2009 Buffalo @ NE, Game 1 Breakdown

[Box_O_Rocks]

Opening KO: Maroney takes the ball at -1 yd deep.
-- The Wedge was Wendell and Baker
-- Faulk was the other KR who took up-man/lead blocker in Slater's place.
-- Buffalo let their outside contain man get too far inside where Aiken was blocking him leaving a nice big juicy opening around the left side of the field for Maroney. LoMo just blasted off at an angle and scooted across midfield while punishing the PK.

1st and 10 Buf 49: 3-wide, 2 R, TE up 2x2 on L
-- Buf 4-2 Nickel.
-- Pass off play action, Buffalo not biting on the fake.
-- Five step drop, Brady threw a dump-off at 3.5 Mississippi and was hit from behind by RDE Spencer Johnson after the release.
-- Taylor chipped Chris Kelsy, but Kaczur already had him stoned.
-- Neal and Koppen doubled the more explosive Kyle Williams, leaving Mankins to handle big John Stroud.
-- Baker had trouble releasing through the LOS and actually bumped Moss as he was drifting down the LOS from L slot (I don't think that affected the timing much).
-- Moss dropped the dump-off pass, incomplete - Posluszney was on top of him, but Moss had the wheels to beat him, FS Brian Scott was about 12 yds deep trying to shadow Moss. There was a crisscross/rub under the LBs.

2nd and 10: Moss R, 2 TE L, I form.
-- Buf 4-3, S/RCB 2x2 outside the OLBs
-- Watson motions to 1x1 RT, CB trailing.
-- Outside zone R, Buf stretched it out but got no penetration, Posluszney dragged down Taylor as he crossed the LOS. 3 yds.

3rd and 8: 3-wide L, TE R, shotgun.
-- 4-2 Nickel, Man.
-- Moss motion L-R, Buf fakes a slot CB blitz, Brady shifts Faulk to L
-- Brady threw on 3 Mississippi to Faulk underneath (Posluszney) 3 in. shy of the first down.

4th and 1: I form (Morris FB), Maroney, 3 TE 2-R, Light-L, Vollmer LT
-- Buf 4-3, 10 men in the box.
-- Monkeys and footballs, sheesh.
-- SS beat Light to outside, instead of leaving him to FB, he chased and didn't seal the edge.
-- RDE Schobel beat Vollmer outside, if Light had doubled him he'd have sealed the edge, Morris would have kicked out Whitner, and Maroney would have beaten the interior pursuit for the 1st. First game brainfart for Light, Vollmer met NFL speed/power, Maroney met white jerseys. Over on downs.

13:33 1st Qtr
1st and 10 Buf 40: Buf 2-wide, 2 TE L
-- NE 3-4, CBs soft
-- 3-step drop, Thomas read it and jumped into the throwing lane to bat down the ball.
-- Warren drove the RG into Edwards and while being tackled by the G (after the ball was dead) grabbed a piece of Edwards jersey to pull him down with them.
-- Starters: Warren - Wilfork - Green; Thomas - Mayo - Guyton - Banta-Cain; Wilhite - Bodden; Sanders - Meriweather.

2nd and 10: Buf 2-wide, 2 TE L
-- NE 6-1 (OLB up, but on the LOS outside the DL), CBs soft. TBC - Warren - Wilfork - Green; Thomas - Mayo - Guyton; DBs same.
-- Buf audibles; run L, Guyton doubled, but he held up the TEs, Meriweather shot the gap and was taken inside by the WR to spring the RB, Bodden came up and made the tackle. 3 yds
-- It was an outside zone, but Guyton occupying both TEs kept things tight so the RB had to take it outside with no creases developing inside (closed by Green & Wilfork).

3rd and 7: Buf 3-wide, 2 R, TE L shotgun
-- NE 4-2 Nickel, Mayo and Thomas showing blitz, press-Man, Cover-2. Burgess/TBC DE, Warren/Wilfork DT, Springs NB moves Wilhite inside.
-- 4-man rush, Thomas man on TE, Mayo man on RB
-- Reed (slot) had the first down trailed by Wilhite with Meriweather over top supplying a big hit. Reed did not like the hit stick, but he held on.
-- Penalty, illegal formation Buf -5 yds.

