2118 replies to this topic

[dynomite]

Where are we going to find someone to start at WR with Edelman out? Wavier wire?

I think we'll see a lot of Branch, with some snaps for Slater in 3 WR sets and Fells/Hooma in 2 TE sets.

Salas doesn't make sense to me, as OL is shaping up to be a bigger position of need this week.

[DaveRoberts'Shoes]

FWIW, if Edelman has a hand injury that's significant enough to keep him completely out of practice this week and he's already been declared out, I'd expect him to be out 6 weeks or so.

Fucking hands.

[Super Nomario]

I think we'll see a lot of Branch, with some snaps for Slater in 3 WR sets and Fells/Hooma in 2 TE sets.

Salas doesn't make sense to me, as OL is shaping up to be a bigger position of need this week.

I'm not sure about that. Vollmer went wire-to-wire last week, and Dan Connolly is no longer on the injury report. If McDonald is healthy enough to be active, that would make 7 linemen, which is what they've normally been dressing.

Meanwhile, Salas would be effectively backing up TE and WR. Fells has barely played and Gronk is on the injury report; if either one of them is limited this week we'll be running a 3 WR offense with 3 guys over 30 and no backup (I'm not counting Slater, who has played 4 snaps in 3 games and has basically been just a situational play in 3TE packages the last two years).

[jsinger121]

On my way to Buffalo right now. Don't want to come home disappointed like last year.

[dynomite]

I'm not sure about that. Vollmer went wire-to-wire last week, and Dan Connolly is no longer on the injury report. If McDonald is healthy enough to be active, that would make 7 linemen, which is what they've normally been dressing.

Well that's they key, right? IF McDonald is healthy enough to be active, and IF Mankins can dress despite not practicing.

Let's be clear: I'll be thrilled if the Pats don't need to "call up" an extra OL this week.

Meanwhile, Salas would be effectively backing up TE and WR. Fells has barely played and Gronk is on the injury report; if either one of them is limited this week we'll be running a 3 WR offense with 3 guys over 30 and no backup (I'm not counting Slater, who has played 4 snaps in 3 games and has basically been just a situational play in 3TE packages the last two years).

As for this, I don't think what Slater has done in the past tells you a lot about what Slater might do on Sunday. Going into this year, did you expect Edelman would play over Welker in 2 WR sets?


Given Slater's enormous ST role, I would be really surprised if Belichick activated someone else to be the 4th WR who (as far as I know) has no versatility on ST and a limited knowledge of the offense.

Edited by dynomite, 29 September 2012 - 09:29 AM.

[Super Nomario]

Well that's they key, right? IF McDonald is healthy enough to be active, and IF Mankins can dress despite not practicing.

Let's be clear: I'll be thrilled if the Pats don't need to "call up" an extra OL this week.

They've had one inactive OL each week except one. If McDonald can go and Mankins can't, that's what they've been dressing. 7 OL gives them two backups, Cannon for tackle or RG, and McDonald for an interior spot. If McDonald can't go (I'm assuming Mankins is out), I agree they'll need another OL, probably Warren or Austin from the practice squad. I think McDonald can go, though. He was limited in practice all week 2 with a "Shoulder" but dressed with Connolly suspect (Connolly ended up dressing but not playing). With Connolly better last week he was inactive. Maybe his shoulder got worse, but I think him being inactive had more to do with the depth on the OL.

As for this, I don't think what Slater has done in the past tells you a lot about what Slater might do on Sunday. Going into this year, did you expect Edelman would play over Welker in 2 WR sets?

Given Slater's enormous ST role, I would be really surprised if Belichick activated someone else to be the 4th WR who (as far as I know) has no versatility on ST and a limited knowledge of the offense.

I'm certainly not suggesting Slater's going to be inactive. I just think they are short a skill position player. Last week they dressed 4 TE and 5 WR (including Slater), and we know two of those guys (Edelman and Winslow) aren't going to be active this week. Salas dressed week one, so I don't think it's so far-fetched that he'd be on the 46-man roster, especially since he's been in the practices with the team.

