For those who complain about the game plan/adjustments in the 2007 Super Bowl:

[Deus Irae]

Pull up the Heath Evans interview (Felger & Mazz) when it becomes available. The Patriots had planned to run the ball down the Giants throats, but had to scrap that because of the way the game unfolded.....

 

[BradyManny]

I'm guessing Stephen Neal's injury was the key. At no point in the game were we ever down more than a FG, so there wasn't any reason to abandon the run in that sense. Neal was great in pass pro and run blocking - and him going down was very costly.

We just can't beat this team going spread, empty backfield, and declaring pass. Our OL does not matchup well enough against their DL. Based on the gameplan in November, the coaching staff has learned its lesson.

 

[patstd]

I didn't know that. That makes sense... unfortunately.

 

[oldskool138]

I think more blame goes on Maroney's hesitant running style than Neal's injury.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Listen the key for this game is how well will our offensive line hold up?

With Vollmer possibly back that makes Solder a great extra chip tackle and that more protection. If our line gets the push it thinks it will up the middle i suspect this game will be a run-a-thon.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

This is not the only time this has happened. Last year's crushing loss to the Jets was the same way. They might not have planned to run on the Jets, but the Jets' personnel dared them to run all game.

The Patriots know how to beat these teams, but when everything is on the line, they only trust Brady. That is why they/he has struggled in the playoffs recently. They ran with great success against the Ravens, and there's little doubt they'd have done some serious damage getting the ball back in the 4th up by 3, just before Brady's INT. In the regular season, they take what the defense gives them; in the playoffs, the panic and worry that they will waste a "valuable play" by running the ball.

Manning's Colts struggled with this for years as well.

 

[Deus Irae]

I'm guessing Stephen Neal's injury was the key. At no point in the game were we ever down more than a FG, so there wasn't any reason to abandon the run in that sense. Neal was great in pass pro and run blocking - and him going down was very costly.

We just can't beat this team going spread, empty backfield, and declaring pass. Our OL does not matchup well enough against their DL. Based on the gameplan in November, the coaching staff has learned its lesson.

I didn't know that. That makes sense... unfortunately.

The first area Evans pointed to was tight end.

 

[Deus Irae]

I'm all for running the ball this time (I love the idea of going huge as part of the run packages, with Solder in as a TE, and maybe even with another big man in on the goal line), as long as it's the sort of running that doesn't change what the team is about. Run to set up the pass/pass to set up the run... whichever works. Just don't run INSTEAD of the pass.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

What about throwing Wilfork in there at FB on goal line situations?

 

[PatsSox363804]

Remember after Eli threw the pick in the second quarter?

1st and 10: 8 yard pass to Maroney
2nd and 2: Maroney 1 yard run
3rd and 1: Maroney -2 yard run

That was a huge sequence. If we can score there we go up 14-3. I dont remember the 3rd down play specifically but Maroney that game was 14 for 36 and a long of 9. Take that one play out and he's averaging 2.07 yards per carry.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I'm guessing Stephen Neal's injury was the key. At no point in the game were we ever down more than a FG, so there wasn't any reason to abandon the run in that sense. Neal was great in pass pro and run blocking - and him going down was very costly.

We just can't beat this team going spread, empty backfield, and declaring pass. Our OL does not matchup well enough against their DL. Based on the gameplan in November, the coaching staff has learned its lesson.

I think we had the lead for most of the game.
I missed the interview, what was the specific reason they abandoned the run?

 

[Amnorix]

I had posted on here that I really liked the idea of going big along the line, having Solder play TE if Vollmer was back, and pounding the ball down their throats.

Then Reiss pointed out that they did alot of this during the November game, with Solder seeing a season-high 23 snaps at TE that game. The offense was, obviously, not greatly effective, however, and it was only with a spread offense and tired Giants defense in the 4th quarter that the Patriots offense started to be very successful.

I honestly don't know what the answer is...

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I had posted on here that I really liked the idea of going big along the line, having Solder play TE if Vollmer was back, and pounding the ball down their throats.

