Week 9 @ NE

[randymon]

Going to be fun to watch. Like most of their games, both sides play pretty solid but give up the big plays. If Brady doesn`t get goood constant pressure ( esp early ) that O is more than capable of causing some hurt to that Denver D. Brady hasn`t faired well in past when pressured early on in games. Seems to get rattled and stay that way. No doubt the running game for both teams is key in this game. The team that gets one-dimensional will lose in this one. Turn-over battle and field position will be major and also FGs. NE def has edge in that department. McManus still hasn`t won Bronco fan trust as of yet. Wouldn`t be surprised in the least for this to come down to last min FG in reg or OT. Win or lose, both teams won`t let a loss derail them from their goals. A blowout either way would however cause some confidence "mind game" though. Go Broncos and make us proud. PS. Broncos stadium fans ( theres a new breed out there apparently) should also pay attention to how Pat fans know when to shut-up and when to go balls out. Respect and football knowledge is a plus folks.

 

[Malibu]

I think it just comes down to 3 things in this game. Turnovers the most important thing. The Broncos must win the turnover margin. Whoever can run the football the best which leads to PA which Brady and Manning are the best at in the NFL and the final thing is pressure on the QB. Denver needs to get in Brady's face without having to blitz alot. Dont have to have to get sacks but must get pressure on Brady.

 

[WalkerBoh]

I think it just comes down to 3 things in this game. Turnovers the most important thing. The Broncos must win the turnover margin. Whoever can run the football the best which leads to PA which Brady and Manning are the best at in the NFL and the final thing is pressure on the QB. Denver needs to get in Brady's face without having to blitz alot. Dont have to have to get sacks but must get pressure on Brady.

I'd like to see us play the whole game this season like we played the first 30 minutes of the game last season.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

What does that entail? Sending TJ Ward low? He's very good on those cheap shots.

I didn't say anything about cheap shots or trying to take a player "out".

I just think we have to double Gronk. I like what CDum said.

The common denominator in the Patriots running over teams in the past few weeks has been Brady and Gronk. Of course the run is always a concern because it will begin to open up the pass more. So we have to get pressure on Brady, eliminate Gronk from the master plan, and make sure we don't leave the lanes wide open for Vareen. If we can get some pressure on Brady while not leaving running lanes wide open...I like our chances of Manning scoring enough to beat the Patriots.

 

[TDs3nOut]

I'd like to see us play the whole game this season like we played the first 30 minutes of the game last season.

+1

Miller was a monster for 30 minutes. Might need him to double up!

 

[{+}Mother-Marge{+}]

Dude....you're weird

*smooooooooooooch*

 

[cdumler7]

+1

Miller was a monster for 30 minutes. Might need him to double up!

Miller definitely had his best game of the year against the Patriots last year. I think the major issue for the team at half time was the injury to DRC. The guy was playing lights out but got stupid trying to go for the Hail Mary interception and ended up hurting himself on a stupid play. After that Brady just picked our secondary apart. This year thankfully we have some depth and right now we are healthy. Talib and Harris on the outside can eliminate the outside receivers for the most part no problem. So it really does come down to the middle of the field for the Broncos. If they can have those 5 guys in the middle of Irving, Marshall, Ward, Moore, and maybe Roby all have decent games they stand a very good chance of having a good day on defense. Irving and Marshall seem to be improving as the season goes along so I expect them to do fine. Ward and Moore are the two though that have me a bit worried. They have regressed a little over the last couple of weeks so hoping this little bit of break gave them a chance to get their heads back on right and be ready for probably their toughest match up of the season for the safeties.

I'm also starting to think Roby on Gronk might be a fun match up to watch. I know a rookie on an All-Pro is not usually the match up you want but Roby is one of the few guys that I think can match Gronk's physicality and make him pay for trying to be physical. Roby above anything else has impressed me with just how physical he is. Plus Gronk is a horrible route runner and lacks speed so Roby can be very aggressive without worrying about getting burned. I mean obviously still have help over the top but just think Roby could maybe be the Gronk answer we have needed.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Miller definitely had his best game of the year against the Patriots last year. I think the major issue for the team at half time was the injury to DRC. The guy was playing lights out but got stupid trying to go for the Hail Mary interception and ended up hurting himself on a stupid play. After that Brady just picked our secondary apart. This year thankfully we have some depth and right now we are healthy. Talib and Harris on the outside can eliminate the outside receivers for the most part no problem. So it really does come down to the middle of the field for the Broncos. If they can have those 5 guys in the middle of Irving, Marshall, Ward, Moore, and maybe Roby all have decent games they stand a very good chance of having a good day on defense. Irving and Marshall seem to be improving as the season goes along so I expect them to do fine. Ward and Moore are the two though that have me a bit worried. They have regressed a little over the last couple of weeks so hoping this little bit of break gave them a chance to get their heads back on right and be ready for probably their toughest match up of the season for the safeties.

