What Will Our Offensive Strategy Be ?

[PATSNUTme]

BLIND HOMER ALERT, BLIND HOMER ALERT!!



sorry, but you can't be serious in thinking that your receiving core is anywhere near what the chargers have. vincent jackson, antonio gates, malcolm floyd, keenan mccardell, eric parker, and ladanian tomlinson can all burn your secondary.. Caldwell, Gaffney, Jackson, and Brown?? sorry, nobody other than blind patriot fans agree with you at all...



try watching teams other than the patriots, and you'll start to realize that you should remove the homer glasses every once in a while. have you seen cincinnati's receiving core? how about arizona. what about indy... or the cowboys. sorry son, your team isn't even close.

Weren't you the idiot who just yesterday whined about being called names? And, whined about people not being respectful in their "debate" tatics? Sleath trolls always amuse me. They always show their phoney asses sooner rather than later.

Isn't there a Chargers board that would benefit from your vast football knowledge? Probably you call them 'homers" too,and being the arrogant jerk that you are, it's not appreciated there either.

 

[Flying Fungi]

BLIND HOMER ALERT, BLIND HOMER ALERT!!



sorry, but you can't be serious in thinking that your receiving core is anywhere near what the chargers have. vincent jackson, antonio gates, malcolm floyd, keenan mccardell, eric parker, and ladanian tomlinson can all burn your secondary.. Caldwell, Gaffney, Jackson, and Brown?? sorry, nobody other than blind patriot fans agree with you at all...



try watching teams other than the patriots, and you'll start to realize that you should remove the homer glasses every once in a while. have you seen cincinnati's receiving core? how about arizona. what about indy... or the cowboys. sorry son, your team isn't even close.

Let me get this right

River passes for 3388 yds and 22 TDs

Brady passes for 3529 yds and 24 TDs

and somehow the SD Passing Offense is far greater than the NE Passing Offense?

You sir, are an idiot.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

not quite the Offensive key, but the key to this game is likely psychological:

stay loose and confident

SD will likely come into this game too tight--they will press very hard from the getgo. If NE can stay loose and take advantage of the mistakes that an overemotional team can make, then NE stands a good chance of going up early and forcing SD from their gameplan.

On Offense--I expect BB to go right at Merriman. Block, release and screen to Dillon and/or a TE allll day long...

I agree with this, and that's why I think they should pass a lot early with quick throws from the shotgun. I wouldn't be at all surprised if their pass rushers get frutrated when brady keeps getting the ball off before they have a chance to touch him.

passing a lot also reduces the number of times they can stop a back in the backfield. an emotional defense thrives off of things like sacks and runs for losses. take those things away and see if they deflate a little.

 

[JR4]

PATs will run the ball a lot better than people think. I can remember
when PAts played Panthers in SB. Everyone was saying how they had
the best down 4 in the league and PATs can forget running. Seems
Smith did pretty well that game. Somehow PATs figured out an angle to
use with that team. I'm betting BB and his coaches will find a way to
crack this defense also.
How PATs play offense will depend a lot on how the Chargers are playing D.

If they sit back and try to take away PATs passing game ... Pats will run it
and be successful. Look for them attacking Edwards and run left a lot.
They'll run right at Merriman and Graham may have the most important
blocking day of his career.
When Chargers start to adjust by cheating up to bringing some help
look for Tom to take that advantage in the air.

On passing downs look for PATs to use 6 pass protectors and send
4. I could see Graham and Light on Merriman with Graham rolling out if
he loses containment. On such plays another TE(receiver) will Keep
Edwards buzy or Koppen may be used after helping Neal with Williams.
Mankins will handle Olshansky, Koppen and Neal can handle
Williams leaving Kaczur to handle Castillo. I see no problem with
those blocking assignments. That should be enough for deeper routes to
develop and a shorter route to the right to keep the other LBs back a bit.
Once in this mode Brady will be Brady and find the open man ... count on it.
If Chargers start Blitzing look for PATs to come back with screens they
do that well.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of 3 TE sets.

Bottom Line:
PATs have enough fire power to meet the Charger Defense challenge.

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

I agree with this, and that's why I think they should pass a lot early with quick throws from the shotgun. I wouldn't be at all surprised if their pass rushers get frutrated when brady keeps getting the ball off before they have a chance to touch him.

passing a lot also reduces the number of times they can stop a back in the backfield. an emotional defense thrives off of things like sacks and runs for losses. take those things away and see if they deflate a little.

I like the approach you and Flying Fungi offer.

Yes, Mr. Merriman is going to become quite familiar with the ways of Daniel Graham this Sunday.

A quick score to take the crowd out of the game will be a very big plus.

