finsrclowns
09-21-2004, 01:31 PM
1) Stop them on the first drive. NE has had phenomenal success scoring first and particularly using their spread offense to open a game. We need to play the receivers tight and make Brady throw downfield. He can do this but it's not his strength. I think our run D can stuff Dillon, but only if we play tight enough on their receivers to force Brady into more difficult throws. We might give up a big play but the alternative is to be bled to death slowly.
2) Score a TD on OUR first drive. I know that's easier said than done, but we need/want to ball control them and the only chance of doing this is with the lead. I wouldn't mind seeing US come out in a spread, no huddle offense. This accomplishes 2 things: it keeps them from substituting and it gives Henry more room to run. Henry is a between the tackles guy but he runs best when he has space to move which you have with 3 WR's. He did most of his best running in '02 with 3 WR sets.
3) Start Evans. How, besides decent pass protection, do you beat the blitz? You beat it with speed. Evans has it, Reed doesn't. It's time to find out what we've got with Evans. It makes a whole lot more sense than putting in a career journeyman in Matthews at QB. Price hid some of our OL woes for a while until teams adjusted to Gilbride's offense in 2002 by being a big play threat. We need some big plays. Moulds is no longer a top ten receiver- good but nowhere near great as Charles Woodson showed last week. We need to give Bledsoe a weapon that can get open quickly and make some big plays- that's Evans IMO.
4) Play McGahee on all long yardage situations. We are the worst 3rd and long or anything and long team I've ever seen. Bledsoe needs to be able to dump the ball off to someone that can catch and make a first down if in 2 seconds his primary target is covered. We all know he only has 3 seconds to throw it so WM gives him a better option than the fetal position. I'd also play McGahee in the red zone. Off tackle gets kinda cramped against a 9 man line- you need to be able to bounce outside if it isn't there around the goal line- I think WM gives us a better chance there.
5) Play with more emotion than they do. It's a home game, a game we have to have. For them it's only a game they'd like to have to keep a streak alive. We need to play harder and meaner than they do for 60 minutes. Emotion from the crowd and the players is sometimes a great equalizer in football. That's another reason why a good start is imperative.
2) Score a TD on OUR first drive. I know that's easier said than done, but we need/want to ball control them and the only chance of doing this is with the lead. I wouldn't mind seeing US come out in a spread, no huddle offense. This accomplishes 2 things: it keeps them from substituting and it gives Henry more room to run. Henry is a between the tackles guy but he runs best when he has space to move which you have with 3 WR's. He did most of his best running in '02 with 3 WR sets.
3) Start Evans. How, besides decent pass protection, do you beat the blitz? You beat it with speed. Evans has it, Reed doesn't. It's time to find out what we've got with Evans. It makes a whole lot more sense than putting in a career journeyman in Matthews at QB. Price hid some of our OL woes for a while until teams adjusted to Gilbride's offense in 2002 by being a big play threat. We need some big plays. Moulds is no longer a top ten receiver- good but nowhere near great as Charles Woodson showed last week. We need to give Bledsoe a weapon that can get open quickly and make some big plays- that's Evans IMO.
4) Play McGahee on all long yardage situations. We are the worst 3rd and long or anything and long team I've ever seen. Bledsoe needs to be able to dump the ball off to someone that can catch and make a first down if in 2 seconds his primary target is covered. We all know he only has 3 seconds to throw it so WM gives him a better option than the fetal position. I'd also play McGahee in the red zone. Off tackle gets kinda cramped against a 9 man line- you need to be able to bounce outside if it isn't there around the goal line- I think WM gives us a better chance there.
5) Play with more emotion than they do. It's a home game, a game we have to have. For them it's only a game they'd like to have to keep a streak alive. We need to play harder and meaner than they do for 60 minutes. Emotion from the crowd and the players is sometimes a great equalizer in football. That's another reason why a good start is imperative.