Ian R. Rapoport reports on the Patriots as the lead-beat reporter for the Boston Herald.
Prior to the Ravens & Patriots game in October, Mr. Rapoport was kind enough to answer a few questions from Baltimore Sports and Life. You can find that previous interview here:

http://baltimoresportsandlife.blogspot.com/2009/10/q-with-patriot-reporter-ian-rapoport-of.html

Links to ‘The Rap Sheet,’ which is the Boston Herald’s blog on the Patriots, and his Twitter page are below:
http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/
http://twitter.com/RapSheet

As the Baltimore Ravens make a return trip to New England, Mr. Rapoport has kindly agreed to answer a few more questions from Baltimore Sports and Life.

Baltimore Sports and Life: “In the 5 games since December 6th, the Patriots have averaged 31 rushing-attempts per game. This past Sunday, Laurence Maroney missed due to injury. Will he be at full-health Sunday? If Maroney is limited, who gets the majority of the carries – Sammy Morris, or Fred Taylor?”

Mr. Rapoport: “Laurence Maroney had a nagging knee injury, but there were other reasons he sat out against the Texans. The Patriots RB had his fourth fumble on the goal line against the Jaguars, then didn’t play again. Bill Belichick and running backs coach Ivan Fears are trying to impress upon him the importance of holding onto the ball. Sitting out most of the past two games likely gave him the message. Figure he’ll play Sunday. Fred Taylor had showed some burst, but he’s still not like he was before tearing ankle ligaments. So if Maroney can’t go or suffers from fumble issues, it’s sturdy Sammy Morris who will get the call. He doesn’t have breakaway speed, but he’s tough.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “The Pats have allowed just 18 sacks all season, showing just how hard it is to put Brady in the grass. Obviously the offensive-line gets credit for their pass-blocking. Brady gets credit for his reads, and quickly delivering the ball. How much credit should Welker have received for this, for his abilities as the ‘hot’ receiver?”

Mr. Rapoport: “Wes Welker should receive a ton of credit for this. He does plenty of things well, and with 123 catches, that’s obvious. He can gain yards after the catch, he reads a defense as well as anyone, and he’s tough. But no one works as well with Tom Brady as Welker. The two are on the same wavelength, and they often would change the play milliseconds before the snap. And if a blitz came, Brady knew he could trust Welker. Julian Edelman can do some impressive things, but he can’t adjust on the fly with Brady. The Patriots will miss that.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Rookie WR Julian Edelman stepped-up after Welker’s injury to provide 10 catches, and 103 yards this past Sunday. Do you see him having that many balls thrown his way Sunday, or do you see the Patriots using their 2 TE set of Watson and Baker, and being more conservative?”

Mr. Rapoport: “Actually, both. I think the Patriots will go out of their way to get Edelman involved, whether on screen passes, short passes in the flat, or anything to get him comfortable. He’s played in the offense before, and he’s been successful. They’re just need to do it on a regular basis. But they’ll also have to control the ball on the ground and that means Watson and Baker. The burly tight ends have done as well as anyone in sealing the edge and creating lanes along the edges of the offense. It keeps the clock in the Patriots’ hands, helps them be physical and can almost make up the loss of Wes Welker.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “One LB we did not talk about previously was Tully Banta-Cain who put together a 9.5 sack season for NE. With limited pass-rush from the starting DE’s Warren, and Green; are Banta-Cain, and Adalius Thomas spending most of their time seeking the QB? Backup DE Mike Wright had two sacks against Baltimore in the previous game (I believe after Gaither went out of the game), will he be the primary RDE on passing-downs?”

Mr. Rapoport: “Tully Banta-Cain and Derrick Burgess will be the two main pass-rush threats, and both are playing their best football. Banta-Cain has been a pleasant surprise all season, signing a minimum deal and registering 10 sacks. While the Pats’ pass-rush is far from perfect, he gives them what they need. As for Burgess, he’s come on late. He had nine tackles and a sack against the Texans, running his total to five tackles of the quarterback. It’s essential he keeps that going. While he’s been fairly stout against the run, rushing the passer is why they brought him to New England. If Burgess and Banta-Cain can get to a weary Joe Flacco, it helps the pass defense as a whole immensely. The secondary can’t cover forever.”Baltimore Sports and Life: “New England finished the season with the 12tth overall-rated pass defense. As the Patriots only had 31 sacks (Baltimore had just 32), finishing in the top-half of the league in pass-defense is an accomplishment. When we last spoke, you mentioned Strong Safety Brandon McGowan being a tough-guy, and were impressed about the development of speedy CB Jonathan Wilhite. With a full-season in the books, what do you think about the Pats Secondary? Did young players Darius Butler, and Brandon Meriweather develop as expected?”

