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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.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.
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 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...
The first area Evans pointed to was tight end.
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'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.
What about throwing Wilfork in there at FB on goal line situations?
Time has proven that Maroney simply wasn't a good running back. There's not much else to be said.