Home dogs

[AngryAsian]

Re: Home dogs

We sustain game chewing drives of 8 min.+ and keep Marsha off the field while keeping our D fresh on the sidelines, we will win this game. The games that the Pats lose is when Brady's rhythm is disrupted with constant pass rush pressure and more importantly Brady seeing more time on the sidelines.

[costanza2k1]

Re: Home dogs

I have a good feeling about next Sunday's game!!! I think the Steelers will come to play and have a good night!!! It could be a shootout but I think the Steelers will play with a chip on their shoulder!!!

what I'm hoping for is that we come out and play against the Pats* the way the Ravens did against us earlier this season.

I'm hoping that too, but I would love for them to sustain that against the Rats...that game is probably bigger in the grand scheme of things.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Home dogs

Advanced Scouting: The Patriots

Posted: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 11:48 pm
By Mike Bires [email="mbires@timesonline.com"]mbires@timesonline.com[/email]



PITTSBURGH - It's hard to imagine that the AFC's only 5-1 team could rank last in the NFL in defense. But it's true. Teams are racking up yards against the New England Patriots.

But if ever there's a case of statistics failing to tell the whole story, this is it.

"That is a function of them just whacking people and being way out in front," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin explained. "So if you come in and you think they are the 32nd best defense in football, you are kidding yourself. They're whacking people pretty good."

Since the 2001 season, no one has whacked the opposition as well as the Patriots. They are the only team in the league with 50 divisional wins. They are only the second team to rack up 10 straight winning seasons during the Super Bowl era.

Since Bill Belichick became coach in 2000, the Patriots have the best road record in the league. Since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002, the Patriots have the best home record in the league.

And when the Patriots come to town this weekend to play the Steelers (5-2), they bring with them a 4-1 record in games at Heinz Field.

"They win," Tomlin said. "Ultimately that is how we are measured."

Here's a look at the personnel the Patriots are winning with this year:

OFFENSE

Over the years, Tom Brady has had a solid supporting cast. But with the Patriots, everything revolves around their remarkable quarterback.

Brady leads the league with 360.5 passing yards per game, and is on pace to become just the third QB in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a season (the others are Dan Marino in 1984 and Drew Brees in 200.

Brady has won 116 of his 149 career regular-season starts, compiling a.779 winning percentage and giving him the best record of any QB in the Super Bowl era.

And he's played well and won often against the Steelers. He's 6-1 against the Steelers (4-1 regular season, 2-0 playoffs) with 14 touchdown passes and only three interceptions.

"He's just very good physically and mentally," Tomlin said. "He's very talented in both areas. He's tough to trick. He makes quick decisions. He has pinpoint accuracy and he has the arm to do the things he desires to do."

Brady's top two targets are WR Wes Welker and TE Rob Gronkowski. Welker, who's caught six TD passes, leads the NFL in receptions (51) and receiving yards per game (130.9). Gronkowski, who briefly attended Woodland Hills High School, has caught 29 passes for 401 yards and five TDs.

And even though the Patriots throw the ball so much, running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis is 17th in the league with 391 rushing yards.

DEFENSE

As Tomlin explained, the Patriots are giving up a lot of yards late in games when they're well ahead. They may be allowing 423.7 yards per game, but they aren't necessarily allowing teams to light up scoreboards against them. They're tied for 10th in scoring defense at 22.5 points per game. That's only four slots below the Steelers (17.4) ppg.

"Defensively, they've had trouble at times stopping people," Tomlin said. "But they play great situational football. They're opportunistic."

The strength of the New England defense is its line -- Vince Wilfork at nose tackle with Shaun Ellis, Andre Carter, Albert Haynesworth and Gerard Warren at D-end.

"These guys have had distinguished careers with other teams," Tomlin said. "They're probably just interested in winning. They've put their hand in the pile and come aboard."

Mark Anderson, Carter's back-up, leads the Patriots with four sacks.

Cornerback Kyle Anderson is tied for second in the NFL with four interceptions.

THE COACH

When Tomlin started coaching in the NFL in 2001 as the secondary coach with the Buccaneers, Belichick would go on to lead the Patriots to a 24-17 upset win over the Steelers at Heinz Field in the AFC Championship Game and then a victory over the high-powered Rams in the Super Bowl.

But Belichick wasn't a guy that Tomlin looked up to at the time.

