Why The Patriots Should Be Favorites For Super Bowl 47

     Last year, however great a year it was, with all the ups and downs it had, fell short of the goal of getting #4 for the Patriots. But that doesn't mean that we have to go into a slump next year like many teams do post-Super Bowl. We still have very real chances at the Super Bowl in 2013. Barring any major Brady injury like Peyton Manning just had, our offense should be just as good, if not better, than before. We still have Welker and it's probable that we grab a deep threat of a receiver like Brandon Lloyd or drafting Rueben Randle. Or both, since Randle could then learn from Welker and Lloyd. Maybe even throw in Vincent Jackson. And there is a vast number of Free Agent DEs and OLBs that we could go and grab, like Houston's Mario Williams. The defense was on fire though the playoffs (well, up until there was only a little bit of time left in the fourth quarter), and I think they could play like that all year if they needed. So unless Tom Brady severely injures himself or BB has a problem and has to resign, this team will be right back where they were last year, and may go to their 6th Super Bowl in 12 years, and 7th under Robert Kraft's time of owning the Franchise, hopefully winning it.

4 Patriots Plays That could Help Them Win SB XLVI

Here is just a few plays I came up with to help the Patriots get past the New York Giants. Hope you enjoy.

This play is basically just a running play, but I'm going to break it down. You have Hernandez left, Gronkowski on the end of the offensive line, Brady in the shotgun with Green-Ellis to his right, Welker in the slot on the right, and Ochocinco outside. But the most important part of this play is that Hernandez and Gronkowski are both on the same side, and the Giants are more than likely going to double both. And you need a big body of Gronkowski and Hernandez, like a linebacker. So now you have 2 linebackers to the left, and only one in the middle, because Welker and Ochocinco will have CBs on them. The free safety is going to hover over Hernandez and Gronkowski in an attempt at bracket coverage, and the SS will try to cover Welker and Ochocinco (mainly Welker). But the Giants have to put all their big bodies, all their beef, to the left on Gronkowski and Hernandez, so the smaller bodies will be right. Which is perfect for the Patriots. Play action to Green-Ellis from the shotgun. Now Green-Ellis is basically going to run a short flat route in basically a screen, with Welker and Ochocinco blocking their men, while right guard Marcus Cannon pulls to the right as another big body. In my mind, because the big defensive players will be on Gronkowski and Hernandez, this play could be big, and even be a touchdown.

In this play, Branch is lined up wide left, Gronkowski on the end of the line, Brady in the shotgun, Hernandez beside Brady as a running back (the Giants will immediately think run if Hernandez is in the backfield), Welker in the slot to the right, and Ocho wide right. Basically the same formation as the last play, with slightly different personnel. Brady's primary route will be Welkers, with his in-out route (he goes forward, then left, and then turns to his left to end up going right again), Ochocinco will be Brady's secondary route, with a corner-post route that I've seen Ochocinco run well many times. Branch will be third with his hitch, then Hernandez on his arrow-slant route. Gronkowski will be last on the read with his option out-post, because he likely won't be open on the route, but his big body will still require double coverage even if injured, and if he's open, it could be a great play. The key to this play is that it's outside. A couple different route on the outside, which isn't covered very well by the giants if they run the same defense they did the last time they played us (a lot of press coverage and doubling of both right ends, keeping the middle of the field cloudy so Brady couldn't figure out coverages).

This is a pretty simple defense I think could help shutdown the Giants O. The Giants like coming out in this formation, with Manningham outside left, Cruz in the slot to the left, Manning under center with Bradshaw behind him, Ballard on the end of the offensive line on the right, and Nicks wide right. I have Arrington in Nicks, Fletcher on Ballard, Mayo blitzing, Spikes dropping into a zone over the middle of the field, Ninkovich calling pre-snap whether he'll blitz or whether he'll pick up Cruz (if he does blitz, Spikes will be the bottom of the bracket coverage, with Ihedigbo over the top) and McCourty on Manningham. Ihedigbo will be dropping into pass coverage if Ninkovich doesn't blitz, and Chung would be doing the same. I think this defense could be good, with Wilfork requiring double-teams, and NE blitzing 5 total guys (unless Ninkovich covers Cruz) to help get pressure on Eli and stopping any outside run, with Spikes plugging any holes he sees over the middle.

This play is pretty simple, with New England in an unbalanced formation to combat Man coverage and Zone coverage. Ochocinco would be mid-way between the numbers on the field and the end of the line of scrimmage, Woodhead next to Brady in the shotgun, Hernandez on the end of the line of scrimmage on the right, Welker in a bunch with Branch. Ochocinco would be running a corner-post again, which would probably require double coverage, and if he isn't doubled, just heave that ball up there to him. Woodhead would stay behind to protect Brady, and Hernandez would be running basically a rounded post, so that he keeps speed through the whole route, to occupy the upper-middle of the field, causing a safety of linebacker to take him, Welker running an arrow route to the outside (basically running just past the line of scrimmage, to the outside horizontally), and Branch running a delayed Drag route. This play would keep safeties on their heals, as well as attack the Giants linebackers, making them play smart football. Welker would be Brady's first choice on this play, with Ochocinco being his second deep over the middle, Hernandez and Branch could be read at relatively the same time on the third routes, because Hernandez will be in the same line of sight as Branch on this play.

