The Patriot of the Week Thread: AFCCG vs Jags

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Amendola's playoff numbers actually aren't anything crazy.

12 games, 49 rec, 557 yds, 6 td (projects to 65 rec, 743 yds, 8 td)
1-1, 20 yards passing
3 rushes, 16 yards

So definitely not bad, but not crazy. But my goodness does he come up with ENORMOUS plays when they most need it. I'm with whomever else said that maybe there's not a metric for "clutch", but whatever "clutch" is, Amendola has it.

Dude has been tremendous.

And by the way, Brady was incredible - 26-38, 290, 2 td, 0 int - but he could have had absolutely eye-popping numbers, if not for a couple of drops (including Cooks' surefire long TD).

Yeah, the fact that the playoff numbers look relatively pedestrian is what really the point is all about. He's not a go-to volume receiver. He's just there when you need him. The most important stat is the six TDs.

He's played in 12 playoff games. But his six TDs were in four of those games that stand out as the Patriots' most improbable wins. The Baltimore division game, Super Bowl 49, Super Bowl 51, yesterday.

All six of his TDs were when the Patriots were losing. Five of six were in the second half. Also, he had perhaps the most clutch two point conversion in playoff history which also was in the fourth quarter with the team losing.

 

[BaseballJones]

Yeah, the fact that the playoff numbers look relatively pedestrian is what really the point is all about. He's not a go-to volume receiver. He's just there when you need him. The most important stat is the six TDs.

He's played in 12 playoff games. But his six TDs were in four of those games that stand out as the Patriots' most improbable wins. The Baltimore division game, Super Bowl 49, Super Bowl 51, yesterday.

All six of his TDs were when the Patriots were losing. Five of six were in the second half. Also, he had perhaps the most clutch two point conversion in playoff history which also was in the fourth quarter with the team losing.

Totally agree. Welker's playoff numbers are MUCH better than Amendola's, and of course Wes was a tremendous, tremendous player. But would any of us rather have Welker than Amendola come playoff time? Recency bias maybe, but i sure wouldn't.

 

[BigSoxFan]

Totally agree. Welker's playoff numbers are MUCH better than Amendola's, and of course Wes was a tremendous, tremendous player. But would any of us rather have Welker than Amendola come playoff time? Recency bias maybe, but i sure wouldn't.

This is all based on 1 drop that was admittedly bad and a ball that Amendola (and most other WRs) would have surely caught. But it sucks to see Welker’s contributions get marginalized over time because he never won one. He was a consistent force for us across several playoff games.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

I actually thought it was similar to the Scottish Game with the huge difference of the D making the final stand after the Pats scored the go ahead TD.

This is why my game ball goes to Mcdaniels.

After 2 1/2 quarters, White and Lewis had 8 catches...for 19 yards. While some of it looked like dump offs, it was clear that the patriots were trying to exploit the weaknesses that we all talked about on this board throughout the week. Use the running backs and use the tight ends, the Jags suck defending them.

Well, they made excellent tackles in the open field and snuffed out the plays for about 35 minutes. McDaniels didn't just "pull out a bag of trick plays" as some people keep suggesting. He changed the philosophy entirely. Intermediate routes reigned in the last 20 minutes or so of the game, and he did it without his best weapon to leverage on intermediate routes.

Excellent work by McDaniels to pivot in the biggest game of the year.

 

[Jungleland]

Until McCourty made what was essentially a game saving tackle on third down following the Dion fumble, I thought Trey Flowers was the best player on the defense. I know the pass rush disappeared at a couple different points and I get it if that disqualifies him for some of you, but after the obvious three (Brady, Amendola, Gilmore) I think he had the best game of anyone else.

 

[mauf]

The Patriots have been unbelievably disciplined in the last 3/4ths of the year. It has been maybe the difference of the year.

Of course, critics view that as a conspiracy. The more likely conclusion -- that the best coach in history has coached his players not to take penalties and instead to force the opponent to earn their yards -- doesn't seem to occur to these rocket scientists despite being the Occam's razor answer.

The Jags had a couple of brainfarts (the delay of game penalty, in particular, was inexcusable), but both teams were disciplined — not many flags were thrown. The bulk of the difference in penalty yards is those two long DPIs. Both of those were correctly called, but it’s not like the DB flat-out tackled the receiver in either case. When that happens in a game where folks here don’t have a rooting interest, we have people who bitch and moan about refball and wish that NFL games were officiated more like college.

Those two penalties obviously changed the complexion of the game, so I’m not surprised that folks who were rooting against the Pats are whining about them this morning, even though I think you’d be hard-pressed to argue that both of those calls aren’t consistently made by NFL officials.

