The Game Ball Thread: Wk 3 vs. Jags

[GeorgeCostanza]

If he was banged up I highly doubt they would have put him back in to block in a couple meaningless goal line plays.

I was thinking maybe he banged up a hand or 2 because he was only in on running plays but then yeah why would they risk even blocking with a dinged hand if that were the case. I can't for the life of my understand why teams continue to let him go up the seam uncovered. It's happened multiple times in each game so far. LB passes him off to the safety and there's a huge window for Brady to thread it in there for 20+ every time.

 

[tims4wins]

Just wanted to say that the Brisby references in the game thread and this thread were hilarious. I had the same thought watching live (even though Bris didn't have long hair)

 

[NortheasternPJ]

I was thinking maybe he banged up a hand or 2 because he was only in on running plays but then yeah why would they risk even blocking with a dinged hand if that were the case. I can't for the life of my understand why teams continue to let him go up the seam uncovered. It's happened multiple times in each game so far. LB passes him off to the safety and there's a huge window for Brady to thread it in there for 20+ every time.

 
The most amazing thing to me isn't just the seam routes, but there were a number of times where in the red zone, Gronk goes out wide, a single LB goes to cover him and the Safety is no where to be found. If I were an opposing team if Gronk is going out wide, you send 2 guys regardless of what else is going on. Let them beat you some other way, but don't just give them that option every time.

 

[lexrageorge]

 
The most amazing thing to me isn't just the seam routes, but there were a number of times where in the red zone, Gronk goes out wide, a single LB goes to cover him and the Safety is no where to be found. If I were an opposing team if Gronk is going out wide, you send 2 guys regardless of what else is going on. Let them beat you some other way, but don't just give them that option every time.

It's hard to tell sometimes from the TV feed exactly how Gronk is being covered.  We know he was targeted 7 times, which means there were 35 targets to guys such as Edelman, Dion Lewis, Amendola, Martin, Dobson, Chandler, White.  It's the fact that Brady is so effective at getting the ball to his non-Gronk receivers for first downs (58 so far this season) that makes the Pats offense nearly impossible to contain.  Eventually, the D has to pay attention to one of the other players, or to the possibility of a run, and that's when Brady inevitably finds Gronk open.  
 
Then you have the situation like the Pittsburgh game where Gronk is  completely uncovered in the red zone.  First, that's on the Pittsburgh coaching staff and the defensive captains.  But that's also what happens when defenses are forced to deal with an offense like the Pats; eventually, someone is left uncovered.   

 

[Valek123]

Ryan Allen, as a game ball would be the only ball he touched yesterday... 10 drives, zero punts.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Ryan Allen, as a game ball would be the only ball he touched yesterday... 10 drives, zero punts.

 
As opposed to the Bears, who punted on every single drive.
Edit: Bears, getting crappy teams confused.

 

[Devizier]

You mean the Bears.

 

[BrazilianSoxFan]

Amazing...
 
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/648498485726044160
 
New England Patriots
‏@Patriots
Through three games:
Tom Brady touchdown passes: 9
Ryan Allen punts: 5

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

Pats are just slightly over the pace for the NFL record for fewest punts in a season. (Chargers with 23 in 1982.) 

 

[Leather]

I suggest we collectively wait until there are 6 or 7 games in the book until we start making comparisons to 2007 or extrapolating records.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Ryan Allen, as a game ball would be the only ball he touched yesterday... 10 drives, zero punts.

 
Well, he is the holder on the field goal unit, so at least he's doing something to earn a paycheck.

 

[Briz]

Yup exactly my point. Wouldn't be surprised if it ends up in the Pats HoF in a case somewhere rather than on Brady's mantle next to the SB MVPs. Rings

 
Only "fixing" because that is what it is truly about for him.  Winning.  And he knows it takes the team to do it.  Though I'm sure he wants TD records, yards records, MVP's, etc., the ring comes first. 
 
As you mentioned up-thread, the difference between Brady and Peyton in personal record situations is amazing.  Peyton choreographs routines, Brady goes back to the bench and studies aerial pictures with McDaniels on how to improve.
 
