Key Matchups, Cowboys and Patriots Edition
by Middlesex on Oct 13, 2011 7:51 PM EDT
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PrintSome of the guaranteed battles to watch this Sunday..
Patriots Offense vs. Cowboys Defense:
C Dan Connolly vs. NT Jay Ratliff:
The Patriot backup-center has been greatly aided by the fact that he has Logan Mankins to his left and Brian Waters to his right. However on Sunday he could be facing the toughest competition of his short career at center over Tom Brady.
Tom Brady and Friends(WRs Wes Welker/Deion Branch and TEs Rob Gronkowski/Aaron Hernandez) vs. Cowboys secondary:
There'll be other Pats receiving of course, but these are the big four weapons that Tom Brady will utilize the most in the passing game. Ochocinco will see time in 2-minute drills when the Pats want to conserve time left on the clock. The Dallas secondary has had time to heal up after being banged up all season.
New England's tackles vs. OLB DeMarcus Ware:
Will Ware go after Matt Light on the weakside or go after the right-tackle on the strong side? Will it be "Seabass" Vollmer at right tackle or rookie Nate Soldier?
RG Brian Waters and Brothers Gronkowski vs. LDE Marcus Spears and ILB Sean Lee:
This will be a key area in determining the success or failure of the Patriot run game.
Tom Brady and Bill(O'Brien) vs. Rob Ryan
That's right, it isn't Rob Ryan vs. Bill Belichick. It's the Dallas defensive coordinator vs. the Patriots offensive coordinators in Tom Brady and Bill O'Brien. The Pats had revenge against the Jets last week for beating them last year. This Sunday they'll want revenge against Rob Ryan for his role in their embarressing loss at Cleveland last year(the only other team able to beat them besides the Jets).
Patriots Defense vs. Cowboys Offense:
Cowboy interior offensive line vs. Patriot defensive-tackles: ("Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold." -Yeats)
Will the older New England defensive-tackles get the better of the younger guards and center of Dallas? If Albert Haynesworth gets significant time lined up next to Vince Wilfork, things could get really interesting..
TE Jason Witten vs various Patriots:
One of Belichick's favorite tactics is to take away the opposing QB's best friend. Look for either DE Andre Carter or DE Shaun Ellis to try jamming Witten at the line of scrimmage,and/or a linebacker.. and then probably either safety James Ihedigbo, Patrick Chung, or a nickelback.
Tony Romo and Friends(WRs Dez Bryant and Miles Austin) vs. Patriots secondary:
If James Ihedigbo doesn't line up with Patrick Chung at safety there'll be lots of questions for Coach Belichick. Devin McCourty appears to be playing like his old self again. The Pats are likely to try throwing Witten off his routes before he makes it to this level. Their last game was the best game the NE secondary has had so far, and Sunday we'll find out if they can repeat that effort against a QB who knows how to rack up yardage.
Jason Garrett vs. Bill Belichick:
Oh, the many choices these men face heading into this game. Garrett should jhave the advantage of the bye, except for the fact that he has to bring his team to face the Pats in their house. Perhaps the biggest question facing Bill Belichick is whether to put Gary Guyton back out there as the middle-linebacker making the playcalls.
So what am I missing? Everyone misses something.
The views expressed in these FanPosts are not necessarily those of the writers or SBNation.
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If Devin McCourty can not cover his WR
I don’t think any of should say he is back to his old self for awhile
Taylor Price will be the starter by the end of the season (Said before Training Camp)
He seems fine in zone,
struggles with man.
It is what it is
And with those two guys on the outside,
Leaving McC/Bodden/Dowling on an island won’t go well.
"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West
We'll have to wait and see whether or not
the defensive game against Romo looks like the game against Sanchez. Hate to say it after seeing Romo’s superbowl comments, but he is a better QB than Sanchez in terms of eating up yardage.
It is what it is
From a Cowboys fan
Our offense will move the ball. But making Brady nervous or anything else in the pocket is very hard. I have worked with his personal coach and mentor Tom Martinez for a long time. I think he is very prepared for the game coming up. It will be a great game that I will be looking foward to. I will be at the game this weekend so any restaurant that you folks could recomend would be great.
You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a two-by-four. Dan Birdwell. Oakland Raiders
How do you want to be rememberd. Go out there and play every play like it is your last play. Be remembered as the person you want to be for the rest of your life. Spike Dykes, Midland Lee and Texas Tech Coach.
You going to be in Boston, Prov, or Foxboro area?
"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West
I will be in Boston
You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a two-by-four. Dan Birdwell. Oakland Raiders
How do you want to be rememberd. Go out there and play every play like it is your last play. Be remembered as the person you want to be for the rest of your life. Spike Dykes, Midland Lee and Texas Tech Coach.
SO MANY great places to eat...
…pretty much turn a corner and you’ll find a good place. Lobster and clam chowder are local specialties. Northend has great Italian food. So I’ll tell you where t take the ol’ lady if she’s a mixed drink kind of girl; Drink on Congress st. near the financial district and southie. Gets packed as the night wears on but they have the best mixed and rarest drinks around and are pretty much tailored after a speakeasy. Excellent bartenders, excellent drinks and appetizers, and a very nice environment that while not the most romantic is certainly disarming.
It is what it is
It helps a QB's composure to constantly see
Logan Mankins and Brian Waters guarding you up front. These guys are grading as top left and right guards respectively.