I'm also starting to think Roby on Gronk might be a fun match up to watch. I know a rookie on an All-Pro is not usually the match up you want but Roby is one of the few guys that I think can match Gronk's physicality and make him pay for trying to be physical. Roby above anything else has impressed me with just how physical he is. Plus Gronk is a horrible route runner and lacks speed so Roby can be very aggressive without worrying about getting burned. I mean obviously still have help over the top but just think Roby could maybe be the Gronk answer we have needed.

Interesting thought. Didn't Ward defend Gronk pretty effectively last year too? Also, for what it's worth, here is a piece that speculates that Talib might cover Gronk:

Aqib Talib Issues Surprising Comments on Return to New England - Patriots - Boston.com

 

[cdumler7]

Interesting thought. Didn't Ward defend Gronk pretty effectively last year too? Also, for what it's worth, here is a piece that speculates that Talib might cover Gronk:

Aqib Talib Issues Surprising Comments on Return to New England - Patriots - Boston.com

I do think that would be the best decision the Broncos could make but I doubt that is what they do. I didn't see anywhere in there that it points to him hinting that Talib would actually be covering Gronk. The thing you have to think about is history of Del Rio. One of his great things but also biggest faults is he runs his defense no matter the team they play. He has a great defensive scheme most of the time but he doesn't like to do match up specific type things. Especially the idea of moving a corner inside like that just to cover a specific player. So my guess is he will continue to leave Talib on the outside. I would rather have Talib on the inside in one-on-one and just see what happens, but most likely you will see a high-low type zone-man coverage for the Broncos against Gronk. Have one of the LB's jamming him at the LOS then have a safety over the top to help out. Which really I like that scheme as well if they run it. Just to me would rather have 1 guy focused on Gronk instead of 2.

And yes Ward did cover him very effectively last year but for some reason Ward has struggled in coverage. I watched that game from last year a few times and Ward had perfect technique in coverage but it just seems like Ward is a bit hesitant this season. My guess is that is because he is learning a new system and still in the having to think through every play that is called stage. My guess is he will improve in coverage as the season goes on but really we won't see the greatness of his signing until next season where he will play at an All-Pro level like hew as for the Browns.

 

[randymon]

I do think that would be the best decision the Broncos could make but I doubt that is what they do. I didn't see anywhere in there that it points to him hinting that Talib would actually be covering Gronk. The thing you have to think about is history of Del Rio. One of his great things but also biggest faults is he runs his defense no matter the team they play. He has a great defensive scheme most of the time but he doesn't like to do match up specific type things. Especially the idea of moving a corner inside like that just to cover a specific player. So my guess is he will continue to leave Talib on the outside. I would rather have Talib on the inside in one-on-one and just see what happens, but most likely you will see a high-low type zone-man coverage for the Broncos against Gronk. Have one of the LB's jamming him at the LOS then have a safety over the top to help out. Which really I like that scheme as well if they run it. Just to me would rather have 1 guy focused on Gronk instead of 2.

And yes Ward did cover him very effectively last year but for some reason Ward has struggled in coverage. I watched that game from last year a few times and Ward had perfect technique in coverage but it just seems like Ward is a bit hesitant this season. My guess is that is because he is learning a new system and still in the having to think through every play that is called stage. My guess is he will improve in coverage as the season goes on but really we won't see the greatness of his signing until next season where he will play at an All-Pro level like hew as for the Browns.

I think NE has the bigger prob. Who are they going to put Revis on. They have the bigger dilema than the Broncos

 

[cdumler7]

I think NE has the bigger prob. Who are they going to put Revis on. They have the bigger dilema than the Broncos

I agree they have quite the dilemma. My thought if I were the Patriots is I would stick Revis on Sanders and Browner on Thomas at this point. Sanders was brought in because he can beat press coverage and has the speed to really run away from those big physical corners. So Browner on him doesn't make much sense. Revis has not always had his best days against Thomas either so it just makes sense to use the smaller quicker corner in Revis on the smaller quicker guy in Sanders while try having Browner out physical Thomas and hope he just doesn't get by him. The bigger issue though might be who are they going to use up the middle for Thomas and Welker. TE's have had really big days against the Patriots. They might struggle more than we even do as a team against TE's so I could see Thomas having a big day. I would also say Welker is about due for a big day. All the other receivers have had their chance and we all know Manning is an equal opportunity type quarterback so I could see him looking Welker's way quite a bit.

