How do the Patriots defend the deep ball? Can Flacco have deep ball success against them?

[PatsFan in MD]

Pats fans read this http://russellstreetreport.com/films...broncos-11213/


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Cliff notes man.

[bt12483]

The Dolphins game was a shutout. What else do you want them to do?

Not brag about your secondary shutting down inferior competition? You shut out a team eliminated from the playoffs at home in the second to last game of the season.

I am sure Miami came with their A game that day.

[Paintballguy]

Cliff notes man.

It's worth reading the whole thing but some good parts

While the 2012 Patriots have solid run-defending LBs with the additions of Spikes and Hightower, their biggest advantage is up front. Wilfork can be pushed, as we saw Yanda and Gaither do in the 2009 game (Wilfork moved to RDE for the 2nd half of that game). This year, when he lines up on the nose, the guards will play the key role in getting him off the spot. Osemele and Yanda will block him directly in zone blocking schemes and will assist to get him off balance if blocking straight ahead. The Ravens now have the most talented pair of guards in the AFC, particularly with regard to the ability to create movement when run blocking. It’s a matchup they must win Sunday.

The second key matchup is the receiver opposite Aqib Talib. Contrary to popular belief, Talib has been extremely vulnerable since he joined the Pats. He’s been targeted 42 times with 28 receptions for 376 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. During that same period, Alfonzo Dennard has played well and Devin McCourty has split his time between corner and safety with good results wherever he has lined up. As with Bailey last week, the Ravens must punish the Patriots if they leave Talib on an island with Smith or Jones and use the space effectively when they get him safety help.


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[Gronkey Kong]

You play who is on the schedule. I am merely saying that your (over) confidence in the revamped secondary is not founded upon playing teams with a good QB/WR combo.

Meanwhile, our revamped OL has held up against the Giants and Denver, two of the top pass rushing teams in the league.

Do you see the difference? Your revamped secondary shut down Sanchez and Kerley...the revamped Ravens OL shut down Dumervil and Miller and JPP, etc.

Can you see how one side should be a little more confident than the other because the competition one side faced was much stiffer?

I don't think you understand

Read MD's post again, we don't think we have Cromartie and Revis at CBs, but Talib (and Dennard) have allowed the Pats to put players like McCourty and Arrington in better positions to succeed.

[Gronkey Kong]

Not brag about your secondary shutting down inferior competition? You shut out a team eliminated from the playoffs at home in the second to last game of the season.

I am sure Miami came with their A game that day.

Who is bragging about it though? Lmao. Is it impossible to improve your team by playing bad teams? Or should we just discount everything for the sake of their schedule?

[bt12483]

I don't think you understand

Read MD's post again, we don't think we have Cromartie and Revis at CBs, but Talib (and Dennard) have allowed the Pats to put players like McCourty and Arrington in better positions to succeed.

It is easier to succeed against Brian Hartline and Jeremy Kerley is all I am saying.

[PatsFan in MD]

Not brag about your secondary shutting down inferior competition? You shut out a team eliminated from the playoffs at home in the second to last game of the season.

I am sure Miami came with their A game that day.

LOL. Dude, if you think this is me bragging about our secondary, then you need to get your reading comprehension skills better.

See the problem is that before Talib got to NE, even scrubs were feasting on our secondary.

And what made our deep end better was not Talib really, it was the fact that we could move McCourty over at safety. He's added range with his speed and he plays the pass a lot better when he's facing the QB. You gotta understand, before we had Patrick Chung back there trying to play the pass. He's freaking awful. Then we tried Wilson who is a rookie and he was getting burned too.

Talib and the emergence of rookie Dennard at the other CB spot allowed McCourty to move at S and also allowed Arrington to move to slot, who was just awful outside. We're still not "great" at defending the pass, but definitely a lot better.

[Gronkey Kong]

It is easier to succeed against Brian Hartline and Jeremy Kerley is all I am saying.

Jesus Christ it is impossible with you people

[PatsFan in MD]

Jesus Christ it is impossible with you people

LOL. I think I've found "that" guy on these boards.

[bt12483]

Who is bragging about it though? Lmao. Is it impossible to improve your team by playing bad teams? Or should we just discount everything for the sake of their schedule?

No you can improve...but how do you accurately judge improvement against inferior competition?

[Gronkey Kong]

No you can improve...but how do you accurately judge improvement against inferior competition?

I guess we'll just have to see Sunday.

[bt12483]

LOL. Dude, if you think this is me bragging about our secondary, then you need to get your reading comprehension skills better.

I'm not really talking about YOU per se...but posts I've read on Pat's forums.

[iggyman555]

Jesus Christ it is impossible with you people

see ya troll

[Roland of Gilead]

Belichick's MO is to take away an offense's strength and make them beat his defense some other way. I would be shocked if the Pats defense was vulnerable to the deep ball because everyone and their dad knows that's our bread and butter. He's going to force Joe to complete a high percentage of short passes, which is fine. Joe did that earlier this season (28/39, 72%). Pitta (and Dickson, for that matter) is a tough match up for their big LBs, so I am hopeful part of our game plan is getting him matched up there. Combined with the wind and the possibility of the Pats' secondary staying deep all day long, they are probably looking for Flacco to force the deep ball. I'm hoping Boldin, Rice and the TEs will make them pay.

[PatsFan in MD]

I'm not really talking about YOU per se...but posts I've read on Pat's forums.

I read a post on here about how Brady isn't even a top 20 QB. Should I generalize the Ravens fan base as uninformed as that poster?

[Gronkey Kong]

see ya troll

"Waa waa! I'm gonna call him a troll because he doesn't think the Pats suck as much as I do!"

[bt12483]

I read a post on here about how Brady isn't even a top 20 QB. Should I generalize the Ravens fan base as uninformed as that poster?

It is clear to see where there is an agreed upon consensus vs. an outlier homer.

The Pat's forum I saw everyone seemed to be in agreement that the secondary was much improved...yet not a single person I saw focused on the competition level since Talib was acquired.

[Gronkey Kong]

It is clear to see where there is an agreed upon consensus vs. an outlier homer.

The Pat's forum I saw everyone seemed to be in agreement that the secondary was much improved...yet not a single person I saw focused on the competition level since Talib was acquired.

Because we've seen them SUCK against poor competition too, so that they were able to at least improve in that area is good enough for us

[NCRAVEN]

"Waa waa! I'm gonna call him a troll because he doesn't think the Pats suck as much as I do!"

Doing really well with that not arguing. Kudos.

[Gronkey Kong]

Doing really well with that not arguing. Kudos.

I'm not the one fishing for arguments, you all are