3rd and 12: Buf 3-wide, 2 L, TE R, shotgun
-- NE 4-2 Nickel, press-Man, Cover-2. Same players.
-- 3-man rush (Burgess forced Edwards to step up).
-- TBC trailed RB coming underneath, dropped pass prevented 1st down, incomplete.
-- Adalius and Mayo dropped about 15 yds deep undercutting Buffalo receivers, only the dump-off was open.

4th and 12: Punt. 55 yds.
-- Welker from the NE 7, downed at the 17 10 yds.
-- Bodden as solo blocker and Springs/Chung double-team kept the Buffalo Gunners away from the action, the second wave made the tackle.

12:14 1st Qtr.
1st and 10 NE 17: 3-wide, 2 R, TE L, shotgun
-- 4-2 Nickel, press-man on Moss.
-- Outside zone R, Maroney took the cutback lane as Kyle Williams beat Mankins outside, Light sealed Mitchell inside, and Baker sealed Schobel backside.
-- Maroney with a nice stiff arm on FS Brian Scott, Moss' man came off the block to make the tackle as LoMo crossed the line to gain. 11 yds.
-- Jaws called it a draw, but it looked like outside zone blocking on a shotgun handoff.

1st and 10: NE 2-wide, shotgun, TE R, 2 RB-T form
-- Buf 4-2 Nickel, CBs soft.
-- Morris motioned wide R for 3-wide, 2 R
-- Another crisscross/rub underneath using Watson and Maroney, the Buf LBs sat on it and Maroney only got 2 yds as he was quickly wrapped up by Posluszney.

2nd and 8: False start - Koppen, I'm not even sure the formation was set? - 5yds.

2nd and 13: NE 4-wide, shotgun - Maroney motions wide R for 5-wide.
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel, man-free
-- Yet another crisscross/rub underneath this time using Baker and Welker. Welker just dropped it. Nice job by the OL picking up the DL stunt on the L-side.

3rd and 13: NE 3-wide, 2 R, TE R
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel, DBs soft.
-- Baker stayed in to block and handled Maybin at LDE all by himself with Kaczur shadowing. Light rode Schobel past Brady.
-- Brady threw on 3.5 Mississippi off a play action fake and 7-step drop to Moss on a comeback to the left sideline. 20 yds.

1st and 10 NE 45: NE 2-wide R, 2 TE L, shotgun, Maroney motions L for 3-wide.
-- Buf: 4-3, CBs soft.
-- Brady overthrew Maroney.
-- Penalty - defensive holding against the TE, +5 yds, automatic 1st down.

1st and 10 midfield: NE Moss L, 3-TE R, Vollmer to LT, Light TE
-- Buf: 6-1, 9 in the box.
-- Man blocking, Maroney started right and cutback to a wide lane left for 8 yds.

2nd and 2 Buf 42: NE 3-wide, 2 R, 2 RB-T form, Maroney motions to L slot.
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel, FS in the box, Posluszney showing blitz, press-Man-Free.
-- Buf blitzed the NB from the R slot and ran a twist stunt with the LDE/LDT which Neal failed to pick up.
-- Light got Schobel's hands down with a cut block, but Brady went R trying to touch pass the ball over the leaping NB and just off Faulk's finger tips. Incomplete.

3rd and 2: NE 2-wide, Moss R, Welker Slot-L, 2 TE L, Watson started motion inside just before the snap.
-- Buf: 4-3 over, 3-Safety, SS in the box, CB soft over Moss.
-- Buf slanted in on the weak side trying to penetrate and pull down Maroney from behind. Kaczur chipped the DE and left him for Neal who took him where he wanted to go. Kac went out and clobbered the SS. Koppen and Mankins Combo-ed the NT, Mankins released and blocked the MLB. Light blocked the 3-tech, Baker stood up the RDE. Welker went upfield and blocked the FS. Watson came across the formation and kicked out the WLB, and Maroney followed Kaczur into the secondary off Neal and Watson's blocks. The only people not blocking were Brady and Moss - and Moss just didn't get inside the LCB to be able to screen him. Be-a-yutiful blocking. 10 yds.

