Bob Loblaw
They regularly throw touchdowns to Mike Vrabel, a linebacker, on the goal line. He comes in, just for that play, goes to tight end, runs a little out route, and Brady fakes and throws him a td. He has 10 career catches all for td’s. Just a simple little play, no frills, yet it seems to work (usually he is covered the second time they try it in the same game). Even though he plays linebacker, Belichick uses him as a “football player” to score points, thinking outside the box. This team has scored on EVERY opening drive this year, so something must be working.
Same goes for using Randy Moss. The other day at the end of the half, Washington was in position for the end of half Hail Mary. Randy Moss, even though he plays wide receiver, came out and was set up as a defensive back on the goal line, again basic football, the guy who can jump the highest and catch the best is on the field for a play where that kind of skill is paramount, regardless of his position on the roster. Use your players to make plays, it’s what you would do in middle school, have the best player on the field when needed. Don’t see many other teams doing that.
One drive they threw the ball every down and walked down the field. 9, 10, 11 yards a pass, and eventually scored. Eschewing balance, and running the ball to control the clock like Coach Kilmer, their motto appears to be, “we need 10 yards, how can we get it, regardless of the stat sheet, we have a great QB and 3 awesome wide receivers, lets throw if every play, all that matters is the score.” The fact that they can score touchdowns separates them from about every team in the league, except the Colts. Most NFL teams have trouble getting to 20 points in a game, let alone 30 or 40. It is like the good old days at Florida when Steve Spurrier first showed up and all the other SEC teams could not beat them running the ball and kicking field goals. Too tough. The difference goes back to finding a way to score a touchdown in the red zone rather than kicking a field goal. Luckily for my fantasy team, Tom Brady rarely settles for a field goal in the red zone.
Oh and by the way for anyone whining that the Patriots ran up the score on the Redskins Sunday, Come On! This is Pro Football, nobody is playing for the polls or a ranking, you are all professionals, every team has the same payroll to work with, it’s not like LSU is playing Hanover and it is just not fair. If you don’t want them to score, then stop them. When Matt Cassell is in the game, you think he’s not going to try? He gets to play about 20 minutes a year, this is his chance and if you can’t stop their backups, do they owe it to you to kneel down? Weak. The whining only helps the Patriots get more motivation being labeled the bad guys of the NFL.
Bill Belichick has lost several of his top assistant coaches the last few years (Mangini, Crennell, Weis) and yet they keep on keeping on. He has found a way to get multi million dollar athletes to sacrifice themselves for the team, buy into his system, and play for wins rather than stats. It seems like everyone that plays there loves being a part of that team and is not an individual. Maybe Randy Moss was not the problem in Oakland, the problem in Oakland was da Raiders. No one should be surprised that he is excelling in New England, Belichick would never have gone out and got him if he thought there would be issues. Even though every one in Indiana hates him, Belichick with his team-first, individual last attitude conjures up images of a red sweatered man who Hoosiers loved even if he didn’t respect plastic chairs. His team was one or 2 plays from a Super Bowl title last year (yes I am assuming they would have beaten the mighty Bears), yet they went out and added several key players and made changes rather than standing “pat” (nice).
The more the media attacks this team, the more motivated they are going to be. For those who want them to lose, this weekend against the Colts is the best shot. This game should probably be the Super Bowl, and it very well could determine who gets home field in the playoffs in the AFC. I believe that if the Patriots beat the Colts on Sunday, the only thing that will stop them from going 16-0 will be if they sit out their starters the last 2 weeks, and with the chip on their shoulder right now, they will more likely score 70 points on somebody then concede victory. A good team that is motivated and angry, is not one to bet against. And yes even without the video tape, they would have found a way to beat the Jets, another strong team. Getting things done, the Patriot way, illustrated best by the utilitarian use of the hoodie, you need to wear the hoodie, but it is not quite that cold, so what do you do, cut off the sleeves. No free custom made half sleeve sweatshirt for coach Bill, that he could probably afford, no, make what you have as efficient as possible.