"I was blessed enough to be around some top quality guys that I worked with in my building in Tony Dungy and John Gruden and guys like that," Tomlin said, "so I didn't have to look far in terms of guys that were awesome guys to get information and inspiration from."

That doesn't mean Tomlin doesn't respect what Belichick has accomplished over the years. Belichick is the only the only coach to win three Super Bowl titles in a four-year span. He's won more regular-season games (121) and more games overall (135) during a 10-year stretch (2001-10) than any other coach in NFL history.

"They win," Tomlin said.

[url="http://www.timesonline.com/sports/local_sports/advanced-scouting-the-patriots/article_793cae22-c396-542d-b7db-dfde1629c436.html"]http://www.timesonline.com/sports/local ... 9c436.html[/url]

[Sonny]

Re: Home dogs

I'm glad no one has brought up the cheating.

Didn't someone bring it up last year, only to get embarrassed in the game, without cheating?

[Sonny]

Re: Home dogs

For the gamblers.

"Playing a road favorite coming off their bye is a long term profitable play. Since 1990 it is 68-42-2 ATS (62%). Since Dec. 2nd 2007 it is 11-0-1 SU and ATS!

Since 1996, the Patriots are 8-0 SU and 6-2 ATS as road favorites coming of their bye. And they are 5-0 SU and 5-0 ATS since 1996 as a road favorite coming off their bye with a line of 6.5 or less."

[Shawn]

Re: Home dogs

I know what Dutch would say about this...

only 2.5? Most the nonsharp money on the Pats?

This looks good for the Steelers.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Home dogs

The strength of the New England defense is its line -- Vince Wilfork at nose tackle with Shaun Ellis, Andre Carter, Albert Haynesworth and Gerard Warren at D-end.

Everyone talks about how old the Steeler DL has been, but look at that lineup. A 12th year player (Ellis), two 11th year players (Carter and Warren), a 10th year player (Haynesworth), and the baby of the group has been in the NFL for 8 seasons (Wilfork).

No Ziggy, no Steelhead, no McLendon as youthful options here...

[Sonny]

Re: Home dogs

I know what Dutch would say about this...

only 2.5? Most the nonsharp money on the Pats?

This looks good for the Steelers.

Up to 3 now.

Some people are anti-public just to be anti-public, and when one out of their 10 "sharp" plays hits, they are a genius.

Being a square and actually winning is ok in my book.

Dutch is smartmonies, right?

[Shawn]

Re: Home dogs

I know what Dutch would say about this...

only 2.5? Most the nonsharp money on the Pats?

This looks good for the Steelers.

Up to 3 now.

Some people are anti-public just to be anti-public, and when one out of their 10 "sharp" plays hits, they are a genius.

Being a square and actually winning is ok in my book.

Dutch is smartmonies, right?

Correct. I would love to let him speak for himself. But, his presence here brings the wrath of a few so he is not allowed to tread these forums.

Generally betting against the public is indeed a good way to play. I know Dutch was very anti-public.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Home dogs

Who I like, New England version

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2011
posted by Dale Lolley


Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is on a bit of a roll in the past three games, with a Tom Brady-like eight touchdown passes.

Sunday, he'll get another opportunity to go head to head with the real thing when Brady and the Patriots come to Heinz Field.

This has been a traditionally tough matchup for the Steelers due to Brady's ability to pick apart zone defenses.

And that has led to Brady compiling a 6-1 record against the Steelers.

But Roethlisberger has had some success against New England's defense as well. He owns a 2-3 mark against the Patriots, though one of those wins came against Matt Cassell.

These Steelers are better suited to match up against New England in a point-for-point battle.

The Steelers showed some of that in 2010 when they rallied against New England before dropping a 39-26 decision, with the big difference being an interception and touchdown in the middle of the fourth quarter by the Patriots.

The Pittsburgh receivers are a year older and wiser, which will make a difference, but it likely won't be enough.

Brady gets into these kind of shootouts on a weekly basis, while the Steelers still have to get comfortable doing so.

New England is a three-point favorite and I think the Patriots will win, but they won't cover.

Take New England, 33-31.

[url="http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/sidelines/"]http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/sidelines/[/url]

[Sonny]

Re: Home dogs

That is the final score that I had. I went big on the Pats to cover 2.5, and I would have been sick if they came back and won 24-23, but I have no problem losing money to my favorite team.