https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVq4HxeN8K4
One of the advantages of taking on a playoff opponent in the regular season is that you get a great chance to self scout yourself before going into the matchup again. The good news for us, is we get to take a look at scheme, as well as players. The Patriots in particular are a much different team from the last matchup so lets go through and outline those differences.
- Jacoby Brissett was starting at QB for the Patriots
- Rob Ninkovich was still suspended and not playing
- Dont’a Hightower was inactive
- Jamie Collins was still in a starting role
- Elandon Roberts was playing considerable snaps at LB
- Kyle Van Noy was not yet on the roster
- Eric Rowe had yet to play significant snaps
- Malcolm Mitchell had yet to emerge
- Michael Floyd was not yet on the roster
- Cyrus Jones had 1 kick return and 2 punt returns
Clearly, this team is not the same as they were in Week 3, and neither are the Texans after Brock Osweiler starting, being benched, and now starting again, or JJ Watts appearance, ineffectiveness, and disappearance. However, there is a lot to be gleaned from seeing this game, and obviously the Patriots are going to take a look at it also. Here are a few quick notes after looking at the game again:
First, and most importantly, can we wear these uniforms again? Seriously they’re fire. Okay okay, I’m watching.
OFFENSE NOTES:
-The Patriots got very creative with misdirection, and disguising on offense. This was in no small part, to give their rookie QB the easiest reads but it was pretty effective, particularly, early on.
-In the running game, the Patriots doubled Clowney and ran right at him. There were occasions were Cam Fleming was brought in as the extra lineman on heavy downs and it looked like he was planning on giving Cannon help with Watt, but he didn’t need it. Shows how hurt Watt probably still was then.
-The Patriots had a devastating drive to open the third quarter that ended with a LeGarette Blount TD, and 9:42 off the clock. THAT is how you step on the throat of an opponent when you’re up.
DEFENSE NOTES:
–Alan Branch had a couple of easy plays to make. The Texans OL gave him some opportunities to blow up their run game and I imagine they’re going to focus on keeping him in check.
–DeAndre Hopkins is a very good receiver. At 6’1″ 215 lbs, he would be Logan Ryan‘s responsibility in man. It will take a good game from Ryan to keep him in check, especially if the Patriots returned to a more man based coverage scheme. They did a little bit of both in this game but lately have been a bit more zone heavy.
-The Patriots kept tabs on Hopkins at all times and often gave Logan Ryan help keeping him under wraps. Hopkins only had 4 catches for 56 yards in their last meeting.
–Bill O’Brien is no fool, and he’ll check out the coverages with motions early in the game. All about giving his mediocre QB the best chance to see the field.
-The Texans had a slight preference in the run game on the offensive right side. They were relatively balanced in that sense…
-But once the Texans fell behind, the game really got away from them. After Brock Osweiler’s 2nd quarter interception by Jamie Collins, the play calling was a little slanted with the score at 10-0. Not counting their last possession (with a minute left and no shot to win, they just ran the clock out), the Texans passed on 72% on their snaps. This was a tough spot for the Texans, fighting just to stay in it but by losing their balance early on, it made a big hole bigger. Brock Osweiler was never going to win a shootout with TB12.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
-Houston’s special teams play is overall a little sloppy and all over the place. Seems like a good place to take advantage. There were two fumbles on kick returns by Houston, and an interference with a fair catch on a punt by them. Turnovers were rare for the Patriots at that stage of the season, but with the opportunistic group they’ve turned into as of late the turnovers could become more frequent.
–Ryan Allen and the punt team did a terrific job this week. There wasn’t one return and every ball was downed inside the 20, and out of 7 punts FIVE of them were downed at the 11 yard line or less. Always good to know that if the offense ever sputters, Allen can flip the field. There was one point he punted from about the NE 20 yard line, and it was downed at the HOU 20 yard line. Love the quote “you have to not lose before you can win,” and punting like that is a key to not losing a game.
While the team names are the same, this is a tale of two different teams. Week 3 was a very long time ago and things are very different. The thing that I’m most excited to see in a long list, is Trey Flowers III aka, “TECHNIQUE” play a significant role in the playoffs. He’s been nicely rounding into a solid 3 down player and his arrow is pointing straight up with him. I see Flowers taking off this game and getting some great stats and being a force.
The playoffs are here boys and girls. Go Pats.
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