Belichick Breakdowns 2015

[LogansDad]

One of my favorite parts of football season is watching the genius that is Bill Belichick talk candidly with Scott Zolak about some of the big plays from the week before.  With week 1 this week, he was even more candid than usual, I think, as he specifically lauded at least three players (Canon, Sheard, and Harmon), followed by my favorite part when he calls out Harmon for his failed celebration attempt.
 
I give you, Belichick Breakdowns Week 1

 

[singaporesoxfan]

Great stuff. Liked how he pointed out Harmon's side-to-side range - wasn't something I'd noticed much before, but once Belichick points something like that out it becomes so obvious.
 
And yes, "needs to work on that" (about Harmon's celebration attempt) was my favorite part too.

 

[Stitch01]

No OL guru here, but Andrews nailing his assignment on that blitz on the Gronk pass seemed pretty nice for a rookie in his first game.

 

[Super Nomario]

No OL guru here, but Andrews nailing his assignment on that blitz on the Gronk pass seemed pretty nice for a rookie in his first game.

I like Jackson's block here too, sliding over quickly to get the DT who was lined up on Andrews at the snap.

 

[ElcaballitoMVP]

The thing about the Harmon play that I liked so much, and Bill may have been referring to it when he talked about Harmon's discipline, is how he disguises his coverage pre-snap. He stays outside the opposite hash until just before the snap, then he takes off to cover the deep middle. As he reads the play, he breaks on the outside receiver and covers a ton of ground to go get the ball. I don't think Ben expected him to be anywhere near the opposite sideline to make the play. 

 

[amarshal2]

Here's week 2: http://www.patriots.com/video/2015/09/23/belichick-breakdown-week-2-bills
 
Is that Mario Williams Gronk is blocking on the Lewis rushing TD?  Dude looks like he could be a pro-bowl RT on plays like that with some practice.
 
Edit: found an okay view on far shot after the TD and it appears to be 94 -- so yes, Williams.  Also, BB calls him "Big M" which should have clued me in from the start.

 

[nothumb]

Great stuff. Liked how he pointed out Harmon's side-to-side range - wasn't something I'd noticed much before, but once Belichick points something like that out it becomes so obvious.
 
And yes, "needs to work on that" (about Harmon's celebration attempt) was my favorite part too.

Even better than the Harmon burn is that he reminded everyone how much it looked like the game-sealing Flacco pick from last year's playoffs. And showed it.

BB is out for blood. He's gonna keep clowning these chumps every chance he gets.

 

[Stitch01]

Slick little hold by Jones on that Collins sack

 

[Dollar]

I hadn't noticed Scott Chandler's block on the Lewis touchdown run before now, where he came around Gronk and blocked Aaron Williams from out of nowhere.  Wow, that was nice.

 

[Kevin Youkulele]

Slick little hold by Jones on that Collins sack

I don't think I've ever seen a defensive holding penalty called at the line.  Is the rule only against holding receivers downfield or is it only enforced downfield (or have I just not noticed it being called at the line)?  If it's de facto legal, it seems like a great tactic (which the NFL will inevitably ban if the Pats are noticed to be exploiting it).

 

[tims4wins]

It is illegal and called from time to time, although not often

 

[Stitch01]

Yup, it can be called, but I don't think its going to get called very often on a guy getting double teamed and putting a little hold on the blocker he's looking to engage to free up the linebacker which is why its slick.
 
I assume this is the kind of thing teams point out to officials if they see the opponent that week doing it often on film.

 

[amarshal2]

Yup, it can be called, but I don't think its going to get called very often on a guy getting double teamed and putting a little hold on the blocker he's looking to engage to free up the linebacker which is why its slick.
 
I assume this is the kind of thing teams point out to officials if they see the opponent that week doing it often on film.

 
I saw that too and wondered if this is the type of thing Justin Smith was doing for Aldon Smith back when he had a billion sacks.  I remember people would say that the only reason Aldon had all those sacks is Justin Smith would hold on every play.

 

[StupendousMan]

Just came here to say that ^^^^^^ but amarshal2 beat me to it.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

 
I hadn't noticed Scott Chandler's block on the Lewis touchdown run before now, where he came around Gronk and blocked Aaron Williams from out of nowhere.  Wow, that was nice.
 

That was deceptive and should be illegal.[/Harbaugh]

 

[DJnVa]

I think BB and Zolak had the same shirt on in that one, but BB's was faded because he's probably worn it 150 times.

 

[Van Everyman]

If he has, it would seem most of the buttons on BB's shirt came off as well. It appears to be open down to his navel.

Must be taking queues from Felger.

 

[JohnnyK]

On the Gronk touchdown, the three defenders don't really seem to be on the same page on who lines up on Gronk and who lines up on Chandler, and after the play they are screaming at each other.
 
Lack of preparation?