I think the Pats will give a more than respectable accounting of themselves.

 

[mgcolby]

It will be just like last week, IMO.

Graham or Wendy's will stay into assist Light with Merriman. 3 Wide outs and a Single back who will stay in to pick up any one coming free or he will peel off like Faulk did last week.

To me that is much better than the 2 TE bunch formation that we saw for much of the season or the 4-5 wide formation we saw in Minny and JAX. It spreads the Defense out but also allows enough protection for Brady to find the open man.

 

[Deus Irae]

The problem with Jackson is he can't fake anyone out. Whenever he goes deep there is always a defender right on top of him (except once in the Buffalo game) and he isn't open. He had to break up two possible INTs in the Jets game because the guy was right there with him. He needs to do something other than run straight down field. How do you coach this 3 days before the game?

The problem for Jackson hasn't been getting open. He's beating his man fairly consistently on the plays I've seen. The problem has been with Brady's end of the play. He's waiting for a long strike, as is called for by the play. The problem is that the offensive line hasn't been able to hold up quite long enough and Brady has either been hit or unable to step into the throw. Jackson has had to wait on the ball every time it's been thrown to him lately, and that's allowed the defensive backs to catch back up to him. Of course, you may see it completely differently, but that's been my take.

 

[Willie55]

BLIND HOMER ALERT, BLIND HOMER ALERT!!



sorry, but you can't be serious in thinking that your receiving core is anywhere near what the chargers have. vincent jackson, antonio gates, malcolm floyd, keenan mccardell, eric parker, and ladanian tomlinson can all burn your secondary.. Caldwell, Gaffney, Jackson, and Brown?? sorry, nobody other than blind patriot fans agree with you at all...



try watching teams other than the patriots, and you'll start to realize that you should remove the homer glasses every once in a while. have you seen cincinnati's receiving core? how about arizona. what about indy... or the cowboys. sorry son, your team isn't even close.

Seeing is how you included RB's and TE's, I'll add Graham, Watson, Maroney, Dillon, Faulk.

And isn't Keenan McCardell older than Troy Brown.

 

[abyzmul]

Seeing is how you included RB's and TE's, I'll add Graham, Watson, Maroney, Dillon, Faulk.

And isn't Keenan McCardell older than Troy Brown.

we could list the entire roster if we really wanted to.. i didn't include michael turner, manumaleuna, lorenzo neal..

keenan mccardell has the super bowl experience to guide this team further. he lost 2 teeth a couple weeks ago but keeps on ticking.

 

[Flying Fungi]

The problem for Jackson hasn't been getting open. He's beating his man fairly consistently on the plays I've seen. The problem has been with Brady's end of the play. He's waiting for a long strike, as is called for by the play. The problem is that the offensive line hasn't been able to hold up quite long enough and Brady has either been hit or unable to step into the throw. Jackson has had to wait on the ball every time it's been thrown to him lately, and that's allowed the defensive backs to catch back up to him. Of course, you may see it completely differently, but that's been my take.

I saw the exact same thing on Sunday--he had to release a split second early and off the back of his feet. If he had the time to put everything into that throw, it was a TD, but he underthrew it because of pressure.

 

[mcbee]

The reason there have been defenders right on him is because the routes they are sending him, IMO, are wrong. They keep sending him on sideline fly patterns where he has to be aware of the sideline, to make sure he is not out of bounds, and also, on that type of route, the defender has a n advantage because the sideline itself acts as a secon defender.. That causes a slowdown by Jackson and benefits the defenders.

If they were to take Jackson, and use him on a deep post, with a 2nd receiver decoying on a mid range crossing pattern to occupy the safety, Jackson should be able to utilize his speed, not having to worry about going out of bounds, and should be able to get behind the safety.

It would be good to incorporate play action for Brady, to give him one extra second to air out the ball and put it so Jackson can run under it.

Its all in the routes, IMO, not that Jackson cant get open.

NEM, I think you are absolutely right. I don't understand what's with the deep patterns. Brady isn't the best deep thrower to begin with. In college he was a slant receiver, over the middle alot.

 

[mcbee]

How about some wham blocks on Merriman.

Chip Merriman with an OL, then have Graham come down the line and put a helmet to his ribcage. That will slow him down for the game.

 

[JR4]

vincent jackson, antonio gates, malcolm floyd, keenan mccardell, eric parker, and ladanian tomlinson can all burn your secondary..

yeah right ... just like Chad Johnson burned us??? not.
Wake up jackson, mccardell and parker while good receivers are not
super heros and no better than any of the top receivers PATs have dealt
with.
Sad .... you are sad.
A defense that allows an average of 14 points a game does not get burned
very often.
While LT is your claim to fame .... your WRs are no super heros.

