Defending against the Patriots offense

[31smackdown]

When you watch the Patriots offense you see a re-occurring theme of getting mismatches against slower linebackers and safeties with their receivers, backs and even Gronk. Their combination routes tend to tear up zone defenses if Brady has time to throw. He is very accurate in the middle of the field and reading the breaks.

So the question, if you are Dallas, what puts you in the best position to defend this offense of essentially two slot receivers, plus a RB and a TE that you can't match up on man to man?

It will be very interesting to see how this plays out, but I will be interested to see if we see a lot of Byron Jones and Corey White this game and less of Wilcox and Church. I expect McClain and Lee will be working to pass off the underneath routes and their football intelligence will definitely come into play in this game. New England loves to show you something right in front of you as a smokescreen for what they really want to do behind you when you are in zone. They will bait Gronk to free Edelman, etc.. Dallas has seemed to have more success in man coverage and has had some trouble with their zone drops. Not many teams can match up against three quick receivers in man coverage, but I think that is what Dallas has to attempt to do and then make the tackle and try to punish the receivers with Lee and McClain on the short catches. A few zone blitz/drops may help keep Brady off balance, dropping into that first passing window, but the pass rush needs to get home and move him off his middle reads. I suspect there will be a lot of early screens/bubble screens to slow Dallas down. As with all short passing games, Dallas needs to tackle well in this game. NE will uptempo on the fly to get an easy 5 yard catch and run or when you have certain package in that they prefer and target certain defensive players. Church, Wilcox and any LB that lines up in man coverage will be targeted if Dallas attempts it. Maybe this is why Dallas wanted more CB/Safety combination players. To be able to match up in man against teams like NE, or specifically NE. I guess we will find out on Sunday.

 

[nalam]

If the pass rush is better, then we will have a chance, Brady doesn't like DL showing in his face and getting rolled every now and then, as long as our Dline gets there they need to hit him often and again , but within legal limits, we know the golden boy rule will give him free pass now and then.

If this happens then the dink and spread game can be stopped by man coverage with some good mauling at LOS. Remember NE receivers except Gronk are not monster sized.

Then we will have some chance. But offense is another story , Weedon vs Bellicheck

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

 

[Machete]

Pass rush is nullified when he releases the ball in 2 seconds.

 

[30yrheel]

Pass rush is nullified when he releases the ball in 2 seconds.

That's correct. The lb's and dB's have to tackle and limit the yac.

 

[31smackdown]

Pass rush is nullified when he releases the ball in 2 seconds.

I agree. You have to disrupt Brady's timing in some way to delay his first read. The really quick stuff you just have to tackle for less than 3 yards and try to get in the passing lane, get the hands up. He is throwing 5 yard passes to short guys. It's very hard to do that with no throwing lane.

 

[CATCH17]

Controlling the ball with your offense is how you defend the Patriots.

Just hope you get lucky a few times on defense.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Nerd.

 

[Vtwin]

Can't play bend don't break defense.

Have to take some risks and hope for the best.

Need to take the ball away from them more than they do from us.

It's going to take a great plan from the coaches that is very well executed.

 

[Wayne02]

If the pass rush can't get to Brady, then he will have over 400 yards passing, Edelman will have a field day and Gronk will have at least 2 TD's. The end. Pass rush is the only thing that will make this game remotely close.

 

[Jarv]

Can't play bend don't break defense.

Have to take some risks and hope for the best.

Need to take the ball away from them more than they do from us.

It's going to take a great plan from the coaches that is very well executed.

We're screwed.

 

[texbumthelife]

Pass rush is only equally as important as taking away Brady's first read. He wants to get rid of the ball in <3 seconds. If you can make him hold the ball, he will get happy feet and start to bounce. That's when he makes errant throws. The drags and slants have to be on lock down, with a defender still devoted to Gronkowski. We don't have anyone who can stop Gronk from making the catches, but whoever guards him needs to be a sure tackler and not give up RAC yards.

 

[CowboyGil]

Have our new Too Tall play in the middle to block Brady's view and maybe bat/tip some balls.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Controlling the ball with your offense is how you defend the Patriots.

Just hope you get lucky a few times on defense.

Yep, that and a healthy dose of putting Brady in the dirt.

 

[JohnsKey19]

3rd down defense. Gotta make timely plays on 3rd downs, whatever that entails. They have punted only 6 times in 3 games.

 

[CATCH17]

Can't play bend don't break defense.

Have to take some risks and hope for the best.

Need to take the ball away from them more than they do from us.

It's going to take a great plan from the coaches that is very well executed.

Good luck with that.

 

[DCBoysfan]

I believe they Pats have two rookies starting in the Oline, we need to get pressure without a lot of blitzes, if we can do that we have an opportunity to get the upset.

 

[CF74]

Press them at the line, disrupt the timing, hit the short stuff hard with LB's, blitz and hit Brady late or early.. Get some quickness in the backfield..

Cheat

 

[jday]

When you watch the Patriots offense you see a re-occurring theme of getting mismatches against slower linebackers and safeties with their receivers, backs and even Gronk. Their combination routes tend to tear up zone defenses if Brady has time to throw. He is very accurate in the middle of the field and reading the breaks.

So the question, if you are Dallas, what puts you in the best position to defend this offense of essentially two slot receivers, plus a RB and a TE that you can't match up on man to man?

It will be very interesting to see how this plays out, but I will be interested to see if we see a lot of Byron Jones and Corey White this game and less of Wilcox and Church. I expect McClain and Lee will be working to pass off the underneath routes and their football intelligence will definitely come into play in this game. New England loves to show you something right in front of you as a smokescreen for what they really want to do behind you when you are in zone. They will bait Gronk to free Edelman, etc.. Dallas has seemed to have more success in man coverage and has had some trouble with their zone drops. Not many teams can match up against three quick receivers in man coverage, but I think that is what Dallas has to attempt to do and then make the tackle and try to punish the receivers with Lee and McClain on the short catches. A few zone blitz/drops may help keep Brady off balance, dropping into that first passing window, but the pass rush needs to get home and move him off his middle reads. I suspect there will be a lot of early screens/bubble screens to slow Dallas down. As with all short passing games, Dallas needs to tackle well in this game. NE will uptempo on the fly to get an easy 5 yard catch and run or when you have certain package in that they prefer and target certain defensive players. Church, Wilcox and any LB that lines up in man coverage will be targeted if Dallas attempts it. Maybe this is why Dallas wanted more CB/Safety combination players. To be able to match up in man against teams like NE, or specifically NE. I guess we will find out on Sunday.

Excellent breakdown, but I suspect it was the Eagles and Chip Kelly's uptempo offense that has the Cowboys attempting to beef up their secondary. The next time the Cowboys face the Patriots, Brady will likely be retired.

 

[jday]

Pass rush is nullified when he releases the ball in 2 seconds.

True, but if the Cowboys have the linebackers play underneath zone and the defensive line keeps their hands up to make him hold on a little bit longer, maybe, just maybe the Cowboys can get the sack. It won't happen often, but if the Cowboys have any chance of winning this thing, that is exactly what will have to happen.