Each week a topic is chosen from the Patriots.com bulletin board and highlighted on the site. Here are some excerpts:
Contents of Original Post:
This past week as you know our Patriots were able to exercise a few old demons in Denver. Coach Bill seemed to have been able to light a fire under our lagging OL and they were able to protect Drew long enough for him to find targets and launch the missles. But the run blocking still seems to be lacking. You all know how poor that blocking was during the Miami game.
* Please keep in mind, this thread will be seen by the players, coaches, and Patriot's staff members. Please keep your responses proper, thoughtful and specific. Crude remarks within a post will cause that post to be deleted.*
Response cutoff time will be: Kickoff Sunday
TOTW #1: What do you think could be done to improve the run blocking while still protecting Drew?
TOTW #2: What do you think should be done to keep the Pats moving... into the endzone, not just into the Red zone?
TOTW #3: On a defensive side, what do you consider major keys to stopping the Colts this Sunday?
| **Title:** | RE: THREAD OF THE WEEK!!!!!! |
| **Author:** | Logan |
Perhaps making better use of our FB would help in this area. Floyd could be back there w/ the RB and block for Drew if needed on the blitz or try to open a hole for the RB a-la Sam Gash. (boy do I miss him!). The OL personnel must remain consistent and keep Drew off his back. Drew is THE MAN.
We need to make use of the short/medium passing game as a supplement to our running game. This will allow us to march down the field and not be so reliant on the big play. If we can get even 3-5 yards throwing on 1st down, then run for a couple on 2nd, We would be set for a short yardage 3rd down.
This one is obvious. McGinnist must be all over Manning. Johnson, Bruschi and Eaton must be strong against the run. Law must be on his best game against Harrison. The other side of the field should not be overlooked either. Langam/Smith must be sharp against the Colts receivers.
| **Title:** | RE: THREAD OF THE WEEK!!!!!! |
| **Author:** | micronin127 |
Insert Greg Robinson-Randall for more than a series or two. Go with more two tight end sets. Use a few gimmick plays like a shovel pass out of the shotgun and a reverse to Troy Brown. From a 5 wideout set have Drew do a delayed run up the middle. The gimmicks are not the bread and butter, but Indy is susceptible to a running attack and we do need to avoid predictability like
three consecutive off tackle runs so a gimmick here or there may get them standing back on their heels.
Go to Terry Glenn more. Design plays specifically for him. A pick pattern where Terry breaks out and Troy Brown goes over the middle could get him the separation he needs, or anything to put us in a position to feature our big play receiver. Put him in motion. Line him up as a half back and have him go in motion to one side of the field or the other depending on an audible from Bledsoe.
With Tarik Glenn and Adam Meadows (monster bookend tackles) the Colts will run off tackle and around the end more than straight up the middle. Chris Slade, Langham, Law, Milloy, and Tebucky will be critical to demonstrate good tackling skills as Edgerrin James is a load and a half. Blitzing from the corners and dropping a defensive end into coverage to reduce the amount of time Manning has and confuse him with his reads. Send in corners or safeties clean from his blind side when they go with an empty backfield to try and get a few hits in on him.
| **Title:** | THREAD OF THE WEEK!!!!!! |
| **Author:** | Fan Since '64 |
I'd like to thank everyone for posting their ideas and comments. Let's hope the Pats can handle the Colts as they did Denver. A win against the Colts should prove the team can do it in the right setup. I think Coach Bill will continue to find a way to make this team work. It's just a matter of finding the right pieces and getting them to fall in place. A Sam Gash type FB would help greatly, this team misses him greatly. The RedZone situation strikes me as rather odd for this team. I feel Bill needs to focus on this situation in practice even moreso. Protection for Drew is crucial in this zone, run blocking is too. They cannot expect Drew to fire a pass to Glenn & Co. everytime they're in the zone. Once again this is a season where teams know we need to pass in order to win. A bit of a running game win correct that. The OL really needs to pick it up, point blank....let's hope they do and stay there. As far as my thoughts on the defense and pressure on Manning… simple Slade and Big Mac need to step up!