 

[Ed Hillel]

The Jags had a couple of brainfarts (the delay of game penalty, in particular, was inexcusable), but both teams were disciplined — not many flags were thrown. The bulk of the difference in penalty yards is those two long DPIs. Both of those were correctly called, but it’s not like the DB flat-out tackled the receiver in either case.

One of them Ramsey literally put Cooks in a headlock. How anyone could possibly argue that in any context is beyond me. The other I thought was pretty clear, but I suppose it could have been let go.

To me, the better argument is to go college rules on DPI, not that the refs cheated for the Pats.

 

[loshjott]

Mike Reiss‏Verified account @MikeReiss 5m5 minutes ago
James Harrison final snap tracker: He played 32 of 74 snaps vs. Jaguars. In three games with Patriots, he has played 89 snaps. In 14 games with Steelers this year, he had played 40 snaps.

 

[8slim]

This. If the Pats had done that in the same situation we'd all have a collective aneurism. I get that they didn't want to have Bortles throwing downfield, but come on. You have a chance to put 3 more on the board in a 1-score game and you opt to not even try?

I’m a Syracuse alum and watched every game Marrone coached their for 4 years. He’s a very good coach but a bit of a meat head. Kneeling in that situation is him to a tee.

 

[kartvelo]

I want Trump's doc doing the cognitive exam to clear Gronk for the Super Bowl

"Some existing lesions were actually healed by the hit. His brain is now in better shape than ever before. It's the best brain. Believe me."

 

[mauf]

One of them Ramsey literally put Cooks in a headlock. How anyone could possibly argue that in any context is beyond me. The other I thought was pretty clear, but I suppose it could have been let go.

To me, the better argument is to go college rules on DPI, not that the refs cheated for the Pats.

I’d have to go back and look at the tape to be sure, but my recollection is the opposite — Ramsey probably gets away with the contact on Cooks in a college game, whereas the other one was more clear-cut. But my only point was that football fans, here and elsewhere, consistently whine about DPI calls like these two (game-changing, receiver wasn’t flat-out tackled), so I don’t think it’s remarkable that there’s a lot of whining today about the calls.

 

[JimD]

I was very impressed by the Jags coaching. They were pretty conservative with Bortles in the second half, but in most instances that was probably the right move. Can’t ask too much from Bortles without courting disaster.

Have to disagree with this - going conservative gets you beat against the Patriots. They needed to keep their foot on the gas. Instead, as Tom E. Curran noted in his story, Marrone and Hackett kept going with a Fournette run play on first down in the second half even though the Pats were conceding the secondary and daring Bortles to throw. 'No guts, no glory' certainly applies here.

 

[lexrageorge]

I’d have to go back and look at the tape to be sure, but my recollection is the opposite — Ramsey probably gets away with the contact on Cooks in a college game, whereas the other one was more clear-cut. But my only point was that football fans, here and elsewhere, consistently whine about DPI calls like these two (game-changing, receiver wasn’t flat-out tackled), so I don’t think it’s remarkable that there’s a lot of whining today about the calls.

Ramsey grabbed Cooks by the shoulder pads and redirected him away from the ball. That's DPI in both the pros and in college.

 

[loshjott]

Have to disagree with this - going conservative gets you beat against the Patriots. They needed to keep their foot on the gas. Instead, as Tom E. Curran noted in his story, Marrone and Hackett kept going with a Fournette run play on first down in the second half even though the Pats were conceding the secondary and daring Bortles to throw. 'No guts, no glory' certainly applies here.

I can't wait until the exact same situation occurs before halftime of the Super Bowl and Riverboat Doug Pederson opens up the offense like he did yesterday and Foles throws a pick.

EDIT: Actually, Pederson will be a more dangerous coach.

 

[Captaincoop]

Ramsey grabbed Cooks by the shoulder pads and redirected him away from the ball. That's DPI in both the pros and in college.

I think the original poster was suggesting making DPI a 15-yard penalty instead of a spot foul.

 

[bankshot1]

Zolak and Bert had a great takeoff on the Kinks "Lola" about the exploits of Dola.

it was very well done I hope it shows up somewhere for linkage

 

[Zososoxfan]

Edit: Wrong thread.

 

[Ed Hillel]

I’d have to go back and look at the tape to be sure, but my recollection is the opposite — Ramsey probably gets away with the contact on Cooks in a college game, whereas the other one was more clear-cut. But my only point was that football fans, here and elsewhere, consistently whine about DPI calls like these two (game-changing, receiver wasn’t flat-out tackled), so I don’t think it’s remarkable that there’s a lot of whining today about the calls.