Then Reiss pointed out that they did alot of this during the November game, with Solder seeing a season-high 23 snaps at TE that game. The offense was, obviously, not greatly effective, however, and it was only with a spread offense and tired Giants defense in the 4th quarter that the Patriots offense started to be very successful.

I honestly don't know what the answer is...

I think BB knows, hence the good mood and smiling this week, he has a plan and the team is ready.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

The first area Evans pointed to was tight end.

Yeah, that is because Billy Yates is assumed when making statements about why the Pats lost that game. Kinda like the "you understood" of Pats fans.

 

[BradyManny]

Remember after Eli threw the pick in the second quarter?

1st and 10: 8 yard pass to Maroney
2nd and 2: Maroney 1 yard run
3rd and 1: Maroney -2 yard run

That was a huge sequence. If we can score there we go up 14-3. I dont remember the 3rd down play specifically but Maroney that game was 14 for 36 and a long of 9. Take that one play out and he's averaging 2.07 yards per carry.

I agree. That 3rd and 1 sticks in my mind as an underrated turning point in that game.

 

[goheels22002]

I'm all for running the ball this time (I love the idea of going huge as part of the run packages, with Solder in as a TE, and maybe even with another big man in on the goal line), as long as it's the sort of running that doesn't change what the team is about. Run to set up the pass/pass to set up the run... whichever works. Just don't run INSTEAD of the pass.

I agree. The Patriots have been somewhat (not wildly) successful all year in running the ball in a rational balance with the prolific passing game, gaining over 100 ypg in 12 of their 18 games.

In the week 9 NY Giants game, the Patriots were pretty successful on the ground - 106 yards on 24 carries with the carries spread around among Ridley (3 for 10 yards), Woodhead (7 for 26) and BJGE (12 for 52). Welker ran once for 13 yards. The Pats had a 2-1 pass-run ratio. Not bad. When that Giants D-line pins its ears back, gash them with the run. Against the Ravens, the Pats ran 31 times and passed 36 times to challenge a very aggressive defense, so this is something they do in these circumstances.

Part of the success in running the ball is a big disciplined offensive line, but the other part is the vastly different running styles of the backs, especially Woodhead, BJGE and Ridley. All are quite different to contend with. Add to that Hernandez emerging out of the backfield or Edelman/Welker on flea flickers (using actual fleas!) and the running attack is quite diverse in the absence of having an elite back like Arian Foster or Ray Rice (or Corey Dillon.)

If Vollmer and Gronkowski are effective as blockers (a big if), the Pats can rotate a big, deep line at the Giants and run to set up the pass, particularly early when you want to tire the Giants rushers out for later in the game. Let's hope the big guys are healthy and out to prove something against the vaunted Giants D-line.

 

[Whorod]

I think this should be our game plan this Superbowl as well. Lots of 2 TE sets, smash mouth running game to set up the play action pass down the seems to the TE's. Take a little pressure off Brady early. Get him comfortable, even a few designed roll out dump offs and or screen passes would be fantastic. Move the pocket a little. I think part of the reason the Redskins had so much success against the Giants is because Shanahan's scheme's negate the effectiveness of speed pass rushers.

(Giants has 5 sacks in two games against the skins, with an average of 7.5 QB hits - not ideal, but tollerable)

 

[Fencer]

What about throwing Wilfork in there at FB on goal line situations?

Three reasons this seems like a bad idea:

• Richard Seymour injury.
• Richard Seymour false start penalties.
• The huge number of snaps Wilfork already takes.

 

[ausbacker]

Time has proven that Maroney simply wasn't a good running back. There's not much else to be said.

 

[Deus Irae]

Time has proven that Maroney simply wasn't a good running back. There's not much else to be said.

He averaged 4.5 ypc that year. In the playoffs, he had 22 carries for 122 (5.55 ypc) against Jacksonville and 25 carries for (again) 122 (4.88 ypc) against San Diego.