 

[TDs3nOut]

I do think that would be the best decision the Broncos could make but I doubt that is what they do. I didn't see anywhere in there that it points to him hinting that Talib would actually be covering Gronk. The thing you have to think about is history of Del Rio. One of his great things but also biggest faults is he runs his defense no matter the team they play. He has a great defensive scheme most of the time but he doesn't like to do match up specific type things. Especially the idea of moving a corner inside like that just to cover a specific player. So my guess is he will continue to leave Talib on the outside. I would rather have Talib on the inside in one-on-one and just see what happens, but most likely you will see a high-low type zone-man coverage for the Broncos against Gronk. Have one of the LB's jamming him at the LOS then have a safety over the top to help out. Which really I like that scheme as well if they run it. Just to me would rather have 1 guy focused on Gronk instead of 2.

And yes Ward did cover him very effectively last year but for some reason Ward has struggled in coverage. I watched that game from last year a few times and Ward had perfect technique in coverage but it just seems like Ward is a bit hesitant this season. My guess is that is because he is learning a new system and still in the having to think through every play that is called stage. My guess is he will improve in coverage as the season goes on but really we won't see the greatness of his signing until next season where he will play at an All-Pro level like hew as for the Browns.

Here is an excerpt from the article I linked:

"He has a big challenge ahead of him, as he will most likely be asked to cover tight end Rob Gronkowski, whose performance of 149 receiving yards and 3 TDs proved he is back in a big way. "

The "He" in that refers to Talib. Like I posted before, I have no idea whether or not that is true.

I find it interesting that Gronk, Wright, and La Fell combined to catch 27 of the 33 passes that Brady completed against the Bears.

 

[TDs3nOut]

I think NE has the bigger prob. Who are they going to put Revis on. They have the bigger dilema than the Broncos

Agreed, but I also think that Del Rio and the defense face a formidable challenge.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Any thoughts on playing our defense and special teams in fantasy this week?

 

[WalkerBoh]

Here is an excerpt from the article I linked:

"He has a big challenge ahead of him, as he will most likely be asked to cover tight end Rob Gronkowski, whose performance of 149 receiving yards and 3 TDs proved he is back in a big way. "

The "He" in that refers to Talib. Like I posted before, I have no idea whether or not that is true.

I find it interesting that Gronk, Wright, and La Fell combined to catch 27 of the 33 passes that Brady completed against the Bears.

I think that's more a statement on how lousy the Bears defense really is.....

 

[PatsFan2003]

I think that's more a statement on how lousy the Bears defense really is.....

No kidding. Gronk and La Fell were also 27 of 27 too.

That's not going to happen Sunday.

 

[HammerDown]

You guys let me know if Pats fans come over here trolling. We can't have that.

 

[cdumler7]

You guys let me know if Pats fans come over here trolling. We can't have that.

Haha I will let you know...so far they have been pretty tame. Given BigKen hasn't shown his face yet looking for a fight. Plus the week is young but so far they have been very respectful. MotherMarge likes to get a bit weird but I think being locked in that convent all day with the other nuns is getting to her.

 

[cdumler7]

Here is an excerpt from the article I linked:

"He has a big challenge ahead of him, as he will most likely be asked to cover tight end Rob Gronkowski, whose performance of 149 receiving yards and 3 TDs proved he is back in a big way. "

The "He" in that refers to Talib. Like I posted before, I have no idea whether or not that is true.

I find it interesting that Gronk, Wright, and La Fell combined to catch 27 of the 33 passes that Brady completed against the Bears.

I think that part was more the writer putting his thoughts into the article than actually anything they have heard. When Talib was with the Patriots they were a team willing to do such a thing. So far I have never seen Del Rio do such a thing. Heck this season he has shown to allow Roby a rookie to even try and cover the top target of the other team. Not my favorite decision of his but I do like that he shows such trust in the rookie and pushes him to be great.

 

[TDs3nOut]

I think that's more a statement on how lousy the Bears defense really is.....

Maybe. I do like our defense a lot better than Chicago's, but I also think that they could have their hands full on Sunday. I'm particularly concerned about the two TEs. I think that getting pressure on Brady, particularly up the middle, is a likely key.