What's Our Offensive Strategy on Sunday?

[PatsDeb]

I seem to remember in the last two absolutely freezing playoff games the Pats were in (Tenn in '03 and Pitt '04) they did not hesitate to throw the long bomb (Bethel Johnson & Deion Branch, respectively). I don't think it was windy for the Pitt game, but I thought Tenn was (my husb. says I am remembering wrong). Although it is somewhat dictated by the schemes the opposing D gives you, I still think all the "forcing it" to Moss at the end of the season, then completely ignoring him in the last game was part of a grand scheme to keep our opponents off balance.

Unless there are extremely high winds, I'm guessing the Pats come out going for the kill (it worked great in Pitt in '04 - took the steam right out of the Steelers).

What say you?

 

[FrontSeven]

I seem to remember in the last two absolutely freezing playoff games the Pats were in (Tenn in '03 and Pitt '04) they did not hesitate to throw the long bomb (Bethel Johnson & Deion Branch, respectively).

That is true - they don't close up part of the play book because of the cold. Wind might be different.'

As always they will guess what the defense likes to give, and just go take that immediately. I don't know enough about their defense, but it's cover2 then we probably aren't going deep.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I imagine they'll run their usual offense. Looking at today's weather compared to Sundays, it'll be about 10 degrees colder and 10 MPH windier on Sunday but it's not like they're practicing in Hawaii today - or San Diego for that matter. The Chargers have had their moments defensively both against the run and the pass but they live largely off the 30 INTs they have.

I'll say the same thing as last week. The game comes down to one thing - the Offensive Line. Being overly simplistic, if they can play well then we will score 27+ points. We just will. And I doubt we allow more than 24.

The Chargers are ranked 30th (by Football Outsiders) against #3,#4,#5 WR and 17th against TE so I would expect us to see lots of passes to the secondary receivers (including Watson) and selected passes to Moss.

 

[BrianPat]

At first they'll spread out the Chargers with 4 wide, this will force at least linebackers into coverage. They'll look for the long and take the short ! If they get the Chargers putting more pass defenders on the field, they'll get bowled over my Maroney and when they adjust for that, the Pats will go back too looking for the long and taking the short.

If the Pats offense and the line play up to their abilities, the Chargers don't stand a chance.

If Tom gets sacked, remember, it's happened before, didn't make a difference then and he'll have 2 weeks to recover.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

At first they'll spread out the Chargers with 4 wide, this will force at least linebackers into coverage.

I would imagine so. No harm in seeing if their front seven can pressure Brady and how they're playing their coverages. We could always go to a tighter formation if needed. Given that we've withstood the team with the most sacks in the league, though, (NYG) I don't see why we'll have a big protection problem.

 

[BrianPat]

I would imagine so. No harm in seeing if their front seven can pressure Brady and how they're playing their coverages. We could always go to a tighter formation if needed. Given that we've withstood the team with the most sacks in the league, though, (NYG) I don't see why we'll have a big protection problem.

I think getting a linebacker in pass protection defending Wes makes for a sure 1st down. I'm not worried about our pass protaction, too much ability, pride and concern over protecting Tom. I think the whole plan is to get great matchups, since Randy and Wes will be attracting their best cover guys, who's covering Donte, Jabar, Watson, or my favorite Kevin Faulk. It will be either an addtional pass defender or a linebacker, we want the linebacker !

If they replace 2 linebackers with pass defenders, they'll run Maroney at them. This is what they did to the Jags, it worked perfectly all night !

Remember the Chargers game, Wes made that great move, planeted and switched directions, did you see the Charger nearly falling down trying to stay with him, that was a linebacker !

 

[PatsDeb]

What about on defense? I have been worried about our pass rush lately, but someone (TMQ, maybe?) says the Pats have intentionally been playing coverage through the first 3 quarters and then blitzing in the 4th once we have a lead and the other team is getting tired. I am not a technical Xs & Os type. What have others seen? I sure would enjoy seeing Seymour plant a gimpy Phillip Rivers a few times, but that hasn't happened much lately. Indy got almost no pressure on Rivers. Was that because Indy is bad or SD is good?

 

[BrianPat]

What about on defense? I have been worried about our pass rush lately, but someone (TMQ, maybe?) says the Pats have intentionally been playing coverage through the first 3 quarters and then blitzing in the 4th once we have a lead and the other team is getting tired. I am not a technical Xs & Os type. What have others seen? I sure would enjoy seeing Seymour plant a gimpy Phillip Rivers a few times, but that hasn't happened much lately. Indy got almost no pressure on Rivers. Was that because Indy is bad or SD is good?

That is what they've been doing, I also noticed during the Jags game, that the pass defenders played off the receivers at the line of scrimmage by at least 10 yards, in the 4th quarter they came up and jammed them. Another thing that was pointed out, they haven't used any exotic defensive schemes in the last few games, like linebackers and linemen moving around, DB's trying to disguise coverage, nothing like that.
So, having said that, I suspect we'll see a whole new defense against the Chargers.
If the Chargers tank, the Pats will go back too a vanilla defense, no need to show our next opponent anything.
Then again, what do I know ;-)