One of the plays Belichick talks about is a great kickoff coverage play that saves about ten yards in field position. It’s a fantastic play, and the kind of thing Belichick loves, but I am starting to think that with the amazing QB performances, yards per completion and attempt way up, and new offense friendly rules, field position is just not important any more.
Maybe when the weather turns or something, but to me it’s starting to seem like an antiquated idea. In the end game scenarios, even Joe Flacco and Eli Manning are picking up huge chunk plays against good defenses. I can’t think of a single game this year, other than some of the Browns OT games, where any of these old concepts like flipping the field or hitting a great punt even mattered. Yeah, a ball downed at the 2 is still good.
And yeah, an 85 yard drive is harder than a 75 yard drive. But not over the newer game risk reward metrics that coaches are starting to figure out, like going on fourth down and end half clock management.
I have obviously not done a deep dive or ITP like analysis, but it just doesn’t seem like having your opponent start at the 25 or 50 matters nearly as much as it used to. There seems to be a critical mass developing with coaches not afraid to lose their jobs over failing on good but unconventional risk reward decisions.