Patriots Pregame Thread Week 4 discussion: Panthers @ Pats

[dliverey44]

You can't do that against a cover 2 or cover 3. Receivers are open.

Theoretically you could threaten one side of the field with a corner route and a post and then a seam with TE on the other side. Assuming that you can get the time from the OL doing their jobs vs cover 2 (gotta threaten the saeties).

In cover 3 ya really got to flood zones but you can get deep. I am not sure why the hesitation to attempt to get, maybe not fully confident in the OL or WRs. I do not have access to all 22 but would be very interested in route combos vs cover 2 and 3.

I do agree that WRs are open, but I posed the above scenarios kinda as a question for people that have seen the All 22 from every game.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I would give gibson a chance to be rb1. Thought he outplayed rham last year even without the fumbles, 4.5 ypc last year and so far this year too. Rham was 4.0 last year and this year. Let rham and Henderson shine in the passing game and keep Gibsons carries from getting too high.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I would give gibson a chance to be rb1. Thought he outplayed rham last year even without the fumbles, 4.5 ypc last year and so far this year too. Rham was 4.0 last year and this year. Let rham and Henderson shine in the passing game and keep Gibsons carries from getting too high.

Yeah, it really felt like Gibson was overtaking Rham last year, but the new coaching staff almost immediately installed Rham as the lead RB this preseason.

 

[Triumph]

Yeah, it really felt like Gibson was overtaking Rham last year, but the new coaching staff almost immediately installed Rham as the lead RB this preseason.

Likely because of how much NE is paying Stevenson.

Personally, I wish the Pats would acquire a bruising Power RB.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Yeah, it really felt like Gibson was overtaking Rham last year, but the new coaching staff almost immediately installed Rham as the lead RB this preseason.

Yep its time for vrabel to make guys earn their pt like it sounded like he would. Rham should have to earn his way back. Douglas too- whatever has been keeping him in the lineup should be tossed as well and let him earn his way back in too.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Have you seen the latest Panthers injury report?? They will probably ask people in the stands to sub in as backup players. This game would be a laugher for a better than average Team. This would be nice easy game before Buffalo. We'll see what this Team is really made of.

Ian, I respectfully request that any traitorous Patsfans who leave the stands to play for the cats be BANNED from Patsfans

 

[Uptown]

 

[UrbanCowboy]

Yep its time for vrabel to make guys earn their pt like it sounded like he would. Rham should have to earn his way back. Douglas too- whatever has been keeping him in the lineup should be tossed as well and let him earn his way back in too.

Good Rham is really good; Bad Rham is really bad. Gibson has less upside and less downside - kinda average (I do like him). After a few days of getting over Bad Rham, I like that Vrabel is giving him a chance and seeing if he can be fixed. We need more good players -- we have lots of average ones.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Good Rham is really good; Bad Rham is really bad. Gibson has less upside and less downside - kinda average (I do like him). After a few days of getting over Bad Rham, I like that Vrabel is giving him a chance and seeing if he can be fixed. We need more good players -- we have lots of average ones.

We do need rham out there eventually, the miami game showed that at least on the recieving end. Hes very skilled and explosive, just think at some point Gibson should get a chance as the primary ballcarrier and see if he can maintain that ypc, he has had a considerably better average just a smaller sample.

 

[Uptown]

 

[patfanken]

A couple of pregame thoughts.

1. Why hasn't Henderson gotten more heat? Can anyone think of a play where beat someone on a one or one move? or a outran someone around the end? or created some yardage after first contact? I can't.

There was so much hope and promise based on what we saw in preseason, NONE of it has come to fruition to start the season, imho. Yet while SO many guys have taken massive heat over the first games including calls for ICE to visit them, Henderson seems to get away clean.

Now I'm personally not impatient. The running game that looked so strong in the summer, doesn't look anything but vanilla so far this month. Not much imagination like motions or backfield misdirection from Josh if you ask me. Ooops, actually makes me sound impatient.

At any rate I hope to see more burst from the running game, ESPECIALLY from Henderson. The offense IS moving the ball, but Henderson and Williams were supposed to be the guys who can put some explosiveness into the offense. NOT so far.