Game ball goes to #12, and I'm close to saying another game ball goes to all the people who have perpetually pissed #12 off this season.

 

[rodderick]

 
Only "fixing" because that is what it is truly about for him.  Winning.  And he knows it takes the team to do it.  Though I'm sure he wants TD records, yards records, MVP's, etc., the ring comes first. 
 
As you mentioned up-thread, the difference between Brady and Peyton in personal record situations is amazing.  Peyton choreographs routines, Brady goes back to the bench and studies aerial pictures with McDaniels on how to improve.
 
Game ball goes to #12, and I'm close to saying another game ball goes to all the people who have perpetually pissed #12 off this season.

The most flagrant offender in that respect is the Saints stopping a game in which they were losing to celebrate Brees breaking the consecutive games with a TD record. Can you imagine Brady smiling and shaking hands because of a personal achievement during the first quarter of a tied home game?

 

[edmunddantes]

Which announcer was openly mocking teams stopping games for a celebration yesterday? 
 
Was it the Collingsworth/Michaels duo?

 

[Al Zarilla]

I can't for the life of my understand why teams continue to let him go up the seam uncovered. It's happened multiple times in each game so far. LB passes him off to the safety and there's a huge window for Brady to thread it in there for 20+ every time.

Maybe safeties are scared shitless of him and LBs know they can't keep up with him anyway. Or, maybe teams do kind of generic TE coverage preparation, there just aren't any, or many other TEs that head up the seam like that, so they let him go. Thorough preparation...what the Patriots do that few other teams do!

 

[LogansDad]

Which announcer was openly mocking teams stopping games for a celebration yesterday? 
 
Was it the Collingsworth/Michaels duo?

It was Gannon during the Patriots broadcast.

 

[nothumb]

Maybe safeties are scared shitless of him and LBs know they can't keep up with him anyway. Or, maybe teams do kind of generic TE coverage preparation, there just aren't any, or many other TEs that head up the seam like that, so they let him go. Thorough preparation...what the Patriots do that few other teams do!

I think the short answer is that the Pats will have him run enough crossing routes and out-breaking routes from that same formation, and also threaten that side of the field with WRs and/or RB go routes, that safeties in a two deep look can't afford to cheat up or pinch in too early. Brady is just so good at reading the coverage and disguising his intentions that you can't key in on that without leaving something else open.

If teams decide that Gronk is never going down the seam on them, they're going to get picked apart down the sideline or in the flat. Or just have the ball run down their throats.

 

[nattysez]

I suggest we collectively wait until there are 6 or 7 games in the book until we start making comparisons to 2007 or extrapolating records.

 
Yeah, I think the problem is that with a bye week, writers are going to dig for stories.  
 
As bad as that talk might be for the next couple of weeks, just imagine what it will be like if they crush Dallas and the Colts in consecutive games with heavy national exposure (I assume the Dallas game will be the lead late afternoon game and the Colts game is the SNF game).

 

[RedOctober3829]

 
Yeah, I think the problem is that with a bye week, writers are going to dig for stories.  
 
As bad as that talk might be for the next couple of weeks, just imagine what it will be like if they crush Dallas and the Colts in consecutive games with heavy national exposure (I assume the Dallas game will be the lead late afternoon game and the Colts game is the SNF game).

Yes, Dallas/New England is a national game for CBS on 10/11.

 

[dcmissle]

TB is trying to tamp it down.

Evidently, based on Ravens thread, the owner's son is playing high school punk with 98.5 on the revenge angle.

Sure to be picked up. So yeah, we could have a two week run of stupidity with no game next week, fueled by the likes of CHB and Jonathan.

 

[Jettisoned]

Ryan Allen, as a game ball would be the only ball he touched yesterday... 10 drives, zero punts.

 
He does hold the ball for Ghost on FG's and XP attempts, a job which he performed flawlessly yesterday.

 

[BusRaker]

It would be hypothetically hilarious if BB didn't even activate Ryan Allen for the Colts game. Not that anything that stupid would ever happen.