Here you go, 5:25 mark:

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Zolak and Bert had a great takeoff on the Kinks "Lola" about the exploits of Dola.

it was very well done I hope it shows up somewhere for linkage

This one from a couple years ago? Thanks i'll have this stuck in my head all day now

 

[rodderick]

Here you go, 5:25 mark:

The throw to Cooks in double coverage at 3:10 was a bad decision, but it was an absolutely perfect pass between two defenders. Ball falls right through Cooks' arms.

 

[queenb]

The throw to Cooks in double coverage at 3:10 was a bad decision, but it was an absolutely perfect pass between two defenders. Ball falls right through Cooks' arms.

I understand the no-call there, but at 3:29 you can see Bouye holding Cooks' arm down so he can't catch it. If that's single coverage, it probably draws a flag.

 

[simplyeric]

Amendola.

Was it McDaniels in Do Your Job 2 who said they went to him on a specific play because he's their "best junk ball catcher," meaning makes great catches in traffic on less-than-perfect throws?

There's a reason they go to him in the clutch in the first place.

BB talked about him this week being a great punt fielder with guys all around.

That punt return to the JAX 30 was great.

He's their Doug Mirabelli?

 

[Super Nomario]

This is why my game ball goes to Mcdaniels.

After 2 1/2 quarters, White and Lewis had 8 catches...for 19 yards. While some of it looked like dump offs, it was clear that the patriots were trying to exploit the weaknesses that we all talked about on this board throughout the week. Use the running backs and use the tight ends, the Jags suck defending them.

Well, they made excellent tackles in the open field and snuffed out the plays for about 35 minutes. McDaniels didn't just "pull out a bag of trick plays" as some people keep suggesting. He changed the philosophy entirely. Intermediate routes reigned in the last 20 minutes or so of the game, and he did it without his best weapon to leverage on intermediate routes.

Excellent work by McDaniels to pivot in the biggest game of the year.

I think the early game plan made a lot of sense - they ran a lot of misdirection to try to use Jacksonville's speed against them - but it didn't work. I can't remember a better job of staying disciplined and tackling to limit YAC against the Patriots. Like you said, they had to change gears, which is a credit to McDaniels but also to Brady, Amendola, and Cooks. For Brady to do what he did with the YAC game shut down, no run game, and no Gronk - it might have been the best playoff performance in his career. And Cooks was one drop away from an absolute monster game. As it is, he had 100 yards, six catches - all for first downs - and another 68 yards on DPIs. He hauls in that one throw and it's at least another 40 yards and maybe he houses it. They had no answer for him.

The throw to Cooks in double coverage at 3:10 was a bad decision, but it was an absolutely perfect pass between two defenders. Ball falls right through Cooks' arms.

Not every throw that ends with two defenders roughly in the vicinity is "double coverage." Looks like Ramsey's in a deep third on the other side and comes over when the ball is in the air, but he was too shallow to make a play on it because Brady threw it over his head. A lot of deep posts look like that - there wind up being two defenders in the picture, but the throw is made because the deep middle man gets too shallow.

 

[bankshot1]

This one from a couple years ago? Thanks i'll have this stuck in my head all day now

Thanks for the link, they've updated it for yesterday's game

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

@tomecurran
Matt Patricia. On his back. On the field. In the confetti. With his kid. After his last game at Gillette.

 

[simplyeric]

The throw to Cooks in double coverage at 3:10 was a bad decision, but it was an absolutely perfect pass between two defenders. Ball falls right through Cooks' arms.

I think Brady was hoping Ramsey wouldn't be able to redirect and catch up to it.
And I agree that if it was single coverage it prob. would have been flagged.
Should have been flagged either way really, Bouye knew he was beaten and if he hadn't grabbed the arm Cooks probably catches it.

 

[Byrdbrain]

I think Brady was hoping Ramsey wouldn't be able to redirect and catch up to it.
And I agree that if it was single coverage it prob. would have been flagged.
Should have been flagged either way really, Bouye knew he was beaten and if he hadn't grabbed the arm Cooks probably catches it.

It definitely should have been flagged but it is the type of play that it is easy to understand how it was missed.
It was much more subtle than the other two DPIs that were easy to see. Plays like that go on all the time and unless the ref happens to have the correct angle they get missed more often than not.

It's that or the refs hate NE and are out to screw them.

 

[Super Nomario]

Was it McDaniels in Do Your Job 2 who said they went to him on a specific play because he's their "best junk ball catcher," meaning makes great catches in traffic on less-than-perfect throws?

IIRC it was "trash runner" (i.e., he can pick his way through congested bodies) and that was why they threw the WR screen to him for the final two point conversion.

He does have great hands though, and he is probably their best receiver late in the down. He gets compared to Welker and Edelman a lot because he's a short white slot guy but he doesn't nearly have their suddenness to beat man coverage. The longer the play extends, however, the more likely it is that Amendola is the one who gets open.

