McDaniels' Achilles Heel - New England Patriots Forums

***maverick4*** · 10-11-2009, 09:33 AM

Josh McDaniels is probably the best ex-coordinator to leave the Belichick tree. He is clearly smart, knowledgeable, has great game plans, and assembled a record scoring offense. He will in all likelihood have the best HC career of any ex-Pats coaches.

However, his biggest achilles heel is similar to why the Pats beat Mike Martz in 2001: stubborn insistence on execution, in the face of obstacles. This is why we lost in 2007 to an inferior Giants team, and why we never won the big one with McKid at the controls:

McDaniels may be star branch of Belichick tree - AFC West - ESPN

Quote:

“It is going to come down to whoever tackles better, who blocks better, who throws better, who catches better,” McDaniels said. “It is not going to be a big game of tricks and gimmicks, I don’t think. I think they are going to know plenty of what we are doing, if not all, and we are probably going to know a lot about what they are doing. It is going to come down to whose players play the best and who can make the plays and avoid the big mistakes in the game, like most games come down to. I don’t think this game is going to be about deception. I think it is going to be about us trying to play good football, and they are going to do the same thing. Whoever plays better on Sunday will win the game.”

Satchboogie3 · 10-11-2009, 09:40 AM

I still don't get the point of saying "Who ever plays better on Sunday will win"? What a great nugget of insight, the team that wins will have played better, thus, who ever plays better... will win! Genius.

JoeSixPat · 10-11-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverick4

Josh McDaniels is probably the best ex-coordinator to leave the Belichick tree. He is clearly smart, knowledgeable, has great game plans, and assembled a record scoring offense. He will in all likelihood have the best HC career of any ex-Pats coaches.

However, his biggest achilles heel is similar to why the Pats beat Mike Martz in 2001: stubborn insistence on execution, in the face of obstacles. This is why we lost in 2007 to an inferior Giants team, and why we never won the big one with McKid at the controls:

McDaniels may be star branch of Belichick tree - AFC West - ESPN

I don't necessarilly disagree with you but that's not what I glean from McDaniels comments.

He's simply sending a message to his team to focus on their jobs and execute. The Patriots themselves lose when they do that, as they almost did against the Bills and did against the Jets.

Its good advice and prompts the team to worry less about their opponent and more about themselves and their roles.

***DarrylS*** · 10-11-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satchboogie3

I still don't get the point of saying "Who ever plays better on Sunday will win"? What a great nugget of insight, the team that wins will have played better, thus, who ever plays better... will win! Genius.

It is akin to whoever wants it more

***maverick4*** · 10-11-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarrylS

It is akin to whoever wants it more

Belichick says cliche stuff like this too, however he says a ton of other bland stuff in his press conferences that he doesn't necessarily believe. McDaniels sounds like he really does believe in winning by out-executing, no gimmicks as he says, or deception, just out-play the other team even if they know what you're doing.

***Rob0729*** · 10-11-2009, 10:28 AM

The funny thing is if you posted McDaniels' comment and attributed it to Belichick, no one would have questioned it. In fact, I think Belichick could sue McDaniels for plagiarism for the quote. I don't see anything wrong with the quote, but I guess it is because I have been reading and hearing Belichick saying much of the same thing for nearly a decade.

***Rob0729*** · 10-11-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverick4

Belichick says cliche stuff like this too, however he says a ton of other bland stuff in his press conferences that he doesn't necessarily believe. McDaniels sounds like he really does believe in winning by out-executing, no gimmicks as he says, or deception, just out-play the other team even if they know what you're doing.

You mean you don't have to out exceute to win?!? Nothing like making your own opinion about what McDaniels was thinking based on your own bias against him. I seriously doubt McDaniels is going to put vanilla offenses and defenses out there. Besides, gimmicks are gimmicks. Rarely do gimmicks win games. Gimmicks are overrated and the Dolphins are proof this year that gimmicks only work so much. In fact, deception is a bit overrated.

***KontradictioN*** · 10-11-2009, 10:33 AM

McDaniels isn't going to come out of the gate and throw it 40 times with Kyle Orton as his QB. He's going to balance the playcalling. If you've seen a Denver game this season, you'd know that. Other than stating the obvious, I'm not sure where discussion is going to come from in this thread.

unoriginal · 10-11-2009, 10:43 AM

I would hope a coach would focus on execution in the face of obstacles.

***MoLewisrocks*** · 10-11-2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unoriginal

I would hope a coach would focus on execution in the face of obstacles.

Not when the only obstacle some here ever consider is playcalling... They'd have executed perfectly against any defense if he called the right play, when he calls the wrong play execution doesn't matter...it's his fault.