The Game Ball Thread: Wk 14 at Texans

[Tony C]

I agree that they're thin at CB, but when has it hurt them? Secondary play was pretty far down the list of problems in their two losses.

I thought after Coleman got injured they were hurt both by having to play Melvin some and, when that didn't work, using extra safeties in coverage to make up for the lack of CBs. Not sure it was decisive in either of their losses, but to me appeared to be an achilles heel -- with all the multi-WR packages out there, CB depth is essential.

 

[williams_482]

I agree that they're thin at CB, but when has it hurt them? Secondary play was pretty far down the list of problems in their two losses.

Chung gave up some pretty big plays while playing nickel corner in the Broncos game. He's had quite a turnaround this year, but he clearly isn't a cornerback.

 

[simplyeric]

Too much LaFell negativity. Yeah, the drops are bad and his routes aren't exactly transcendant. But he had five catches on 8 targets on a night where Brady completed only 22 balls. I think three or four of those were for first downs. Not dominant, but he also caught a TD on a great route that got called back only due to a very technical penalty. That he hasn't stepped up to dominate while there have been injuries is a bummer, but he was a useful player in a good, controlled offensive game.

LaFell's drops drive me nuts. But, furthering your point here, one thing I noticed is that he managed to hold on to the ball on the quick-release timing plays that amounted to 'I'm throwing you the ball, and you're going to strive for the two yards we need for the 1st, and then your going to get pummeled in the open field. You cool with that?'

 

[mulluysavage]

Butler seems to be great at getting his hand onto the ball/arms of the receiver when the receiver is trying to establish possession.

Chung is really good at that too.

I agree with posters who said that Martin was playing well early, I was looking forward to giving him a game ball until the muff. He was doing some Edelman-type things with YAC and making people miss, on offense and returns.

Sheard

Blount, Bolden, whoa a running game!

Gronk - having the weapons where TB can get the ball out quickly makes the OL look good again.

I also loved that they busted out the 3 TE set split-em-out on the goal line again I think it's a great scheme.

 

[crystalline]

They ran a lot last night, both between the tackles and outside. I saw a couple power runs and some zone runs. I enjoyed the two (?) zone fakes where the OL blocked right and Brady took two steps left and threw to a WR split left. When the Broncos run that fake with Peyton he runs a naked bootleg. I enjoyed McDaniels' safer spin on that play.

LaFell's drops drive me nuts. But, furthering your point here, one thing I noticed is that he managed to hold on to the ball on the quick-release timing plays that amounted to 'I'm throwing you the ball, and you're going to strive for the two yards we need for the 1st, and then your going to get pummeled in the open field. You cool with that?'

To be fair when they run this route, as with Edelman, Amendola (and previously Welker), it's more like "We're throwing you the ball and it's going to arrive two inches off the ground so get your hands under the ball, protect your head and fall forward for the first".

The most dangerous routes they run are the open field seams with Gronk, based on how tightly I instinctually grab the chair when I see them.