7s run game.

I see Moreno as the wildcard key to this game. How he performs (or is controlled) should be the deciding factor.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Gregory didn't play last game...wonder if that will change anything

 

[Deus Irae]

....I'm not worried about the best Pats secondary since the late 1970's keeping Manning from taking over the game. ..

The Patriots are bringing back the 2003 secondary for this game?

 

[Deus Irae]

...I see Moreno as the wildcard key to this game. How he performs (or is controlled) should be the deciding factor.

I'm basically starting at this point, as well. The front 7 will likely be a front 6 (Collins on J. Thomas), which gives the Broncos a big edge in the run game and means that whichever LB is assigned to Moreno will really have to be on his toes, since Moreno often sets as if he's going to block and then leaks out.

 

[signbabybrady]

That was my thinking all week long. However, that leaves Gregory on Moreno, which seems a bit odd to me, so I've been trying to see an alternative that works as a main. I guess they could go with both safeties playing back and rely on the other LBs handling Moreno in the passing game, but that would leave a numbers advantage up front for the Broncos all game, and would seem to be a big mismatch in Moreno's favor.

It also puts Collins in a hell of a spot, considering he's only really had one strong game.

That was part of the game plan last time and I would guess little would change so a big key to this game will be to limit Moreno better than last time despite giving up the numbers up front.

 

[shmessy]

The Patriots are bringing back the 2003 secondary for this game?

Nope. THIS year. ***Big caveat - -Now versus during the season - due to health - they are HEALTHY now.

Compared to 2003:

SS: I would take Harrison over Gregory (solid 2003)
FS: I would take McCourty over Rookie Eugene Wilson (solid 2013)
CB1: Law-Talib (Draw)
CB2: I would take Dennard (healthy - i.e. now) over Poole (solid 2013)

So, on starters it is 2-1-1 in favor of 2013.

Now, depth is where it goes even more in favor of 2013:

Rookie A. Samuel vs. Rookie L. Ryan: (Draw)
Antwan Harris vs. Kyle Arrington (solid 2013)
Jerod Cherry v. Rookie Harmon: (Draw)
Chris Akins v. Nate Ebner (Draw)
Shawn Mayer v. Tavon Wilson (Draw)
Aric Morris v. Matthew Slater (2013)

That's 2-0-3 for 2013

Overall 4-1-4 in favor of 2013.

 

[shmessy]

I'm basically starting at this point, as well. The front 7 will likely be a front 6 (Collins on J. Thomas), which gives the Broncos a big edge in the run game and means that whichever LB is assigned to Moreno will really have to be on his toes, since Moreno often sets as if he's going to block and then leaks out.

If they could get away with playing a 4-3 - I would use Fletcher on Moreno and Collins on J. Thomas. With Hightower directing traffic.

I'm concerned though that they are going to want to go nickel a lot of this game.

But what about a 3-4 base with Nink as OLB? Siliga is a big boy and seems to play bigger than Chris Jones or Joe Vellano.

 

[Huckleberry1]

If they could get away with playing a 4-3 - I would use Fletcher on Moreno and Collins on J. Thomas. With Hightower directing traffic.

I'm concerned though that they are going to want to go nickel a lot of this game.

But what about a 3-4 base with Nink as OLB? Siliga is a big boy and seems to play bigger than Chris Jones or Joe Vellano.

Ninkovich hasn't played OLB all season and overall they are too short on LB's to go with a 3-4 base. Additionally Silinga has not been asked to play nose since getting here, he's been a DT in a 4-3 front the entire time.

 

[Deus Irae]

Nope. THIS year. ***Big caveat - -Now versus during the season - due to health - they are HEALTHY now.

Compared to 2003:

SS: I would take Harrison over Gregory (solid 2003)
FS: I would take McCourty over Rookie Eugene Wilson (solid 2013)
CB1: Law-Talib (Draw)
CB2: I would take Dennard (healthy - i.e. now) over Poole (solid 2013)

So, on starters it is 2-1-1 in favor of 2013.

Now, depth is where it goes even more in favor of 2013:

Rookie A. Samuel vs. Rookie L. Ryan: (Draw)
Antwan Harris vs. Kyle Arrington (solid 2013)
Jerod Cherry v. Rookie Harmon: (Draw)
Chris Akins v. Nate Ebner (Draw)
Shawn Mayer v. Tavon Wilson (Draw)
Aric Morris v. Matthew Slater (2013)

That's 2-0-3 for 2013

Overall 4-1-4 in favor of 2013.

Sorry, but it's 2003 by a mile.

Law >>>>>>>> Talib
Harrison >>>>> McCourty
Poole > Dennard
Wilson >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Gregory

 

[zipster9]

Ninkovich hasn't played OLB all season and overall they are too short on LB's to go with a 3-4 base. Additionally Silinga has not been asked to play nose since getting here, he's been a DT in a 4-3 front the entire time.

As with any great QB, get pressure on them, to force mistakes. You give Brady or Manning time to throw, you lose.

Patriots D-line MUST pressure Manning in this game. Nuff said.

 

[Kontradiction]

If they could get away with playing a 4-3 - I would use Fletcher on Moreno and Collins on J. Thomas. With Hightower directing traffic.

I'm concerned though that they are going to want to go nickel a lot of this game.

But what about a 3-4 base with Nink as OLB? Siliga is a big boy and seems to play bigger than Chris Jones or Joe Vellano.

They'll be lining up in nickel and dime packages pretty much all game, depending on what Denver rolls out.

 

[signbabybrady]

Sorry, but it's 2003 by a mile.

Law >>>>>>>> Talib
Harrison >>>>> McCourty
Poole > Dennard
Wilson >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Gregory

I think its 2003 by a good distance but not sure I split exactly the way you do.

Maybe more like this for my opinion.

Law >>Talib (Law was better than Talib but not that much where Law really seperates himself is he was this good a lot longer)
Harrison >>>>>McCourty (agree with you here)
Poole > Dennard (again agree with you but Dennard will be better soon and hopefully for longer)
Wilson < Gregory (I personally think Gregory is a little more versatile and neither is special)

 

[Huckleberry1]

As with any great QB, get pressure on them, to force mistakes. You give Brady or Manning time to throw, you lose.

Patriots D-line MUST pressure Manning in this game. Nuff said.

Disagree, you try to get pressure with your base front but you don't sell out coverage to get pressure on Manning. Manning rarely gets sacked and he is deadly when he gets rid of the ball immediately, the best bet is to disrupt his receivers and make him go to his 2nd and third options. I agree the D-Line must get pressure but that doesn't mean they should be blitzing him. i would rather sacrifice run yardage and focus on coverage.

 

[shmessy]

Sorry, but it's 2003 by a mile.

Law >>>>>>>> Talib
Harrison >>>>> McCourty
Poole > Dennard
Wilson >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Gregory

You're switching job positions there. It's like comparing Spikes to McGinest instead of Ted Johnson.

Eugene Wilson wasa CB who moved to FREE Safety - - he compares to former CB Centerfielder McCourty, not Gregory.

Dennard (when healthy - i.e. now) is MILES above Tyrone Poole.

Harrison was a STRONG (very) Safety - comparing his job and what he did to McCourty's job is several football fields off. Obviously, he was MILES better than Gregory is.

Most importantly (especially this week when they will have to play alot of Nickel and Dime), as I mentioned earlier, the depth after that is superior this year also.

 

[FourierSeries]

I don't care about regular season stats at this point. They are meaningless. What gives me confidence is that the secondary is healthy (we know how good they are when healthy) and we should be able to get some pressure on Manning with Jones & Ninkovich.