Wk5 Pre-Game Thread: Patriots @ Cowboys

soxhop411

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Al Zarilla said:
Blue state - red state, Oakland can't move to LA fast enough for me. Thing is, St Louis and San Diego may beat them to it. Anybody ever see a split of least favorite NFL teams of fans? I guess the Bills, Browns, Jags, Lions, Bucs (who else?) may challenge, but the Raiders have to be in there for least liked. 
Uh... We pretty much get every damn charger game here in LA... This is the first time I'm not getting the game and thats only because they are playing on Monday... I rarely get a Pats game on the TV
 

DJnVa

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soxhop411 said:
GJGE NFL
 
 
 
Dude, seriously? Please tell me you see what's wrong with this tweet.
 
You need to show just a bit of restraint.
 

DJnVa

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Well then.
 
I apparently need to show some restraint. I will leave my post up as a testament to that.
 

Al Zarilla

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soxhop411 said:
Uh... We pretty much get every damn charger game here in LA... This is the first time I'm not getting the game and thats only because they are playing on Monday... I rarely get a Pats game on the TV
Well, the Pats are on Sunday night, Monday night and Thursday night a lot because the best teams get scheduled in those slots more than the poor teams. You need to get the televising channels, of course. The NFC East always seems to get a robust share of those slots, come to think of it, regardless of how good the teams are. I'll probably switch to DirectTV, at least by next year, so I won't be complaining anymore. I want to see as many games in the Belichick/Brady years. Add Gronkowski to that. Edelman.
 

Tony C

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He and Hardy are having a meeting of minds, I guess -- guys fulfilling the stereotype of who they are.
 

ipol

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The psychology of stuff like this remains astounding to me. The far better answer is to say, "I don't want to talk about that," but he still feels compelled to comment. I guess I'm curious why that is.
 

Dogman

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I'm guessing they are trying everything to get into Tom's head. Teams can't do it on the field, the NFL can't do it in the courtroom.  May as well try making comments about his wife and see if that gets to him.
 

Marciano490

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He's been married to her for like a decade, right? Im sure he's heard and seen far, far worse by now.
 

simplyeric

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Marciano490 said:
He's been married to her for like a decade, right? Im sure he's heard and seen far, far worse by now.
Maybe he'll read that and suddenly wake up and think 'this is not my beautiful house! This is not my beautiful wife!' And he will ask himself 'well, how did I get here?'
 

Dogman

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Marciano490 said:
He's been married to her for like a decade, right? Im sure he's heard and seen far, far worse by now.
 
 
In the media?  First I've read about players making any comments about his wife the week of their game.
 

Norm loves Vera

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Blakeman heading the O crew for Sunday's game.  His crew picked up a flag on a pass interference in the endzone and the Patriots lost 24-20 in the  last Pats/Carolina game and this happened after:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzGV06OKZTk
 
"He was also the alternate official for the 2014 AFC title game between the Patriots and Colts, and is mentioned prominently in the Wells Report as the official who took the air pressure measurements in the footballs before the game."
 
http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports/newengland/football/patriots/2015/10/07/report-clete-blakeman-will-work-as-referee-for-patriots-cowboys/
 
 
 

Tony C

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She's good. It shouldn't be that remarkable to see/hear a cogent member of the media.
 

Hector Salamanca

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norm from cheers said:
Blakeman heading the O crew for Sunday's game.  His crew picked up a flag on a pass interference in the endzone and the Patriots lost 24-20 in the  last Pats/Carolina game and this happened after:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzGV06OKZTk
 
"He was also the alternate official for the 2014 AFC title game between the Patriots and Colts, and is mentioned prominently in the Wells Report as the official who took the air pressure measurements in the footballs before the game."
 
http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports/newengland/football/patriots/2015/10/07/report-clete-blakeman-will-work-as-referee-for-patriots-cowboys/
 
 
By far the best part of this is Mallett following Brady to help out giving the officials an earful, like a puppy following dad.
 

brandonchristensen

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I mean, am I the only one who reads his "guns blazing" as a "firing on all cylinders" generic level saying?
 

ElcaballitoMVP

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brandonchristensen said:
I mean, am I the only one who reads his "guns blazing" as a "firing on all cylinders" generic level saying?
 
