3. Linebacker Discipline
Hitchhiking off of the Pats strategy offensively, what Brady loves to do against defenses (and the Jets in particular) is to target the inside linebacker.
Think about how their offensive personnel is constructed. There is no Calvin Johnson or A.J. Green. New England is loaded up the middle of the field with weapons. It’s the big, burly Gronkowski, the fearless Edelman in the slot, and whichever third down back is currently fashionable.
That third down back this season is Dion Lewis, and he’s a quite the shifty fellow.
Brady loves targeting Jets inside linebacker David Harris. For all of his solid attributes – phenomenal run-stuffer and leader – Harris struggles mightily in the passing game. He oftentimes gets lost in a zone against tight ends and very rarely does a great job in man defense.
Add Demario Davis’s recent struggles in the passing game, and it becomes quite evident where Tom Terrific will look on Sunday. Against the Eagles a few weeks ago, Davis was burned a couple of times by Darren Sproles and the dreaded wheel route.
New York must contain Lewis and Gronkowski in the passing game. Calvin Pryor will have a big say in that.
