YattaOkasan

I will definitely take a FG. I think our offense can put up 7's this year. In the past I might have been concerned.

I'd take 100% odds in week 16 or 15 as well

I don't think they have picked up EJ's 5th year option yet so there isn't a renegotiate (I think this addresses your second point of less money over a longer period of time). They don't have to pick it either (as the word option implies). Just because they don't pick it up doesn't mean he won't play for us though. He could be extended on a new contract (at market value) or he could become a FA and still sign with us. I would like us to extend him without picking up the 5th year option. That option is really for first round draft picks that are successful (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

Have you Edelman/Gronk picks? They force contact with the DB. This DB takes a longer path to make a play on the ball because of Sammy's route, but he is not contacted. This was just poor coverage on a pick play. But this pick was not egregious at all. If this were Edelman/Gronk I would be pissed our coverage was playing so far off. Oh wait I am pissed at our coverage in that game. EDIT: Also if you think this should be flagged then I don't know what to do about any crossing routes. The nature of having all the route runners start on one side and try to get open in 2-4 seconds is that they will cross paths and be in clos proximity to each other.

I don't see Watkins contact with Shady's man at all unless you are telling me you think they were going to play a switch (in which case I think the DB on Watkins messed up because he was playing outside leverage). Watkins contacts his man after 5 yards in what could easily be a route. Yes this is a pick route. But it is not egregious at all.

I thought it showed great improvement that I knew we had it with over 8 minutes to go.

It was Hogan's for me. Too little time for them to comeback even with 100% 2pt conversions. Karlos's TD was just the icing.

Below are my adjustments. I like most of what you did. RB=P6 (preseason has me scared of RB's going down) RT=P3, LT=P3, OC=P3 (Basically we take best linemen available) OG=P4 (I am assuming Cog is resigned) DE, DT=P4 (while we are old I don't see us "needing" starter level production) OLB=P3 (I know we have some young guys that might pan out be I think this is a priority) ILB=P5 (I like the P5 category and was surprised you didn't use it. Think its perfect here. After round 3 Whaley will draft a good no name LB; plus Powell comes back next year) Agree with the rest particularly CB because I think Leo is gone

I assumed lower was higher priority. I agree needs are OT, C, DL, and S

Agreed there is a lot more than can go wrong/negative with a pass play. This is why a solid run game is great. Force the other team into the riskier facet of the game while you get yards/points in the safer approach. To the comment up thread that only Seattle can run the ball, I would point to SF when Roman was there as well as the Cowboys success last year. There are still many teams that use the run effectively. I agree the pass is more important, but dominating the run can have a profound impact.

I'm going to assume that Whaley new before the Watkins pick that 2015 was a down year. So he knew he would move up for the most potential in the draft using his 2014 first round choice if it became available. I like the choice. I don't think we missed much in the 2014 first round.

Agreed. Also important if you're down in the 2nd half. Brady and BB had to pass at the end of last game because the run was so ineffective. That kept us in the game; although not enough. I honestly think if they had gone to a run centric offense we would have completed the comeback.

Very disappointed in the D line today. Actually think the secondary has been the better of the two groups. The offense has also been frustrating as well.

Thanks. This could work (I was trying to think of ways to free up the Tackle) but I would be happy if a TE is staying to block (or even to chip), and I really like the idea of Mario or Hughes rushing against a TE.

Agree this is a huge game. I can't wait. As for the middle I am not sure what they will do to help besides keep the running back in. I expect heavy pressure up the middle similar to what Luck saw (I think Bradham blitzed like 15 times). If Bradham is blitzing I am not really sure if you can double team Dareus or Williams. That would leave Bradham 1 on 1 against Blount or Lewis. I'll take either of those matchups over the course of a game.

I agree with most that's been said (Boring I know) and I think we can get the job done with 11 Heavy pressure up the middle with Dareus Bradham and K Williams Bumping Edelman/Amendola and Gronk at the line with Darby/Gilmore and Lawson respectively Over the top coverage on Gronk with Williams Brown on Blount out the backfield (probably bring Robey in for Lawson if Lewis is in and have Jerry or Mario bump Gronk) Leaving a safety on their 3rd WR/2nd TE; Mario and Jerry setting the edge and stopping screens. It puts a lot of guys on islands (4) but the only matchup I worry about is Edelman. These matchup are also in our base package on an offensively favorable down. I like our matchups a lot in nickel, obvious passing downs, or anytime they keep skill players to pass protect. Still a very tough match up. However, the disguise at the LOS will be crucial to make sure the run game is halted and Brady feels. pressure up the middle.

If they are running this stuff out of a twins set we could commit 3 to the coverage and just shell them. One inside, one outside, and one deep. Once the pick happens should be easy to see who takes who. If they don't go towards a pick then you keep your assignments with the safety and LB sorta double covering the inside player. Even if they go twins both sides we have 5 to commit to the run/blitz plus the inside guys would also be in run support. Thoughts?

I actually expect the same game plan from the Pats as Indy. Stop McCoy with Run Blitz and Double Sammy. Maybe they'll disguise their coverage more but I don't know how the Pats can do anything more than that. Their defense looked really bad against Pitt.

Agreed I would like to see heavy nickel; I just wasn't sure who the safety would be. Then I thought more about it and realized I really like Robey as the hard hitter. That's why I thought just straight nickel. Let's be honest both our nickel and base defenses are very legit. As I mentioned though I have the same concern as a poster up thread. My general concern on defense this game is Brady getting us in an unfavorable personnel grouping, and they are able to run no huddle to the red zone. At which point they just throw it up to Gronk.

I think their no back formations will almost exclusively be 11 personnel. Why would you take Gronk off for even your #2 WR let alone your #4? I would also take the Pats RBs aligned wide over their #5 WR (especially because 11 personnel would likely mean a LB in coverage) I expect a heavy nickel or nickel against this line up. I am a little worried about Robey in run support versus this line up but I think our base defense would get picked apart in a no huddle situation. He does blitz. Basically he likes to press cover and disguise his blitzes. Sound familiar. I am hoping that he sends Bradham, K WIlliams, and Dareus up the middle every time.

We do have a 5th year option and we exercised it already. My order of importance ATM is Gilmore>Bradham>Glenn. This could change if Glenn reverts back to pre2014 mode, but so far I haven't seen it. I think we'll find a way to retain all three. You're right Whaley does know LBs but I sorta hope we lock it down with the current two. Then we can have good depth rather than needing a young LB to prove Whaley right again. Plus you can always trade you're young LBs for studs at other positions (see Shady deal).

Cassel under center backwards pass to TT who wants to throw to Sammy but has to keep it instead for a loss or small gain. 24 first downs.

Yeah a combination of (in ascending order of scariness) K Williams, Bradham, and Dareus should be able to own any G-C-G combination in the league. I like the idea of this stunt: Kyle smashes across the Guards face into the Center. Bradham comes in and blows up the Guard that Williams was over. Finally Dareus loops around the pile and goes through the huge created gap between the center and the guard.

I would disguise everything. All the time. I think they use exotic blitzes if they disguise them well (I think Rex's success doing this is well documented). On top of that I would drive the middle of the line into Brady's lap. I agree the DE and outside blitzes will not be as important because he gets the ball out so quickly. However pushing a half ton of lineman (O & D) into him should throw off his timing.

The trade happened before the draft. I still make that trade.