JoeSixPat

As many know I've been pretty skeptical of McDaniels for quite some time, but today's game struck me as particularly "well called". Nothing flashy - just perfectly fine tuned to the personnel we had on the field.

And while I know Buffalo wasn't exactly at full strenght on D, I think you have to look at that 9 minute TD drive and really step back and appreciate some pretty good playcalling. Really, if you go over the other drives in the game, some of the FG drives stack up pretty well also.

There were definately some big throws and catches - but McDaniels definately deserves some credit for running some plays that got those guys open.

Cassel may have stepped it up a notch these last few games but I think McDaniels has as well. I suppose some might want to assert that any OC's best game was one of the blowouts - but to me, a game like this, where certain plays simply must be made at certain times and the OC, along with the rest of the team, makes the right calls at the right times count as among the best games, even if the score isn't a blowout.

Rob0729

I'm glad McDaniels is getting some well deserved recognition (imagine if Charlie Weis did what he has done this year with Matt Cassel and Ben Jarvus Green Ellis as his QB and RB how much rump swabbery would be going about Weis' genius), but McDaniels has had better games than this most notably the Jacksonville playoff game last year and the game vs. the Vikings two years ago. Those two games had gameplans that could not be improved in anyway and near perfect play calling.

McDaniels has not gotten the credit he deserves in developing Cassel over the season. It has been his gameplans and play calling that has helped the guy to develop like he has. Many OCs would have just changed the gameplans to accent the QB's strengths even if it hinders the offense and the growth of the QB (see Minnesotta with there constant rollouts of Tarvarius Jackson or Jake Plummer in Denver with the same problem). McDaniels revised the set Patriots offense to not expose Cassel early and has slowly given him more and more leeway as he got confidence. Many of the calls that he made early in the season that people hated are starting to pay off now in the season because it made Cassel a better QB.

No McDaniels is not an offensive genius, but he is a far better OC than people give him credit for. At least 2/3 of the OCs in the league would have had this offense crumble with Cassel at QB. Is there really any question why Belichick gives far more automony to McDaniels than he does to Dean Pees?

jmt57

No, Thursday will be Josh McDaniels best game.

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Deus Irae

McDaniels is an excellent young coordinator and has been putting excellent game plans together for a long time.

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"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
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PatsDeb

Boy I hope so! Then who will they show as the "hero" at the end of the game? While I thought this game plan was good, there was a third & less than a yard in the 1st half where Mickey D called a pass that fell incomplete. That was a head scratcher.

JMarr

Great post. I've done my share of questioning certain play calls, but you are absolutely right, especially regarding Cassel.

DaBruinz

A few things:
1) QB development goes to the BB and McDaniels.
2) The offensive game planse are developed by the entire offensive coaching staff. I am not sure if Cassel is in on them the way Brady was, but I think he is, if it is to just hear things he needs to be looking for.
3) McDaniels is still developing as a OC and he still has his brainfarts (see the 3rd quarter series with 3 straight running plays).
4) I've questioned McDaniels, but never been a full fledged hater like some people on here.
5) The only thing that I think the Pats need to do is to start giving Cassel some audible capability. Like, when he sees more than 7 in the box on a play where the Pats have called an inside run. Either change where the run is going or audible to a pass.

Joker

for anyone who wants to bash McDaniels....just look at the Eagles game tonight at the end...it could be FAR FAR worse

Rob0729

1.) McDaniels deserves a lionshare of credit since he is the OC and QB coach, but you are right that Belichick played an important role
2.) The OC gets the credit and blame. When people touted Charlie Weis as an offensive genius, there were plenty of assistants who helped him look good.
3.) McDaniels is clearly not a complete product yet, but he is in his third year as an official head coach. There are far more seasoned OCs that he is far, far better than. As for brain farts, did you watch the end of the Philly/NYG game tonight? Most OCs and Head Coaches have them. McDaniels will probably get better.
4.) McDaniels deserves questioning at time. I have questioned him. I have questioned Charlie Weis. I have questioned Belichick. No one is perfect especially younger coaches who don't have the valuable experience in certain situations.
5.) I think it will come in time. The Pats looked to have focused on him working on going through his progressions and having a better command of the pocket. Now that he seems to be well on his way in those areas, they will probably give him more knowledge. I am guessing they do not want to overload Cassel by giving him too much at once. I could be wrong.

Rob0729

I thought the same thing. I watch games every week with teams with some of the worst offensive play calling I've seen and wonder if many of the people who bash McDaniels actually watch other games and the attrocious play calling.