So what do you guys think? Would these plays work in the game? Tell me below in my comment box!

New England Keys To Beating The New York Giants

Keys For New England To Beat The New York Giants

     This game obviously is huge for our beloved New England Pats. And there's a lot that goes on in a game that make a difference, so right now I'll name a few things New England NEEDS to do in order to beat the NYG.

     1) Rush Effectively

     The New York pass D may not be the best, but that pass rush is killer. So why not make sure that they don't know what's coming? Rushing well forces the Giants defensive lineman to look more at what's coming instead of just rushing head on. If they know NE is going to pass, that makes their job easier? Where's the fun in that? I expect the Patriots to rush early and often with the diverse rushing weapons they have to keep the Giants pass-rushers at bay. New England is 23-1 all time when Green-Ellis scores a touchdown, and 8-0 so far this year when he does. Rushing would also help New England manage the clock and keep our defense off the field, so they can play their aggressive style all day without being as tired. Which leads me to my next key:

     2) Play Aggressive On Defense

     All postseason, New England's Defense has played a very aggressive style, always attacking and never letting off the gas. The last time the New England Patriots played the Giants, the defense did a relatively good job of not letting the Giants go anywhere (until the fourth quarter hit). I distinctly remember early in the game, on a third and long. Obviously, the Giants are gonna pass. And Manning throws it deep over the middle to Jake Ballard, and right as Ballard goes to make the catch, he had a nice meeting with Brandon Spikes, which cause an incomplete pass. If New England can go out there and just hit somebody and play hard, they'll be alright in my mind. They also need to be aggressive at the line of scrimmage. Wilfork and his fellow D-Linemen, as well as any blitzing linebackers, have done a good job of making Offensive Linemen look like turnstiles as someones entering an amusement park, as the D-Linemen enter the park to have some fun. I think the D can do that early on and force some negative runs for the Giants, that will force Eli to pass. That might seem like a bad thing, but every incompletion is a clock stoppage, instead of a moving clock that rushing would cause. That would be great for the Pats, so the conservative offense can eat the clock up.

     3) Win The Turnover Battle

     The Patriots are normally really good at winning the turnover battle, but sometimes, and in playoff games of recent years, they don't. The Patriots need to maintain possession and not fumble or throw interceptions in this one. That's one reason I expect BenJarvus Green-Ellis to have a good game with a lot of plays. He doesn't fumble often. In fact, never in his professional career. So he should be utilized as New England's main rusher. And on defense, we know the Giants will try to pass because the New England pass D was 31st in the regular season. So the defense needs to make plays on the ball and get interceptions, as well as hitting people hard to seperate the ballcarrier from the ball. That is going to be big for the Patriots in this game.

     4) Use Our Receivers (yes, that includes Ochocinco)

     I was looking at the film from the Giants-Patriots Week 9 matchup, and the Giants did a lot of playing press coverage on the receivers and they doubled both tight ends, while also bringing their safeties in closer to the line of scrimmage, completely disrespecting the deep pass, because, well, New England wasn't throwing deep. So in this game, if Brady sees them try to do that, (and I suspect they will, because it worked last time) I expect that he'll audible a receiver like Ochocinco to a fly route, and let him beat the tight coverage like we know he can, and throw a deep bomb. I'm sure the Giants wouldn't play as tight of coverage anymore, so Brady could go right back to Welker or Branch or Gronkowski or Hernandez or whichever receiver is the best option. Keep their pass D on their heels. Make them pick their poison. New England has too many options to cover. Between two TEs that both demand double coverage and arguably the best route runner in the league. They can't cover everyone.

     If New England can accomplish these four simple things, I believe they can completely obliterate these New York Giants.

Will The Defense Continue To Shine In SB46?

Will The Defense Continue To Shine In SB46?

     So far in the Patriots playoff run, the defense has been playing with great heart and passion. But let's face it, the Broncos and Ravens aren't exactly good offenses to face. The Pats haven't faced an offense as hot as the Giants all year. Can the defense hold up? I think so. And here's a couple reasons why.

