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IMHO, the Houston game will be won or lost based on how the Patriots O-line does against the Houston Front 7.
The Patriots O-line of Solder, Thuney, Andrews, Mason, and Cannon is unheralded. However, they have stonewalled some great pass rushers of late.. Included in that are Von Miller, Derek Wolfe, Cameron Wake, "ImaDumfuk" Suh, Elvis Dumervil, and Terrell Suggs..
In the 5 of the last 6 games of the season, the Pats O-line and Brady put up the following:
113 Completions
180 Attempts
4 Sacks (Eric Waddle, Jared Crick, Mohammed Wilkerson, Shane Ray)
That's 1 sack every 45 drop backs.
Houston's D-line with Wilfork and Clowney, along with ILB Benardrick McKinney and OLB Whitney Mercilus will definitely be a formidable group. The Pats will definitely have to watch for the late man on Stunts and Twists.. Something they've had a notoriously hard time with for the better part of a decade.
If I'm Bill O'Brien, I don't want Clowney up against Cannon. I line him up against Solder and Thuney. I probably also like Wilfork up shaded to Andrews left, again putting pressure on Thuney.. Then I have McKinney come in late through the Right side A-gap.. Mercilus will be the Wild Card.. If you have him lined up next to Clowney, you're over-loading that side.. If you put Mercilus on the to Brady's right, he'll typically line up against a TE and may have the advantage over the likes of Bennett or Lengle.
Whatever happens, it's going to be a tough game..
The Patriots O-line of Solder, Thuney, Andrews, Mason, and Cannon is unheralded. However, they have stonewalled some great pass rushers of late.. Included in that are Von Miller, Derek Wolfe, Cameron Wake, "ImaDumfuk" Suh, Elvis Dumervil, and Terrell Suggs..
In the 5 of the last 6 games of the season, the Pats O-line and Brady put up the following:
113 Completions
180 Attempts
4 Sacks (Eric Waddle, Jared Crick, Mohammed Wilkerson, Shane Ray)
That's 1 sack every 45 drop backs.
Houston's D-line with Wilfork and Clowney, along with ILB Benardrick McKinney and OLB Whitney Mercilus will definitely be a formidable group. The Pats will definitely have to watch for the late man on Stunts and Twists.. Something they've had a notoriously hard time with for the better part of a decade.
If I'm Bill O'Brien, I don't want Clowney up against Cannon. I line him up against Solder and Thuney. I probably also like Wilfork up shaded to Andrews left, again putting pressure on Thuney.. Then I have McKinney come in late through the Right side A-gap.. Mercilus will be the Wild Card.. If you have him lined up next to Clowney, you're over-loading that side.. If you put Mercilus on the to Brady's right, he'll typically line up against a TE and may have the advantage over the likes of Bennett or Lengle.
Whatever happens, it's going to be a tough game..