No RB In 40% of the Reps!

[mgteich]

If anyone should ever doubt that we are a passing team, note that we didn't even have a running back on the field for 27 of the 66 offensive reps.

Brady still ran out that formation, handing off to our h-back Hernandez. Hernandez looked good, until he was injured. It seems dangerous to use our #3 receiver as a running back, when the need is not there.

This was NOT done out of necessity. We had FOUR healthy running backs in the game: Green-Ellis, Woodhead, Ridley and Faulk.

 

[Ring 6]

If anyone should ever doubt that we are a passing team, note that we didn't even have a running back on the field for 27 of the 66 offensive reps.

Brady still ran out that formation, handing off to our h-back Hernandez. Hernandez looked good, until he was injured. It seems dangerous to use our #3 receiver as a running back, when the need is not there.

This was NOT done out of necessity. We had FOUR healthy running backs in the game: Green-Ellis, Woodhead, Ridley and Faulk.

It is a game plan facet.
With no RB on the field you have 5 dangerous recievers. With Hernandez in the backfield, especially when we start empty then move him in, no one would ever expect a run. It clearly worked. Of course it has a limited use now that its been shown.
Interestingly we had no RB on 27 of 66 plays, yet we passed only 34 times.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

It should be fun for defensive coordinators to game plan for the Patriots offense. as if it wasn't bad enough with the 2 TE set, they can basically morph into any formation to cause a mismatch.

The only real chance a team has is to cause pressure using just 4 guys and our Oline seems to be up to the task.

 

[MaineMan]

Seems to me that BB has been trying to fill/implement that "H-back" role for a few years, for the extra measure of complexity it presents for defenses, but had simply not been able to find the right guy. As late as last spring, I thought he might have given up on that quest and could draft a true FB again (someone like Charles Clay).

But now . . .

All BB/BoB/McD really have to do is line up Brady under center with Ahern and an RB behind with Gronk, Welker and Branch (or Ocho, or Edelman, or whoever) on the line and, well, what is the defense going to cover? Suddenly, almost everything effectively becomes a "trick play".

 

[mgteich]

FIVE dangerous receivers? Julian Edelman? Are you related to him? to his agent? Edlelman had 27 reps at WR.

I agree that this would be a great formation with 5 dangerous receivers. This formation is the argument for the importance of the #3 wide receiver (beyond injury protection).

It is a game plan facet.
With no RB on the field you have 5 dangerous recievers. With Hernandez in the backfield, especially when we start empty then move him in, no one would ever expect a run. It clearly worked. Of course it has a limited use now that its been shown.
Interestingly we had no RB on 27 of 66 plays, yet we passed only 34 times.

 

[Ring 6]

FIVE dangerous receivers? Julian Edelman? Are you related to him? to his agent? Edlelman had 27 reps at WR.

As opposed to splitting out a RB?
Edelman has skills. They are limited to certain parts of WR play, but there is no doubt you must treat him as a legitimate WR who can run some routes very well.

 

[Ring 6]

There is a bit of difference between someone who is covered as a WR (the very minimum for playing the position) and someone who is a DANGEROUS receiver.

I do not question have a TE as Brady's protector instead of a RB.

We paid $6M this year to have a DANGEROUS #3 receiver, even though we had Welker and Branch. Personally, I think that we will try again next year, both in the draft and in free agency. Do you disagree?

Do you really think that anyone thinks that Edelman is a DANGEROUS receiver?

I agree that this would be a great formation with 5 dangerous receivers. This formation is the argument for the importance of the #3 wide receiver (beyond injury protection).

Do you think they don't cover Edelman like a WR?

 

[mgteich]

If Brady line up under center, any pass is a trick play. We almost always run from that formation.

Seems to me that BB has been trying to fill/implement that "H-back" role for a few years, for the extra measure of complexity it presents for defenses, but had simply not been able to find the right guy. As late as last spring, I thought he might have given up on that quest and could draft a true FB again (someone like Charles Clay).

