Oh, Those TRICKY PATRIOTS!!

[Off The Grid]

For those of you who's ears have been assaulted by Hate Radio, for 5 days, by the myth that the Patriots Defense got lucky, last week, and just happened to be on the field when the Ravens Offense suddenly and mysteriously ground to a complete halt:

Quirky Nickel Scheme Key to Patriots Defense’s Success!!

What a privilege to watch the Renaissance of this magnificent Dynasty unfold...right before our very eyes.

 

[ALP]

lol lucky?

nope, not this game

when we beat baltimore last year it was lucky, this year it was legit

 

[IcyPatriot]

The roster is constructed for maximum flexibility.

One game I'd like to see some stuff from the 40's, 50's and 60's ... just for kicks.

Belichick is a walking encyclopedia of every formation that's ever been seen.

Anyways ... you cannot be quirky without preparation and due diligence.

 

[RayClay]

Nice thing is they accomplished that with a lot of green players. They have the athleticism to do some things they couldn't with a more experienced team, now they need to get consistency out of some of those looks.

 

[eagle eye]

We were coming off a bye week, playing at home with Moss gone and Branch back. We had a huge advantage going into that game so don't get carried away by the result. But the D is improving and I don't think it was luck.

They have a tough 5 weeks coming up where we will see just how much the team has developed.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Nice thing is they accomplished that with a lot of green players. They have the athleticism to do some things they couldn't with a more experienced team, now they need to get consistency out of some of those looks.

They showed mental toughness by adapting after a not-so-great start. Awesome to see in a young D.

 

[VectorPrime]

We were coming off a bye week, playing at home with Moss gone and Branch back. We had a huge advantage going into that game so don't get carried away by the result. But the D is improving and I don't think it was luck.

They have a tough 5 weeks coming up where we will see just how much the team has developed.

People say this EXACT same thing every week. When will it be enough to just say, "you know what, this Pats team is for real."? They beat a tough Miami opponent on the road and perhaps the best team in the NFL last week. They earned all the praise they are getting.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Ernie Adams is a walking encyclopedia of every formation that's ever been seen.

Fixed that for you.

 

[eagle eye]

People say this EXACT same thing every week. When will it be enough to just say, "you know what, this Pats team is for real."? They beat a tough Miami opponent on the road and perhaps the best team in the NFL last week. They earned all the praise they are getting.

Praise is fine but the team won't be proven until they win the division and make the playoffs. As I said the next 5 weeks with the exception of the Browns is a very tough run of games. We'll know a lot more after those games.

I just don't get how people get so carried away so quickly, like would you be getting this carried away if they had lost to the Ravens in overtime?

Because if not, then you are basing all this on just the overtime at the end of one game.

 

[jays52]

It's not a new set for them, staple of the championship defenses. Really got recognition in the early playoff battles vs the Colts. Then, much like now, it's was a function of taking the pre-snap read away from Manning to help beat his line checks. This is turn both limits the number of potential audibles and provides a better rushing avenue. Back then, it was great because it was highly effective in flushing Manning. It was the key to shutting him down back then and it still holds true today. It's a cool d.

For me, this season has really been a fun one to watch. It's the first time I've ever been able to watch, process and understand it's design in real time. It's incredible to watch this Coach (the legendary defensive genius- arguably the greatest coach in history of the sport) take players he has chosen and develop them into his new unit. We're watching the legacy this guy is going to leave develop in front of our eyes. This season has been a masterful coaching job on his part, and I am constantly reminded this season that he is just so damn good in every facet of his job. It's really incredible.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Damn...there goes the Meriweather's hit turned the defensive season around theory...LOL Turns out it was scheme and lots of no name defenders stepping up and just doing their damn job as coached.

 

[Off The Grid]

The roster is constructed for maximum flexibility.

One game I'd like to see some stuff from the 40's, 50's and 60's ... just for kicks.

Belichick is a walking encyclopedia of every formation that's ever been seen.

Anyways ... you cannot be quirky without preparation and due diligence.

Strong points, Bro...And those last two were GOLD.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I don't think praise is the point of the article. It's just stating the obvious that the Pats abandoned the 4-5 man rush because they never got to Flacco so why not go to a 3 man rush and give him no where to throw? I see more of this coming. The Pats realize their pass rush is lacking and they get burnt on blitzes.

This article reminded me of back when BB coached Pepper Johnson and kept him in the nickle package and expected him to stop the run with only that personnel.

It also speaks of the secondary and lb communication and growth that they can play those more complicated schemes.

I see this being used against Sanchez instead of him being able to sit back and shred us for yards.

I expect to see it tomorrow. Hopefully our 3rd down defense continues to improve.