One more thing we haven't talked about: with Edelman out, Welker likely becomes the primary punt returner. That's another reason I'd want an extra body at the WR position.

[Super Nomario]

Well that's they key, right? IF McDonald is healthy enough to be active, and IF Mankins can dress despite not practicing.

Let's be clear: I'll be thrilled if the Pats don't need to "call up" an extra OL this week.

It looks like you were right and I was wrong; the Pats have signed G/C Matt Tennant. Hopefully that is more of a positive sign for the health of Gronk and the readiness of Fells than it is a concern about Mankins' or McDonalds' health.

[soxhop411]

RT @tomecurran: Patriots RG Logan Mankins did not travel with the team to Buffalo according to a source. He is out. #patriotstalk


dangit...

[BigSoxFan]

So, um, lots of 3 WR sets?

[Ed Hillel]

Gronk playing, per Schefter.

[axx]

Gronk playing, per Schefter.

I imagine he's going to have to stay and block a lot.

[Super Nomario]

Guessing the inactives:
G Mankins
TE Hernandez
WR Edelman
DL Deaderick
DE Bequette
DE Francis

Conflicting reports about whether DL Forston is on the roster, but he's likely the 7th guy if he is.

Per Mike Rodak, Deaderick, Dennard, Francis, Mankins, Edelman, and Hernandez confirmed out. Likely candidates for the last inactive are Tennant (just signed), McDonald (questionable, shoulder), Bequette (healthy scratch every game so far), or Vereen.

[88 MVP]

I'll be there, tailgating in the staidium lot nearest to Abbot and Southwestern. Last year was no fun, I took a ton of abuse from the Bills' fans. This year I want some revenge - let's go Pats, WIN

Edited by 88 MVP, 29 September 2012 - 10:27 PM.

[dynomite]

To be a bit of a contrarian: I'm not sure how much we'll miss Mankins this week.

Mankins has simply not been himself this year, and appears significantly limited by injury (whether the hip injury or ongoing recovery from ACL surgery). He was abused at times against the Cardinals in Week 2, and was a liability in run blocking against the Ravens in Week 3. Thomas, meanwhile, had a decent game against the Cardinals and a ferocious Dockett in Week 2 (a penalty or two aside), particularly in the running game. PFF even graded him at a +1.6.

In terms of this particular game, I don't think there's an enormous dropoff between injured Mankins and healthy Thomas.

It looks like you were right and I was wrong; the Pats have signed G/C Matt Tennant. Hopefully that is more of a positive sign for the health of Gronk and the readiness of Fells than it is a concern about Mankins' or McDonalds' health.

More of a lucky guess on Tennant. We cut him at the very end of training camp, Mankins hadn't practiced all week, etc.

And agreed on hoping Gronk and Fells are both ready to contribute.

[Super Nomario]

And agreed on hoping Gronk and Fells are both ready to contribute.

Fells is a real question-mark; he wasn't on the injury report this week so presumably he's 100% healthy, but he's played so little that I have no idea how the Pats are planning on using him, how much he's ready to play, how much of the playbook he knows, etc. I wouldn't be surprised by him playing 50+ snaps in a Hernandez-like role or another very limited role like last week.

[ilol@u]

I don't want no bullshit game like last year. If Brady is as efficient as last week against Baltimore, the Pats should win this. What they can't afford is another Brady 2 INTs, secondary can't tackle and have Fred Jackson running us over.

[jsinger121]

I'll be there, tailgating in the staidium lot nearest to Abbot and Southwestern. Last year was no fun, I took a ton of abuse from the Bills' fans. This year I want some revenge - let's go Pats, WIN

Is that the dirt lot on southwestern? If so ill be at a dirt lot on southwestern.

[JimBoSox9]

I imagine he's going to have to stay and block a lot.

Disagree. I think you'll see the Pats try to get the ball out of Brady's hands fast. That means spreading it out and a lot of hooks and seam routes for Gronk. Keeping in extra blockers and making the game more about the line battle on passing plays isn't the way to go.

