Question for Yudkin re: Patriots starters (1 Viewer)

I know there was a previous thread where David suggested that the Patriots would play their starters and try to win, using some good history to show that they often try to end the season with a successful finale and head into the playoffs with momentum.

While that was a rationale supported by previous seasons, I was wondering if he has heard anything from the team itself as to their plans for this week, or heard any rumblings as to what the players are really expecting. It would be great to have a little more insight if it was available. I thought maybe at this point in the week some new info might have emerged. Thanks.

Warren and Wilfork not expected to play at all. Starters expected to play the first half, maybe some of the 3rd quarter. Brady still saying he wants to play but has been held out of practice. Welker also been held out of practice. Defensive starters might play longer as they need the work against high scoring/pass happy teams.

David Yudkin said:

Warren and Wilfork not expected to play at all. Starters expected to play the first half, maybe some of the 3rd quarter. Brady still saying he wants to play but has been held out of practice. Welker also been held out of practice. Defensive starters might play longer as they need the work against high scoring/pass happy teams.

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Thanks very much. My understanding is that missing Wednesday practices isn't all that uncommon so I wasn't reading too much into the stars missing on early practice days. Unfortunately, I have to gauge how reliable those guys will be in the one half they might play.Thanks again.

David Yudkin said:

Warren and Wilfork not expected to play at all. Starters expected to play the first half, maybe some of the 3rd quarter. Brady still saying he wants to play but has been held out of practice. Welker also been held out of practice. Defensive starters might play longer as they need the work against high scoring/pass happy teams.

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Is there any talk or possibility that Moss and Brady will want to hook up often to make a statement for Moss not making the pro bowl? Not that Moss may have deserved the pro bowl, but maybe in his mind he did.

Moss and Brady at practice today. I'm guessing Welker might be a no show again. Mike Reiss thinking that the marquee startes might only play 15-30 minutes and other guys slowly getting pulled out after that. A couple other folks I know besides Reiss think that the invisible line in the sand to start pulling people will probably be a series or two into the second half. Who does what and when may be a factor of the score. Many folks are thinking the Bengals will just bench people left and right. Not sure if the Pats would rather be the 3 or 4 seed, but apparently there is a contingent that would rather play the Colts first.

No, I don't think they will do anything different with Moss. I don't think he was snubbed, there are just too many good receivers and not enough spots to put them for the Pro Bowl.

I have Brady and Welker and I'm benching them both without a second thought in favor of Josh Freeman and Devin Aromashadu. If I start Brady and Welker and they get pulled after one quarter then I will have zero chance of winning my matchup and that's not a risk I'm willing to take.

My advice would be to roll with any decent guys you have on your bench that you KNOW will play the full game.

Probably not very helpful, but here is something from CBS:

Tom Brady, QB NE

News: Patriots QB Tom Brady expects to play and play the whole game Sunday at Houston. That should bode well for WR Randy Moss and WR Wes Welker. "Well, I think as players, we don't factor into any of those decisions that coach (Bill) Belichick makes," Brady said Thursday. "It's our job to prepare to play, and I certainly am. I'm out there doing all of my regular practice stuff. I want to play and I want to do great, and I want to have a great game against a team who's fighting for their playoff lives. This is a meaningful game for us. It's a meaningful game for them, too. It would be great for us to go and win on the road in a really tough environment." Brady was asked if he's talked to Belichick about his playing time. "He says, 'You'll play. Don't worry about that. You'll be playing,'" Brady said.

Analysis: We'd be surprised to see Brady out there for a full game, but the Patriots don't have a history of resting guys. Still, it's a risk to count on Brady, Moss and Welker, though, since New England has battled injuries all season and might want to be cautious. We'd say to play it safe with the Patriots, but there's also the chance that Belichick can go for it with his stars and play them in full against the Texans.

more of the same from ESPN:

Belichick to Brady: 'You'll play'

ESPNBoston.com

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said he spoke with coach Bill Belichick this week about his desire to play Sunday against the Texans, and relayed Belichick's response.

"You'll play, don't worry about that. You'll be playing."

The question remains how much, as the Patriots have already clinched a home playoff game.

"As players, we obviously don't factor into any of those decisions that coach Belichick makes," Brady said. "It's our job to prepare to play and I certainly am. I'm out there doing all my regular practice stuff.

"I want to play and I want to do great. I want to have a great game against a team that is fighting for their playoff lives, and has a lot of great players and really challenges you in some different ways. It's a meaningful game for us, it's a meaningful game for them, too. It would be great for us to go win on the road in a real tough environment against a damn good team."

Brady said he's even heard the question from his father this week.

"My dad said, 'Are you guys going to play this week?' Of course I want to play. I don't want to lose a game. You don't just forfeit these games. Playing Houston, I don't want to see one of them in the offseason and them saying 'Hey, we beat you guys.' Screw that. You have to go out there and play."

