BOB's wrinkle in the gameplan last 3 or so weeks

[ALP]

so this first hit me after this past game against the jets

it seems that because of the our offenses struggles last season and earlier this year with adjustments in the 2nd half, BOB has started going a different route to insure that the offense can score points effectively for the whole game

he comes up with two gameplans, 1 for the 1st half, and a different one for the 2nd half

its actually quite brilliant if you ask me, i noticed this because Monday night in the first half there were practically NO throws to the tight ends

then the 2nd half came along, and there were a LOT more throws to the tight ends

im sure if i go back and think about it i would find more wrinkles and differences between what our offense was doing the two halves, but i think this is the way the NE Patriots are countering defensive halftime adjustments against a brand new OC in BOB

 

[TX_Patriot]

Re: BOB's wrinkle in the game plan last 3 or so weeks

I think there are 2 things that have really helped BOB this year. First, not having to devote 5-6 plays to Randy Moss just to keep him interested in the game plan. The second, Brady is playing so well right now, the entire offensive playbook is available. Seriously, there isn't a play that BOB calls that Brady can't make go right now, and Brady's at-the-line adjustments is making BOB look even more brilliant.

BOB has definitely raised his level of play calling, but Brady is so good right now that he'd make Pepper Johnson look like a great OC. This is not meant to down play what BOB is doing during the week and prepping the Offense...there is definitely good things afoot in Foxborough.

 

[captain stone]

I also like - no, love - that Brady is spending more time under center, and not as much time in that awful shotgun/empty backfield formation,
esp. during early-down/short-yardage situations.

I do wish, however, that the screen pass would return to the playbook, esp. against over-agressive defenses such as, hmmm, the Chicago Bears?
It is imperative that Peppers & the blitz-happy LBs are slowed, even for just a second or two - before they start to smell blood.

 

[nabwong]

I also like - no, love - that Brady is spending more time under center, and not as much time in that awful shotgun/empty backfield formation,
esp. during early-down/short-yardage situations.

I do wish, however, that the screen pass would return to the playbook, esp. against over-agressive defenses such as, hmmm, the Chicago Bears?
It is imperative that Peppers & the blitz-happy LBs are slowed, even for just a second or two - before they start to smell blood.

We have been running screens, just not to our backs, mostly to Welker and some Hernandez.

 

[captain stone]

I consider those passes more of the quick-hitter type than of the classic screen type during which the OL provides minimal protection, the QB drops back to lure the pass-rushers and then tosses a short pass to the RB, with 2/3 OLmen in front of him.

I feel that Woody or Hernandez would be awesome in this role. I'm kinda surprised that this hasn't been tried already.

 

[ALP]

I consider those passes more of the quick-hitter type than of the classic screen type during which the OL provides minimal protection, the QB drops back to lure the pass-rushers and then tosses a short pass to the RB, with 2/3 OLmen in front of him.

I feel that Woody or Hernandez would be awesome in this role. I'm kinda surprised that this hasn't been tried already.

seems to me that the older the O lineman get, the slower they get, and thats why we run less screens....maybe???

 

[TX_Patriot]

I know you use screens to slow down a D but in this post Moss O, Brady has been lightning quick with his release, that kinda negates some of the needs for screen plays.

As for the "Screen" part of a screen pass, the one thing I've noticed this year, especially since Moss left, is that we have a really good group of blocking recievers. The worst in the bunch is probably Branch and he still puts in a ton of effort. Gronk is just a beast blocking down field, Crump is good too.

I guess I just don't seen the need to increase the number of screens we run.

 

[Sicilian]

I have no data to back this up, but it's possible more passes went to the TE's in the 2nd half because with a big lead we started using more 2 and 3 TE formations. Again, no evidence to back it up, but that could be the simpler explanation.

 

[Metaphors]

I've noticed some positive trends with the offense since the Browns loss:

1) Protection

The Pats are keeping more players in to protect and giving Brady time and space to find the open receiver. On the PI play to Gronk in the Jets game, the Pats had 6 stay in to protect, plus a RB chipping inside, against a 4-man rush. Brady had 5 seconds to throw and could have taken more time if needed.

It means fewer receivers out running routes, which leads to the other points...

2) Dictating Matchups

The receivers have become more interchangeable. They have been able to react to matchups and adjust routes accordingly. The Pats wanted to attack Smith deep, give Cromartie double-moves and get Revis lost in traffic. Earlier in the year, the Pats were victims of how the opposition lined up. Now, they keep the same players and formations, but adjust routes to dictate favorable situations. Gronk on a wheel route, Welker working the sideline, Branch in the slot, Hernandez working between the numbers...whatever it takes. Anyone is a deep threat when you are faster than the guy covering you. Anyone can dominate the short middle when you are quicker than the other guy.