Game balls to the entire special teams which gets little love and DOES THEIR JOB ANYWAY every week. Every return they don't fumble, every PAT they convert. Slater's great concentration on the fake punt reminded me of the little things I don't notice.

 

[McBride11]

Maybe safeties are scared shitless of him and LBs know they can't keep up with him anyway. Or, maybe teams do kind of generic TE coverage preparation, there just aren't any, or many other TEs that head up the seam like that, so they let him go. Thorough preparation...what the Patriots do that few other teams do!

Well after he killed the guy yesterday by just running into him I assume small DBs are going to give him even more space. We may see the Pittsburgh 'cover' of Gronk used more often if he keeps throwing people outta the club.

I think it would be a sad indictment of NFL coaching if you dont even game plan to stop Gronk and go with 'generic' TE stuff. I think Gronk is just that good. He is big and he is fast. But beyond that, he is smart and can actually run sharp routes. No he isnt JE, but they showed a couple of nice plays Sunday where Gronk broke cleanly on routes and gained a step or 2 in separation. Of course it helps Tom also hits him at exactly the right moment.

 

[MainerInExile]

Slater's great concentration on the fake punt reminded me of the little things I don't notice.

 
Has anyone seen a video of this?  I haven't gotten to see it.

 

[j44thor]

One person not getting enough love in the GB department is McDaniels.
I can't remember seeing so many different formations and plays that are executed flawlessly without any WTF plays that virtually every team runs.
A lot of that is of course Brady and the team all being on the same page but they are being given some excellent material to work with this season as well.

 

[ragnarok725]

One person not getting enough love in the GB department is McDaniels.
I can't remember seeing so many different formations and plays that are executed flawlessly without any WTF plays that virtually every team runs.
A lot of that is of course Brady and the team all being on the same page but they are being given some excellent material to work with this season as well.

 
Definitely true - he's been great. Only quibble is that I could do with fewer goalline fades. Even to Gronk, the percentage just seems far worse than running virtually any other play from that distance. 

 

[j44thor]

 
Definitely true - he's been great. Only quibble is that I could do with fewer goalline fades. Even to Gronk, the percentage just seems far worse than running virtually any other play from that distance. 

 
I recall Brady waiving off Shaq Mason for a goalline play yesterday.  They ended up taking a time out and settling for a FG on that series.  Would have loved to know what play the sideline wanted.  The score was still relatively close at the time.

 

[DourDoerr]

Game ball to Gronk's ACL's and MCL's.  Forgot who it was but there was a low tackle and Gronk went down hard.  Feared the worst, but due to their resilience, high football IQ, and strength, he got right up.  The season can continue.

 

[Valek123]

One person not getting enough love in the GB department is McDaniels.
I can't remember seeing so many different formations and plays that are executed flawlessly without any WTF plays that virtually every team runs.
A lot of that is of course Brady and the team all being on the same page but they are being given some excellent material to work with this season as well.

 
I agree completely, there was a while where it felt like 3-5 times a game they tried to get to cute and took themselves out of drives.  It could be the evolution of the players involved and the numerous weapons but this offense is firing on all cylinders right now.  It's fun to watch.  I'm eating humble pie on my criticism of McDaniels previously, and it's absolutely delicious.

 

[Trlicek's Whip]

 
I agree completely, there was a while where it felt like 3-5 times a game they tried to get to cute and took themselves out of drives.  It could be the evolution of the players involved and the numerous weapons but this offense is firing on all cylinders right now.  It's fun to watch.  I'm eating humble pie on my criticism of McDaniels previously, and it's absolutely delicious.

 
After last season, the latest championship, and "Do Your Job" type teardowns of what the Pats did I view McDaniels' gameplans a bit differently now. He's not putting the cart before the horse with his week-to-week prep, presumably, but there is also a coaching longview to take with the schedule.
 
This season I look at each game as a series of plays and formations that work (or don't) but also I see it as stuff that he might use to misdirect teams later in the season (teams they'll see twice in the division, and if they make it to the post-season etc.). 
 
