I know everyone here is too busy panicking to talk football, but I figured I'd start a 'keys to the game' (not necessarily to victory, since that seems all but impossible) thread... Here are a few thought I have for the game: With Revis & Rhodes, Moss isn't terrifying If we can get any sort of passrush (and I don't mean hitting Brady, I mean just giving him less than 5+ seconds to throw) I don't think Randy Moss will shred our secondary. When we faced New England in Week 1, Revis was coming off of a LONG holdout, and had very little NFL experience. There was also very little game-tape available of a motivated 'top-of-his-game' Randy Moss.... I expect a similar game out of Moss as what Edwards had this week. He'll make 2 or 3 athletic plays to get catches over Revis, but I am confident that Revis can stick with him, and hold him in check. Rhodes is continuing to develop into one of the best S's in football, and, with him over the top, the deep play to Moss doesn't really worry me. 15+ Carries For Washington Will Keep Us In The Game Thomas Jones' running style is not going to work against the front 7 of New England, as they're very disciplined, and will control the cut-back lanes. That being said, they (especially those LBs) will never be mistaken for fast, or quick. I think, if we're going to move the ball at all against them on the ground, and keep their pass-rush from teeing off on Kellen, we're going to need to use Leon for at least half of our running plays. And when I say this, I mean between the tackles. If we can establish a decent double-team on Wilfork, I believe Leon has what it takes to slash his way to 4+ yards per carry against that LB corps. While this won't WIN the game for us (nothing, I believe, will) it may keep us relatively competitive. Pounding Jones 20+ times is not going to do it. Special Teams, Special Teams, Special Teams! If we're going to compete in this game, our STs are going to be a big reason for it. No matter how 'in-check' New England is kept, it's no secret that they're going to be scoring several times in this game. That means a lot of opportunities in the return game for Neon Leon. I think NE is a smug enough team to actually kick to him (something we haven't seen since the Pittsburgh game) and it will be up to our KR team to give him a chance to set us up with good field position. Additionally, any missed FGs (Nuge has hit something like 14 in a row) or shanked punts could spell doom for us. We cannot afford to leave any points off the board, or give up ay field position. Once again, if we're going to be competitive, it will require Westoff and Co. being on top of their game. and last, but not least... Big Game from Cotchery! The Pats will likely try to hold down LC with Samuel, and, as a Jet fan, that gives me hope. As Coles is banged up, I'd rather he be used as a decoy, and a way to keep Samuel out of the play, than as a primary target. That means Cotchery will be matchup up on the #2 CB (Hobbs?). As Smith/McCareins are not reliable targets, and it's fair to say that Harrison should hold Baker down mot of the game, Cotchery's going to need to show up, big time, for our passing game to survive. I think we had better hope his finger heals up, and he's ready to go 100%, because that is one of very few favorable matchups we have in this game.... There are other keys to being competitive in this game, obviously, but those are all I have for now... I believe that if we can successfully do most of these things, we'll AT LEAST cover that disgusting point spread.... I'm looking for a respectable performance this week, not necessarily a victory (though it would be sweet!).... While it seems unlikely, I think it is quite possible that we could hang with them, at least for a while.... But we'll need to be perfect, and we'll need a lot of luck What do you all think? *awaiting disgusting flow of bandwagon Pats fans to enter thread to tell me that no matter what we do, we're losing by 50* ats_suck:
they need to have an aggressive gameplan on defense. Turn the dogs loose, like the Ravens did. Punch 'em in the mouth, knock Brady on his ass, and keep as much pressure on as possible. Sure, they may get burned a few times, but the gameplan in the opener to lay back and not try to pressure the QB was a ridiculously bad miscalculation.
They need to run a lot of 2 back set with TJ and LW and get LW matched up with Junior in coverage like Philly did. Could be a great weapon. Have to run crossing routes and in patterns and leave outside the numbers alone, but I don't know if Kellen can lay off those patterns.
Its going to snow. I don't think Moss likes to play in the cold. They really aren't that good when he doesn't have a huge game. They can't run for shit, maybe even against the Jets. If the Jets can move the ball on offense, their defense is old and slow and it will show. Jets by six.