That's what he was going for, but when you're accused of throwing a woman on a pile of guns and threatening her life, you're probably better off picking another generic line about how excited you are to get back on the field. 
 

edmunddantes

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brandonchristensen said:
I mean, am I the only one who reads his "guns blazing" as a "firing on all cylinders" generic level saying?
Yes, everyone knows that is what he is saying.
 
It's more a man with his history making use of that particular cliche is not a good look, and then following up with some comments on Gisele. Also considering his past history.
 

Marciano490

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edmunddantes said:
Yes, everyone knows that is what he is saying.
 
It's more a man with his history making use of that particular cliche is not a good look, and then following up with some comments on Gisele. Also considering his past history.
 
The one that got me was him saying letting his teammates down was the worst feeling because he cares about them.  As opposed to the woman he was dating, who he apparently didn't care about, so it was ok to let her down.  On a couch filled with guns.
 

H78

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soxfan121 said:
 
It's a good read and analysis. I doubt it can be executed, but Trapasso does good work generally.
Agreed. I actually think the biggest threat remaining to the Patriots are the Jets, because they have two corners who bump and play tight man coverage and they have a great pass rush. That may slow the Patriots down enough to squeak out a win for NY, particularly in NY if the crowd shows up. Noise + man coverage + good pass rush could equal problems.

I don't think Denver's corners play as tight or are as physical as NY's.
 

MainerInExile

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soxfan121 said:
It's a good read and analysis. I doubt it can be executed, but Trapasso does good work generally.
 
Saying to play press man is a lot easier said than done when the Pats can go 5 wide.
 

H78

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I also want to mention - I think there's a largely undiscussed reason as to why this year's offense is even more deadly than last year's, despite having mostly the same personnel...Danny Amendola. He's stepped up and is beating his coverage, which he didn't start doing until basically the playoffs last year. When Edelman and Gronk are doubled, Danny's been stepping up with big catches. He almost feels like a new, big acquisition with the way he's been playing.
 

H78

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(Not suggesting DA is setting the world on fire BTW, just feels like he's been making more of an impact)
 

tims4wins

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The numbers bear it out - 8 catches on 10 targets for 92 yards. Would project to about 43 catches for 491 yards. Last year he had 27 catches on 44 targets for 200 yards. So he is up about a catch a game.
 
Getting those 3 or so catches a week out of him definitely helps this offense
 

Import78

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DrewDawg said:
 
It sure sounds like that would work, assuming that Brady, McDaniels and Belichick didn't have another plan.  I think that the article was interesting, but the sample size is a little small.  Maybe Brady's numbers short range are so good because that is what teams have been giving them and when teams start playing press coverage they will take something different.  I would assume that there are contingencies and plays we haven't seen yet because the situation doesn't call for it.  Also, there is probably a reason that teams have been choosing to play off the receivers.  I'm sure the defensive coordinators have thought of this sort of thing.
 

( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)

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Import78 said:
 
It sure sounds like that would work, assuming that Brady, McDaniels and Belichick didn't have another plan.  I think that the article was interesting, but the sample size is a little small.  Maybe Brady's numbers short range are so good because that is what teams have been giving them and when teams start playing press coverage they will take something different.  I would assume that there are contingencies and plays we haven't seen yet because the situation doesn't call for it.  Also, there is probably a reason that teams have been choosing to play off the receivers.  I'm sure the defensive coordinators have thought of this sort of thing.
 
As a few others have already said.... Defensive Coordinators think of many things, but that is not the issue.  Actually being able to execute those things is a different matter.
 

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I enjoyed the read but the author really just offered two ideas -- playing tighter coverage at the line and zone blitzing -- as a means of counteracting the Pats' short passing game.  He doesn't much discuss what the Pats would do in response or whether he thinks it would work (other than noting that Tom is generally less effective in the long passing game).  I suspect Tom would enjoy the prospect of trying to hit receivers who were able to get past coverage that is closer to the line.  
 
In fairness, I don't know if there are other good ways to attack what Brady does in the short passing game so I am not suggesting that he missed viable modes of attack.  I was just expecting some more meat in that regard. 
 