 

[Willie55]

we could list the entire roster if we really wanted to.. i didn't include michael turner, manumaleuna, lorenzo neal..

keenan mccardell has the super bowl experience to guide this team further. he lost 2 teeth a couple weeks ago but keeps on ticking.

Yeah there isn't any Super Bowl experience on the Pats.

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

Yeah there isn't any Super Bowl experience on the Pats.

That was a helpful insight, Willie. These Bolt fans seems to have difficulty with perspective.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Offensive Strategy? "Score more points than the other guys."

Otherwise, I think we have to keep his Tomlinsonship off the field as much as possible, so establishing Dillon and Maroney and putting together at least three 5--7 minute drives is critical. The only way we can do that is to force their linebackers to watch out for something besides a run by spreading the field and running crossing patterns underneath. Other than that, I guess I'd ask BB.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I think you try to use their aggressiveness against them. Lots of traps, screens and draws. Things like the fake screen to one side, screen to the other side type stuff. Also, run an end around or two to WRs. Seems like the Chargers run less man coverage and more zone so we'll probably see a bunch of Troy Brown crossing routes, etc...

:yeahthat:
You pick your spots to do it in, but you're dead on. Whereas our guys mind the gaps, their guys are sack happy. Just keep in mind "all blitzes are run blitzes," even one-man blitzes like Merriman. Meaning, if all you care about is penetration, there's a good chance you leave a big fat hole in the wrong place by overpursuing, but also a good chance you disrupt something like an end-around too. This would be a good time to drag a counter trey out of yer butt because they'd be likely to commit to the first step.

Dinks and dunks are what's obviously given to NE on a silver platter, and we take those... also, the SD rushing D isn't suffocating enough that we can't you just plain run the ball, whether on the edges or inside... and I think we need to win that battle to double their guessing games. No abandoning the run. Man Law.

I don't think the offense needs to get cute at all, although of course you prepare for the specific defense you're playing.

BTW, SD fans? The sack is pretty much the most overrated stat in football. It's made for preeners. It's a good thing to have happen, but look at the super bowl winners in the last 5 years -- simple enough, 3 of them are the Pats. Bet you won't find a league leader in sacks in that bunch.

Sacks are a high risk, high reward stunt. You want your fair share, but you can't win any league outside a fantasy league if you're not toward the top in stopping points scored (as a defense.)

Just thought I'd throw that in,

PFnV

 

[VJCPatriot]

I think we import last weeks gameplan. Spread offense with alot of short routes. usually when a D blitzes, those short 5-7 yd hitches are open all day. in order to make that more effective we need to take our shots deep just like last week only we need to connect on 1 or 2 of them to really keep the defense honest. also, look for the return of the charlie weiss offense, lots of screens, draws and double moves with pump fake routes.
We can't stop Merriman and BB knows it. so we sure up the middle of the OL and let Brady step up. he's better at moving in the pocket than rolling out of it. Merriman will run circles around the pocket and if we can control the middle it won't hurt us.

I agree we'll spread out San Diego and Brady will cut them apart with precision passes. The Pats have met and handled great pass rushers before. Remember Freeney - the fastest man to run 'around' the play in the NFL? If we can keep funneling Merriman to the outside Brady will have plenty of time to step up and complete his throws.

The Pats will mix it up with some runs of course but spread offense will be our bread and butter. I think we take a couple of shots downfield with Chad Jackson, and this week he might actually burn em deep if Brady gets a clean toss off.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

We can take the shots deep with Jackson OR Reche... Shotty said he ran either a 4.35 or a 4.38 when he first came into the league. You just don't hear about that sort of thing so much in NE, where the fans talk about the important numbers, the ones you write in roman numerals

PFnV

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

I agree we'll spread out San Diego and Brady will cut them apart with precision passes. The Pats have met and handled great pass rushers before. Remember Freeney - the fastest man to run 'around' the play in the NFL? If we can keep funneling Merriman to the outside Brady will have plenty of time to step up and complete his throws.

The Pats will mix it up with some runs of course but spread offense will be our bread and butter. I think we take a couple of shots downfield with Chad Jackson, and this week he might actually burn em deep if Brady gets a clean toss off.

i agree 100% on the pass rush. been there. done that. i don't see how SD presents any worse a threat that Blitzburg has in the past.

if i'm playing d for SD and I see Chad on the field there is no way I let him behind me. the guy has run one route all year. oh, and i also watch the end-around i guess.

i'd be thrilled to find out that BB has thought the same thing and is saving Chad's non-fly routes for an important game to catch a d off-guard. i greatly doubt it, but i'd be thrilled to see it happen.