New England Patriots vs Atlanta Falcons: 5 Matchups to Watch in Super Bowl 51
By Hal Bent
Julian Edelman, Malcolm Mitchell, and Chris Hogan vs Brian Poole, Robert Alford, and Jalen Collins
In the AFC Championship game there was a lot of talk by the national media of the Steelers having a young secondary and the advantage they would have with their speed against Tom Brady and the New England wide receivers. Instead, the young secondary was exposed as Brady went after Artie Burns, Ross Cockrell and veteran William Gay while manipulating safeties Malcolm Mitchell and Sean Davis like a marionette.
All that speed was useless when New England used formations and routes to create free releases for their pass catchers. Without the pass rush to force Brady off his spot, New England found open wide receivers with ease and carved up the Steelers’ defense with ease.
The Falcons–like the Steelers–have a young, aggressive and fast defense. Unfortunately, they are also inexperienced and will have a serious on-the-field crash course on recognizing routes and formations with Tom Brady in the pocket looking to pick them apart.
The Falcons are missing their top cornerback with impressive young veteran Desmond Trufant on injured reserve. Trufant has all the skill to be a number one cornerback and his loss will be evident on Sunday. Robert Alford and nickel cornerback Brian Poole are undersized while young Jalen Collins has excellent size but lacks experience.
Alford and Poole will struggle if matched up with Chris Hogan or Malcolm Mitchell if New England can manipulate that matchup. Collins has the size to hang with Hogan and Mitchell but lacks the quickness to stay with Julian Edelman. Atlanta knows that the matchups they want and the Patriots will try to keep them from getting into those sets.
In the AFC Championship all attention was on Chris Hogan as he got ridiculously wide open multiple times and piled up 180 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions. Credit offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and quarterback Tom Brady for manipulating the Pittsburgh defense to get him in position to make these big plays.
Julian Edelman had the quietest 118-yard receiving game in a while as he did his usual yeoman’s work picking up tough first downs and making big plays. He is basically uncoverable in this offense and if a defense works to get him out of rhythm and out of the offense the Patriots will adjust and use formations, rubs, and crossing routes to find a way to get him open.
The Houston secondary is the best the Patriots have seen his postseason. The Pittsburgh secondary was supposed to have been improved and their speed was supposed to negate Edelman, Hogan and the rest. Atlanta’s secondary could desperately use Desmond Trufant but he is not able to play being on injured reserve.
This is a poor matchup for the Falcons’ secondary as their young cornerback Brian Poole will have his hands full dealing with veterans Edelman and Danny Amendola in the slot. Collins and Alford are solid back-end of the rotation cornerbacks but will struggle against Hogan and Edelman. Whether it is Malcolm Mitchell or Michael Floyd, Atlanta needs to find a way to makes sure Collins in across from him.