Archives for September 18, 2015

'“Spin the wheel, see what’s out there. We’ve got to expect that,” he said. “From zone, to man, blitz zero to drop into coverage. With his defenses, you’ve always got to be prepared, you’ve always have to be ready for any type of situation because he always has his players prepared very well for any type of situation, too.”'

'Dareus and Kyle Williams have six Pro Bowls between them because they possess the strength and quickness to create havoc inside. If you add the kind of tricky stunts and delayed (and sometimes not-so-delayed) blitzes Ryan will throw at the Patriots’ young interior with three aggressive linebackers and two fast safeties you have the possibility of a nightmarish afternoon.'

'“If you make it about yourself, you’re taking the wrong approach,” he said. “It’s a team game. I’m excited to go back and compete against a divisional opponent this week. I’m focused on helping the Patriots, not worried about me.”'

'“I think I’m just trying to approach it like every other week,” Chandler said. “I’m really excited to be here in New England and just going about my business doing my job.”'

'Had the Colts linebackers not lost track of Taylor on the 31-yard scramble (below), or lost track of McCoy (a pair of swing passes went for 22 and 20 yards, respectively), this could have been a different game. Both plays led to touchdowns. And while both McCoy and Taylor deserve credit for making those big plays in space, it seems Indianapolis had defensive breakdowns and miscommunications on both.'

'"Hopefully they can go out there and my family can represent me," he said. "That'll be cool. They always wear my jersey, so it's up to them if they want to. I always enjoy going back, especially where you grew up. It's always great to go back, play in front of your friends and family."'

'“I always did ‘Punt, Pass & Kick’ growing up,” Gronkowski said Thursday. “That was my memory of growing up – halftime, I was like 13 years old, right around that age, you get to throw your pass as far as you can in front of the crowd. That was the memory I still remember, doing that, ‘Punt, Pass & Kick’ as a kid.”'

'“So he’s a tough guy to prepare for just because he can do so many things on the field. I think we’ve got to recognize and realize the challenge and be ready to stop the different things he can do well.”'

'“Obviously you don’t just put one guy on this guy,” Ryan said. “That has been proven. I will say this though — it is better to put one guy on him than nobody on him. This just in.”'

'Chandler expects a challenge from Buffalo’s front seven. “They’ve been doing it a long time and they do it well,” he said. “The ends can rush and the d-tackles make it tough on the guys inside, too, so we’re going to have to do a good job handling those guys.”'

'“What New England needs to do is to test the run defense of Buffalo, whether it’s via LeGarrette Blount, Dion Lewis or some other back. Rex loves to put pressure on offenses, but a good and consistent run game will keep him on his toes. For him this weekend, the key is having two good man-cover corners. Look for Brady to test them in the early going to see what he can and can’t do. Oh, and by the way? New England has a tight end that gives everyone fits. If he’s left alone like we saw last week, it’ll be a long day for Buffalo.”'

'Now, as he prepares for Sunday's showdown with the New England Patriots, we're looking back at Ryan's greatest hits since blowing into Buffalo – a pattern of IDGAF behavior that proves while his team may have changed, Rex most certainly hasn't.'

'Starting safety Corey Graham is scheduled to have tests Friday to determine whether he'll be cleared to play after sustaining a concussion last weekend.'

'"I don' t even want to think that way, but yeah, it would be definitely (be Williams)," Ryan said. "But like I said, I' m not giving up on McCoy playing.'

'Patriots 23-19.'