     1) The Patriots Are Playing For MHK

     No NFL analyst will dare say it, for reasons I don't know, but I just said it. The Patriots are playing for Ms. Myra Hiatt Kraft. The entire season is dedicated to her. And since the Playoffs started, there's been a feeling around this defense that wasn't there in the regular season. They're playing with a heart and passion that I hadn't seen them play with hardly at all in the regular season. It seems nobody is taking a play off ever. Especially that front 7. The defense is playing tough, agressive football. They're playing for MHK. They're flying to the ball, and making plays on the ball instead of making plays on the ballcarrier after he's already caught it. All around, they're playing real football. For the first time all year, we've seen the defense play a full game and tough it out until the end, just like Ms Kraft did. 

     2) The Patriots Defense Is Motivated

     All week, while the Patriots players have been eating their humble pie, the Giants WRs haven't been able to close their mouths. Between Manningham and Cruz taking stabs at Julian Edelman's defensive play, Cruz laughing at the entire defense (literally), and the Giants WRs basically saying it'll be a game of catch. Do you think the likes of Brandon Spikes, Jerod Mayo, Rob Ninkovich, Patrick Chung, and Vince Wilfork really enjoy hearing that? No. And do you think those guys can't wait to go out there and hit somebody, and hit them hard? Oh boy, this D can not wait. All year they've been laughed at, mocked, and told that they couldn't stop a nosebleed. They want to go out there and make a statement. A loud statement. And therefore, I think the Defense will go out there and smack those Giants receivers around, just like they did in the first half against the Giants in week 9.

     3) The Patriots Can Get Penetration Behind The Line Of Scrimmage To Stop Runs And Hit Eli

     This playoff run, the Pats D has been getting pressure and penetrating the opposing offensive line all day. Between the Divisional round where New England caused 14 plays for negative yardage, to the Ravens game in the AFC Championship where big 'ol Vince was out there decapitating offensive linemen and getting pressure on Flacco. And it worked. The D has been getting pressure the whole playoff run. And I think there isn't an offensive lineman in the league who can stop that right now. You have to double Wilfork. We all know that. And then you have the 2 men playing on the edge, whether they're Anderson and Deaderick or any other combination of DL guys. Plus the linebackers who will be blitzing I'm sure, with the way BB has made this prototype 3-4. Now, people have been saying that it doesn't matter how hard you hit Eli, he'll stick in there. Well, I think the Pats D wants to find out if that's true. If nothing else, the D will force Eli to leave a RB or TE behind to help block, and that could be big for the Pats secondary. 

     This is why the Patriots defense will continue to shine in this Super Bowl 42 (I promise I was trying to stay away from that topic for you guys) rematch between two newfound rivals.

Is the Super Bowl Ochocinco's time to shine?

Is The Superbowl Ochocinco's Time To Shine?

You know, there's been a LOT of hate towards Ochocinco this year. I don't get it though, because he's done relatively well when he's gotten play time. But BB hasn't given him much. So do you think he can be big against the Giants? I say yes. And here's why.

     1) The Giants will play press coverage

     The last time the Patriots played the NYG, they played a lot of press coverage on everybody. And it worked amazingly well. They stood Welker and Branch up at the line, while double covering Gronkowski and Hernandez, which left New England begging for ways to move the ball, as most of the day, the Pats O only got a few yards each pass play. But Ochocinco is a deep reciever. He can beat a tight coverage, and then be wide open for a deep bomb TD. The Giants won't be expecting it, as I doubt they've gameplanned for Ochocinco at all. So if Brady sees tight coverage, and drops a beauty into Ochocinco's hands for a deep TD, do you think the Giants will stop playing such tight coverage? Yes, they will. They'd be stupid not to. And that would open everything up for Welker, Gronkowski, and Hernandez. That could allow the Patriots to keep the ball moving all day.

     2) He's playing for his Father

     Just like how the entire New England team has been playing for Myra this year, Ochocinco is now playing for Myra and his Father. If he plays like Brett Favre did after he lost his father, the Giants D will be in for a very long day.

     3) The Giants like to blitz

     We all know about the Giants defense and how they enjoy blitzing their linebackers like Mathias Kiwanuka. But we all also know that blitzing leaves less men to cover receivers. So let's say the Giants only blitz Kiwanuka and their 4 linemen. That's 5 blitzers and 6 men in coverage. So there's 6 Giants defensive players in coverage against 5 NE receivers (barring a RB or TE staying behind to block). And even with Gronkowski injured, the Giants will want to double him, and double either Hernandez or Welker. So now there's 2 defensive players covering Gronkowski and 2 defensive players covering Welker, with one on hernandez and one on Branch. So who's going to cover Ochocinco? They'll have to take a man off Welker to cover Ochocinco, or just not think of Ocho as a threat, just like the Broncos did against New England in the regular season matchup. And when the Broncos did that, Ochocinco got a wide open touchdown. So in my mind, there's too many weapons for the Giants to cover. 

     This is why I think Ochocinco will have a stellar performance against this New York Giants defense, and lead New England to their fourth Super Bowl title in 11 years.

Picture: Tom Brady's Favorite Ring