How about a Patriots related thread?

[HairOnFire]

Yammerings from the east.

Patriots quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien addressed the media this morning and spoke about working with Randy Moss (Deleted), Tom Brady (Also deleted)and how to get yardage against the Bengals this weekend.(Below)

Q: Is there anything that jumps out at you about the Bengals as far as how they attack an offense or certain factors of their defense that may be a little more difficult to handle?

BILL O’BRIEN: They do a great job on all three downs. Their secondary is very talented. Both corners were first round draft picks, really good ball skills. Both safeties are very smart and instinctive players. The three linebackers that play in the 4-3 are excellent, tough, aggressive, smart players. The front four is very explosive and tough. They do things scheme-wise on all three downs that we have to be really prepared for. That’s what we’ve been preparing for over the last few days and studying during the offseason. Now we’ve got to put it all together starting today, tomorrow in practice. And put it out there on Sunday. But they are an excellent team that we have a lot of respect for, and it’s going to be a tough game on Sunday.

Q: How good are their cornerbacks or their secondary?

BILL O’BRIEN: I think they are a very talented secondary. I think both corners, [Leon] Hall and Johnathan Joseph, and obviously, three I should say with Pacman [Jones] in there. He’s played a ton of their preseason. They are excellent cover corners. They have excellent ball skills. They have a lot of experience in the league. They are good players. The two safeties, [Chris] Crocker and Roy Williams, have a lot of experience in the league and are excellent aggressive players, but also, can play in the deep part of the field. [They have] good range. We have a lot of respect for their secondary and what they can do.

Q: Hey Bill, how is Pacman now compared to what he has been before?

BILL O’BRIEN: He’s playing well. He’s played a lot for them in the preseason. And he comes in there in their substituted personnel grouping when they go nickel and plays corner. I think he’s picked up right where he’s left off.

Q: Is he primarily playing inside for them?

BILL O’BRIEN: He plays all over the place.

[volcom69]

As far as the bengals, and how to beat them i think they need to watch that game tape of the Ravens/Pats from last years playoff game. The Bengals need to find a way to HIT Brady all day, and pressure him as much as they can. Be Physical.

Offense needs to take advantage of the young secondary, and i would love to see them establish the run and keep Brady on the sidelines. Still dont know how much i like Coats as the fullback, would rather see a real lead blocker, but they need to be physical on point of attack

[bwillycuse]

That guy said absolutely nothing.

Poor Moss...

Patriots will be fired up though. They are upset they aren't being focused on and the Jets are taking all their spotlight.

Wont be an easy game.

[kingwilly]

I think the Patriots flop this year.

Welker *may* not get back to his old form. His knee was shredded.

Moss *could* be a half step slower...he can run a hard route twice a game, just enough jostling to knock the bong resin loose and get him all phlegmy.

Who is their running back again? Taylor, Maroney, who?

Their D has lost Bodden, Warren and Wilfork in the past 10 months or so... Not gonna get it done with replacements.

Not a walk in the park but I think this Bengals team outclasses them at 8 of 11 positions on each side of the ball.

Bengals 21 - Pats 13

[membengal]

I have absolutely no feel for this game. None.

Almost nothing would surprise me. High scoring. Low scoring. Blowouts either way. Actually, low scoring would surprise me, I guess. But that's about it.

I just don't know what to expect.

[HairOnFire]

I have absolutely no feel for this game. None.

Almost nothing would surprise me. High scoring. Low scoring. Blowouts either way. Actually, low scoring would surprise me, I guess. But that's about it.

I just don't know what to expect.

I guess high scoring would suprise me...especially if it were the Bengals doing it. I just don't see them even attempting to score a bunch of points.

I'm guessing we'll see the same script as last year. Stop the other guys running game while hammering him with your own. Be more physical on both sides of the ball. Throw only enough to keep the other guy off balance or to move the sticks on 3rd down. Stay disciplined on defense...unless you're lucky enough to go up by two scores. Play a ball control and field position game for 58 minutes, and if trailing near the end see if Palmer can't win the game with the 2-minute offense.

Possible problems? Brady is more than capable of winning the game without a running game, and he's as good or better than Palmer with the game on the line. Plus, Bellicheat has had months to prepare...which is never a good thing.

That said, I'm expecting both teams to go off-script a few times in this game....with both teams attempting to exploit the other guy with explosive plays and matchups that weren't put on film during the preseason.

[Stripes]

I smell a shootout.

I expect the Bengals offense to have plenty of success moving the football both on the ground and through the air against the Patriots' unripened defense. I don't expect pass protection to be majorly problematic, as the Patriots will likely try to generate a pass rush with their linebackers as much as their defensive line. If there's one thing Palmer does well, it's get rid of the ball quickly (something that may not have been as apparent last year when nobody was ever open). I think this game will be a very convenient opportunity to incorporate Owens, Gresham, Scott, and maybe Shipley into the passing game very quickly.

Just the same, I think the Patriots offense will present matchup problems for the defense. We ought to be able to handle Maroney or Taylor, but I don't know how well the secondary will fare against Moss, Welker, and Edelman. The corners are obviously of a high quality, but unless the Bengals can generate consistent pressure on Brady he'll manage to find an open receiver every time. I'm not terribly confident in Odom or Geathers to provide that, and I'm not sure how willing Marvin and Zimmer will be to play the young pass rushers beyond just third down situations.

