1) Smash Mouth Football- This is not the Vrabel, Bruschi, McGinest, Harrison Patriots anymore. Though NE may have become a much more dynamic team they are much more a finesse team. I believe to win we need to be the team that now plays through the whistle borders on "dirty" and takes it to NE much like the more physical early 2000's Patriots used to be. 2) Defensive/ Specialty Teams Scoring- We need to find some "untraditional points" this week. Kick Return, Fumble Return, Int Return, Broken Play. Its been alarming this year the number of defensive and special teams points that have been scored against us. Its time for us to turn the table and find some points from our special teams or defense this week. 3) Welcome Back Kerry Rhodes- Revis will do his job on Moss, Welker and Faulk will get there catches but I believe we will contain the YAC. New England is going to look to get deep over the middle against us with either running back or TE, Rhodes needs to step up and take this away. Can this be the week we see him make a pick or strip sack also? 4) Leave the "Cherry Off the Top". I know we must establish the run to be successful Sunday I do however believe we will need to score points and that will come from being creative and the passing game. It seems to me that Schotty always has to add in the little twist. 1st play last week, would it not have been an easier throw if just traditional play action rather then QB roll out? Would it be terrible to just run reverse to Braylon Edwards and not ask him to throw the ball? We need to be creative this week while still staying in our players comfort zone. 5) Shonne Green I believe we need to get Shonn 10-12 carries this week as it is going to be important to be able to run outside the hashmarks as well as between the tackles. Shonne allows us to run pitch plays and outside runs that do not suit Thomas Jones I think we need to take advantage of this. 6) Get pressure up the Middle on Brady- David Harris and Bart Scott must be able to create pressure on Brady up the Middle of the field. I don't believe there has ever been a QB who is better at slide stepping forward and avoiding a more traditional pass rush then Brady. With this said as a defense you know where you will find brady "in the pocket" . The quickest way between two points is a straight line. Last but probably most obvious DISCIPLINE. We need to see more discipline out of this team and coaching staff. Its nice to have coaching staff and players that seem to enjoy being together. We need to begin to see that this has not resulted in lax practices and poor discipline. As the underdog we cannot afford any positive plays called back, dumb penalties or poor use of clock and timeouts. I have not heard one expert or football analyst give us any chance this weekend. Something tells me they are going to be wrong.
To me this week is simple. 1.) If Brady has time in the pocket to eat a sandwhich and make a phone call we lose by at least 2 scores. The D hasnt been applying major QB pressure for weeks. 2.) Good tackling...in order to counter the blitz the Pats are going to throw lot of short stuff and screens. If you dont get guys like Welker down with the first chance you get...its over. 3.) As always...Sanchez...limit turnovers Final Pats 31 Jets 24 No blow out...this team may be playing like crap but I dont think they lack heart.
defenitly one of your better threads, Todd. I agree with point #6.....the middle of our Dline is our achilles heel on defense....if we can get the rotation (Devito, Pouha, H.Green) to put in a solid outing, we may stand a chance. Harris/Scott will certainly need to get in Brady's grill for the Jets to be successful.....and that starts with pressure from the Dline.
I've lost all faith in Kerry Rhodes to perform a good game. Btw, I notice the spelling is much sharper. :up:
I think that this game will be much closer than 2 scores, however I do agree. IF you let Brady sit in the pocket, pose for a new magazine cover and read a dan brown novel than yes.. It will be a long day. Everyone knows that to beat the patriots offense you need to takle and move brady out of the pocket... If they start doing those swing screens to welker and pick up 10-15 yards by nature the defense will stop being aggressive and let Brady pick us apart.. if we tackle and tackle well those bubble screens are worthless and it limits the patriots... All in all we will have the lead at some point in the second half, its just up too the defense and a pressure situation...