1st and 10 Buf 32: Damned camera angle! :enranged: NE Bunched trio R 2 TE-Moss, there must have been a WR L.
-- Buf: Looks like a 3-3 Nickel (LDE is standing up like a LB over the bunch).
-- Neal was a maniac! Plus great blocks by Watson, Baker, and Moss. Watson and Moss Combo-ed the LDE, then Watson released to block the SS. Baker "whammed" inside to pancake the RLB. Neal pushed the LDT out for Kaczur, released, then pancaked the LLB, then headed upfield and decked the FS.
-- The bad part was Taylor bounced off Neal's back before he headed out for the FS and that redirected him into the LDT fighting to get off Kac's block. If he'd been a step more patient he'd have followed Neal out to pay dirt. 5 yds.

2nd and 5 Buf 27: NE 4-wide, 3 R, shotgun.
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel, press-man on Moss.
-- Welker motions to a bunch duo L for a WR screen. Well read by NB Reggie Corner who wrapped him up in the backfield and held him to a 1 yd gain.

3rd and 4: NE bunch trio R, TE L, shotgun.
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel
-- Draw to Faulk. It looks like RDT Kyle Williams may have held Mankins up when he tried to release of the combo block, Mankins was falling as if he had been pulling and was "let go" so he didn't get a clean hit on the RLB and the LLB joined them to form a big plug in Faulk's hole. 2 yds.

4th and 2 Buf 24: FG 41 yds, missed wide right.

 

[Patspsycho]

wooo hoo! Bring it on!

 

[bucky]

Opening KO: Maroney takes the ball at -1 yd deep.
4th and 1: I form (Morris FB), Maroney, 3 TE 2-R, Light-L, Vollmer LT
-- Buf 4-3, 10 men in the box.
-- Monkeys and footballs, sheesh.
-- SS beat Light to outside, instead of leaving him to FB, he chased and didn't seal the edge.
-- RDE Schobel beat Vollmer outside, if Light had doubled him he'd have sealed the edge, Morris would have kicked out Whitner, and Maroney would have beaten the interior pursuit for the 1st. First game brainfart for Light, Vollmer met NFL speed/power, Maroney met white jerseys. Over on downs.

Looked to me like Buffalo stunted their whole line to their right (offense's left), thus creating the problem you described. That's really not surprising considering the Pats like to run left in short yardage. Maroney probably could have picked up the 1st if he had cut back, but can't really blame him as he's just trying to get to the designated hole and pick up a foot. Buffalo's D made a lot of good plays last night. And the Pats O stunk up a bunch as well.

 

[Patspsycho]

question on the 1st and 10 is why audible call for run play when buff had 9 in the box? Why didn't they try for a bootleg, for instance?

 

[cubedoggy]

Great stuff, as always, Box. I don't know what you did before you decided to stop drawing a paycheck and focus your analytical skills on the Pats for our benefit, but I'd've loved to work w/ you.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Great stuff, as always, Box. I don't know what you did before you decided to stop drawing a paycheck and focus your analytical skills on the Pats for our benefit, but I'd've loved to work w/ you.

Well, w/me, if I'd worked for you you'd have needed to be some kind of crazy medically retired State Patrol officer who thrived on stress and excitement and just wanted his guys to produce to "make me look good."

6:15 1st Qtr
1st and 10 Buf 32: Buf 2-wide, 2 TE L
-- NE: 3-4, CBs soft. Switched to a 4-3 over before the snap with TBC putting his knuckle down and the three DL shifting right. Warren - Wilfork - Green; TBC - Mayo - Guyton - Woods; Wilhite/Bodden; Sanders/Meriweather.
-- Warren blasted up the middle forcing Edwards to rollout right to escape. He was unable to find a receiver open and beat TBC around the corner for a first down before Wilhite stopped him.
-- I'm not sure if the TE shouldn't have been called for a block in the back against Mayo since they were outside the tackle box and upfield 8 yds? He pushed Mayo past Edwards who cut behind him to get the first. 16 yds.

1st and 10 Buf 48: 2-wide, 2 TE L
-- NE: 4-3 under, CBs soft. Thomas is in at WLB, I don't know if Guyton or Woods is at SLB.
-- Buf audibles, resets, and Vince jumps - penalty, encroachment. 5 yds.