 

[Off The Grid]

It's not a new set for them, staple of the championship defenses. Really got recognition in the early playoff battles vs the Colts. Then, much like now, it's was a function of taking the pre-snap read away from Manning to help beat his line checks. This is turn both limits the number of potential audibles and provides a better rushing avenue. Back then, it was great because it was highly effective in flushing Manning. It was the key to shutting him down back then and it still holds true today. It's a cool d.

For me, this season has really been a fun one to watch. It's the first time I've ever been able to watch, process and understand it's design in real time. It's incredible to watch this Coach (the legendary defensive genius- arguably the greatest coach in history of the sport) take players he has chosen and develop them into his new unit. We're watching the legacy this guy is going to leave develop in front of our eyes. This season has been a masterful coaching job on his part, and I am constantly reminded this season that he is just so damn good in every facet of his job. It's really incredible.

Exquisite.

 

[spacecrime]

Praise is fine but the team won't be proven until they win the division and make the playoffs. As I said the next 5 weeks with the exception of the Browns is a very tough run of games. We'll know a lot more after those games.

I just don't get how people get so carried away so quickly

So why are you even here, if nothing means anything until February? We're here because every game can be talked about, during the actual season, not just after the season when everything is 'proven,' whatever that means.

You have a kid who is doing well in grade school. Don't praise them - not until they finish college and you see what kind of job they have. THen you can say they were good back in second grade?

Cripes, people are talking NOW about how well the Pats did last week. They did well last week, thank you very much, and they did well last week even if they don't win another game for ten years.

Relax a bit and enjoy a well-played game, and see how the D improved itself for first half to OT.

 

[Ron Sellers]

I don't know who all these people are that are saying the Patriots defense was simply lucky last week, as the OP alluded to, other than perhaps some random Raven fans or players. I guess I was fortunate to not be listening to Baltimore sports talk radio this week.

As for the 'quirky' scheme that Rapoport refers to, I'll give him a pass since he's relatively new to the area and covering the team; obviously he had never seen it before. As others have mentioned this is not anything new in the Patriots playbook.

 

[Off The Grid]

I don't know who all these people are that are saying the Patriots defense was simply lucky last week, as the OP alluded to, other than perhaps some random Raven fans or players. I guess I was fortunate to not be listening to Baltimore sports talk radio this week.

As for the 'quirky' scheme that Rapoport refers to, I'll give him a pass since he's relatively new to the area and covering the team; obviously he had never seen it before. As others have mentioned this is not anything new in the Patriots playbook.

You kidding? Half the folks around here ~ and at least half of those clowns on radio ~ will be hollering that all our success is a mirage right up until we win it all.

Everybody knows that that scheme goes way back...and that is precisely my point:

It was US who MADE it happen, not the Ravens with some phantom self destruction.

 

[JoeSixPat]

lol lucky?

nope, not this game

when we beat baltimore last year it was lucky, this year it was legit

It's a bunch of no names... but when your defense holds, time after time after time at a crucial stretch of the game, it's not just luck. I think the Defense has really worked hard to take pride in their jobs and be the underdogs - it's paying off.

 

[eagle eye]

So why are you even here, if nothing means anything until February? We're here because every game can be talked about, during the actual season, not just after the season when everything is 'proven,' whatever that means.

You have a kid who is doing well in grade school. Don't praise them - not until they finish college and you see what kind of job they have. THen you can say they were good back in second grade?

Cripes, people are talking NOW about how well the Pats did last week. They did well last week, thank you very much, and they did well last week even if they don't win another game for ten years.

Relax a bit and enjoy a well-played game, and see how the D improved itself for first half to OT.

The first three words of my post 'praise is fine'.

I'm talking about people getting carried away too soon and calling this team elite and going all the way. I've been here saying after the loss to the Jets that it was no biggie and it wasn't the end of the world. I predicted that this D would keep improving as the season went on and that after the bye week we should see a huge improvement when BB got a chance to do some stuff with them after watching them in regular season games.

I'm not negative at all. I like a lot of whats happening at the moment. I'm just not the type to get carried away. I just look at things objectively and I said before the Ravens game that the Patriots should win it given all the factors that favoured them. So it wasn't a shock to me when they won that game. I still think that we won't know how good this team is until we have been tested by a couple of decent teams and thats gonna happen over the next five weeks going to San Diego and Pittsburgh and facing the Vikings and Colts at Gillette. Thats a lot of big tests in a short space of time, and it will test every aspect of the D.

After those games we will know where this team is at.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Anyways ... you cannot be quirky without preparation and due diligence.

I beg to differ, lack of either never limited me. :yeeha: