Dr. Z: Colts No Huddle Killed Pats...

[BigMike]

Although we already know this - I didnt realize the Pats "D" was on the field for 80 snaps...

"Technically it's called the no-huddle. Dominic Rhodes, the Colts' heavy-duty running back, calls it the Quick. Ryan Lilja, the 290-pound left guard, calls it "our Lightning offense." It wore out the Patriots in the AFC title game on Sunday. It kept the New England defense on the field for 80 snaps -- and the coup de grace was administered by the power running game. The Colts did the same thing to the Ravens in the divisional round, finishing the game with 10 of 12 running plays. They dominated a defense that was supposed to be impregnable. "Everybody gets tired playing against it," Lilja says. "You see guys lying down, faking injuries to slow us down. You see people taking themselves out of the game to catch their breath."

 

[sieglo]

Actually it was the short week, flu, key injuries, and high temperatures in the dome that killed the Pats D. That's what cost us the game -- not Manning, dropped passes by Reche, too many men in the huddle, or bad officiating on pass interference.

Credit where credit is due, though -- the Colts no huddle was the perfect thing given the Pats problems with conditioning and injury.

 

[unoriginal]

You're both right.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Loud noises.....make it go away... Just kidding..

 

[PATSNUTme]

If Dr. Z says it , it must be true.

BTW, what is he a Dr. of?

 

[Mike the Brit]

BTW, what is he a Dr. of?

That is a REALLY good question.

 

[PATSNUTme]

That is a REALLY good question.

Maybe I'll start calling myself Dr. Nut.:rocker:

 

[BelichickFan]

BTW, what is he a Dr. of?

He's a doctor of football. Duh.

 

[richpats]

BTW, both the Colts OC and offensive line coach, each have over 30 years experience in the NFL, which is more than Josh's age.

So that only proves that Dean Pees was outcoached by guys with 30+ years experience. Yeah, remember Dean Pees? Does anyone? He's that OTHER coordinator who's side of the ball truly collapsed against Indy. Actually, his D had been slipping throughout the playoffs, while McDaniels' offense improved during the postseason.

Points (allowed/scored) against Indy (Week 9 & AFC title game)
NE Offense: (20 & 27, +7)
NE Defense: (27 & 38, -11)

OFFENSE improves, DEFENSE declines against Indy

PPG (allowed/scored) - reg season & playoffs
NE Offense: (24.1 & 27.0, +2.9 ppg)
NE Defense: (14.8 & 25.0, -10.2 ppg)

OFFENSE improves, DEFENSE declines in the postseason

PPG (allowed/scored) against winning teams (reg season & playoffs)
NE Offense: (16.4 & 27.0, +11.6 ppg)
NE Defense: (18.2 & 25.0, -6.8 ppg)

OFFENSE improves, DEFENSE declines against winning teams

The truth is, if the D had managed to just play at the level it had during the regular season, the Indy game would have gone our way. In past seasons, the D would always step up its play in the playoffs (especially against the Colts). This year's offense put up the highest ppg of all of Belichick's Pats teams in the postseason...and the defense allowed the highest - where was our weak link again?

 

[PATSNUTme]

So that only proves that Dean Pees was outcoached by guys with 30+ years experience. Yeah, remember Dean Pees? Does anyone? He's that OTHER coordinator who's side of the ball truly collapsed against Indy. Actually, his D had been slipping throughout the playoffs, while McDaniels' offense improved during the postseason.

Points (allowed/scored) against Indy (Week 9 & AFC title game)
NE Offense: (20 & 27, +7)
NE Defense: (27 & 38, -11)

OFFENSE improves, DEFENSE declines against Indy

PPG (allowed/scored) - reg season & playoffs
NE Offense: (24.1 & 27.0, +2.9 ppg)
NE Defense: (14.8 & 25.0, -10.2 ppg)

OFFENSE improves, DEFENSE declines in the postseason

PPG (allowed/scored) against winning teams (reg season & playoffs)
NE Offense: (16.4 & 27.0, +11.6 ppg)
NE Defense: (18.2 & 25.0, -6.8 ppg)

OFFENSE improves, DEFENSE declines against winning teams

The truth is, if the D had managed to just play at the level it had during the regular season, the Indy game would have gone our way. In past seasons, the D would always step up its play in the playoffs (especially against the Colts). This year's offense put up the highest ppg of all of Belichick's Pats teams in the postseason...and the defense allowed the highest - where was our weak link again?

This is NEM on drugs. This is NEM off drugs. It's like the same sucky song that keeps going through your head. But good luck if you think you can make sense from non-sense.

 

[richpats]

As badly as our D played in the 2nd half, go back and look at the game book, and complet play by play.

The defense was forced to play themselves into exhaustion while the offense did nothing to hold up their part of the bargain...mainly because, again IMO, the play selection was pitiful...for the most part.

I looked at the drive chart- our D gave up FIVE consecutive scoring drives to Indy, allowing 28 points. Their failure each drive just helped ensure more failure the next drive.

If we are to take for granted this type of collapse, then the Pats don't deserve to be in the Super Bowl.

 

[richpats]

BTW, the Pats under Belichick, were 32-0 in games where the Pats scored 30+ points before the AFC title game. Normally if the offense did it's job, the Pats would always win.

 

[richpats]

I amnot suggesting that our defense played a good game, the did not, especially in the 2nd half, but, as badly as they may have played, (Due to exhaustion) they still gave our offense enough opportunites to take control, and the offense didnt get it done.

So in the Denver playoff game, as badly as the offense/special teams mishandled the ball, the defense still had opportunities to make stops, and the defense didn't get it done.

Same logic- take the blame off the obvious party and expect the other to clean up the mess.

How many people blamed the defense for the Denver playoff loss?

 

[sieglo]

BTW, what is he a Dr. of?

Douchebaggery?

 

[Pats Fanatic]

BTW, what is he a Dr. of?

This might explain it.

 

[NEPat]

I like Dr. Z! Maybe I'm the only one, but I like to read his columns, even if he goes on tangents sometimes. I like that he will criticize anyone if he thinks they deserve it, he doesn't have any sacred cows.

I don't always agree with him, like when he went after Seymour, but I think he does a good job overall.

 

[jbb9s]

It should be noted that all of our draft picks last year were for the offense and therefore, Josh has less of an excuse thn Dan does. At least Pees can say "look, I have no young studs to work with" where as McDaniels can say "my 1st pick I like to run inside where he dances and loses yards instead of using his speed to get to the outside, my 2nd pick saw 5 plays out of over 200 in the playoffs, my 3rd pick had one monster game and then was relegated back to special teams even though he #1 (or#2) TE is about to walk in FA, my 4th pick was on IR and my 6th pick had lost the starting job to a second year who has no business starting in a playoff game".

Blame goes to offense for this one. One first down to Brown and I am packing my bags right now for south beach.

 

[DaBruinz]

I looked at the drive chart- our D gave up FIVE consecutive scoring drives to Indy, allowing 28 points. Their failure each drive just helped ensure more failure the next drive.

If we are to take for granted this type of collapse, then the Pats don't deserve to be in the Super Bowl.

Unfortunately for you, Richpats, that isn't reality. The Pats defense did not give up 5 consecutive drives at any point during the game.

Usually, when you say consecutive, you mean without interruption. Now, the Colts did score on 4 consecutive possessions. But, in there, the Pats ALSO scored. And the Colts didn't score 5 in a row.

The Pats offense didn't help the Pats defense any by going 3 and out 3 times in the 2nd half. And the Pats offense didn't help the defense by not scoring a TD when they started with the ball at the Indy 46 and Indy 43. Then, with 3:26 left, the Pats offense couldn't even get a 1st down.

So, please, tell us again how it was only the DEFENSE that let the team down.

 

[363839]

It should be noted that all of our draft picks last year were for the offense and therefore, Josh has less of an excuse thn Dan does. At least Pees can say "look, I have no young studs to work with" where as McDaniels can say "my 1st pick I like to run inside where he dances and loses yards instead of using his speed to get to the outside, my 2nd pick saw 5 plays out of over 200 in the playoffs, my 3rd pick had one monster game and then was relegated back to special teams even though he #1 (or#2) TE is about to walk in FA, my 4th pick was on IR and my 6th pick had lost the starting job to a second year who has no business starting in a playoff game".

Blame goes to offense for this one. One first down to Brown and I am packing my bags right now for south beach.

Those are all good points about the offense but as for the McDaniels comment, I got to say that all those things you mention are not all solely his decision. It was probably BB that made the decision regarding Chad Jackson's playing time. It may also have been BB's decision to get Maroney running up the middle just to toughen him or see how he would respond. Dave Thomas had his share of catches for a 3rd string TE not to mention a rookie.

 

[DaBruinz]

It should be noted that all of our draft picks last year were for the offense and therefore, Josh has less of an excuse thn Dan does. At least Pees can say "look, I have no young studs to work with" where as McDaniels can say "my 1st pick I like to run inside where he dances and loses yards instead of using his speed to get to the outside, my 2nd pick saw 5 plays out of over 200 in the playoffs, my 3rd pick had one monster game and then was relegated back to special teams even though he #1 (or#2) TE is about to walk in FA, my 4th pick was on IR and my 6th pick had lost the starting job to a second year who has no business starting in a playoff game".

Blame goes to offense for this one. One first down to Brown and I am packing my bags right now for south beach.

All of the Pats draft picks were NOT for offense. Stephen Gostkowski is Special teams. