Today’s the day to get your mind right and mentally prepare for what’s about to go down tomorrow. There’s been plenty to digest over the last few days, here’s a few thoughts on some of the more interesting bits of news.
- After thinking about it more and more, I think we might see a Cover 2 Zone game from the Patriots defense instead of matching up Butler on Brown as most seem to be expecting. Why? The Pats moved to a lot more Cover 2 in the second half of the season and got pretty good at it. Bell is the one who scares me the most, so if they run nickel personnel with three safeties, which means Patrick Chung is in the box or slot, they’d not only have a pretty stout front but they’d have help over the top of both corners on Brown. This also sets up a fence of five defenders who can come downhill not only on Bell’s runs, but on the underneath passes that I’m betting the Steelers attack with. This strategy relies heavily on Patrick Chung’s ability both as a tough run stopper but an effective cover man. There’s also some flexibility to put McCourty up close to the LOS as he often did against Houston.
- Another thing the zone coverage does is it floods the flat with defenders who can tackle Antonio Brown after the catch. If the Patriots play their usual sound fundamental game, with good tackling and no runs-after-catch that go 30-plus, the Steelers should struggle to maintain their offensive output.
- If I was Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator my bread and butter would be to attack the Patriots defense underneath with Bell and Brown. There was plenty of talk on the Sports Hub yesterday that the Patriots can’t matchup covering running backs in the passing game, well Cover 2 is just the answer to that. If that’s how the game unfolds it will all come down to tackling, which we know the Patriots are almost always excellent at. What we’d want to see if Bell catching the pass then getting blasted by the zone defenders across the line.
- If I was Pittsburgh’s defensive coordinator I’d scheme to attack the middle of the offensive line. The critical component is getting Brady off his game early, at least planting a seed of doubt. The Patriots are unfazed if they have to punt a couple times early on in the game. Really, as Mike Lombardi once said, the start of the game is a race to Belichick, for him to find out how you’re going to play the game. Once they figure it out they’re going to move the ball. The Steelers must vary their approach on each drive, including going to something totally different after halftime before going back to what was working in the first half. Eric Mangini laid it all out here and it’s the only way to stop Tom Brady.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ4oXvjNQ_w&t=1s
- Adam Schefter mentioned that Chip Kelly was meeting with Belichick this week. Interesting move and of course I’d be more than find having Kelly join the staff for a season in a consultant type role. Let’s face it, a year with the Pats can do just about any coaches career good. How would it work now that Josh McDaniels is staying? That’s what’s unclear. By now McDaniels, Brady and the offense have their relationships down pat. Still, a fresh innovative voice like Kelly’s is what’s needed to stay ahead of the curve and that’s always what the Patriots are trying to do. Could it mean the return to more rapid no huddle? It would seem so.
- The flu has been going around the Steelers locker room this week which sucks for them. I’m reminded of the 2006 AFCCG when the Patriots had a similar epidemic prior to playing in the dome of Indy. The Pats still came out strong but were totally useless in the second half, getting totally dominated. Have to wonder how the Steelers’ energy levels will be as the game drags on into the fourth quarter, especially as temperatures drop in Foxborough.
- Lastly, Tedy Bruschi will be the honorary captain tomorrow night, and the Pats are 8-0 in games where they’ve honored Bru. I’ve been saying all week this feels like a throwback matchup and which better throwback player to have lead the charge? I still think it’s amazing that Bruschi’s “How do we feel about… Awww yeah!” team chant is still in effect, now with Matthew Slater usually leading the cheer. How many teams still use something like that eight years after a player retired? Funny little tidbit from Patriots dynasty history.
