Though the coaches need to correct the issues going forward, the players must execute - New England Patriots Forums

***Born_a_Patriot*** · 09-24-2010, 12:46 PM

Though the coaches need to correct the issues going foward, the players mus excecute the game plan. Wilfork on D&H: 'We can't hit a panic button'

Quote:

Wilfork said the Patriots coaches prepared the team for what the Jets did, but the players did not step up in the second half. "We had some opportunities out there to make the plays, and we just didn't make the plays," he said. "It wasn't anything they were doing that we didn't expect they were going to do. We didn't make the plays when we needed to. When we needed plays, it was like we were searching for someone else to make it instead of taking upon ourself and going out there and getting it. That's what it is. We've got to get better. We've got to be tuned in. We've got to be aggressive. First half we played aggressive, we were out there popping around."

borg · 09-24-2010, 12:56 PM

I am hoping Butler grew 6 inches this week

stinebot · 09-24-2010, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_Bleed_Blue

Wilfork's comments are completely opposite what the Jets players said about the Patriots in the second half. They said the Pats coaches did not counter adjust.

Wilfork, IMO, would not say anything negative about his own coaches. That's the golden Belichick rule, cause if you do, you're gone.

It is true that players must execute the game plan, but if the game plan is the wrong one, then execution will not work. That's common sense, and common logic.

There is absolutely no logical reason for the execution to look as good as it did in the first half, and then look pitiful in the second half, if the Jets did not adjust. But, THEY DID, WE DIDN"T and we saw the result.

Common sense.

Wilfork is being a nice guy.

I think what Wilfork is saying could be true. You can't take what the Jets players said as the gospel truth (and not just because they are Jets players).

Say you and I are boxing and the first five rounds I always punch you in the body. Then before round six your corner man tells you "This guy is gonna switch it up, watch for head shots", but you ignore defending the head and continue looking for body shots as I punch you in the face. It will sure as heck look to me as if you made no adjustments when in fact you were instructed to defend the head shot and either couldn't or just didn't execute properly. That is not the fault of your corner man.

I know that's oversimplified, but why couldn't it be true?

stinebot · 09-24-2010, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_Bleed_Blue

I can see no reason for the players not being able to execute if they were told to switch,. by the coaches. At least, not to the degree that they totally failed in the second half.

These guys are all experienced football players, albeit some have more experience than others, but for them to look as bad as they have been in second halves for some time now, common logic tells us it is far more than an execution problem.

Am I right? I don't know, but it is common sense based on all the facts over the past season plus two games.

I agree, but what is the alternative really? Does anyone think BB puts together a game plan for the D in which he plans on doing a few things over and over regardless of what the other team does? Is he so conceited and out of touch that he says "No, my game plan is working perfectly. Change nothing"?

If that is the case, look forward to going back to the glory days of 4-12 or worse.

Sicilian · 09-24-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_Bleed_Blue

I can see no reason for the players not being able to execute if they were told to switch,. by the coaches. At least, not to the degree that they totally failed in the second half.

These guys are all experienced football players, albeit some have more experience than others, but for them to look as bad as they have been in second halves for some time now, common logic tells us it is far more than an execution problem.

Am I right? I don't know, but it is common sense based on all the facts over the past season plus two games.

I'd say it's split about 50/50 between what I would called experienced and non-experienced players on defense:

Experienced:
Wilfork
Warren
Wright
TBC
Meriweather
Sanders

Inexperienced:
Brace
Pryor
Love
Mayo
Spikes
Guyton
Cunningham
Ninkovich
McCourty
Butler
Wilhite
Chung

Wilhite, Mayo, and Guyton are debatable.

***Born_a_Patriot*** · 09-24-2010, 02:21 PM

I just can't fathom Bill not making adjustments. What would the reasoning be behind it. Do you think he is going senile?

Sicilian · 09-24-2010, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born_a_Patriot

I just can't fathom Bill not making adjustments. What would the reasoning be behind it. Do you think he is going senile?

I agree. The way I see it, in game adjustments are never really as on the fly as we perceive. More likely, we go into a game with a master game plan, and a few contingency plans for various aspects of the game. For example, our main defensive strategy may be to play a soft zone on early downs, then blitz heavy on 3rd down. If that doesn't work, we're going to switch to our more aggressive early down plan, but it's still a plan that's been worked on in practice, not something that's made up mid game.

The advantage of experienced, veteran players is you can have more of these contingency plans in place. Players that have developed good instincts for the game and know the system are able to retain more options and change to them on the fly easier. With our defense (and offense to some extent), being so young in a lot of areas, it limits how many options we can load up going into a game, as well as reduces the chances that those backup plans will be as effective.

The coaching is not excused, as they need to develop better initial plans, as well as more effective contingencies, but the players at their disposal limit how creative they can be. And, as always, players gotta play.

TheComeback · 09-24-2010, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_Bleed_Blue

I can see no reason for the players not being able to execute if they were told to switch,. by the coaches. At least, not to the degree that they totally failed in the second half.

These guys are all experienced football players, albeit some have more experience than others, but for them to look as bad as they have been in second halves for some time now, common logic tells us it is far more than an execution problem.

Am I right? I don't know, but it is common sense based on all the facts over the past season plus two games.

No, you're sounding like someone who's never played a sport in their life. Can't tell you how many teams I've been on where the coach says to do one thing and the players simply don't listen to them until it's been drilled in over and over again. A lot of these guys are 20-24 years old, not exactly grown men yet.

***KontradictioN*** · 09-24-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_Bleed_Blue

I can see no reason for the players not being able to execute if they were told to switch,. by the coaches. At least, not to the degree that they totally failed in the second half.

These guys are all experienced football players, albeit some have more experience than others, but for them to look as bad as they have been in second halves for some time now, common logic tells us it is far more than an execution problem.

Am I right? I don't know, but it is common sense based on all the facts over the past season plus two games.

The adjustments were made. The adjustments that were made have been pointed out by members of this forum as well as Wilfork, Brady, and Belichick. Face it, maverick4, your constant rehashing of lack of adjustments is just wrong. It's been proven wrong time and time again both on this forum and through comments in the media. Now, unless you think that Belichick wouldn't say anything less than positive about his coaching staff because of a lack of testicular fortitude, then you should pretty much be able to see that the adjustments were there while execution was not.

Your points have been pounded into the ground time and time again, mav. It's time to let it go.

***KontradictioN*** · 09-24-2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_Bleed_Blue

Not just by me, but by many others in this forum, too. In fact, it wasnt even me that initiated the threads regarding the adjustment angle. Also, perhaps you should ask Goldman to let it go, too. He just wrote a good article on the coaches on the front page. Good stuff, too.

The last line in his article told it all, though.

If Bill Belichick trusts them with his offense and defense that is good enough for me, and I think as the season goes on we’ll see more improvement from both sides of the ball.

How do you interpret the part I highlighted in bold type?

I'm not ruling out the fact that the coaching needs to improve. But it wasn't the coaching the cost the team the game this past weekend. The coaching didn't even have a big hand in costing the team the game this weekend, either. However, when the head coach, the quarterback, and the leader on the defense cite execution specifically, that should tell you, Goldman, and the rest of the forum on "SCHEME!!!1" kick something. I guess not, though.