Keys to Beating the Patsies Dec 6, 2007 …………
The Iggles and PoeBirds have shown that the Patsies are not a
robotic, super-human team that can slap aside any team in its way like a
flea. Chinks in the armor have been
exposed, and it’s up to LeBeau and Idiot Arians to exploit and attack those weaknesses,
as opposed to simply pounding a square peg into a round hole.
The Keys:
- Get
the NE LBs out in space and then attack. These LBs are superb scrapers and stuffers
within 4 yards of the LOS. Beyond that,
they’re as lumbering and oafish a crew that exists in the league. Bruschi
and Seau are simply decrepit out in space.
Adalius Thomas is a fine rusher, but at 270 pounds and far more of a rusher,
he’s not comfortable at all in open space downfield. Vrabel is a solid, steady veteran, but is no spring chicken, and lacks
any kind of speed in open space.
It’s therefore incumbent upon AirHead Arians to get the ball to
Parker, Miller, Holmes, Ced, and Ward in spots where they can easily dash by
these oaves and into the third level. This means quick flares, power sweeps, quickie-tosses
to the RB or sidecar, designed quick-screens, and short flips to Miller,
Speath, and Cedric.
- Get the
ball to Holmes, Miller, and Ward for RAC yardage in the medium areas. The NE secondary is an atrocious-tackling
crew. Just utterly appalling. Really, if I were a high school football
coach, I would forbid my DBs from watching the Pats, as their tackling skill
and technique is beyond reprehensible.
Even Rodney Harrison, who years ago was a very solid tackler, has slowed
and creaked to the point where he is a liability on downfield RAC yardage. The Pats have been able to conceal this
overall DB weakness, typically by way of major blowouts where the D-line can
tee off on the QB and the secondary can play a conservative posture. This weakness, combined with the
aforementioned bullet of the LBs out in space, has been successfully attacked and
needs to be attacked by Arians.
Ward
has had some success vs. NE on delayed crossers that venture across the
field. This does take some time --
which Ben has not had much of -- but has given the Pats fits in the past. Seamers, short flags, and quick slants must
be integrated so that our fleet WRs and fleet TE can snare the ball on the move
and then gain gobs of RAC yardage.
- Ben
must be decisive, not gun-shy. The gun-shy foolishness by Benji began in
the Clev game on Nov. 11th, and has yet to stop. You saw what AJ Feel-All and Kyle The Bowler did against the
Pats. Each is a piece of shit QB, yet they
both had a devil-may-care approach versus NE, and they SNAPPED OFF passes when
they needed to be snapped off and both had solid success. They didn’t stand around aimlessly for 6
seconds looking for some receiver to be 7 yards past his defender. The Pats front 7 can generate some heat, but
their secondary is not the reincarnation of the ’83 Raiders. Benji has GOT to be decisive and let his receivers
MAKE plays. Note that I didn’t say to
be foolish, or to take absurd gambles….I said be decisive. If the smart, decisive play is to snap the
ball into the bleachers on 2nd and 7 from the Pats’ 14-yard line, then do it, as
opposed to mindless STANDING AROUND that often results in hideous strips and fumbles.
- The
Stiller O-line must get hat-on-hat in the blocking scheme. The cutesy counters will be highly
ineffective against this defense, as they are too wise, too savvy, and too
anticipatory to just stand around. The
Pats will shoot any gap that is presented.
Simplified, mano-o-mano blocking is what is needed here, combined with
quick hitting plays to Parker and even Davis rather than the host of slow,
meandering plays that we’ve seen all too much of lately. Philly and Balt showed that NE can be run
on, but only if it’s quick, not cutesy.
- Put
some harassment on Tom The Lady. Remember, I’m not talking about Dong sacks. I’m talking about a simple paw in the face
of a QB, or some heat just as the QB is getting ready to release the pass, or
some pressure to make the QB shorten his stride on his delivery, or smacking
the QB in the mouth just after he releases the pass.
This is obviously easier said than
done, as the Stiller defense has not been this demonic, overwhelming pass rush
the way EPSN and others make it sound. The
Stillers defense padded their stats earlier this season, especially against
Charlie Fry, the 49ers, and the Ravens.
They’ve done little lately in terms of ferocious harassment on opposing
QBs. Clark Haggans, for example, lately
has about 1 solid rush per game, and is stymied the rest of the contest. Aaron Smith hasn’t fully recovered from his
injury. Aside from the inside LB blitzes
-- which rarely surprise anyone anymore -- the Stillers are getting only
occasional heat from just 2 defenders -- Keisel and Harrison. That won’t do it versus NE.
- Limit the effectiveness
of checkdowns to Falk and Maroney.
It’s easy to get caught up with chasing Moss, Welker, Watson, and Stallworth. In clutch time, and on 3rd & medium,
Brady loves hitting the checkdown, especially to Faulk, who is The Lady’s favorite
pacifier. Maroney is more dangerous to
take it to the house, but Faulk is ultra dependable, ultra clutch, and ultra tough.
- Be physical with
the NE receivers/TE. Too many
teams have been far too respectful, and then have given the NE foursome more
room & space than what most parents demand when their kids are anywhere near
Michael Jackson. Philly and Balt were physical
and aggressive with the Patsie receivers.
The Stillers actually have CBs that are big and physical
enough for this task, named Taylor and McFadden. Take the kid gloves off and let them get a chuck. Watson, too, must not be given a free
release each and every pass play. Sure,
being physical has its risks, but as Iron Maiden once sang, “if you’re gonna
die, die with your boots on.” It’s
better to be tough and rugged than passive and pussyfied.
If the Stillers can implement and execute these keys, they’ll
have a fighting chance of winning this ballgame.
(Still Mill
and Stillers.com -- when it comes to the analysis of the Pittsburgh Stillers,
no one else comes close….)