Mr. Rapoport: “So much has changed since the Patriots played the Ravens. McGowan is out of the lineup after being exposed in pass coverage vs. the Saints and Dolphins. In his place, heady safety James Sanders has taken control of the secondary. He’s a great communicator, and he can hit. With him on the field, the Pats won three in a row before the Houston game. As for Wilhite, he’s been playing his more natural role of slot corner, while veteran Shawn Springs has battled back onto the field to solidify the spot opposite Leigh Bodden. The veteran duo may not be the fastest in the world, but their guile and physicality is helping them get it done.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “When these teams last played, Flacco had 47 pass-attempts. Despite having a 6.8 yard per rushing attempt average, Rice and McGahee only received 16 carries. Pretty clearly the Ravens are going to come to Foxboro with the intention of running the ball. Will New England overload the box to stop the run, and in-effect dare the Ravens to pass?”

Mr. Rapoport: “I think that’s what’ll happen. The Ravens can’t have a repeat of last time, when they had serious success in the run game, yet handed the ball off less than 20 times. That’s robbing your team of what it’s doing best. Joe Flacco is beat up after a long season, and if the Patriots can pin their ears back and get to him, that’s bad news. So expect plenty of Willis McGahee and Ray Rice. Meanwhile, the Patriots counter with Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo in the middle. This will be physical, don’t doubt that, but I don’t think they’ll have the same success running as they did last game. Much of the success came on runs in passing situations, anyway. But the Ravens need to be committed to it to keep the Pats off Flacco.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “The general sense in Baltimore is that while the Ravens might kill their own chances with penalties, they are not a team that anyone looks forward to playing. That if you are going to win playoff games on the road, you better be able to run the ball, and stop the run. Which are clearly two things that the Ravens, can do well. What is the sense in Boston? Are the Ravens seen as a respected opponent or as an easy pass for the Patriots into the 2nd-round?”

Mr. Rapoport: “The Ravens are definitely a respected opponent. The penalties are nice, and no team would turn down the yards they’ll receive in gift-wrapped fashion. But there will be nothing easy about the Ravens, even if the score gets out of hand (which it won’t). Lewis, Suggs, Ngata, etc. All big, tough, physical guys that open the eyes of the Pats offensive players. The Patriots will need to be as tough and physical to play with them. And yes, there is a ton of respect.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “The Ravens lost their game in New England for a number of reasons. They gave away 3 points to start the game with a muffed punt. They gave away 3 points right before half-time when Flacco was picked. They gave away a chance to take the lead at the end of the game, with the Clayton drop. They also lost because the Patriots found a way to make the plays necessary to win as they have for years. Still, Ray Lewis was not the only one in Baltimore complaining about the rushing the passer penalties the Ravens received, which helped with two Patriot scoring drives. You watch Brady week-in, and week-out. All NFL QB’s are seemingly not allowed to be touched, but do you feel there are special ‘Brady’ rules that exist?”

Mr. Rapoport: “I don’t think it’s special to Brady, I think it’s special to quarterbacks. Everyone talks about the calls on Brady, but don’t forget that DE Mike Wright also got a ticky tacky one called on him when his hand grazed Flacco’s facemask that game. So it went both ways. If Brady gets hit late or in the face, a penalty will get called. And he’ll still joke around with the officials, and he’ll still ask for penalty flags. But if there are no fouls, nothing will be called. The Ravens just don’t help themselves by playing so much after the whistle. “

Baltimore Sports and Life: “The Ravens were 2-5 in games decided by 6 or less points. Those 5 losses were @New England, Cincinnati, @Minnesota, Indianapolis, and @Pittsburgh. To me, Baltimore showed an ability to play with anyone, anywhere; but a proclivity to hurt themselves when the game was on the line. I am expecting the Ravens to be in the game late Sunday, but also expect Brady to find a way to win on his home-field. Do you have a prediction on the game?”

Mr. Rapoport: “The Patriots did not lose at home all season, and Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have combined for exactly zero playoff home losses. So that’ll help. For some reason, even with all their problems, the Patriots look like a different team at home. They suffer from the same issues as the Ravens, with an inability to close teams out on the road. If the Pats can run the ball and get Julian Edelman involved early, they’ll squeak one out. Patriots 24, Ravens 21.”

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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