The Patriots offensive line

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12intheBox

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This group is playing good football right now. They have established a dominant run game and have kept things pristine for Tom.

We need to crack em - but how?

Let’s look at the group:

Trent Brown, Joe Thuney, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Marcus Cannon

The tackles: Brown is enormous. 6’8 and 380. 380? Yes, 380! And for that size, he can really move. We can thank the Niners for this one - they gave him to the Patriots who moved him the right side to the left where he has flourished. Fucking 9ers.

Marcus Cannon holds down the right side. Draftnics may remember this kid - he was a sure fire day one or two prospect until he was diagnosed with some sort of cancer during the draft process. The Patriots played the patient game and took him in the 5th round and waited on him. That patience has paid off - he is a stud on the right side.

Tom has really good pocket awareness anyway - so the outside edge rush generally isn’t an issue. Neither of these tackles is going to make the ballet but they both handle their respective edges well enough that Tom doesn’t usually get blindsided. Still - anything Fowler can offer cutting around the edge will be a plus.

The guards

Joe Thuney was a stud at NC State and he has been incredibly solid and reliable as a pro. I hate that I like him as much as I do.

Shaq Mason

When he is right - he may be the best of the NE lineman. He has missed a few games here and there but seems to be healthy now. I think he is the difference maker in the run game for the Pats.

Center

David Andrews - undrafted. Unrecognizable. Becomes the starter when Stork got hurt and never gave the job back. You know how you never really want to hear an offensive lineman’s name called? That’s this guy.

Ok - so how do we beat this unit? It depends on how they play us. I assume Donald will get doubled which means Suh and/or Brockers will need to beat Shaq or Joe one on one.

If Tom Brady has a weakness from a pocket presence perspective, it’s the middle pressure. Most QBs don’t excel with pressure right in their face - but Tom isn’t going to move the pocket much - there will be some but not many rollouts and boots in this offense.

They are going to try to quick hit - get rid of it to a back or to the slot. We need to be ready for the ball to come out fast - get those paws up.

When there is a chance to hit Tom, it needs to hurt. He may seem ageless, but as a 40+ myself - shit hurts more now than it used to. For that reason more than any other, I think this game comes down to Suh. If he dominates, we can roll. If he gets handled, we may be in trouble defensively. Even when there isn’t a sack to be had - every QB hit matters. Let’s nudge Tom into retirement and remind him old he is.
 

Karate61

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The Pats have given up 3 pressures and zero sacks in their 2 playoff games with this line. Their Oline is so underrated. I think Rams should assume they lose the battle in the trenches against this oline, and play to defend the pass. I don't think Brady is gonna get beat from pressure and sacks. So, let's test that arm of his and force long passes...no gimmie short passes.
 

12intheBox

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The Pats have given up 3 pressures and zero sacks in their 2 playoff games with this line. Their Oline is so underrated. I think Rams should assume they lose the battle in the trenches against this oline, and play to defend the pass. I don't think Brady is gonna get beat from pressure and sacks. So, let's test that arm of his and force long passes...no gimmie short passes.

And what - drop Aaron Donald back into coverage?

Nah - this is our strength vs their strength. Our D line is who we are - we just need to be able to get to Brady with 4. Find a way.
 

JonRam99

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Ya we gotta get the pressure up the middle. Rush Barron or Littleton up the gut here & there, as we've seen happen a few times from Wade.
KC - had a lot of sacks this year, but mostly from end. LAC - you could say their strength is the edge too.
Dante will keep their RT & LT honest, while Suh & AD & MB will be counted on to destroy the interior. AD almost had the sack record this year, from the INSIDE. We'll get some pressure on Brady I think.
 

ramfan46

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I'm telling Michael Brockers to stop the run and just get in Brady's passing lanes and play volleyball all day. Brady is hard to get to, but he's easy to get in front of. Get those hands up and deflect those passes. He's only gonna get sacked 1-3 times at most IMO.
 

RhodyRams

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The Pats haven't faced a top 10 d line all season
 

12intheBox

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The Chargers have a good pass rush but they came out in their 7 DB defense and refused to come out of it. That look was great against Baltimore confusing the rookie but the Pats just ran right into it. They take what they are given - which is why we need to be able to get home with 4 and give them nothing.
 

SeminoleRam

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And what - drop Aaron Donald back into coverage?

Nah - this is our strength vs their strength. Our D line is who we are - we just need to be able to get to Brady with 4. Find a way.

