New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis has to be wondering what he ever did to Rex Ryan.
The Buffalo Bills head coach has picked on Lewis all week, taking unsolicited shot after unsolicited shot.
It started when Ryan pretended he didn’t know Lewis’ name following the running back’s impressive 120-yard performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1. Lewis is a fifth-year veteran who came highly touted out of Pittsburgh in 2011. There’s no way Ryan doesn’t know his name, so it’s unclear what his intention is in picking on the 5-foot-8, 200-pound running back.
Ryan further disregarded Lewis on Wednesday, saying “He’ll play on third down, he’ll do those types of things. He’s not going to be in there. They’ll put (LeGarrette) Blount back there.”
Ryan, perhaps more than anyone, knows the danger of a third-down back in the Patriots’ offense. He is the man who once gave up on Danny Woodhead, after all.
Perhaps Ryan is taunting the Patriots into playing Lewis, but head coach Bill Belichick isn’t typically one to succumb to mind games, and that might not be a bad game plan anyway. Lewis could be pretty dangerous if Ryan’s intention is to focus most of his attention on tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Before Ted Wells starts to investigate Ryan’s bullying, let’s get into this week’s mailbag:
@DougKyed How does Rex Ryan succeed at disguising the presnap D and how can Tom Brady counter?
–@PP_Rich_Hill
One of the main wrinkles I noticed while watching the Bills’ Week 1 win over the Indianapolis Colts is that Ryan and Buffalo’s defense will show Cover 2, then quickly move into Cover-1 man at the snap. Tom Brady is obviously experienced enough to know this, however, and he’ll quickly be able to detect the shift at the snap. It does make some quick passes slightly more difficult, so Brady will have to study the Week 1 film to see if he can find some pre-snap tells.
The Bills also like to confuse offenses by stacking the line with linebackers and defensive linemen. The offensive line doesn’t know who will be pass rushing, and the quarterback doesn’t know who will be dropping in coverage. The key there is to take advantage of mismatches when the Bills decide to drop players like Mario Williams, Jerry Hughes or Manny Lawson. If one of those players, or even a defensive tackle, is dropped into zone coverage against a running back or tight end, the Patriots will take that matchup all day.
@DougKyed have you seen my dog?
–@michaelFhurley
“Has anybody seen my dog?”
I guess I should explain why this video makes me laugh every single time I watch it. (Just watched it again to confirm. Yup. Still funny.)
My favorite dumb, small moment of last year’s regular season was when Terry Pegula was being introduced as the Bills’ new owner when the Patriots went to Buffalo. When Pegula and his family ran out of the tunnel, their Australian Shepherd, Sidney (named after Sidney Crosby), darted out of the tunnel, heard the roars of the crowd, and just as quickly ran back inside the stadium, scared out of his poor doggy mind.
After Pegula gave his introductory speech to the Buffalo crowd, he just wanted to know where his dog went. I feel you, Terry.
@DougKyed If Dion Lewis continues to impress, do you see NE extending him or is James White still the target for the Vereen role?
–@bwompbwomp
I think it’s Lewis’ job to lose at this point. He won the competition this summer, and if he keeps up his strong play, then I can’t see James White passing him on the depth chart.
The Patriots only used a fourth-round draft pick on White, so it’s not like there’s a ton invested in the former Wisconsin running back. The Patriots actually already cut 2014 fourth-round pick Cameron Fleming this season. The offensive tackle is currently on the practice squad. I’m not saying White will be cut, but a fourth-round draft pick isn’t ensured a top role.
Doug, if they made a space jam, but for football. Who would be the qb for the toon squad? And will it still be called space jam?
–@zacxwolf
I think it would be Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, though Seattle Seahawks fans are probably ticked I didn’t say Russell Wilson. Maybe they could call it “Space Jam 2: The One About Football,” or “Space Jam 2: Not Much Jamming, Because That’s More Of A Basketball Thing.”
Not as much star power in his possibility, but maybe they could call it “Space Ram,” starring Nick Foles. Or they could go with “Space Cam,” starring Cam Newton.
This kind of sounds like a terrible idea, though, Zac.
@DougKyed Where does Andrews go when Wendell gets healthy?