3) Motion and Formations

Everyone is moving pre-snap, frequently multiple times. It is hard not to tip your hand as a defense when the offense is constantly shifting. If you stay put, you are in a zone. If you follow a guy, obviously M2M. If you try to disguise, you could end up hopelessly out of position at the snap.

Players are also lining up all over the field. What do you do with Welker in the backfield? Woodhead in the slot? Gronk outside the numbers? While the coverage itself may not change, it does make the defenders have to think a little more at the snap instead of just lining up and reacting. That half-second of indecision equals 2 yds of separation.

4) Deception and Variety

In the Jets game, the Pats had Welker motion into the backfield and dive up the middle followed by Woodhead. They kept 6 guys in to block, so there were 9 Pats and 6 Jets in a tiny space on the field. It looked like a max-protect and everyone but Revis retreated to deep zones. Out of that mass of humanity, Revis followed Welker and Woodhead broke out clean, took a pass at the LOS and ran untouched for 30 yards.

Don't remember which game, but a couple of weeks back the Pats lined up with Hernandez and Gronk split wide together. Motioned Welker directly behind them. Everyone knew what was coming. But a quick fake to Welker drew that entire side of the defense to defend the bubble screen. Hernandez breaks inside, takes a 2 yd slant and runs for big YAC.

5) Checking out to Runs

Over time, the defense starts to overcompensate to protect the middle of the field or overload one side to blitz Brady. When this happens, the defense is completely exposed to a draw play or shuffle pass. Brady is finding just the right times to change to a run play to take advantage. BJGE, Woodhead and the OL have generally taken advantage.

None of these areas are revolutionary or anything that teams don't run or defend against all the time. It is the combination of them, with the smarts/quickness/flexibility of the skill position players, that has allowed Brady to stay clean, keep in rhythm and get everyone involved.

It isn't perfect all the time, but it doesn't have to be. Turnovers are almost nonexistent and it wears on a defense over time. The offense is toxic in that the defense is slowly dying and they can't figure out why.

 

[hughthehand]

Whoever drew up the play with the largest backfield combo of all time, Welker at FB and Woodhead at RB, deserves a medal IMO. The beauty of that play almost brought a tear to my eye.

You start with what looks like a wide open formation with the Defense thinking Pass, motion welker to see what type of coverage you have, then you play fake a draw to keep the DL from charging in, buying time and allowing Brady to eye the deep receivers so the LB's and Secondary get deep, and you use Woodheads size as an advantage to get him lost among the big boys.


To me this offense right now is less about a wrinkle in the gameplan, as it is getting everyone involved and starting to figure out each person's strength.

Welker
Branch
Gronk
Hernandez
Woodhead
BJGE

6 players that the ball is going to consistently.

Brandon Tate making plays at random when everyone is covered.
Sammy Morris getting a short run call or quick out here and there.
Crumpler has a few catches , but is blocking up a storm.

We are building an offense with 9 skill position players that make an impact. This allows us to gameplan against whoever the other team is having the hardest time matching up against. It is freaking awesome. This offense has so much balance that it really allows for creative play calling which BOB is taking full advantage of.

We run inside , outside, from the Shotgun, with a FB, single back, I , and we also pass from every one of those formations as well.

Of course, the execution of all this awesomeness is dependent on the OL, which is playing at the highest level I remember since 2004.

 

[Kontradiction]

Good thing that we didn't fire him after last season. :bricks:

 

[Sicilian]

Good thing that we didn't fire him after last season. :bricks:

This is kind of exactly how it went for McDaniels, isn't it? It's almost as if young coordinators need time to grow into the job, which kind of reminds me of... well of every job in the history of civilization.

 

[Brady2Welker]

This is kind of exactly how it went for McDaniels, isn't it? It's almost as if young coordinators need time to grow into the job, which kind of reminds me of... well of every job in the history of civilization.

There isn't a single thing in this entire world that doesn't take time to learn, or perfect. Anyone working in the NFL has the smarts, it just takes time to learn to use things.

 

[captain stone]

But OTOH, being the play-caller for a PO-caliber NFL team shouldn't mean that the OJT
for the job requires one being...the play-caller for a PO-caliber NFL team,
esp. when taking into account the non-exsistent NFL experience BOB had
before Bill hired him from an undistinguished college career just a couple of years ago.
That inexperience was one of the reasons for the losses in Miami, Denver & NJ last year.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I hope teams don't catch onto the fact that we never run the ball on 2nd and long and stop biting on the fakes.

I want to know who designed some of these plays though with Welker in the backfield... was it BOB? Absolutely brilliant