1st and 5 NE 47: 2-wide, 2 TE L
-- NE: 3-4, Thomas in for Woods, Banta-Cain shifts to ROLB.
-- Toss sweep L, the TE slowed Green, TBC stretched the play out - with the 1x1 TE holding his left arm (nice job Ump/Ref) enough for the RB to turn the corner, Meriweather did a nice Kamakaze to cut the LT's legs out from under, Guyton played leap frog over the RG's cut block but it was enough to keep him out of the play, Mayo was delayed by the C, which left Bodden battling TO on the edge to force the RB oob. 3 yds.

2nd and 2 NE 44: Buf 2-wide, 2 TE R
-- NE: 4-3 under, CBs soft.
-- penalty, false start. - 5 yds.

2nd and 7 NE 49: Buf 2-wide, 2 TE R
-- NE: 4-3 under, SLB 3 yds deep inside the LDE, CBs soft.
-- Well that was crap.
-- Warren at NT was combo-ed by the RG/C and tripped over the RT's feet (Adalius was stacking him 2 yds upfield) taking him to the ground just after the C released to block Mayo. Wilfork was doubled by the LG/LT and went for a rollerskate ride. Guyton had read the run up the middle, but when Vince was blown off the LOS got trapped behind the bodies and picked up by the releasing LT. Green was kicked out by the 1x1 TE pulling across the formation, long enough for the RB to sail down the Wilfork expressway and into the secondary. Bodden tripped him up and Meriweather pinned him. 16 yds.
-- This is where Mayo got injured, you'll never guess how...or maybe you will, Wilfork was pushed into him. Tirico blames Guyton when they come back from break, but you can clearly see Wilfork's right leg hitting Mayo and causing that knee to bow inward. Out 6-8 weeks per one Gasper source for a sprained MCL (worse case scenario).
-- I've read at least one criticism of Jarvis Green from this game, I don't know if this play was what instigated the complaint, but Green has outside contain on this play, he cannot let anything get outside him and he does his assignment. The failure that was exploited was Wilfork losing to the double-team, things just snowballed from there.

1st and 10 NE 33: Buf 2-wide, 2 TE R
-- NE: 4-3 under, CBs soft, Man with the SS marking the TE duo. Single high Safety. Guyton moved to MLB, Woods to WLB, TBC out, Wright in, bumps Warren to LDE.
-- Screen left. Green was hand-fighting with the LT and didn't feel the screen. Wilfork bit on the QB's eyes and took a false step to the right instead of rushing. The LG got a nice block on Woods and Bodden was locked-up upfield with the WR leaving the way clear for a big gain like Faulk usually exploits. 21 yds.
-- Guyton and Woods need some work on reading screens, but that's a function of inexperience, Wilfork must have been getting tired since he's usually good against screens.

1st and 10 NE 12: Buf 2-wide, 2 TE R
-- NE: 6-1, Springs in for Wilhite (Red Zone)
-- Buffalo tried to run the same running play they used when Mayo got hurt. This time Wilfork beats the LG inside and penetrates the backfield and Green isn't outside contain (Woods is) so he also penetrates, slowing the reserve RB spelling Jackson and clearing the hole for Guyton to fill for the tackle. 1 yd.

2nd and 9: Buf 2-wide, 2 TE R
-- NE: 6-1, press-man.
-- By waiting until 'after' the snap to motion the 1x1 TE across the formation (which they have been doing the entire series), Buffalo doesn't allow NE to communicate the motion to the other side of the formation. Sanders is coming down to either jam the TE or play the run and the first he knows anything the TE is headed across the backfield and he has to chase to the other side; Meriweather and Woods on the other side are keying on the RB faking into the middle, then the naked bootleg and don't know the TE is coming across until he's already past and into the flat - TD.
-- Really well executed by Buffalo, NE's coaches needed to figure that one out because the players are getting sucker punched.

Extra point is good: NE 0 Buf 7
2:58 1st Qtr

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Looked to me like Buffalo stunted their whole line to their right (offense's left), thus creating the problem you described. That's really not surprising considering the Pats like to run left in short yardage. Maroney probably could have picked up the 1st if he had cut back, but can't really blame him as he's just trying to get to the designated hole and pick up a foot. Buffalo's D made a lot of good plays last night. And the Pats O stunk up a bunch as well.