But now . . .

All BB/BoB/McD really have to do is line up Brady under center with Ahern and an RB behind with Gronk, Welker and Branch (or Ocho, or Edelman, or whoever) on the line and, well, what is the defense going to cover? Suddenly, almost everything effectively becomes a "trick play".

 

[Ring 6]

If Brady line up under center, any pass is a trick play. We almost always run from that formation.

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[ay-yo]

It is a game plan facet.
With no RB on the field you have 5 dangerous recievers. With Hernandez in the backfield, especially when we start empty then move him in, no one would ever expect a run. It clearly worked. Of course it has a limited use now that its been shown.
Interestingly we had no RB on 27 of 66 plays, yet we passed only 34 times.

Of course what hasn't been shown is the PA fake to Hernandez out of the same formation. I'm really hoping we run that next week.

Gotta say great coaching by successfully saving a formation until the playoffs. The QB bootleg by Alex Smith against the Saints was also a great example of coaching and execution.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Bill O'Brien had a great game plan last night and the offense was unstoppable. They could have put up 70 if they wanted to keep pushing the score up.

I agree with an earlier comment that the new plays were great but now that it's been seen it should not be used as much next week. We have 4 quality running backs and they should be used. The team also does not have depth at WR to be fielding 5 WR's on a constant basis.

This offense is lethal with Brady under center and Gronk and Hernandez both on the field. Depending on how the defense defends the tight ends (with linebackers or corners/safeties) Brady can easily audible to favorable run plays or passing plays.

The offense does not need to start with these H-back 5-WR gimmicks as a regular part of the offense; this offense was putting up an average of 35+ points per game after Thanksgiving before this. It was extremely effective yesterday though.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Some of those plays with Hernandez at RB we had a 3rd tackle. I looked at it as a max protect and dump it off instead of a spread em out and throw it formation

 

[Ring 6]

Bill O'Brien had a great game plan last night and the offense was unstoppable. They could have put up 70 if they wanted to keep pushing the score up.

I agree with an earlier comment that the new plays were great but now that it's been seen it should not be used as much next week. We have 4 quality running backs and they should be used. The team also does not have depth at WR to be fielding 5 WR's on a constant basis.

This offense is lethal with Brady under center and Gronk and Hernandez both on the field. Depending on how the defense defends the tight ends (with linebackers or corners/safeties) Brady can easily audible to favorable run plays or passing plays.

The offense does not need to start with these H-back 5-WR gimmicks as a regular part of the offense; this offense was putting up an average of 35+ points per game after Thanksgiving before this. It was extremely effective yesterday though.

Its not a gimmick, its a way of creating a matchup and a mismatch.
If the defense gives us the mismatch we want, we will continue to use it.
If they figure out a way to defend, we won't.
Like most things the Patriots do, it has more or less relevance vs differnet teams, schemes and personell.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Some of those plays with Hernandez at RB we had a 3rd tackle. I looked at it as a max protect and dump it off instead of a spread em out and throw it formation

It worked because it was never seen before. I don't know if teams will have enough film on games to be able to defend it this season, but the staff should be mindful of those formations that are high percentage tells for specific runs or passes.

 

[mgteich]

Reiss says that we used a similar formation in the Philly game.

It worked because it was never seen before. I don't know if teams will have enough film on games to be able to defend it this season, but the staff should be mindful of those formations that are high percentage tells for specific runs or passes.

 

[hgelpke]

What I thought was interesting is how they bunched Welker and Edelman. The joke has always been about their similar size and if you plan to cover 83, having Edelman there might give you pause as to which is which for just that split second needed for the 12 to 83 connection.

 

[captain insano]

speaking of rbs. steven ridley can kiss his playing time good bye after that fumble last night. he got lucky the last time he fumbled the ball went out of bounds. bb isnt going to play somebody who cant hold on to the ball.

 

[scout]

Aaron in the backfield is another wrinkle, and obviously generated yardage. I'm ready for more unconventional sets.