Patriots Links 7/20/09 - How Can Teams Beat The Patriots?
by Marima on Jul 20, 2009 9:34 AM EDT
in News
18 comments
Chris Brown (Buffalobills.com) details four elements the Bills must have to snap the streak and beat the Patriots. Here is a sampling of each point.
Pressure on Brady
The Giants proved in Super Bowl XLII that getting pressure on Brady is one of the most effective means of slowing down New England’s passing attack.Be able to adjust
The Bills have had success against the Patriots running the ball over the past few years, but rarely has it been throughout an entire game. Last year’s season finale was the latest example.Fred Jackson ran wild starting in place of an injuredMarshawn Lynch as he rumbled for 103 yards on 20 carries, averaging better than five yards per rush in the first half alone.Big plays
Buffalo has done a decent job of converting third downs against the Patriots of late to help sustain drives. In their last four meetings they’ve converted 22-49 for a respectable 45 percent success rate. The problem is rarely have the Bills been able to sustain drives long enough to get into scoring territory, namely the red zone.Be aggressive
Finally when you’re going against a team the caliber of a New England, you can’t play too close to the vest. You have to be aggressive. If an opponent isn’t worried about the unexpected they’ve got half the battle won. The Bills have raised their talent level and should be able to dictate play to their opponents more often this season including New England.
Edgar Thompson (Palm Beach Post) ponders ten questions while waiting for the NFL season to start.
Will New England's Tom Brady recapture the magic of 2007? Although he is less than 1 1/2 years removed from a 50-touchdown season, his last two games are ones he would like to forget. Brady struggled as the New York Giants shocked his 18-0 Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Seven months later, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the '08 season opener. The Patriots clearly are confident he is ready, having traded Matt Cassel, who had a breakthrough season in Brady's absence. But even a three-time Super Bowl winner will have to prove himself after a major injury. Brady, 31, said he hopes to play another 10 seasons. First, he'll have to make it through one.
- Paul Perillo and Erik Scalavino debate How much should Brady play this summer?
- John Cockrell's Friday Out-Takes: The Best Revenge.
- Mike Reiss has a terrific little piece about Bill Belichick as a fashion icon. Really, and a money maker too. Just ask Kenny Gamble, Reebok’s vice president of merchandising. (Take that all you hoodie haters out there.)
- Mike Reiss offers a snapshot of the Defensive Line, leading up to Training Camp.
- Mike Reiss talked with Football Outsiders' Doug Farrar who says the Patriots may not be perfect in 2009, but they weren't perfect in 2007 either.
- Jeff Howe reports former Patriots Stanley Morgan and Steve Grogan are excited to be a part of their team's 50th year festivities.
- Neil Keefe notes Julius Peppers' problems with the Panthers could be good news for the Patriots.
- The Boston Herald has hired Ian Rapoport as a beat reporter covering the Patriots to join the sports department staff.
- Christopher Price compiles his own list of the Ten Greatest Moments in Patriots History.
0 recs |
18 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Brady playing in the preseason
This was one of our campfire discussions last week, how much Tom Brady will play in the preseason.
My contention is that Brady will not play in a single preseason game, if only to keep the opposition guessing as to how good he’ll be for as long as possible. Others think he’ll have to play to get up to game speed, improve his timing and shake the rust off, but I don’t think Belichick will take that risk.
Keep the faith!
by Marima on Jul 20, 2009 11:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He needs to take a hit....
For those that are worried about the mental side of the injury, that’s the best way to fix it. Of course there’s risk, there’s even risk standing on the sidelines, but I think Tom needs to play. If you don’t want risk, let him sit at home.
The lions share of the snaps need to go to the #1 backup however.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jul 20, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just like Bledsoe
in the AFC Championship game – After his first big hit, eerily similar to the one that almost killed him, Bledsoe was energized. I think it will be the same for Brady, that he’ll be looking forward to it instead of being worried about it.
Keep the faith!
by Marima on Jul 20, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BTW: Tom can take a hit
203 career sacks, 1 he didn’t get up from
I also believe it was a bad hit because the angle Pollard launched himself from, it was impossible to hit above the knee. But we could argue that ’til the cows come home.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jul 20, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
the bills have no chance
they just think those things will work but they wont because mastermind BB knows what to do
by Z-money12 on Jul 20, 2009 1:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s a good thing you aren’t overly confident. Some might look at that as a weakness.
"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy
by TEMSON on Jul 20, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
doesn't matter one bit
if a fan is overconfident. How does a fan’s overconfidence affect the strength or ability of a team?
Keep the faith!
by Marima on Jul 21, 2009 7:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn’t say it did. But realistically what we fans do matters almost not at all – so why do blogs like this even exist? For fun of course.
"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy
by TEMSON on Jul 22, 2009 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, for fun
that’s why i was confused with your reference to weakness.
Keep the faith!
by Marima on Jul 22, 2009 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nope, just some friendly rivalry. I mean if you read somewhere that the Pats had “no chance” of beating, say, the Steelers – I imagine you might disagree as well.
"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy
by TEMSON on Jul 23, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
All I meant was that if fans of a team are of the opinion that it would be impossible for their team to lose it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that some players on that team could share similar beliefs, and that kind of sentiment has the potential to backfire. Certainly not likely, but possible.
"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy
by TEMSON on Jul 23, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pressure on Brady only works....
when you also double-team Welker. That COMBINATION was what worked in 2007. Otherwise, he gets open too fast.
That’s what makes Greg Lewis, and some of the tight-ends so intriguing. Pressure comes, safety valves open, Brady stays vertical.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jul 20, 2009 3:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Beating the Pats?
TO needs to be ready to get “his” points starting in Week 2.
He will, however, have the best seat in the house on Sept 14th to see Randy Moss and Wes Welker and a host of others rack up the points on the Foxboro scoreboard.
As the old Bugs Bunny cartoon said; “Bring me a victum!”
by Concord Wiggin on Jul 20, 2009 5:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
...double-team Welker?
I do hope that teams try to double-team Welker. Where would you suggest? At the line? As he darts cross-field for a 6 yard gain? In the 10-12 yard-gain area? And where will this talented double-teamer come from? One less safety? One less pass rusher? Give Tom Brady enough time to write a postcard to his mother-in-law, before he launches one to single-covered Randy Moss?
Besides, Matt Cassell kept hitting Welker in “double-team” coverage. Will TB let himself be outdone??
I can’t wait for the season to start!!!!!!
by Concord Wiggin on Jul 20, 2009 5:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They usually had a linebacker or short safety watch him and help if he burned his guy.
Sometimes they put a shorter corner on him that could cut like he does, and play him tighter.
It’s the same thing the Pats did to him when he was a Dolphin.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jul 20, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bill Belichick quote:
(on what went into their pursuit of Wes Welker and if he was surprised he was available)
“When the second round tender was on him we were interested in that. In the end we ended up trading with Miami. Wes is an outstanding player. In playing against us, he killed us every time we played them. The only way we could handle him was to double cover him.”
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jul 20, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yes and like welker
greg lewis was great against the pats thats why they traded for him
by Z-money12 on Jul 20, 2009 8:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Media requests: Please email patspulpit@gmail.com
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