2. We REALLY need to get a home win. Used to be Foxboro was a place teams feared to come. NOT lately

3. I'm looking forward to see the WR that a lot of people wanted over Campbell. He's having a fairly nice start to his season. Still very early, but I'm glad we are getting him very early on, there really IS a learning curve for 95% of rookie WR's MHJ is a prime example of that. Everyone has bumps along the way.

4. Is Gonazales playing still up in the air? I think he'll see the field, but it's unlikely that he'll see anything close to full time action if he does. You don't go from zero to 250 in a day, at least you shouldn't imho.

5. At 5pm tomorrow, don't be shocked to see the team that turns the ball over the least, wins the game. It just seems to happen that way.

 

[Uptown]

Henderson is 3 games into his rookie season. Stevenson & Gibson are vets..McDaniels should also try getting him involved with more than just screens. Get him in space, wheel routes, matched up on backers etc…He’s gotta improve in pass protection (a strength) against NFL level competition.

 

[ErniesPinkStripes]

 

[jmt57]

MORSE: Get to Know the Carolina Panthers - Week 4 Preview | PatsFans.com

The Carolina Panthers are a team you know nothing about. The average fan can’t name 5 players in their starting lineup.

www.patsfans.com

Chuba Hubbard has been a very good back for the Panthers. Hubbard ranked #9 out of 46 RBs in EPA and #11 in success rate, generating the #7 most yards after contact per rush of 46 RBs. The 6’1”, 210-pound back played at Oklahoma State and was taken by Carolina in the 2021 Draft 4th round (126). Last season he established himself as one of the best backs in the league with 250 carries for 1195 yards, 4.8 YPC and 10 TDs. However, he has yet to score a TD this season. Hubbard was limited in practice on Thursday with a calf injury.​

​

Rico Dowdle came over from Dallas in Free Agency. Don’t sleep on this guy. He had 235 carries for 1079 yards, 4.6 YPC, and 2 TDs for Dallas last season. He was the go-to back in Dallas last year, contributing 39 receptions for 249 yards, 6.4 YPC, and 3 TDs. Not bad for 2020 UDFA. Trevor Etienne provides a good backup if Hubbard can’t go.​

​

Tetairoa McMillan is the big name in the Panthers passing game. The rookie was drafted in the 1st round (8) out of Arizona. The 6’5”, 212-pound receiver presents a larger target. So far in 2025 he has established himself as the prime target. He has 14 receptions on 27 targets, slightly over 50%. McMillan Did Not Practice on Wednesday with a calf injury. Head Coach Dave Canales labeled him day-to-day.​

​

Hunter Renfroe, a player the Patriots should have drafted, is second on the team with 11 catches on 19 targets.​

​

- - - - - - ​

​

How did the Panthers shut out the Falcons at home last week? Their defense is not that good. They rank 21st giving up 334.3 yards per game. They are 12th in Pass Defense and 28th against the run, giving up 137.7 yards a game.​

​

The Panthers Front 7 can’t rush the passer.​

 

[jmt57]

Patriots need to take advantage of Carolina's offensive line, both in their run game and pass protection.
Two starters, C Asustin Corbett and RG Robert Hunt both went on IR Sept 15.

The replacement at center is Cade Mays, a 6th round pick in 2022 who spent all 2024 on the NYG practice squad, now on his second stint with Carolina.

The new guy at RG is Chandler Zavala, a 2023 4th rounder who was a starter as arookie before going on IR with neck and knee injuries, and was a backup last year.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Henderson is 3 games into his rookie season. Stevenson & Gibson are vets..McDaniels should also try getting him involved with more than just screens. Get him in space, wheel routes, matched up on backers etc…He’s gotta improve in pass protection (a strength) against NFL level competition.

One of Josh's worst traits is that he pigeonholed certain players and makes them one dimensional and obvious to defenses.

 

[PScottman]

1. Why hasn't Henderson gotten more heat? Can anyone think of a play where beat someone on a one or one move? or a outran someone around the end? or created some yardage after first contact? I can't.

If we get the James White trajectory (many here had the same thoughts on him in his rookie season) no issues whatsoever. It just might take a year or two to get there.

 

[Zuma]