That the offense thus far looks similar to the way the Pats attacked Seattle makes sense, especially given that Jax's defensive scheme was initially designed by the Seahawks' former DC and the Bills could be expected to bring a lot of immediate pressure on Brady with that personnel and their usual success in getting to the QB quickly. 
 

pappymojo

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http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/greg-hardy-scolded-for-comments-about-tom-bradys-wife/
 

The Dallas Cowboys aren’t pleased with defensive end Greg Hardy for his remarks about Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s wife.
“Well we just addressed it immediately,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “That’s not how we want to operate as an organization, players and coaches in our organization understand that. We want to distinguish ourselves with our play, not with what we say. We define ourselves by what we do, not by what we say. Greg understands that now and that’s how we’re going (inaudible) going forward.”
 
I wonder if Garrett said anything to Jerry Jones.
 

H78

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tims4wins said:
The numbers bear it out - 8 catches on 10 targets for 92 yards. Would project to about 43 catches for 491 yards. Last year he had 27 catches on 44 targets for 200 yards. So he is up about a catch a game.
 
Getting those 3 or so catches a week out of him definitely helps this offense
Man, I have to admit I forgot just HOW abysmal he was last year. Nice to see him putting together a decent year so far. I'll be interested to see if his targets drop once LaFell returns.
 

tims4wins

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H78 said:
Man, I have to admit I forgot just HOW abysmal he was last year. Nice to see him putting together a decent year so far. I'll be interested to see if his targets drop once LaFell returns.
 
More likely Dobson IMO. Dobson has 12 targets on the year which projects to 64 on the year. Lafell had 119 targets last year so obviously he got about double as many as Dobson has received thus far but I still think we will see plenty of Amendola.
 

pokey_reese

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TheoShmeo said:
I enjoyed the read but the author really just offered two ideas -- playing tighter coverage at the line and zone blitzing -- as a means of counteracting the Pats' short passing game.  He doesn't much discuss what the Pats would do in response or whether he thinks it would work (other than noting that Tom is generally less effective in the long passing game).  I suspect Tom would enjoy the prospect of trying to hit receivers who were able to get past coverage that is closer to the line.  
 
In fairness, I don't know if there are other good ways to attack what Brady does in the short passing game so I am not suggesting that he missed viable modes of attack.  I was just expecting some more meat in that regard. 
 
That the offense thus far looks similar to the way the Pats attacked Seattle makes sense, especially given that Jax's defensive scheme was initially designed by the Seahawks' former DC and the Bills could be expected to bring a lot of immediate pressure on Brady with that personnel and their usual success in getting to the QB quickly. 
I mean, I'm sure that there are adjustments that the Pats would make, but I actually agree with a lot of what he is saying. Assuming that opponents start playing tight man coverage and bump people at the line, plus flood that underneath area with linebackers and D linemen, it would force Brady to beat them by throwing in the 10-20 yard range or deeper, which he does have problems with. It seems like it would especially leave defenses vulnerable to wheel routes by the RBs, with a LB likely forced to cover Lewis or White in that scenario if the Pats split out 5 wide, but how often have we seen Brady miss that throw up the sideline to an open Vereen? I might want to take a chance on that if I were the opponent.
 
I think the other problem with that article is that he is suggesting both, and if you are forcing a safety to play up for this coverage scheme, and essentially going one high safety, I'm not sure where you can get the people for zone blitzing that doesn't then leave a real weakness somewhere else. You have to double Gronk in this scenario, or else he will gain 20 yards at a time all day, so that means Edelman/Amendola/Lewis (whoever ends up with the LB/DL covering him) just has to get free before the edge blitzer gets to Brady, and instead of the normal 5-9 yard gain, he is going to run until that single deep safety can cut him off.
 
It's as good a plan as any other to this point, but I think that Denver and the Jets, the two teams that are likely able to pull this off, could also play a very different defense and still get good results.  We will get a chance to see, luckily.
 

soxhop411

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Mark Lane ‏@therealmarklane  7m7 minutes ago
On The Fan, Jerry Jones says unless Greg Hardy looks contrite, "whipped," and "obviously sorry," he's going to get criticized.
 

Devizier

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GeorgeCostanza said:
Jerry playing the slavery card on his behalf. Touché Jer!
 
I actually think "whipped" was a reference to "pussy-whipped", which far more likely from an idiot like Jones.