PatsPropaganda

They played more sub last year against the Colts and I expect that to be the case again this weekend, so it’s got to be Hightower and Collins most likely, with some Fletcher sprinkled in.

Collins is the storyline as I see it. They could protect him a bit with Spikes in the fold, but now he and Fletcher are going to see their snaps increase.

If/when they do go to base you’re looking at Hightower (SLB), Fletcher (MLB), Collins (WLB). 34 personnel becomes interesting as well, Spikes is a prototypical SILB in the 34, and without him they’d like have to put Hightower there.

I don’t know, they’ll just have to figure it out for a max of three games. The big problem would be against the Chargers in AFCCG or Seahawks/Panthers/49ers in the Super Bowl, but we’ll analyze those problems if/when we get there. They’d be high class problems to have anyway.

I agree 100 percent. If the offense becomes the Edelman with a sprinkling of Amendola show, they’re probably not going very far. Has to be the running backs that step up – Vereen, Ridley, Blount.

Who knows if Dobson will even dress after re-injuring his foot, and Thompkins was little more than a decoy against the Bills. He hasn’t caught a pass since Week 12 against the Texans. 

So I’m not expecting much out of Dobson or Thompkins, and it’s hard to think Hooman, Mulligan or Develin are going to have a breakout offensive performance either. Maybe Austin Collie suddenly emerges, he’s made a few clutch catches in limited time and stints with the team this year. He could be an X-factor.

So it comes down to Blount, Vereen and Ridley. They’ve all shown elements of explosiveness at various times and in various combinations. All three of them have to be lights out for the entire playoff run.

I don’t know how much use he can be, on and off the field. He’s been out of football since last season, and caught just 16 balls last year for the Pats. Much of the Pats roster has changed since he was last in Foxboro.

I guess as far as tendencies and preferences he might be able to give them some insight into the Pats’ offense as a whole, but I’d guess those things would be apparent on tape as well.

Funny thing to me is that just the appearance that the Colts are trying to play some games with the Pats might give the Pats a more motivational edge than any information Branch might provide.