It looked like a slant on that play, but the key was Whitner charging across the line and getting Light to chase him, Mankins had his man stopped while Vollmer was being welcomed to the NFL, if Light had just ignored Whitner and chipped Schobel on his way to block the OLB, Morris would have kicked open the door and Maroney would have his foot and probably much more. I think part of it is Light was thinking like a Tackle and not a TE, if someone goes around you you chase him and try to push him downfield past the play. A TE would most likely have just left the guy for the FB or for the RB to juke.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

question on the 1st and 10 is why audible call for run play when buff had 9 in the box? Why didn't they try for a bootleg, for instance?

The only place I see an audible in my notes is when Buffalo audibled and ran an outside zone. Is there a NE play with an audible you are thinking about? (I don't even try to guess when Brayd is audibling, he communicates so much with the guys it rarely stands out - like Peyty's chicken dance without the feathers).

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

2:58 1st Qtr
Buffalo KO: Faulk takes the ball at the goal line.
-- Lindell kicks away from Maroney to Faulk.
-- Faulk uses great blocks by Wendell, Baker, and unidentified Pat (I think it's TBC, but I can't get a number off the horrible camera work), and Maroney to scoot through the first wave for a 32 yd return.

1st and 10 NE 32: NE 3-wide, 2 R, TE L
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel, press-man on Moss, soft coverage on the other side.
-- Moss motions inside to the slot to get a better release off the line which causes the CB to backpedal off the line.
-- Pass off play action. Brady sets up at 5-steps, then has to dodge as Mankins is taking Kyle Williams downfield. I don't know what Koppen was doing, but he released off the chip of Williams and did a John Belushi Animal House nighttime skulduggery dance in the middle of the pocket while Brady ducked Williams and stepped around his dancing Center. Taylor just bounced off Koppen and curled up on the ground. Baker took the LDE for a ride upfield, Neal and Kaczur had good blocks too.
-- Brady misses Moss low on a shallow dig route. Incomplete.
-- I think Jaworski used this play later as one of several where he claimed Brady was tentative with his footwork, I can't imagine why Jaws; Taylor is taking a nap at his feet, he just ducked away from the tango-ing Mankins and Williams, he also had to duck around Koppen who is auditioning for the remake of Animal House, and he has to set his feet and throw to the narrow window that will allow Moss a reception without decapitation. Sheesh.
-- Oh dear, and I thought it couldn't get worse. The overhead cam end zone shot shows Koppen snap the ball, turn, and deliver a fist strike to Mankins' ribs as if Logan was the DT. I'm just sure Danno got some sage advice, or counsel, from Dante in the next OL meeting, he might even have gotten a backhand from Mankins for his trouble.

2nd and 10: NE 4-wide, 3 R, shotgun
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel. They have an odd bunch formation with the DL, both DTs are cheek to cheek either side of Neal, with the LDE 1x1 outside the LDT and the RDT well outside Light. Posluszney fakes a blitz over Mankins.
-- Taylor gets bonus points as a cagey veteran here. Koppen and Neal double the NT, Kaczur blocks the LDE, and they let the LDT come through into the backfield. Mankins pulls and kicks out the LDT. Koppen releases off the NT and let's Taylor lead Posluszney to him as Taylor scrapes behind him. Kaczur has driven the LDE past the NT. Baker and Welker drive inside to block the LLB and SS respectively - here's were Taylor and LoMo diverge, Taylor heads straight upfield and runs into the stumbling SS falling off the Welker block, LoMo more likely would have bounced outside behind Baker and Welker's blocks and picked up additional yardage. I don't think LoMo would have been as quick to set up Koppen, but I also think Taylor missed an opportunity. I like what I'm seeing with both backs in this game so far.
-- 4 yds.