I think these last few weeks (Great Timing!) the Rams Defensive Line has started playing like everyone was hoping and expecting them to play which is TERRIBLE NEWS for opposing Offenses! Suh is looking like the player the Rams paid all that money for and in my opinion the past two weeks he has looked and played like he has been worth every penny! I also think Fowler has proven to be a great signing, Brockers is playing much better and Aaron Donald IS Aaron Donald!!! I know it probably won’t happen but I sure wish the Rams could keep those players together next season(s)!!!
 

Karate61

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And what - drop Aaron Donald back into coverage?

Nah - this is our strength vs their strength. Our D line is who we are - we just need to be able to get to Brady with 4. Find a way.
Mix in a lot of 8 defenders standing, rarely blitz as usually ineffective against Brady, maul the recievers off the line, and if blitzing on occasion go up the middle.
 

Dodgersrf

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The Pats have given up 3 pressures and zero sacks in their 2 playoff games with this line. Their Oline is so underrated. I think Rams should assume they lose the battle in the trenches against this oline, and play to defend the pass. I don't think Brady is gonna get beat from pressure and sacks. So, let's test that arm of his and force long passes...no gimmie short passes.
I agree.
Blitzing Brady may be a waste of time.
Rush 4 guys and focus on their underneath passing game. Cheats dink and dunk more than any other team in the league. Making it very difficult to get to Brady.
 

ReekofRams

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A great defense never plays defensively. The Rams might not get much pressure on Brady or maybe they will, but at least if they stand their ground they'll limit the cheatriots running game, making so Brady has to take more chances down field, which is no longer the strength it once was, leading to opportunities for an aggressive defense to take advantage of.
 

BonifayRam

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No way that a 6-8 380 lbs LT Trenton Brown can get the best of a 6-0 under 280 lbs Aaron Donald from crashing in on that outer side. They will have to keep TE Gronk in to help. The Rams DL needs to work on getting their hands up with Brady's dump off short passes coming hard & often. Rams DB's will get a decent challenge with this Pats offense.

This OL has great benefit due to the excellent quick passing game with receivers Hogan/ Edelman/ Dorcett. These Pats RB's (Rex Burkhead & James White) are also excellent in the short passing game.


https://www.profootballfocus.com/nfl/players/shaq-mason/9564
https://www.profootballfocus.com/nfl/players/trent-brown/9677
https://www.profootballfocus.com/nfl/players/marcus-cannon/6290
https://www.pffstaging.com/nfl/players/joe-thuney/10712
https://www.profootballfocus.com/nfl/players/david-andrews/9948
https://www.pffstaging.com/nfl/players/joe-thuney/10712
 
Last edited:

99Balloons

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G
Not only hitting Brady hard and let him know about it, but also jam and hit hard their WRs, RBs and TEs. Play defense like the Titans did to the Patriots and let them feel the pain.
Make the Patriots earn every yard. And McVay needs to go all out, whether it’s trick plays like the Philly Philly or what not, McVay has to put the gas to the pedal and no brakes on these Patriots. If it’s 4th and 2, go for it and never look back.
 

ReekofRams

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Not only hitting Brady hard and let him know about it, but also jam and hit hard their WRs, RBs and TEs. Play defense like the Titans did to the Patriots and let them feel the pain.
Make the Patriots earn every yard. And McVay needs to go all out, whether it’s trick plays like the Philly Philly or what not, McVay has to put the gas to the pedal and no brakes on these Patriots. If it’s 4th and 2, go for it and never look back.
Only problem is Marcus Peters is not one for being physical. He even will why away from tackling head on, and I'm positive that New England will expose that if they can.
 

LesBaker

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This group is playing good football right now. They have established a dominant run game and have kept things pristine for Tom.

We need to crack em - but how?

I suspect we are going to see WP move everyone around and Fowler and Littleton will be in the mix a lot.

I bet AD lines up on the end with a 4 man front a few times on passing downs.
 

London_Ram

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The Patriots Oline is one of the two things that concern me the most in the match up.

Yep, they haven't played against Donald and our Dline but they did play the 4 teams with most sacks in the regular season giving up a total of just 4 sacks (in 5 games if you include the KC play-off match-up). There was also only one game this season where they gave up more sacks than that team averaged the rest of the year - Tennessee.

I still think overall we match-up well but to get pressure on Brady we're going to have to do something that only one team did better against the Patriots than they did for the rest of the season to do so.