spacecrime

from Reiss's Pieces:

Coach Wade Phillips
(opening statement)
"Well, they are that good. We worried about that passing attack. We tried to stop them running the ball. Certainly they were able to throw it. We just didn't quite make the plays on defense.

?????? Their game plan was to take away the run and make the Pats beat them through the air?

I'm not a head coach, and I didn't even stay in a Holdiay Inn Express last night, but focusing on taking Sammy Morris out of the picture and making Brady-Moss-Stallworth-Welker try to beat you through the air is not my idea of a brilliant game plan!

Metaphors

Just posted this on another thread, but it really belongs here. Couldn't agree with you more:

What this points out is that the 'pokes threw out an amazingly boneheaded gameplan. Coming into the game, it was painfully obvious that the Pats will score in the mid to high 30's if given a normal amount of possessions. While Dallas can score in bunches, they couldn't have possibly "planned" to score 40+ points to win. So the only way to win was to limit the amount of touches that Brady and the offense have. Easier said than done, but you at least have to try.

The 'boys have the means to implement a ball-control, clock-eating offense. Two good backs, big offensive line, mobile QB, excellent TEs and a top-notch possession receiver. Instead, they almost immediately abandoned the run (until the 3rd quarter TD drive) and didn't pass to the backs either. Jones and Barber combined had 17 touches. 17!!!!!! That is insane. I would have made sure they had more than that before halftime. Add in Fasano and Whitten and you have 21 touches for the players who could have won the game for you.

Before you crap on the Dallas players for a sub-par effort (some of which is deserved), look to the coaches first. Planning for a shoot-out with this Patriots team? Basing your entire defense on a variety of blitz packages? Note to Wade...pass rushers get worn out after running into 300 lb. linemen after about 55 plays!!!! Are you kidding me? Stupid, Stupid, Stupid! So Patriot Nation...in your prayers tonight, thank whatever deity you believe in (and a couple you don't) for the coaching staff on the Pats' sidelines.

khayos

I imagine Wade Phillips only gets one year down there. I hate watching his "oh yay"/"on no"/"what just happened I don't know football" expressions on the sideline.

Metaphors

Isn't it amazing how much teams seem to become a reflection of their coaches temperment? Maybe it is obvious to others, but I'm still surprised by how visible the effects are. The examples are endless...so I will spare you an attempt at listing them.

A good amount of the Dallas team wears their emotions on their sleeves...which is fine when things are going well, but leads to inconsistency over the long haul. Romo can fluctuate between orgasm and self-loathing in the same half. Their DBs go from high-fives to finger-pointing in seconds flat. I don't even need to get into TO (his face during the Pats last drive tell you all you need to know about banning weapons from the sidelines).

Given this, it is amazing how Wade, Herm and Norv can keep getting head coaching gigs. Sure they have some success, but their teams suck up their personality shortcomings like an industrial shop-vac.