[jsinger121]

Word is CJ Spiller is planning on playing.

[j44thor]

Fred Jackson confirmed playing.

[phragle]

Phragle sacrificed a drifter confirmed

[DaveRoberts'Shoes]

I'd think they will inject Spillers AC joint and see how numb they can get it pregame. If he is comfortable it's not a dangerous injury to play with.

[j44thor]

Spiller and Jackson both playing, Tennant is the Pats other inactive.
Wonder how Vereen will factor into the game. Pats might need to slow down the Bills Pass rush with some screens/draws which seem to suite Vereen best.

[BigSoxFan]

Spiller and Jackson both playing, Tennant is the Pats other inactive.
Wonder how Vereen will factor into the game. Pats might need to slow down the Bills Pass rush with some screens/draws which seem to suite Vereen best.

And take reps away from Woodhead? Blasphemy!

[Super Nomario]

Spiller and Jackson both playing, Tennant is the Pats other inactive.
Wonder how Vereen will factor into the game. Pats might need to slow down the Bills Pass rush with some screens/draws which seem to suite Vereen best.

I think there's a good chance Vereen dresses but doesn't play. He seems to be active more because too many other people are inactive than through any change in his own status. I hope they can get him into at least one package or series (like they did with Bolden last week). Or maybe on kick returns or something.

[DaveRoberts'Shoes]

I've got a lot of free-floating anxiety about this game

[TheoShmeo]

I think the Pats are going to rip their tits off. A lot.

[SeoulSoxFan]

I've got a lot of free-floating anxiety about this game

I am being a pussy and mentally preparing a 2-3 team after the Denver game.

[SeoulSoxFan]

I am being a pussy and mentally preparing a 2-3 team after the Denver game.

And I do mind starting Goat threads.

[SeoulSoxFan]

Spiller starting sounds like a decoy to me. The guy had very limited practice all week and they have Choice & Jackson. Why risk it?

[MarcSullivaFan]

Agreed. They need this game badly, in my opinion, and it's no walkover. We're going to learn a lot about this defense today. If they can run the ball effectively, that would be huge, because the pass protection isn't nearly good enough to have Brady chuck for 4 quarters. I fear a lot of pressure up the middle.

[Ed Hillel]

They're gonna start 1-4 and run off 14-15 games in a row.

[DaveRoberts'Shoes]

Spiller starting sounds like a decoy to me. The guy had very limited practice all week and they have Choice & Jackson. Why risk it?

From an injury standpoint it's not really much of a risk. The biggest risk is that he tries to gut it out and ends up fumbling because of the pain.

[Mystic Merlin]

Gotta have this one, boys.

[collings94]

The motherfucking Jets are in first place. Let's do this.

[Ed Hillel]

The biggest risk is that they use him to run the football and not throw the ball towards Devin McCourty and Kyle Arrington.

[Turrable]

Sunday NFL Countdown has gone full retard.

[RoyHobbs]

Can't wait to see "the real Chandler Jones" again, i.e. the Jones who isn't being held 80% of the time.

[Ed Hillel]

Belichick already screaming at Nink.

[Ed Hillel]

Buffalo's key for success today: "Carpe Diem."

Dierdorf...yay....

Edited by Ed Hillel, 30 September 2012 - 11:58 AM.

[estreetfan]

Does anybody have a link?

[ngruz25]

Those Nike collars are hideous on the Bills. They look like they're wearing toilet seats around their necks.

[Mystic Merlin]

HA HA AND IT BEGINS

[DaveRoberts'Shoes]

Our defense is going to suck forever.

[Mystic Merlin]

HA HA 11 YARDS PER PLAY

Sigh

[Wilco's Last Fan]

Is there a reason this isn't on in NYC? Why are they showing nothing in the morning?

[Nomar813]

Gumbel has a pretty broad definition of "lately."

[NortheasternPJ]

Good thing Mayo was there after he shook off Nink.

[BigSoxFan]

Yay improved defense!

[ngruz25]

Nink you are horrible.