–@charlesmalu5
I think Andrews has been good enough to stay at center even when Wendell returns. He’s been so good (so far), Wendell likely will be inserted at guard for either Shaq Mason or Tre’ Jackson when he’s finally ready to play. I thought he would make his season debut this week, but an illness has kept him limited in practice, so we’ll see if Belichick and the coaching staff deems him healthy enough to play.
@DougKyed are you drinking my cadet Kool-Aid yet?
–@Celtsin4
I just want to see Travaris Cadet take the field for the Patriots. I’m not drinking any Kool-Aid until I see that.
@DougKyed when does KT come to the active roster
–@NathanK12321
The Patriots traded for wide receiver KeShawn Martin this week, but I still wouldn’t be surprised to see Kenbrell Thompkins added to the active roster before the Patriots play the Bills. I just don’t think it would happen until Saturday. Belichick typically doesn’t like giving opposing teams extra time to prepare for players.
@DougKyed how are Pats going to get pressure without blitzes and without Easley?
–@tpmaltbie
Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor is a scrambling threat, but I still think the Patriots can blitz their linebackers, Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins and Jerod Mayo. They just need to pick their spots and be smart about it. Hightower was one of the Patriots’ few pass-rushing bright spots in Week 1.
The Patriots’ interior pass rush wasn’t very impressive after defensive tackle Dominique Easley left their Week 1 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers with a hip injury, but all hope is not lost. It obviously wasn’t the Patriots’ intention to play rookie Geneo Grissom 32 snaps, and I can’t see that happening against this week against the Bills. Perhaps we’ll see Trey Flowers or Rufus Johnson on Sunday to see if they can boost the interior pass rush. Chandler Jones is a constant threat to get interior pressure, and Jabaal Sheard and Rob Ninkovich should be more successful generating pressure off the edge.
@DougKyed Which WWE feud would you compare the BB/Ryan rivalry to? (Sorry, both WWE and Pats is the best I can do.)
–@ZaneWPenton
Belichick is The Undertaker and Ryan is Mick Foley. Foley was more jovial and well-liked, while The Undertaker was sullen and silent but did most of the winning.
@DougKyed Could you see Sheard taking the starting LDE job soon? Where would that put Nink?
–@Lobstabred
I don’t think it necessarily matters who starts among the Patriots’ pass rushers. Sheard, Ninkovich and Jones all will get a fair share of snaps, and they’re all versatile enough to play against the run and pass.
@DougKyed Do you think we’ll see more Scott Chandler in an effort to keep the Bills honest covering Gronk?
–@MrQuindazzi
I think the Patriots would be crazy not to get Chandler heavily involved against his old team. If the Bills’ intention is really to double- and triple-cover Rob Gronkowski, that should leave Chandler and Lewis with some very favorable, or even non-existent, matchups in the passing game.
@DougKyed who walks out as US Champ and World Champ on Sunday? And who is Reigns & Ambrose’s partner?
–@Sudikoff
U.S. Champ: Seth Rollins
WWE World Heavyweight Champ: Sting
I think the Rollins-John Cena match ends with some sort of controversy or interference, so that rivalry can continue for another pay-per-view event. I think the WWE wants to put the belt on Sting, just so they can say he had it during his 30-year career. He can lose it Monday either in a rematch with Rollins or with Sheamus cashing in the Money In The Bank briefcase.
As for Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose’s mystery partner, I know the rumor is it will be former Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Baron Corbin, but I don’t buy it. If it’s someone from NXT, it would be great if Samoa Joe got the call-up. He doesn’t really fit in aesthetically with Reigns and Ambrose, but he deserves to be on the main roster.
Some other intriguing possibilities are Reigns’ cousin The Rock, Daniel Bryan and even former Shield member Rollins, all of which seem extremely unlikely.
Those all sound way too exciting, so it’s far more likely it will be someone more disappointing like Randy Orton or Kane. The final, neither overly exciting nor disappointing possibility is Cesaro, which seems perfect for this feud. WWE won’t want the biggest pop of the night to come midway through the event, and Cesaro doesn’t currently have a match at Night of Champions.
Some other funny possibilities: El Torito, Fandango, Goldust and Curtis Axel.
I look forward to finding out while sitting in a hotel outside Buffalo on Sunday night.
Thumbnail photo via Stew Milne/USA TODAY Sports Images