It is what it is
One thing about Guyton
He’s actually playing weak side linebacker, with Spikes in the middle, which I think suits him better. In 2009 he was filling in at MLB for a chunk of the season and didn’t do too great. WLB is less likely to get tangled up with offensive guards trying to stop the run and tends to play more in space on the perimeter.
I’m not Guyton’s biggest fan at all, but there are worse positions for him to be in. He’s a downgrade from Mayo without a doubt, but at least he’s playing to his strengths.
Deep in enemy territory
You touched on it a bit...
(Cowboys fan here)
There are two areas of Pats offense vs. Cowboys defense that most concern me. Welker vs the Cowboys slot conrer, Orlando Scandrick. Scandrick is a good corner, but can be turned around (Steve Smith, former Giant and now LOLgles) turns him around all the time. Scandrick is coming off an ankle injury, this will be his first game back.
And then my big concern….Gronkowski and Hernandez against Cowboys linebackers Bradie James and Keith Brooking. Match up two young, big and controlled TEs against two aging LBs and I don’t like that matchup at all for the Cowboys. Belicihick will scheme to get them away from Sean Lee, and onto Brooking or James.
I’ll be at this game, and hope to see that unbelievable home win streak with Brady starting snapped.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.
Well let me just say this
If the Cowboys can’t find a way to stop either TE and both of them have their way it will be Miami all over again. New England runs a 2 TE offense and if they let the TEs dominant the the offense will dominate, because then Welker will get his numbers then Branch will get involved and all of sudden your offense is playing 3 scores down in the fourth and you have to throw every down. Now the Cowboys have a significantly better team than Miami with a better pass rush so they are better equipped to handle this, but if they can’t stop either TE then they can’t hope to stop the patriots,
Taylor Price will be the starter by the end of the season (Said before Training Camp)
The Cowboys will be able to take one TE away, I'm pretty positive about that.
I watched the NE/Miami game, and couldn’t believe how good the TEs are. As you stated, I think the Dallas defense is better than Miami’s, almost across the board.
How injured is Hernandez?
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.
by Nickthegrip on Oct 15, 2011 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
He sprained his mcl
and missed two games. He says he’s feeling good (which doesn’t mean much really.) Last week, his first week back, he started out of the blocks slow with his worst moment being an interception in the red zone after a Brady pass went through his hands. He admitted to the knee brace making him probably 1/10th slower than playing without it. He played better as the game went on.
Keep the faith!
Jason Garrett does not have an advantage.
Perhaps he doesn’t have a disadvantage, since he’s coming off the bye.
But no coach going up against Bill Belichick has an advantage, from the coaching standpoint.
Cyril P
liryc715@yahoo.com
Can someone please calm my nerves about our CB's going up against the Dallas receiving core?
We are last in the league against the pass, while the Cowboys rank 3rd in the league in passing offense. With a sub par pass rushing front 7, this could get ugly for us, no?
In GOD I TRUST>In BB i trust......faith where it belongs!!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.
It is if they let it get ugly.
It is what it is
Bryant and Austin are coming off hamstring injuries
That usually means their conditioning isn’t at it’s peak. We’ve seen consistently this season that Bryant can’t keep pace for 60 minutes, so in my opinion the only bright spot it that they’ll both be gassed by the 4th quarter.
That’s good for us, especially if it turns into a shootout.
Deep in enemy territory
Austin played the 49er game with the hamstring injury 3tds..
Bryant had a deep thigh bruise which was healed up last week
Tony Romo 2011's League's Most Valuable Player and 2012's Superbowl MVP
"No one gives us the right, we take it." L. ~SPN
Re: Bryant - I'll believe it when I see it. He's had issues all season with that.
My point with regard to Austin is that his conditioning may be off. As he hasn’t played since week 2 it’s not unreasonable to think he may not be up to speed, regardless of his practice status.
Deep in enemy territory
He practiced through the bye week.
I’m pretty sure that conditioning won’t be an issue for him.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.
by Nickthegrip on Oct 15, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah Austin will be just fine.
Tony Romo 2011's League's Most Valuable Player and 2012's Superbowl MVP
"No one gives us the right, we take it." L. ~SPN
The Pats Vs Cowboys
Thing with the Pats O is that an opponent can shut down one two or three of the WR’s and/or TEs and there are strong options for Brady. The O Line has been doing a great job of giving Brady plenty of time this season. with a few exceptions. So say they are doubling up on Wel-Kah, with good coverage on Branch and Hern…You still have Gronk who makes some sweet catches in heavy coverage. Ocho is coming along slowly, and is moreorless being ignored by D schemes. Bottom line, Brady has too much time to throw and too many options. The Pats also have a rejuvenated running game. The Law Firm might have a bad toe, but should be fine if he gets the needle, and Stevan Ridley’s time to shine is upon us.
Romo despite his dumb plays and gaffes can throw and connect. The Pats secondary has been lackluster and banged up. McCourty needs to return to the player who got nominated for rookie of the year and improve upon that. I would love to see a big game by Fat Albert coupled with Wilfork ( who is getting more INTs than the rest of the secondary this year) Make some holes and let Ellis run up the middle.
Coach Hoody has a strong advantage over Garrett. He will be better prepared and have a few surprises in store.
Look for a shootout. The Boys will put some points up, but the Pats will go over 30pts yet again.
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