Brady was also asked if he expects to stay in the entire game if the score is close.

"Sure," he responded. "Close game. Blowout. We get behind. I'm expecting to play the whole game. I wouldn't see why I wouldn't."

Brady kept things light when he was asked about the comments by Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley that the Patriots and Benglas would "lay down" for their virtually meaningless games Sunday because they don't want the Super Bowl champion Steelers to make the playoffs.

Asked if he had a response, Brady said he didn't, before playing on the connection between the two -- their Michigan ties.

"A Michigan guy, that surprises me. Usually we keep our mouths shut. I guess not. I'm going to give [former] Coach [Lloyd] Carr a call and straighten him out."

KFFL) Mike Reiss, of ESPNBoston.com, reports New England Patriots QB Tom Brady (shoulder, rib, finger) said head coach Bill Belichick told him he will play in Week 17, and he expects to play the entire game. "Close game. Blowout. We get behind. I'm expecting to play the whole game. I wouldn't see why I wouldn't," Brady said.

Did Welker practice today?

Everyone was at practice yesterday and today for the Pats, but both were not full contact practices.

Obviously, It looks like Brady and company will start but anyone who thinks they are playing the whole game is jumping to unfounded conclusions.

I don't think they'll play the whole game and really nothing Brady says contradicts that.

He said coach told him he is playing. But he did not say if the coach told him he'll go all the way he just said he expects to go all the way. That is classic double talk.

The Patriots have rested players before and IMO will do so again.

Just thought I'd throw out a bump in case there's some late-breaking news we might need to know. Boston Globe's website speculates Moss and Welker may sit.

Any chance J. Edelman becomes a viable option in a PPR league, even if Moss and Welker start and sit early?

I'd asssume Edleman would start and play the entire game if Moss and Welker sat, and am hurting with the Marshall benching.

Any updates on the NE game plan???

Here are the Patriots' inactives for Sunday's game:

CB Leigh Bodden

RB Kevin Faulk

RB Laurence Maroney

G Rich Ohrnberger

DE Ty Warren

C Ryan Wendell

CB Terrence Wheatley

DT Vince Wilfork

This certainly doesn't make it look like the Pats are going to try hard to win this week.

As for Edelman, he's played more than Aiken of late, so I owuld guess he would see a fair amount of time today. I wouldn't even guess what combination of receivers they will have and how well they would do with Hoyer at QB, which is starting to look more like a probability than a possibility (at least in the second half if not more).

David Yudkin said:

Here are the Patriots' inactives for Sunday's game: CB Leigh BoddenRB Kevin FaulkRB Laurence MaroneyG Rich OhrnbergerDE Ty WarrenC Ryan WendellCB Terrence WheatleyDT Vince WilforkThis certainly doesn't make it look like the Pats are going to try hard to win this week.As for Edelman, he's played more than Aiken of late, so I owuld guess he would see a fair amount of time today. I wouldn't even guess what combination of receivers they will have and how well they would do with Hoyer at QB, which is starting to look more like a probability than a possibility (at least in the second half if not more).

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How do you think the rushing load will be handled among Morris, Taylor and maybe even Green-Ellis?

zamboni said:

David Yudkin said:

Here are the Patriots' inactives for Sunday's game: CB Leigh BoddenRB Kevin FaulkRB Laurence MaroneyG Rich OhrnbergerDE Ty WarrenC Ryan WendellCB Terrence WheatleyDT Vince WilforkThis certainly doesn't make it look like the Pats are going to try hard to win this week.As for Edelman, he's played more than Aiken of late, so I owuld guess he would see a fair amount of time today. I wouldn't even guess what combination of receivers they will have and how well they would do with Hoyer at QB, which is starting to look more like a probability than a possibility (at least in the second half if not more).

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How do you think the rushing load will be handled among Morris, Taylor and maybe even Green-Ellis?

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Just a guess, but I think they want to see what Taylor has left in the tank and how he has recovered from his ankle injury. So I think he will get the ball most of the first half. BJGE should see the ball a lot in the second hald with the B team offense. I doubt they will showcase Morris, as they already know what he can do.

So Yudkin are you thinking that Welker will play more than a half?

crnerblitz said:

So Yudkin are you thinking that Welker will play more than a half?

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I would guess the first half and the first series of the second half.

What's your thought on Moss?

volntitan said:

What's your thought on Moss?

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For any non RB Pats starter, don't expect much more than them playing a half and if they play than that more consider yourself lucky.

Who will be running the ball, Morris or Taylor ?

who's starting Edelman?

I have R. Moss. Should I bench him in favor of J. Morgan or D. Hester? Or even J. Finley?

I'm starting Brady over Hasselbeck and i'm starting Welker over Lee Evans.

Go PATS Go

Rolling with Moss...I'll take 3-53-1 stat line

Yanked Moss for Maclin.

Expect a first quarter TD from Moss.