EDIT: on the trash runner thing:

— McDaniels referred to wide receiver Danny Amendola as the Patriots’ “best trash runner and catcher.” “Meaning, you’re gonna have to catch it with a lot of bodies close to you,” McDaniels said. “You’re going to have to turn your head and shoulders toward the goal line real quick and just dive through a brick wall if you have to. It’s not going to be easy, but that was why we chose Danny to do it.” That’s why Amendola was on the field and caught the ball on the Patriots’ second successful two-point conversion.

Read more at: https://nesn.com/2017/09/11-things-we-learned-about-patriots-from-watching-do-your-job-part-2/

 

[tims4wins]

Two nuggets from Football Outsiders

1)

As for Quick Reads and yesterday;s performances by DYAR, Nick Foles and Tom Brady had two of the best quarterback games of the season thanks to the adjustments for playing the strong Minnesota and Jacksonville pass defenses. Here's the list of the top 10 quarterback games this season:

• 1) Tom Brady, NE, 303 DYAR vs. NO Week 2
• 2) Philip Rivers, LACH, 294 DYAR vs. DAL Week 12
• 3) Nick Foles, PHI, 289 DYAR vs. MIN Week 20
• 4) Ben Roethlisberger, PIT, 278 DYAR vs. BAL Week 14
• 5) Ben Roethlisberger, PIT, 273 DYAR vs. JAC Week 19
• 6) Sam Bradford, MIN, 252 DYAR vs. NO Week 1
• 7) Tom Brady, NE, 247 DYAR vs. JAC Week 20
• 8) Drew Brees, NO, 220 DYAR vs. CAR Week 18
• 9) Blake Bortles, JAC, 214 DYAR vs. BAL Week 3
• 10) Drew Brees, NO, 207 DYAR vs. WAS Week 11

2)

Brady is the first player this year, regular season or playoffs, to throw for multiple touchdowns with no interceptions against the Jaguars in a single game. He is the second starter to complete at least 68 percent of his passes against Jacksonville; the first was his old backup, Jimmy Garoppolo. If there are questions about Brady's arm strength, they didn't show up on Sunday. He threw 15 deep balls against Jacksonville, completing seven of them for 160 yards, plus a pair of DPI calls for 68 more yards.

 

[Marciano490]

http://www.ajc.com/sports/watch-jaguars-leonard-fournette-comforted-patriots-ricky-jean-francois-after-loss/GHFMKAr5tadmDUdgewde3H/

Nice moment where Ricky Jean-Francois comforts Fournette after the loss.

I don't recall a game where so many players cried after a loss, and I'm not saying that to rag on the Jags; they just seem to play with a lot of emotion.

 

[DJnVa]

Saw a stat on TV that in the first 3 quarters Brady was 0-3 on throws to receivers with defenders within 1 yard. In the 4th quarter he was something like 4-6 for 70 yards.

 

[DJnVa]

http://www.ajc.com/sports/watch-jaguars-leonard-fournette-comforted-patriots-ricky-jean-francois-after-loss/GHFMKAr5tadmDUdgewde3H/

When that URL tricks you: jaguars-leonard-fournette-comforted-patriots-ricky-jean-francois-after-loss

 

[Van Everyman]

http://www.ajc.com/sports/watch-jaguars-leonard-fournette-comforted-patriots-ricky-jean-francois-after-loss/GHFMKAr5tadmDUdgewde3H/

Nice moment where Ricky Jean-Francois comforts Fournette after the loss.

I don't recall a game where so many players cried after a loss, and I'm not saying that to rag on the Jags; they just seem to play with a lot of emotion.

I was trying to figure this out when I saw it live. I had a hunch that was confirmed on Wikipedia – Jean-Francois and Fournette both went to LSU.

Cool that these guys seem to look out for one another.

 

[InstaFace]

Ported from the what-to-watch thread, referencing the Mic'd Up from the game:

Watching this makes me want to run through a damn brick wall. A few observations: McCourty is awesome. And I know he isn't popular here but Jalen Ramsey, in addition to being a very good player, strikes me as a great competitor. Again, I know that isn't a common sentiment here due to his proclivity for talking shit. Of course, that happens pretty much in every sport these days.

Myself, I like Ramsey. He seems like a leader and someone with his head screwed on straight, aside from being a great player. He was wrong on the PI, but if the shoe were on the other foot I'd want him working the refs too. Talking shit? Richard Sherman talks truckloads of shit, as does TB12. I loved KG, and he was one foul-mouthed motherfucker.

Other than Church, I didn't come out of what was a very competitive, hard-nosed AFCCG hating any of the Jags. Nearly the only thing that lands you on my shitlist is dirty plays that injure or attempt to injure. Maybe others felt differently.