 

[Byrdbrain]

Yeah the LB went off on the DB that doubled Chandler. I'm assuming he was supposed to be on Gronk, likely on his inside shoulder watching for exactly the route Gronk ended up running for an easy TD. 

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

 
On the Gronk touchdown, the three defenders don't really seem to be on the same page on who lines up on Gronk and who lines up on Chandler, and after the play they are screaming at each other.
 
Lack of preparation?
 

I was thinking about that this morning.  I guess I can (baaaaarely) understand if teams didnt have a clear plan about that coming into the season, but once the Patriots showed that "split out all-or-most of the tight ends" goal line formation against Pitt, how is it possible they don't have a stone-cold locked-in plan?  "IF THIS HAPPENS, you two take Gronk, you guys do this..." That seems practically impossible not to have talked to DEATH in the run-up to the game. 
 
I'll be shocked - again - if Jax doesn't seem much more prepared in that situation this week.  (And then Gronk'll score anyway and probably just as easily.)

 

[weeba]

Don't forget, Rex and the Bills were done planning for the Patriots on the Wednesday before the game.

 

[LogansDad]

Well, to be fair to the Bills, their time was much better spent going to the media and talking about how much they hate the Patriots.  I mean, they REALLY, REALLY HATE them.  If people don't know that, then how can they possibly hope to win the actual game?
 
I am so glad I am not a fan of just about any other NFL team.

 

[loshjott]

I was thinking about that this morning.  I guess I can (baaaaarely) understand if teams didnt have a clear plan about that coming into the season, but once the Patriots showed that "split out all-or-most of the tight ends" goal line formation against Pitt, how is it possible they don't have a stone-cold locked-in plan?  "IF THIS HAPPENS, you two take Gronk, you guys do this..." That seems practically impossible not to have talked to DEATH in the run-up to the game. 
 
I'll be shocked - again - if Jax doesn't seem much more prepared in that situation this week.  (And then Gronk'll score anyway and probably just as easily.)

 
Or more likely, the ball will go to Lewis either as a pass out of the backfield or run up the middle where the LB and safety now doubling Gronk are no longer situated.

 

[amarshal2]

I was thinking about that this morning.  I guess I can (baaaaarely) understand if teams didnt have a clear plan about that coming into the season, but once the Patriots showed that "split out all-or-most of the tight ends" goal line formation against Pitt, how is it possible they don't have a stone-cold locked-in plan?  "IF THIS HAPPENS, you two take Gronk, you guys do this..." That seems practically impossible not to have talked to DEATH in the run-up to the game. 
 
I'll be shocked - again - if Jax doesn't seem much more prepared in that situation this week.  (And then Gronk'll score anyway and probably just as easily.)

 
 

Don't forget, Rex and the Bills were done planning for the Patriots on the Wednesday before the game.

 
Exactly.  To be fair the the players, their coach said he was going home early last week.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Well, to be fair to the Bills, their time was much better spent going to the media and talking about how much they hate the Patriots.  I mean, they REALLY, REALLY HATE them.  If people don't know that, then how can they possibly hope to win the actual game?
 
I am so glad I am not a fan of just about any other NFL team.

Packers would be OK, especially with Rodgers at QB vs. when Favre was ther, but I'd freeze to death in Green Bay. Then again, Mike McCarthy...Could freeze in New England too but I don't have to worry about that either. 

 

[tims4wins]

http://www.patriots....in-over-jaguars
 
Cross posting from game ball thread

 

[ipol]

A smiling Belichick on Amendola handing Brady's 400th TD ball into the stands: "We gotta work on that."

 

[tims4wins]

Dallas
 
http://www.patriots.com/video/2015/10/14/belichick-breakdown-week-5-cowboys

 

[mwonow]

My favourite web content of the week - especially since (IIRC) they "only" appear after wins...

 

[brandonchristensen]

My favourite web content of the week - especially since (IIRC) they "only" appear after wins...

So we should get 19 this year. Cool.

 

[mwonow]

So we should get 19 this year. Cool.

 
Yep - I'd hate to be addicted to Jim Caldwell's Callouts instead!

 

[tims4wins]

 

[BaseballJones]

 
Quick SOSH poll:  Have any of you actually seen Caldwell talk when the cameras zoom in on him during a game?  I've seen him on TV a lot and never, ever, ever have I seen him actually moving his mouth.

 

[Don Buddin's GS]

Colts "Bellichick Breakdown": http://www.patriots.com/video/2015/10/21/belichick-breakdown-top-plays-week-6

 

[JohnnyK]

Kind of a different one, I wonder if this is a bit of a format change or a one off. They seem to spend less time on individual plays and only had offensive plays for some reason.

 

[GeorgeCostanza]

Love that Bill is baffled that freeman comes out of coverage to go after Brady on that scramble TD pass to Blount. Bradys not much of a threat to run he says, stating the obvious.

 

[dynomite]

Kind of a different one, I wonder if this is a bit of a format change or a one off. They seem to spend less time on individual plays and only had offensive plays for some reason.