And that is organically stemming from the Pats' way in which the tailor their plan very specifically for the teams they play. It's a Swiss Army Knife that has a tool on it he may not implement until he needs it, with any prior history not giving it away to teams that do film study on the Pats. The long con, in many ways. Which thus far he hasn't outsmarted himself with just yet.

 

[BrazilianSoxFan]

 
Has anyone seen a video of this?  I haven't gotten to see it.

 
https://vine.co/v/exPhqmwazxF

 

[GeorgeCostanza]

Game ball to Gronk's ACL's and MCL's.  Forgot who it was but there was a low tackle and Gronk went down hard.  Feared the worst, but due to their resilience, high football IQ, and strength, he got right up.  The season can continue.

Sergio Brown of course.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

Wait... Is "LGBT" seriously a nickname for Blount?  

 

[tims4wins]

$10 the Slater play shows up in the Belichick Breakdown

 

[nothumb]

Wait... Is "LGBT" seriously a nickname for Blount?  

Only since like his 2nd game with the team.

 

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

 
This season I look at each game as a series of plays and formations that work (or don't) but also I see it as stuff that he might use to misdirect teams later in the season (teams they'll see twice in the division, and if they make it to the post-season etc.). 
 

Edelman staying in to block like a TE multiple times this year is building to a screen pass at some point. And it'll be awesome

 

[Spelunker]

Edelman staying in to block like a TE multiple times this year is building to a screen pass at some point. And it'll be awesome

Oh man, yes. I can't wait. Good eye.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Oh man, yes. I can't wait. Good eye.

Or a screen pass that turns into an option play with Lewis running beside him. Those funny Patriots!

 

[mwonow]

Or a screen pass that turns into an option play with Lewis running beside him. Those funny Patriots!

 
Bills or Jets? No Ravens game this year...

 

[PedroKsBambino]

TB is trying to tamp it down

 
Whenever they return to practice I expect BB, the assistants, and the vet leaders (who will have been given a heads-up) to really kick some butt and set the tone that the team is nowhere right now except needing to fix a lot of things for the Cowboys game.

I pity the WR or backup lineman who says something along the lines of "think we can go 16-0" in that lockerroom...this is the revenge tour, not a Rex Ryan press conference.

 

[lexrageorge]

TB is trying to tamp it down.

Evidently, based on Ravens thread, the owner's son is playing high school punk with 98.5 on the revenge angle.

Sure to be picked up. So yeah, we could have a two week run of stupidity with no game next week, fueled by the likes of CHB and Jonathan.

Jonathan is doing exactly what Jonathan needs to do.  I'm happy with his playing the villain; it lets Brady and Belichick focus on football.  

 

[GregHarris]

BB miked up on Inside the NFL. Great sound bytes with Walk Coleman as he suggested that Bill can control the weather, and Bill replies that I only get blamed when it's bad.

 

[Van Everyman]

From Globe's Sunday Notes:

Bill Belichick wore a microphone for NFL Films during last week’s game against the Jaguars. Here’s what we learned from watching the resulting segment on Showtime’s “Inside the NFL,” which was longer than the edited clip the Patriots posted on their website:

■ Jaguars coach Gus Bradley acted a bit star-struck when meeting Belichick before the game.

“Coach Belichick, I know we’ve never talked, but you’ve been really good for me,” Bradley said. “Without you knowing, you’ve helped me. I know maybe a lot of people say it, but I mean it.”

“I have a lot of respect for what you’ve done with this team,” Belichick responded. “It’s a young team, but I can see where you’re going.”

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/10/03/nfl-teams-are-dealing-with-needs/zOHkgITSVL2WqrfzUEVpVK/story.html

Left out of this clip, BB shaking Bradley's hand and saying, "And now watch me humiliate your puny team."

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

I actually think it was part being nice/respectful and part being sincere that the Jags may finally have some sense of direction, but BB's "I can see where you're going" could be construed in different ways, which made me laugh.

 

[StupendousMan]

$10 the Slater play shows up in the Belichick Breakdown

 
http://www.patriots.com/video/2015/10/02/belichick-breakdown-breaking-down-win-over-jaguars
 

View attachment 1349

 

[tims4wins]

Ha thanks. I will donate it to the DRS fund.