A Theory On Why the Pats Passed So Much

[shakadave]

I'm asking, more than theorizing, here. Could it be that it takes more team-specific know-how to run block than to pass protect? I ask because we had a brand new RG and a brand new out-of-position rookie RT. Is it easier for newcomers to just form a wall and max-protect than it is to get into pulling and trapping and things that take more coordination? I'm sure I've oversimplified the task of pass blocking, but what do y'all think? Why else would we refuse to burn clock in the 4th quarter?

 

[reflexblue]

I'm asking, more than theorizing, here. Could it be that it takes more team-specific know-how to run block than to pass protect? I ask because we had a brand new RG and a brand new out-of-position rookie RT. Is it easier for newcomers to just form a wall and max-protect than it is to get into pulling and trapping and things that take more coordination? I'm sure I've oversimplified the task of pass blocking, but what do y'all think? Why else would we refuse to burn clock in the 4th quarter?

Could it be the fact that they have Tom Brady?

 

[NEGoldenAge]

I think it was a factor. The Pats dis rush over twenty times for over 100 yards.

 

[TriplecHamp]

could it be the Dolphins secondary is worse than their front 7?

 

[NEGoldenAge]

I wonder if part of the thinking in the hurry up passing game was getting more plays out of the game to get both sides of the ball more real game reps to make up for an abbreviated TC.

 

[sbpatfan]

Or maybe it was because Brady was pissed at his Madden rating, and the only way to prove those bastards @ EA wrong was by throwing for 517.

 

[IllegalContact]

simple.....if they can't stop you then why stop?

throwing the ball 48 times and netting 300-something yards is one thing....you'd typically expect that 48 throws is due to dink and dunk.....not this time.....they could not stop anyone.....

TE's averaging 15 yards a catch, slot reciever averaging 20 yards a catch....keep doing it

don't forget that a 45 yarder was called back......would have broken the all time record.....

if the pats really wanted to, they could have gone for 650 in the air.....

it wasn't the passing so much as the pace......70 plays in 28 minutes of possession.......even though the dolphins defense was only out there for 28 minutes, it may as well have been 45-50 minutes.....what the pats did was make time of possession irrelevant

 

[RodThePat]

Or maybe it was because Brady was pissed at his Madden rating, and the only way to prove those bastards @ EA wrong was by throwing for 517.

He's a 99 overall in Madden, Brady must have some pretty unattainable standards.

 

[Triumph]

Pass to get ahead and run to win.

NE passes because at the time the Spread Offense was basically new in 2001. It created favorable match ups by spreading the field horizontally. Defenses didnt know quite how to defend it. Defenses have caught up, but the Spread is still very effective.

Now, most of the NFL and NCAAF run some sort of Spread.

Miami probably wanted to run the ball more the other night, but had to pass to catch up essentially playing right into NE hands. IF/WHEN the pass D gets better, INTs should come with the ball in the air. They always did in the past.

 

[jah]

Or maybe it was because Brady was pissed at his Madden rating, and the only way to prove those bastards @ EA wrong was by throwing for 517.

But his Madden rating is 99 with 100 accuracy.

 

[ausbacker]

The game plan to go into hurry up offense gassed the Dolphins Defense. Brady saw good looks and mismatches all over the field. That's why he was throwing so much IMO.

 

[BSR]

According to Football Outsiders Miami had the 26th ranked passing defense last year. I'm pretty sure they passed because that was Miami's weakness. This is why I don't think we are going to see a repeat performance this week.

 

[WhiZa]

According to Football Outsiders Miami had the 26th ranked passing defense last year. I'm pretty sure they passed because that was Miami's weakness. This is why I don't think we are going to see a repeat performance this week.

I wouldn't mind seeing some Ridley next week

 

[VJCPatriot]

I think it was the gameplan to exploit certain matchups that the Pats saw on defense. They did run the ball for 100 yards so it's not like there was no running game, but when the gameplan is going so well, why not exploit it to the max? I do think there were maybe a couple of questionable calls on 3rd and short and 3rd and goal later on where the run might have been the better call both to kill clock and maybe as a safer play. But hey, it's hard to argue with the results, 517 yards and the Win. Wow.

 

[NordicVoyager]

I think the quick passing game was emphasized for a number of reasons. First it worked and the Patriots pushed what was working. Second, each further team the Patriots will face now will need to devote significant practice time preparing to stop the Patriots 'machine'. Third, a number of people have commented on how little substitution there was which makes me think we only showed on film a portion of the playbook. That last thought makes me wonder what else Tom and company are planning.

 

[Ring 6]

I'm asking, more than theorizing, here. Could it be that it takes more team-specific know-how to run block than to pass protect? I ask because we had a brand new RG and a brand new out-of-position rookie RT. Is it easier for newcomers to just form a wall and max-protect than it is to get into pulling and trapping and things that take more coordination? I'm sure I've oversimplified the task of pass blocking, but what do y'all think? Why else would we refuse to burn clock in the 4th quarter?

I think they passed so much because it was working.

 

[strngplyr]

I think they passed so much because it was working.

I'm not even sure why this is a question. AJ nailed it, if you're passing, they KNOW you're passing, and they still can't stop you from passing, why run? You don't need to sell the run when they know what you're doing and still can't stop you. Waste of plays.