Behind Enemy Lines: Talking New York Jets and New England Patriots with Foxboro Blog, Part II
In Part II of my interview with New England Patriots blogger Ricky Keeler of Foxboro Blog, I asked him a few questions about the Patriots as they get ready to host the New York Jets this Sunday.
In Part I, I answered some questions about the Jets, and now we turned the tables and he answered questions about the Pats. Check out my questions and his answers below.
Jon Presser: Wes Welker is on an unbelievable pace to shatter the single-season record for receptions in a season. Why do you think he is so effective at getting open and making big plays throughout the game, nearly every game?
Ricky Keeler: I think Wes Welker is having the best season of his career and it is showing the rest of the NFL that he is fully recovered from the ACL injury he suffered two years ago. He is effective at getting open because of his electric speed and the cut back ability.
True, the cut back ability got him hurt against Houston in 2009, but he always can make defenders miss and get that extra yard or two to move the chains or create a shorter third down for a less obvious play selection. I think the pace will slow down, but Welker will still be very effective and is obviously Tom Brady’s go-to guy.
JP: Second-year cornerback Devin McCourty is coming off a Pro Bowl rookie season, but in the games I’ve seen of him this year he looks a little more ordinary early on this year. Are teams exposing a weakness in his game or is he just in rough patch? Do you expect him to regain his Pro Bowl-caliber form or was he a little lucky last year?
RK: We are seeing a little bit of a sophomore slump from Devin McCourty. He has not had the same coverage skills he had a year ago. However, he is still effective just as the rest of the Patriots’ defense in creating turnovers. They love to do that to opposing quarterback.
We didn’t expect Vince Wilfork to be up there in the interception department, but Devin will catch up to him soon. When you have Bill Belichick as your head coach, the defense and McCourty will get better when it is crunch time. Just look at 45-3 last year. That is a great example of how this defense matured.
JP: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will no doubt never forget the crushing loss they suffered at the hands of the Jets last January. Does this game have the feel of a “revenge” game for New England, or is it just another regular season divisional game?
RK: For me, this feels like a revenge game which is why I think the spread for this game has risen to ten points in favor of the Pats. The oddsmakers are thinking this has the feel of a revenge game. As a New Yorker, it’s a revenge game for me, but it also has to be for Brady. He called the playoff loss back in January the worst loss of his career, including the Super Bowl loss to the Giants.
He is motivated to beat the Jets and beat them soundly. I would not be surprised if he did a little stare at Rex after a touchdown like he has done to teams that challenge him in the past (i.e Anthony Smith). Belichick wants this win and after an impressive win in Oakland, this team is going in on the right foot.
To give the Jets a 3 game losing streak would make the Pats and their fans very happy.
JP: What matchup are you most looking forward to seeing this weekend?
RK: When you look at the Patriots and the Jets the last three matchups, the key has been the Jets’ ability to defend the pass plays over the middle of the field. Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie are two solid corners on the outside for the Jets. However, the Patriots can exploit the middle of the field by putting Welker in the slot against Kyle Wilson or using their tight end with great hands in Rob Gronkowski.
I would like to see Aaron Hernandez play in this game to have two threatening tight ends, but I do not expect him to play with the sprained MCL. With Jim Leonhard back at strong safety, that matchup will not be as easy to exploit. He is the captain of the defense and undoubtedly, they missed him in those matchups last year.
JP: X-Factor for the Patriots?
RK: The X-Factor for the Patriots in this game is rookie running back Stevan Ridley. BenJarvus Green-Ellis has not been the guy who had a 1,000 yard season a year ago.
However, that is the beauty of this Patriots’ offense. They do not have a great running game or a great number one back, but they have a lot of interchangeable parts in Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, and now Ridley in order to have a balanced attack.
He is a solid runner between the gaps and with the Jets being poor against the run in four games, New England will be more balanced in the offensive attack.
JP: Who wins this weekend? Do the Patriots send the Jets to their third straight road loss to drop to 2-3 on the season? Or does New England drop their second divisonal game of the season and tighten up this three-horse race in the AFC East?
RK: The Jets are 9.5 point underdogs, but that scares me as a Patriots’ fan because the Jets always do better when no one expects them to do anything. This game will be a shootout because New York can’t run the ball with Shonn Greene right now. They should really use more of Joe McKnight.
However, Nick Mangold being back at the offensive line will help Sanchez and he will throw for 300+ yards. He will make that one mistake though that will cost you a game. Brady wants this game and he will get, but it will be close. PATRIOTS 34 JETS 27
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