What's the defensive gameplan for NE?

[mheisig]

You're Gregg Williams: What's the defensive gameplan for slowing down the most potent offense in the NFL? Go conventional? Go nuts? Field 11 defensive backs? Rush 9 guys on every down? What's the solution?

Here's a few stats on the Patriots for consideration (through 7 games):

• 39.9 points per game average (1st NFL)
• 432 yards per game average (1st NFL)
• 299.4 pass yards per game average (1st NFL)
• 133 yards rushing per game average (8th NFL)
• Tom Brady has a 73% completion percentage, has thrown for 2,125 yards, 27 TDs, only 2 INTs. Through 7 games he has a 137.9 rating.
• Brady has been sacked 7 times in 7 games.

Let's not even consider our offense vs. their defense. How does Williams gameplan for this? Let's be creative!

[mooby]

I like that 0-0-11 scheme lolol. We're gonna have to come up with just about the most excellent game plan we've ever thought of if we want to win this game. If we try to stop Brady they gash us with the running game. If we sit back and play zone and rush 4 like we've been doing for the last few games Brady will carve us apart. That's why G-Will needs to come up with some creative ass blitzes. He's gonna have to go into the deepest, most secretive part of the playbook and use those plays he's never pulled out before lol. If we keep it close I will be happy for the most part.

[mcalderone10]

dont say anything about the defensive gameplan NE may have cameras in the warpath locker room they gonna steal it

[hagams]

I don't think it's going to be as easy as dropping a bunch of people back into coverage. If we do that they will hit us hard for the 5-7 yard running plays up the middle. I think we are going to need GW to come up with a completely different type of D for this week. My biggest worry is, who are we going to put on Moss, and can we afford to double-team him. I don't like our chances of stopping the deep ball this week, and I'm starting to get worried about it.

[BigSKINBauer]

pray... a lot.

[BigSKINBauer]

seriously though it will be a good battle on our defensive side. We have a top 5 D going against their top offense. The get like 40 points a game and we give under 14. I can see us holding them to under 28 but even if they only score 21, i don't know if our O can even put up 2 TDs on that D. Hopefully sean t will pick off a pass or 2. He is number 1 in the league in ints.


If we only send our 4 guys on the line we will not even get close to brady. Look at the highlights. Brady has a 10 ft. bubble around him. That line f...s every d-line up. THe problem is even with sending 7 people i don't see us getting that much penetration. So i don't know if GW will do more coverage and try to just keep those receivers under raps. But the thing is Brady will pick our brains apart and they can run unlike some of our last few teams we've played.

[rypper11]

No YAC for the receivers and play bend don't break. Play mostly a cover 3 giving up everything under 5 yards and blitz when they hit the red zone. Brady is awesome and very patient so expect to give up 3 points per possession. I think Springs can muscle Moss enough to limit him and Landry and ST need to drill anyone who gets a hand on the ball. Keep the Tackles in tight and force running plays outside where Rocky and MW (who hopefully can play) can limit the RB's if they run.
The best D is going to be Mike Sellers. Stop laughing and hear me out. If Sellers can pound out 3.4 YPC we can have some really long drives, 20+ plays. If we can limit the number of combined possessions to 8 or 9 we might be able to squeeze out a 21-12 victory.

[Defensewins]

This is why we signed all of the CB's this offseason and drafted a safety high in the draft. We have the bodies in the in the back seven to at least give them a game. Although their overall talent level is better.
Our pass rush is the key.
If we can get in Brady's face and throw off the timing of the play we will be alright. Dallas' D-line did that for a quarter or two and kept it close. Then they could not sustain it.

[Rajmahal33]

If springs can practice (and I don't want to speculate given his father's condition), then we should play him. Otherwise, I wouldn't be confident in starting a player for a game like this that required a whole week's worth of preparation (esp in the passing game). If springs does in fact practice and play, i think we have a shot of shutting them down (relatively speaking) or rather having the most success at stopping them thus far.

As far as scheming if I was GW I wouldn't try the Detroit tactic, of pressing and sitting back in a zone, b/c Tom Brady will pick apart that zone like Warner did in the 4th quarter...but with more efficiency. The only way to stop brady is to put him on his ass. I think I would give them a taste of their own medicine and play a 3-4. With Washington (if healthy) and/or Carter rushing from a standup position on each side on every play. Give them different looking blitz packages out of that formation too. Rotate as many interior linemen in there as possible so they all stay fresh. Safety blitzes wont work b/c they will take too long and that man could be used in a much more effective way in coverage. Study a LOT of film.

Finally our defensive gameplan should be aided by our Offense. We have to have long sustained drives to keep Brady and the pats offense off the field. That's the only way to stop the Pat's Offense. If we are healthy on offense we can do this. I hope the skins practice screens and checkdowns a lot. Give Mike sellers the ball vs. NE thats their weakness. They're too fast for finesse/outside running and despite what ppl say, their Defense isn't the best at tackling. I think they will have their guards down and be looking forward to Indy the week after.

Remember when the Pats won their 2nd superbowl, we were one of the only teams to beat them that year. They had a bunch of injuries but we were able to get in brady's head and force him to throw 3 picks. I know the teams are completely different but for history's sake we've done it before.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

stop them from scoring points

[scowan]

All I know is that S. Taylor leads the league in INTs right now. If he continues to "Ball hawk" the field, maybe he can outjump Moss a few times on those prayers of a throw that Brady has been making. Honestly guys, some of those TD bombs to Moss are just jump balls where Brady is asking Randy to outjump everyone, which he is doing. They are just alley-oop passes. Guys like Welker and Stallworth are just as dangerous. Bottom line, the offense HAS to sustain some drives and score TDs this week. We can't have our D out there all day in the second half, we need to win the time of possesion this week to have any chance.

[Paintrain]

I'd like to see us stay similar to what we've been doing in terms of staying in the deep shell but mix in some more blitzes.. Moss has never really killed us, even in his 'prime' so with Springs/Smoot/Taylor we can hopefully keep him in check.. McIntosh/Fletcher are going to have to make some plays in space to keep Welker from taking the drag routes and turning them upfield.. I'd try to make them beat us with the running game.. We want a slug it out battle rather than try to match them possession for possession..

[paulskinsfan]

I heard Ditka on the radio yesterday suggest something interesting. How about a
2-4-5 ? Bring in the extra LB and CB and rotate the DL every 2-3 plays. Force them to run the ball, at least that slows the game way down and gives us a chance. IF we get more that 14 points behind, we're toast.

[MTK]

I think our D needs to play as physical as possible especially with these receivers. Hit Randy Moss in the mouth a few times and he's a different player. What concerns me is you can take Moss out of the game and they can still beat you with Welker and Stallworth.

[Hog1]

I think it will require a Navy Seal team in place of our D to slow them down. They know over 100 ways to kill a man with their bare hands
....I fear it will take them all