3rd and 6 NE 36: NE 5-wide, 3 L, shotgun. Faulk motions inside from wide L to protect against CB blitz from slot R.
-- Buf 4-2 Nickel, man.
-- Brady had 3 Mississippi before Schobel got past Light and pressured him.
-- Moss in the R slot ran a crisscross/rub with Watson and his man fell down (who he hit I couldn't see), Brady looked like he was going to deliver the ball to Moss when he tucked it and took the sack - 3.5 Mississippi would have gotten the 1st down. It looked like Brady could have stepped up and gotten the ball off, but Schobel did a good job fighting through Light's block, I think Buffalo just got into his head a bit on that play. The end zone view suggests Tommy could have stepped up too.
-- -10 yds.

4th and 16 NE 26: NE Punt. Hanson 42 yd punt.
-- Parrish takes the ball at the Buf 32.
-- Wilhite beat his blocker to get down and close one lane for Parrish, whoever was on the other side got his clock cleaned by Buffalo's blocker(s).
-- Alexander was first one down and took the first shot at Parrish, NE's coverage unit had great lane discipline on this return as they had Parrish stepping and fetching laterally trying to find a lane to run in.
-- Ingram was blocked in the back (same TE who blocked Mayo in the back on Edwards' scramble) and drew the flag as Parrish just slipped down.
-- Penalty, illegal block in the back.
-- 5 yd return, -10 yds from the Buf 37.

1:21 1st Qtr
1st and 10 Buf 27: Buf 3-wide, 2 R, TE L, shotgun
-- NE: 4-2 Nickel, press-man R side, zone on L?
-- Edwards threw on 3 Mississippi to the TE running a slide in the L flat. TBC had just beaten the LT and was bearing down when Edwards let the ball go.
-- It looked like Owens was supposed to draw Bodden upfield and clear the underneath for the TE, but Bodden read the QB and left TO to swipe at the ball and make the tackle. Jaws analysis states the play was intended to be a quick slant to Owens, but Bodden camped on it and Edwards went for the second read to the TE. You could see Bodden was mad at himself for not getting a better break on the ball. 2 yds.

2nd and 8 Buf 29: Buf 3-wide, 2 R, TE L
-- NE: 42 Nickel, playing soft outside. McGowan showing blitz defensive R.
-- Edwards audibles, shifts to a shotgun.
-- Thomas shows blitz after the audible.
-- McGowan dropped into coverage and Thomas camped at the LOS waiting for the TE or RB.
-- Buffalo went max protect keeping the TE and RB in to double TBC. Warren and Wilfork were both doubled inside. Burgess jacked the RT back nearly into Edwards.
-- Evans came back to help his QB with Springs nearly draped over his back - nice catch. You could see Wilhite glued to Reed in the background.
-- 10 yds.
1st Qtr Ends

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

2nd Qtr begins

1st and 10 Buf 39: Buf 3-wide, 2 L, TE R
-- NE: 4-2 Nickel, CBs soft outside. L-R Burgess, Warren, Wilfork, TBC; Adalius - Guyton; Springs, Wilhite, Bodden; Meriweather - Sanders.
-- Run, R side. TE turns Burgess outside, RT chips Warren and slugs it out with Guyton; Adalius fills and is taken inside by the pulling LG, C blocks Wilfork, LT blocks TBC. Warren and Burgess each lean off their blocks and gets arms on the RB to trip him up. Meriweather flew in and smacked Owens, who then tackled him (that offensive holding point of emphasis in preseason, it was just for NE), Springs finished off the runner. 5 yds.

2nd and 5 Buf 44: Buf 3-wide, 2 L, TE R
-- NE: 4-2 Nickel, Man.
-- Run, R-side. Not this time Buffalo, Adalius stacked up the pulling LG in the backfield as Warren beat up a double-team by the RT/RG, Adalius shed the LG and wrapped up the RB, he was joined by TBC unblocked from the backside, Burgess shedding the TE, and Guyton unblocked after the LT couldn't reach him. No gain.

3rd and 5: Buf 3-wide, 2 L, TE R, shotgun
-- NE: 4-2 Nickel, Green in for Wilfork, Guyton showing blitz, Springs off 6 yds, press man by Wilhite/Bodden -- Wilhite shows blitz.
-- Wilhite runs with Owens out of the slot. 5-man rush with Guyton, who put the LG on his butt and is in Edwards face as he throws. Dropped by Owens as Wilhite jumps on his back - Bodden released off Evans and was lining up to hit Owens who dropped the ball as he was tucking himself for the hit. Bodden didn't nail him after the drop, so Owens lived. Incomplete.

