The Game Ball Thread: Wk 2 vs Saints

5dice

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Butler might have been getting the same treatment as Alan Branch after last week.
I also wanted to add that I was impressed that Dorsett integrated so quickly (yes, by necessity, but did well with his opportunities). That catch at the goal line with 2 guys on him was great and his end-around acceleration is a weapon to go along with Hogan and Cooks also used as runners.
 

tims4wins

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Branch was one of their steadiest defenders from 2014-2016, and while I am glad he is on the team, he is getting a bit long in the tooth. We saw it with Vince, we have seen it with others, DT types can decline quickly. Hopefully Branch can bounce back.

Agree that Harris may not last the season.

On Butler / Rowe, I am thinking this was more game plan, as Rowe even said post game they would switch him up with Logan Ryan time to time last year based on matchups.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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But I'm not sure we'd feel worried about this at all if Brady puts this pass on the money instead of under-throwing it. Just adding a TD to the stat sheet and a clean bomb down the middle there would change perception a good deal.
Remeber that play with Hogan where he snuck out of the bunch formation? I thought he was going to score a TD until he got caught from behind (at the 5:35 mark):


Now imagine that play with Cooks. There's no way anyone stops him from scoring a huge TD.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Another thing that stuck out from Romo's comments.

He said early on that Pats were back to being their "2001" offense (or something to that effect). I believe that referred to the various screens and FB-involved plays McD cooked up.

Brady is going to torch many unfortunate safeties with play-action plays, with Cooks & Dorsett being the main beneficiaries.
 

RedOctober3829

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Another thing that stuck out from Romo's comments.

He said early on that Pats were back to being their "2001" offense (or something to that effect). I believe that referred to the various screens and FB-involved plays McD cooked up.

Brady is going to torch many unfortunate safeties with play-action plays, with Cooks & Dorsett being the main beneficiaries.
I didn't hear the broadcast, but I heard on the radio this morning what Romo said. He referenced the Patriots going back to the Charlie Weis offense of the early 2000s. More vertical routes and screens than what they've used since '07 when the crossers were the more featured routes.
 

tims4wins

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I think a large part of what Romo was referring to was the Pats' use of a fullback. Devein got a lot of run, largely as lead blocker, but also split out.
That's not exactly new though. Develin has been a significant part of the offense since 2014 (of course he was injured in 2015) but they have split him out wide before.
 

Saints Rest

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At one point, Romo said something along the lines of "I guarantee you that we have seen more plays with a FB today than all the rest of the teams combined." (this was in the first half)

Romo also seemed to be making the point about them using heavy sets and then passing out of them, which reminded me more of the early days of Gronknandez.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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He was exaggerating, but I do think it's true that the power set that the Patriots have now used for the last couple of weeks is something that you just don't see very much in NFL football these days. I mean, I don't know how the Jags are using Fournette or whatever, because the next half of regular-season Jags football I watch will be my first, but I just don't really recall seeing too much of it on primetime games and stuff when I do watch other teams.

As I posted above, I've loved it so far. The Patriots had a drive where it seemed like Gilleslee ran it pretty much all the way down the field and into the end zone for an entire series against the Chiefs, with Devlin obliterating everything in his path.
 

DJnVa

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Saw the postgame locker room video--BB really liked that effort and that game. Too early to know if this is one of the teams he really likes, but I can see a team that perseveres through injuries being one he really takes to.
 

PaulinMyrBch

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Branch was one of their steadiest defenders from 2014-2016, and while I am glad he is on the team, he is getting a bit long in the tooth. We saw it with Vince, we have seen it with others, DT types can decline quickly. Hopefully Branch can bounce back.

Agree that Harris may not last the season.

On Butler / Rowe, I am thinking this was more game plan, as Rowe even said post game they would switch him up with Logan Ryan time to time last year based on matchups.
Saw an article this morning. I'll link when I get home. Said D game plan was simplified due to speed of Saints O. Pats set up corners to stay on same side of field rather than be assigned to a specific receiver. So that could explain it. With Rowe/Gilmore starting and Butler in slot there is less a chance of a height mismatch in 21 or 12 personnel groups. Article didn't say that but if corners weren't going to follow a designated guy having two similar sized ones makes some sense.
 

Super Nomario

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Saw an article this morning. I'll link when I get home. Said D game plan was simplified due to speed of Saints O. Pats set up corners to stay on same side of field rather than be assigned to a specific receiver. So that could explain it. With Rowe/Gilmore starting and Butler in slot there is less a chance of a height mismatch in 21 or 12 personnel groups. Article didn't say that but if corners weren't going to follow a designated guy having two similar sized ones makes some sense.
That also explains why we saw some weird height mismatches at times, especially after Rowe went out. One of Jones' nice breakups was on 6'6" Brandon Coleman. Butler probably plays a bigger role yesterday if Willie Snead isn't suspended.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Saw the postgame locker room video--BB really liked that effort and that game. Too early to know if this is one of the teams he really likes, but I can see a team that perseveres through injuries being one he really takes to.
McC also did a fantastic speech to close it out. Much better than Slater, I say.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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PaulinMyrBch

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Here is the link to the article about defensive game plan changes I referenced above. Butler did come in and cover some larger receivers, but I think the game plan was to line up our big corners to start the game. Probably took Brees at least a series to adjust to the look we were giving him. His expected mismatches weren't out there early.
 

drb22222222

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Game ball for Trey Flowers for the hit he put on Drew Brees with 8:37 left in the 2nd quarter.

He hit him so hard he had to take a timeout and it was a big part of them having to go for a field goal on that drive.
 

Greekca

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Remeber that play with Hogan where he snuck out of the bunch formation? I thought he was going to score a TD until he got caught from behind (at the 5:35 mark):


Now imagine that play with Cooks. There's no way anyone stops him from scoring a huge TD.

That play represented fantastic play call and design on many levels. They set it up all day with the heavy screen game to the outside but also the screen fakes. If you watch the offensive line, you will see the LG pull to the right which keys the linebackers and safeties on that side to stay home and look for the hand-off. However, Hogan just sneaks in behind them because the secondary is all flowing to the screen and the linebackers are flowing to the hand-off. Fantastic play.