Doesn't seem like much of a change -- Bill spends a lot of time talking about LGBT's long TD run.

It's actually a fascinating analysis of the play, mentioning how the Pats ran through the gap to one more to the right last year, so this time they take the ball more up the middle.

Really incredible blocking -- Flemming helps on a double team and then spins around to block someone else, Williams pushes someone totally out of the play, and Adams is so concerned about Edelman's route that he is -- as BB says -- playing "soft" and takes himself out of the play.

Haven't seen Belichick so critical of another team's players very often.

 

[Saints Rest]

I thought it telling (and probably unsurprising) that he didn't go near either of the three notable ST plays (onside kick, fake punt, Collins block).  But those are the three (four if you include the second onside kick) that I would most want to have seen him break down.

 

[mwonow]

The Colts one is definitely different, but I feel like the editorial decisions (offense only, and selected plays there) have something to do with the upcoming Jets game.
 
Damned if I know what it is, though... 

 

[dynomite]

I thought it telling (and probably unsurprising) that he didn't go near either of the three notable ST plays (onside kick, fake punt, Collins block).  But those are the three (four if you include the second onside kick) that I would most want to have seen him break down.

Yeah, I thought that was interesting.

It would have been interesting to hear him talk about the ST assignments and how you react to that kind of adjustment, but he may want to keep that close.

 

[Super Nomario]

Doesn't seem like much of a change -- Bill spends a lot of time talking about LGBT's long TD run.

It's actually a fascinating analysis of the play, mentioning how the Pats ran through the gap to one more to the right last year, so this time they take the ball more up the middle.

Yeah, I loved this part.
 

Really incredible blocking -- Flemming helps on a double team and then spins around to block someone else, Williams pushes someone totally out of the play, and Adams is so concerned about Edelman's route that he is -- as BB says -- playing "soft" and takes himself out of the play.

Haven't seen Belichick so critical of another team's players very often.

I don't think he meant "soft" as in "not tough" - in context here it seems like a euphemism for playing with a big cushion

 

[GeorgeCostanza]

 

I don't think he meant "soft" as in "not tough" - in context here it seems like a euphemism for playing with a big cushion

This is correct.

 

[dynomite]

Yeah, I loved this part.
 
I don't think he meant "soft" as in "not tough" - in context here it seems like a euphemism for playing with a big cushion

I was wondering about that -- you're probably right, but seems like he could have used a different term.

Anyway, even the criticism of the guy dropping out of coverage because he thought Brady was going to run was unusual.

 

[GeorgeCostanza]

I was wondering about that -- you're probably right, but seems like he could have used a different term.

But "soft" is the correct football term to use in describing that coverage.

 

[Kevin Youkulele]

I was wondering about that -- you're probably right, but seems like he could have used a different term.

Anyway, even the criticism of the guy dropping out of coverage because he thought Brady was going to run was unusual.

Maybe there is a little disdain for the Colts leaking through into how he discussed the plays.  While he'd never openly admit it, at least during his tenure as head coach, he probably has less than average respect for them.
 
Regarding ST, I imagine he did not want to discuss details of unusual situations/reactions thereto (fake punt & blocked PAT) for competitive intelligence reasons, and the onside kick wasn't a pretty play.

 

[LogansDad]

http://www.patriots.com/video/2015/10/28/belichick-breakdown-top-plays-week-7
 
Probably my favorite of the season so far.  Best to me was the talk of the Jets' safety coming too late early, then speeding up which allowed Brady to hit Gronk on the last touchdown.
 
Bill also gets a "Good job coaching" from Zolak at the end, which cracked me up.

 

[GeorgeCostanza]

I didn't notice it during the game but on the sideline throw to chandler holy shit is Amendola wide open. That was a touchdown if Brady went there and hit him in stride. Doesn't look like Tom made it that far in his progression. It was chandler all the way.

 

[Import78]

He was certainly open, but I don't think Tom had the time to find him.  It looks to me like the ball is out before Amendola is open and there are rushers within reach of Tom. Looks like it would have been 7 for sure though.
 
ETA: also, hat tip to the ITP guys who broke down some of the same plays and did as good a job as coach.  Pointed out many of the same things Bill addressed. Spoilers.

 

[tims4wins]

On the 3rd and 17 play to Edelman, that was really well designed - looked like Gronk was actually a great option on that play as he broke his out at about 8 12 yards but would have only had to beat the LB to pick up the first down
 
here is the screen grab
 

 

[Saints Rest]

On the 3rd and 17 play to Edelman, that was really well designed - looked like Gronk was actually a great option on that play as he broke his out at about 8 12 yards but would have only had to beat the LB to pick up the first down
 
here is the screen grab
 

What's interesting to me in that screen grab is that while Gronk is indeed open, Brady is already in motion to throw to Edelman who is not yet open. As that other article (SI I think) mentioned, Brady "threw him open", a phrase I had never heard before.