4th and 5: Punt, Moorman 28 yds oob.

13:34 2nd Qtr
1st and 10 NE 28: NE 3-TE, 2 R, Vollmer LT, Light-RTE, Moss wide L.
-- Buf: 4-3.
-- Toss sweep R for Taylor, everybody got a piece of somebody and Taylor just picked his hole and rambled for 9 yds. Light, Watson, and Kaczur kicked out three Bills, Neal stacked the LDT and got the WLB as a bonus; Koppen pulled and kicked out the MLB and Taylor ran right behind him.
-- Penalty, tripping on Light. I frankly couldn't see it and don't know who he was supposed to have tripped since he was still rolling from falling down and the SLB he had kicked out had already chased upfield after Taylor? With no other angle we have the first phantom penalty for NE. -10 yds, enforced at the NE 32.

1st and 16 NE 22: NE 4-wide, 3 L, shotgun
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel.
-- Vollmer in for Light was working against Maybin (not Schobel).
-- Welker from tight to the formation was matched on Posluszney and jitterbugged him for 13 yds.

2nd and 3 NE 35: NE 3-TE R (Light at TE), Moss wide L.
-- Buf 4-3, 9 in the box.
-- Run, right side. I have no idea what Taylor saw, but he did a jump cut in the backfield and tried to run out to the L side where Stroud who had been pushed left by Kaczur was able to just fall off the block and wrap up Taylor. He had one man to beat if he'd just run off RT behind his three TEs who had sealed everybody but the FS inside. No gain.

Buffalo Timeout (they were going to be caught exchanging personnel).

3rd and 3: NE 4-wide 2x2, shotgun. Light back at LT.
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel.
-- Both LBs and the slot CB show blitz, but Brady forced them to reveal early.
-- Buffalo DL ran a twist stunt using two DL from one side crossing with one for the other, NE picked it up. LLB faked a delayed blitz but was unable to disrupt the blocking.
-- Baker ran a simple out trailed by Mitchell and Tommy rifled it in for a first down. 7 yds.

1st and 10 NE 42: NE 2-wide R, 2-TE L, RB motions wide L, shotgun.
-- Buf: 4-3
-- Brady misses Faulk high at the L-side sticks. Incomplete.

2nd and 10: NE :enranged: Goat Kissing director brings us back late with the play already in progress.
-- R L-side. Taylor gets a foot as he's swarmed under.

3rd and 10: NE 3-wide R, TE L, shotgun.
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel, Man.
-- Faulk on a nice turn route, jukes the CB covering him and scoots for a first down and extra yardage. 16 yds.

1st and 10 Buf 41: NE 3-TE R, Moss L
-- Buf: 4-3, 3 Safety, 2 in the box for a 9 in the box form.
-- Play action pass, nice fake. Moss on a dig for 16 yds.

1st and 10 Buf 25: NE 3-TE, 2 R, Moss L
-- Buf: 4-3 (not set, surprised by the quick snap).
-- Toss sweep R, Ellison beat Light outside and Whitner beat Watson for a short gain. 1 yd

2nd and 9: NE 4-wide 2x2
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel.
-- Run, Taylor inside behind Koppen for 6 yds
-- Posluszney injured.

3rd and 3 Buf 18: NE 3-wide, 2 L, TE R, shotgun
-- Buf: 4-3 Nickel
-- Draw, Faulk, L side for the first down. 4 yds.

1st and 10 Buf 14: NE 4-wide, 3 L
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel.
-- Baker motions across to 1x1 L, screen to Welker in R slot missed. Brady and Welker have a chat after that play - I don't think Welker was anticipating that ball. The NB was right on top of him so it would have been no gain as it was.

2nd and 10: NE 4-wide, 2 TEs bunched R slot, shotgun
-- Buf: 4-3, they have three Linebackers, but they're playing pass.
-- Brady sits in the rocking chair waiting for Welker to beat the LB inside ("Jerk" route Gruden calls it). 13 yds.