I think uncontrollable circumstance favors the Patriots. Both teams suffered bad playoff losses at home in January, and both have key contributors from last season coming back from serious injuries (Odom, Welker). Since the Patriots are at home, I think they deserve to be the favorite in a game that is otherwise a wash, if not slightly in the Bengals' favor.

28-27 Patriots.

[membengal]

I guess my base worry is that we get outcoached. And, yeah, months for the cheater to prepare gives me pause.

I am kinda hoping the absence of Mankins and the loss of Bodden and Warren even that out a bit. I also hope that Welker is slowed, even though he is back.

If the Bengals would be so kind as to stop committing 15 penalties, including 12 dead ball/pre-snap ones, that would be swell...

[JoeMama]

I hate the Patsies.

I hope you destroy them and make them question even playing out the rest of 2010.

I'm not asking for a Bernard Pollard type moment, but I would like to see your D really hassle Tom Brady all day long.

If you pressure him, he's human like any QB.

[cincyhokie]

I guess my base worry is that we get outcoached. And, yeah, months for the cheater to prepare gives me pause.

I am kinda hoping the absence of Mankins and the loss of Bodden and Warren even that out a bit. I also hope that Welker is slowed, even though he is back.

If the Bengals would be so kind as to stop committing 15 penalties, including 12 dead ball/pre-snap ones, that would be swell...

Penalties and mistakes in this game worry me. Against the Patriots they can't make them.

[JoeMama]

I guess my base worry is that we get outcoached. And, yeah, months for the cheater to prepare gives me pause.

I am kinda hoping the absence of Mankins and the loss of Bodden and Warren even that out a bit. I also hope that Welker is slowed, even though he is back.

If the Bengals would be so kind as to stop committing 15 penalties, including 12 dead ball/pre-snap ones, that would be swell...

Penalties and mistakes in this game worry me. Against the Patriots they can't make them.

Eh...

Keep in mind the Patsies lost Ty Warren for the year. Benson is probably happy about that.

And the Patsies have the most inexperienced pair of CBs in the NFL. And with Ocho, TO, Shipley, etc etc, I see a lot of mismatches in favor of the Bengals.

You guys have some obscenely favorable matchups in this game when you're talking one on one.

[ArmyBengal]

Smack Brady in the mouth and keeping smacking him in the mouth.

If we bring pressure all game, the Bengals will win.

We haven't fared well in Foxboro and I really don't know what to expect either. I don't like that they had time, but here's to hoping the Bengals used their time wisely as well. I also hope they unwrap a handful of things the vanilla preseason didn't show. All I know is, I can't wait for the game and I just have that feeling the Bengals are going to win this one and that usually isn't the case when they travel to Foxboro. I just can't explain it.

Bengals- 24

Patriots- 20

[Arizona]

For what it's worth, I expect you guys to beat the snot out of the Patriots. Well, depending on who the ref is.

[JoeMama]

For what it's worth, I expect you guys to beat the snot out of the Patriots. Well, depending on who the ref is.

Ha, no s**t.

If it's Walt Coleman. Game over, Cincy.

You can't compete with that guy's bias.

[kingwilly]

Pardon me, Seymor not Wilfork.

Maybe the biggest issue of all is the Pats starting corners are a rookie and a second year player with 5 starts.

I see a serious lack of experience across the entire defensive backfield.

If Chad and TO and Shipley cannot exploit this with Carson I will be very surprised.

[Trevor]

I see fred taylor and perhaps moss beating us for a bout 17 points, all other patriots getting 6,.. Thats 23 points, on our side, i see TO ans ocho and the corps getting 21 points and ced getting a td and maybe a field goal or two so,.. 23-31 cincy

[Kazkal]

moss sure...fred taylor? I doubt he gets over 50 yards.

[Stripes]

Probably shouldn't quote the spam.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Probably shouldn't quote the spam.

Quite right. Your post gets deleted too.

[capslock]

Pardon me, Seymor not Wilfork.

Maybe the biggest issue of all is the Pats starting corners are a rookie and a second year player with 5 starts.

I see a serious lack of experience across the entire defensive backfield.

If Chad and TO and Shipley cannot exploit this with Carson I will be very surprised.

Seymour was traded last season. He wasnt the player he was after he got paid big money.

[capslock]

moss sure...fred taylor? I doubt he gets over 50 yards.

If Taylor get 50 and Morris gets 50 and Faulk gets 50.

I can live with that.

[capslock]

This should be a very good game. The Bengals seem loaded this year.

The Pats are loaded on offense.

[COB]

This should be a very good game. The Bengals seem loaded this year.

The Pats are loaded on offense.

No Rodney Harrison, no Tedy Bruschi, no Mike Vrabel, so I'm wondering how good the defense will be. Lots of good guys in your secondary, but your D line is what I'll be watching.

[Trevor]

moss sure...fred taylor? I doubt he gets over 50 yards.

I expect taylor to have a good season,.. He was injured last year... But something about old backs,.. "(or anything) works in NE...

[BengalByTheBay]

Man, I don't have a feel for this game at all. I'll bet that the Bengals' first series includes one attempt to go over the top, however. While I think the Bengals' d and running game are superior to the Pats (the passing game will get there, but I believe 2-3 weeks will be needed to sharpen it up) and, thus, the straight match-up favors the Bengals, I don't feel great about opening day on the road there. If a gun was put to my head, I'd have to say the Bengals lose a close one (by less than the 4.5 spread).