I agree 100%. Send 6,7,8 guys on every play. If they burn us, so be it, they'd probably score anyway. D-backs need to be very aggressive in trying to jump routes and go for INT's for the same reason. On offense, bring out a couple more big guys and pound the ball down there throats. Fuck all the silly motion, gadget bullshit for this game. Line up, overload, and over power their d-line and tired linebackers. We must impose our will on the offensive line of scrimmage even if it means sacrificing a receiver or two. Control the clock with long drives this way keeping their offense off the field. BE AGGRESSIVE ON 4TH AND SHORTS! We need TD's not FG's.
That first drive in the first game when we punted on 4th and short was a foreshadowing of what was to come this season coaching-wise. Time to take a couple of risks and let it all hang out for this one!
Also....Randy does not like getting hit. Put Elam on him at the line, and bash him every snap, then have Elam go towards the center (or wherever he goes) in the normal defense.., and allow Revis to start each play 7-10 yards deep negating Randy's speed.
That's a good point, Randy doesn't like getting chucked at the line....the problem is, you have to bump him and then not get beat out of the box...that's the trick. One important key you left out... Kellen is a young and inexperienced QB, BB will exploit that...the Pats are going to fake blitzes and mix coverages and change from the 4-3 to the 3-4 to confuse the hell out of him. If he panicks and throws the ball hot too many times, they'll kill him with interceptions.
not much more to add that hasn't already been suggested. i agree with you, WSW, in that we shouldn't get caught up trying to fool the Pats with gadget plays as their D is too disciplined to really overreact to anything. having said that, if the CS has been saving a trick-play for Brad Smith - one we have yet to see - i believe this is the game where we finally see it. the Philly game showed us that the Pats OL isn't inpenetrable. if we attack similarly to how we did against the Steelers, maybe just maybe, we can get some pressure on Brady. i really like how Ellis was standing up, which added more beef up front. send Harris, occasionally send Rhodes, send Barton, send 'em all. we're not gonna get pressure any other way.
I expect BB to have stuff to fool Clemens... As to not getting beat out of the Box, that was the second half of my point. Play Revis 7-10 deep, with Rhodes over the top. You would only be using Elam to Hit Moss at the snap, basically moving the point where the SS lines up from 3-5 yards deep over the center, to 5-10 yards off to one side... Your run support would suffer, but given the 75/25 pass run ratio, you come out ahead in the equation. P.S. what do you figure the odds, that Clemens also gets rolled up on ?
Pretty close to 0. 1. BB would rather have Clemens in there than CP, being young and inexperienced, he will make more mistakes. 2. Why bother taking out a Jets player? That makes no sense. 3. Despite what Jets fans want to believe, the Pats don't target QB's. 4. If they targeted QB's, do you actually think teams like the Jets and Buffalo would be able to stop them? No way, there would be body bags everywhere.
Posts like this just ooze arrogance don't they? Sigh...I can't wait 'til you guys get knocked off your high horse.
Last time I check Wes Welker is a pretty good receiver. Top 2 in catches and almost 1000 yards. While you can shut down Moss all you want. Just leave Welker open.
then hit that mutherfucker. I just took a look at the box of the first game, and we couldnt have done any worse covering him.: R.Moss 9-183 So change it up, get physical, hit em hard and hit em often and just see where the chips fall when the smoke clears (mixing metaphors R Us) :breakdance:
ok so you want to double moss? Who should guard ben watson? cuz im pretty sure we dont have a fast enough lb. Whos gonna guard stallworth? Whose gonna guard wes welker? Obviousdly this isnt "real" football talk. The reason no one can stop the pats is because if you choose to double moss than your gonna get beaten by someone else because they have that many explosive playmakers. There is absolutely no way we will stop the patriots on defense they will score atleast 4 tds against us no questions asked. Unless theres bad weather.
I ooze arrogance because I say the Pats don't target QB's? ..or do you think the Jets O-line is better than the Pat's D-line? I don't want to turn this into another bash the Pats fan thread, let's get back to strategy talk. I like that stuff.
its a good point but i dont trust elam enough to rely on him to stop moss. If elam misses the bump then we are screwed. if anythinhg have rhodes bump and revis back there.