1st and Goal Buf 1: NE offset I R, 3 TE, 2 L.
-- Buf: Goal Line.
-- Vollmer at LT, Light at RTE. Light sealed, Morris (FB) kicked out, and Taylor made Kawika Mitchell look silly in the hole as he popped in untouched for a TD.

Extra Point is good: NE 7 Buf 7
6:22 2nd Qtr

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

NFLTA reporting Posluszney has a broken arm (again) and Kelsey hurt his knee.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Mike Reiss' blog - Patriots positional groupings - ESPN Boston
Mike Reiss' blog - Moss plays 80 of 81 offensive snaps - ESPN Boston
Mike Reiss' blog - A look at the core special teamers - ESPN Boston
Mike Reiss' blog - Two-minute offense keys comeback - ESPN Boston
Mike Reiss' blog - Breaking down the key play of the game - ESPN Boston

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Mike Reiss' blog - Patriots defensive snaps - ESPN Boston
It Is What It Is Belichick, Caserio and Pees Q&A’s, 9/15

Q: What made their screen pass so effective against you last night?
DP: Well, they did a good job of … It was a good play against us. I gave them credit for calling a few of them. You’re right, we were doing some things to take away their wide outs, but at the same time it was a total defensive thing. I would say it’s a combination. We just could’ve played those plays better. We have to recognize them better and plan better, and I really think, too, in some situations, I put a little bit on me. I could’ve made some calls in a situation or two. I could have helped our defense a little more than I did.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Mike Reiss' blog - Patriots defensive snaps - ESPN Boston
It Is What It Is Belichick, Caserio and Pees Q&A’s, 9/15

Yeah, Bill said there were recognition issues that were related to expectations...screens showing up out of sets we had no keys for. Not the Bill's MO, but they took a page out of BB's book and changed their MO (and their OC) 10 days before the open because what they were doing in PS and the past wasn't working... Caught Dean napping...

 

[BradyManny]

BOR, this is great stuff, and has made life easier when I've gone through to re-watch the game.

I'm only a quarter and a half in, and obviously you did all the dirty work, but my thoughts basically come down to this: any deficiencies the Pats had in stopping the run or short passes comes down to a numbers game at the LOS. The Pats were really committed to stopping the wideouts and thsu had to give up something. That's why I'm not flipping out about the upcoming Jets game where the short passes and middle of the field will be key.

As for the offense, as I said in another thread, aside from a couple missed opportunities, this offense, to me at least, looks poised to be an even more efficient one than in 2007. It combines the unstoppable explosiveness of the 2007 season with the balanced, death-by-a-thousand-cuts that arose late in the 2008 season. And with the best QB of our generation at the helm, it's going to be LOL at opposing defenses to stop.

 

[BradyManny]

Further thought - but Wilfork is having a subpar first half from what I've seen, and it seems from your notes you might feel likewise. What's the issue here - is he not as fit for the 4-3 as we'd have expected, or was Jaws/Gruden (can't remember which) right that the no huddle is giving the big fella trouble.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Further thought - but Wilfork is having a subpar first half from what I've seen, and it seems from your notes you might feel likewise. What's the issue here - is he not as fit for the 4-3 as we'd have expected, or was Jaws/Gruden (can't remember which) right that the no huddle is giving the big fella trouble.

Wilfork can play in any system, whether he and the entire D was ready to play 4-3 an entire game? :confused2:

 

[Patspsycho]

2nd Qtr begins

-- Baker motions across to 1x1 L, screen to Welker in R slot missed. Brady and Welker have a chat after that play - I don't think Welker was anticipating that ball.[/b]

Do you think the lack of preseason playing time contributed to the few misfires they had during the game? There was another breakdown in the 4th quarter when Brady did a quick lateral to Welker, but he was not anticipating so Brady threw at his feet to kill the play.

That's what I love about Brady, his split-second smart decision-making. Cassel would have never done that.

 

[Patspsycho]

Further thought - but Wilfork is having a subpar first half from what I've seen, and it seems from your notes you might feel likewise. What's the issue here - is he not as fit for the 4-3 as we'd have expected, or was Jaws/Gruden (can't remember which) right that the no huddle is giving the big fella trouble.

The no-huddle was gassing him which leads me to think that was part of the strategy.

 

[pats1]

Great job as always, Box.