Josh McDaniels best game ever as OC?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I think yesterday's game may have been the absolute best offensive game plan called by Josh in the 3 years he has been here.

He used a raw QB to the best of Matt's ability in his first game as starter

Josh called excellent screens when it was 3rd and long and ran lots of ground plays where he saw the Jets DL getting tired in the late 3rd.

He let the kid throw those under the coverage passes which were relatively a safe play and sideline passes that were safe from INTs

He did not try and have the kid force one down the middle to Welker in the slot instead Welker caught a few nice screens for good yardage.

This type of game plan needs to continue until Cassel feels he can try the long bomb once he is more comfortable in the system.

Josh deserves credit when most of the time he gets the raw end in games that were not near perfect,this one was even if the offense did not put up big points - With the overpowering defense,Its all they needed

 

[richpats]

He called a running play on 3rd-and-2, that is a sign of progress

 

[maverick4]

Josh called a good game, and I am a huge McDaniels critic and think he sucks generally and gets bailed out by Brady.

It's WAY TOO EARLY to make judgements on this though, let's see how the offense performs for an entire season first.

 

[JoePats]

It was good but I wished they opened it up a little more in the red zone.

 

[mgteich]

But he called in Maroney to run instead of Jordan, or are talking about differnt plays.

He called a running play on 3rd-and-2, that is a sign of progress

 

[mgteich]

I agree that Josh called a great game, perhaps his best ever.

I think yesterday's game may have been the absolute best offensive game plan called by Josh in the 3 years he has been here.

He used a raw QB to the best of Matt's ability in his first game as starter

Josh called excellent screens when it was 3rd and long and ran lots of ground plays where he saw the Jets DL getting tired in the late 3rd.

He let the kid throw those under the coverage passes which were relatively a safe play and sideline passes that were safe from INTs

He did not try and have the kid force one down the middle to Welker in the slot instead Welker caught a few nice screens for good yardage.

This type of game plan needs to continue until Cassel feels he can try the long bomb once he is more comfortable in the system.

Josh deserves credit when most of the time he gets the raw end in games that were not near perfect,this one was even if the offense did not put up big points - With the overpowering defense,Its all they needed

 

[maverick4]

I agree that Josh called a great game, perhaps his best ever.

This game was nearly identical to Tom Brady's first NFL start in terms of stats and also plays.

So are some of you saying this game was Josh McDaniels best game ever called, which merely matches what Charlie Weiss did 7 years ago?

 

[JoeSixPat]

This is McDaniels' time to shine as much as Cassell's - and the rest of the team is clearly taking pride in coming together as well.

Ironically, in some ways McDaniels job is simpler now - he's not going to have Cassell try to do too much - and that means that the OL and the rest of the offense simply have to execute.

But if this team continues to find a way to win I don't think there will be any doubt that McDaniels deserves a great deal of the credit.

 

[BlitzFritz]

a bit too much hyperbole for my taste.
also, how much does BB insert himself into the play calling

lastly, i was screaming at the TV when they called "Maroney up the middle from the 3 yd line" gimme a break, terrible call. LoMO has broken 3 tackles in his whole life.

this was a classic BB gameplan and set of plays IMHO
i think josh is fine

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

If the team makes the playoffs and even wins a game or two in the playoffs I think both Cassel and McDaniels will be gone to another team,One as a QB on another roster and one as a HC

It all depends on the records of the team and how far they can go and If they make the playoffs

 

[Rob0729]

I have always been a big McDaniels fan. He isn't perfect, but he gets far too much blame when the offense doesn't perform and none of the credit when they do. I still cannot grasp the argument that when the offense clicks it is anyone could call the plays with the talent on the offense and when the offense faulters it is because of McDaniels. How does that work if the offense is usually spectacular with Brady at the helm despite McDaniels. If Brady overcomes McDaniels' supposive "ineptitude" most of the year, why is it McDaniels fault if Brady can't over come that "ineptitude" in a big game? Doesn't the blame lie with Brady in that scenario?

Enough of the rant.

I thought McDaniels called a brilliant game for Cassel yesterday, but I would not put it on a list of his top games. He had two far better ones in the playoffs last season against the Jags and the Chargers. McDaniels does what he usually does, put the offense in the best opportunity to win the game and not lose it. It is easier for him to do with Brady at the helm, but this is what he does.

 

[hambone1818]

I agree to a point, but I think one thing should have changed: more looks to Randy Moss. I know he's the deep threat and that portion of the playbook was pretty much eliminated for yesterday's game. However, a few 15 yard outs or something would have been nice, because I think keeping Moss integrated in this offense is as important as getting Cassel comfortable running the show. I fully expect them to open up more as the season progresses and Cassel shows he can handle it, but I'm worried that Moss might grow weary of getting 3 looks a game (which, if I'm not mistaken, is what he had yesterday).

It very well may be a non-issue and Moss is a complete team player now that he's with the Pats, but it can't be discounted that he's had problems in the past in this regard, and I could see it start to become an issue here if he doesn't get many looks. I'm not even talking about vertical bombs, give him a few crossing routes, a few outs, whatever, just get him involved...it also doesn't hurt that he's one of the best receivers in the game, the more he's involved the better.

