2019 Pre-Game Thread: America's Team vs. Captain America

Willie Clay's Big Play

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I think the way in which the stats may be a little misleading is this: their default posture is to deny you longer passes and make you win with running and shorter passes (e.g. longer drives). if you show you will run a lot, they will adjust--even against Baltimore. So those run defense numbers are a blend of strategy and capability. That said, I do not think they have a great run defense even when they are playing to stop the run...but it also is materially better than those number show.

This is all part of why they focus on ppg against, not yards.
This is a great post. BB never gives anything, aside from history lessons, to the media so trying to draw a line in the gray area of talent and strategy is always tough.

I don't think they're awful against the run, but I wouldn't call it a strength. I tjink the amswer lies somewhere in the realm of complementary football that takes all three phases of the opponent into consideration.

Edit: except the Ravens, they run a wonky offense. Also, fuck the Ravens.
 

johnmd20

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I don’t really see how they are going to score enough to win this game with two significant WRs out. Edelman, Harry, Meyers plus White maybe gets it done against a lesser opponent but this seems way too tall an order for this game.

Also, I hope Edelman fair catches every punt.
You don't see how the Patriots, at home, can figure out how to win a game where they are 6 point favorites?

Ok.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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You don't see how the Patriots, at home, can figure out how to win a game where they are 6 point favorites?

Ok.
Well, 11 points would have done it last week, so I’m not saying there is no path here, but this offense was already facing challenges. I dont know how they overcome losing both guys. One maybe, fine. I mean, I will still watch and still have faith in Bill, but this is rough.
 

johnmd20

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Well, 11 points would have done it last week, so I’m not saying there is no path here, but this offense was already facing challenges. I dont know how they overcome losing both guys. One maybe, fine. I mean, I will still watch and still have faith in Bill, but this is rough.
The lack of weapons are a problem but maybe Meyers and Harry can step up. And maybe Michel won't absolutely suck, which has been doing for almost a month now.

What is up with Michel, actually? He's terrible.
 

Mystic Merlin

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The lack of weapons are a problem but maybe Meyers and Harry can step up. And maybe Michel won't absolutely suck, which has been doing for almost a month now.

What is up with Michel, actually? He's terrible.
The run blocking fucking sucks. Last year the guy had hole after hold to work with. The drop off from Trent Brown to Newhouse, Andrews to Karras, and Gronk to the revolving TE door, not to mention the loss of Develin, has really crippled them.
 

BaseballJones

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The run blocking fucking sucks. Last year the guy had hole after hold to work with. The drop off from Trent Brown to Newhouse, Andrews to Karras, and Gronk to the revolving TE door, not to mention the loss of Develin, has really crippled them.
Four all pro level blockers replaced by, uh, not even replacement level blockers has been, obviously, a huge problem. And one without an easy solution. Wynn at TE, Harry at WR (great blocker), and Allen at TE (which isn’t a thing but which could be if hey wanted to go that route) would help considerably.
 

BigSoxFan

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The run blocking fucking sucks. Last year the guy had hole after hold to work with. The drop off from Trent Brown to Newhouse, Andrews to Karras, and Gronk to the revolving TE door, not to mention the loss of Develin, has really crippled them.
There is zero explosion to his game. It’s not the same runner I saw at UGA and I have no idea why. Clearly, OL has had an impact but RBs need to make people miss and he has been horrible at that basically all year.
 

johnmd20

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There is zero explosion to his game. It’s not the same runner I saw at UGA and I have no idea why. Clearly, OL has had an impact but RBs need to make people miss and he has been horrible at that basically all year.
He had one humongous first down run late in the game against the Eagles that made me go, "Where the heck is that guy?" He hit the edge so fast. I want that Sony on the field.
 

tims4wins

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Know what’s weird? This is like ancient history but Sony looked AWESOME in the preseason. I’m not making that up right?
 

BigSoxFan

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He had one humongous first down run late in the game against the Eagles that made me go, "Where the heck is that guy?" He hit the edge so fast. I want that Sony on the field.
Yup. He had some great runs in the SB and was lights out in the playoffs. This year the OL explains some of the problem but not all. 3.3 YPC is just gross. Longest run this year is 26 yards. In 7 games this year, longest run has been 15 yards or less. Just has not been good at all.
 

patoaflac

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Know what’s weird? This is like ancient history but Sony looked AWESOME in the preseason. I’m not making that up right?
I believe Jon does not read these threads. Maybe it is because NY teams suck in football; or maybe there is another reason, because thinking twice I'm certain that the MFY have also sucked in this century.:eyeroll:
 

Rook05

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My scorching hot take on the run defense: It doesn’t matter. This team is set up to stop the pass. It might be the best pass defense in history, and that’s saying something given how much today’s game favors passing offenses.

The Pats can be had if the opponent gets a lead and can get away with running the ball. How many teams can really keep pace with them through the run game? Clearly Baltimore. Maybe KC, but their defense is garbage. Maybe Indy, but the Pats aren’t losing a home playoff game to Jacoby Brissett. But the rest of the “big rushing” days are a mirage, IMO. Which is why if the Pats get an even modestly competent offense (+24 points), they’ll probably win.
 

tims4wins

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My scorching hot take on the run defense: It doesn’t matter. This team is set up to stop the pass. It might be the best pass defense in history, and that’s saying something given how much today’s game favors passing offenses.

The Pats can be had if the opponent gets a lead and can get away with running the ball. How many teams can really keep pace with them through the run game? Clearly Baltimore. Maybe KC, but their defense is garbage. Maybe Indy, but the Pats aren’t losing a home playoff game to Jacoby Brissett. But the rest of the “big rushing” days are a mirage, IMO. Which is why if the Pats get an even modestly competent offense (+24 points), they’ll probably win.
Agreed. Falling behind is a general problem. If they can force teams into passing / into 3rd downs then opposing offenses have basically no prayer.
 
Apr 24, 2019
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In the pre season Sony had a couple of WOW plays - nifty cuts, as I recall - but a lot of people, myself included, apparently read way, way too much into that. He played pretty sparingly, so we probably should’ve dialed it down a notch or two. But seeing that, coupled with all this talk of getting him involved in the passing game more substantially than they have thus far wound up doing, raised expectations that he hasn’t come close to matching.
 

Marciano490

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I really don’t understand the thread title. Is there a game today or is it just an intrasquad scrimmage?