 

[Rob0729]

If the team makes the playoffs and even wins a game or two in the playoffs I think both Cassel and McDaniels will be gone to another team,One as a QB on another roster and one as a HC

It all depends on the records of the team and how far they can go and If they make the playoffs

I think Cassel will be gone, but don't bet on McDaniels leaving. He didn't want to even interview last year when he was a hot HC candidate. I think he leaves if the right situation opens up, but I don't think he will do what Mangini did and jump at the first job offered to him. I think McDaniels knows that being the OC for the Pats is a better gig than being HC of a team like the Raiders.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Did anyone ever get the feeling yesterday that when McDaniels put his arm around Cassel on the sidelines giving him some plays on a few occasions it almost looked a like a big brother type of teaching where as when it came to Brady it looked kind of more business like between Josh and Tom as we all know Brady could direct an offense by himself without help from any OC

 

[EnglishPatriot]

Josh McDaniels best ever game plan came against the Jags two years back, during the regular season. I remember barely nothing from that game, save the rubbish showing in Miami the week before and one nice game plan.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

a bit too much hyperbole for my taste.
also, how much does BB insert himself into the play calling...

this was a classic BB gameplan and set of plays IMHO
i think josh is fine

I think the game planning was mostly BB, but the play calling was all Josh.

To use the Bill Parcells analogy, Bill unpacked all of the groceries in the kitchen and gave an outline of the menu, but Josh added a little dab of this and a little dab of that, got everything out of the oven at the right times, and pulled it off nicely, I think.

 

[jeffbiologist]

I agree to a point, but I think one thing should have changed: more looks to Randy Moss. I know he's the deep threat and that portion of the playbook was pretty much eliminated for yesterday's game. However, a few 15 yard outs or something would have been nice, because I think keeping Moss integrated in this offense is as important as getting Cassel comfortable running the show. I fully expect them to open up more as the season progresses and Cassel shows he can handle it, but I'm worried that Moss might grow weary of getting 3 looks a game (which, if I'm not mistaken, is what he had yesterday).

It very well may be a non-issue and Moss is a complete team player now that he's with the Pats, but it can't be discounted that he's had problems in the past in this regard, and I could see it start to become an issue here if he doesn't get many looks. I'm not even talking about vertical bombs, give him a few crossing routes, a few outs, whatever, just get him involved...it also doesn't hurt that he's one of the best receivers in the game, the more he's involved the better.

I gotta agree with this and add...with 5 trips to the red zone we didnt try a single corner fade/backshoulder pass. This makes the height advantage nearly impossible to defend. It is a touch pass, it makes me think that Cassel cant make that yet....

 

[Rob0729]

I think the game planning was mostly BB, but the play calling was all Josh.

To use the Bill Parcells analogy, Bill unpacked all of the groceries in the kitchen and gave an outline of the menu, but Josh added a little dab of this and a little dab of that, got everything out of the oven at the right times, and pulled it off nicely, I think.

Come on! The gameplan was mostly McDaniels and his coaching staff. Belichick is said specifically over the years that his biggest mistake in Cleveland was that he was too involved in everything and now he delegates things like gameplans to his coordinators and his staffs. You look to the sidelines during the game, you will see Belichick working with the defensive players but rarely concerning himself with the offense.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

I would say the playcalling was good, but not great.

I thought it was too conservative to be great or "best ever".

I know he is trying to "protect" Cassell and let him ease into things, but at some point, he has to let the bird fly from the nest. It may cost us a game or two, but we won't win in the playoffs if Cassell's training wheels aren't taken off by then. Although part of this may be that Matt is just looking to dump off too often (or too soon) rather than see what's down the field. One piece of evidence to that is the play where he looks disgusted with himself on a short dump off because he apparently saw another receiver open deeper right after he threw short.

I will give him credit for recognizing that the Jets were overpursuing in the early 2nd half (with success) and then throwing in a bunch of plays that used that against the Jets, resulting in some nice gains and, in general, pulling back the reigns on the all out attack to get to Cassell.

Early in the game, too many trips to the redzone and too few TDs for my liking. Part of that may have been execution, but I didn't see any greatly designed plays in those situations.

I think Lamont Jordon (and the Oline) made the play calling easy near the end of the game by running with authority against a Jets defense that KNEW it was coming but was powerless to stop it.

 

[DaBruinz]

I think yesterday's game may have been the absolute best offensive game plan called by Josh in the 3 years he has been here.

He used a raw QB to the best of Matt's ability in his first game as starter

Josh called excellent screens when it was 3rd and long and ran lots of ground plays where he saw the Jets DL getting tired in the late 3rd.

He let the kid throw those under the coverage passes which were relatively a safe play and sideline passes that were safe from INTs

He did not try and have the kid force one down the middle to Welker in the slot instead Welker caught a few nice screens for good yardage.

This type of game plan needs to continue until Cassel feels he can try the long bomb once he is more comfortable in the system.

Josh deserves credit when most of the time he gets the raw end in games that were not near perfect,this one was even if the offense did not put up big points - With the overpowering defense,Its all they needed

I would definitely not put this in the "best game ever for McDaniels" category.

1) Where were the sceens in the 2nd half?
2) We didn't see any screens to Maroney
3) After 2 straight sacks on drop backs, McDaniels doesn't call a screen to trap the Jets and make them pay?
4) No runs by Maroney to the left side.

Don't get me wrong, the game plan was sound and McDaniels did some good things, but he missed out on others.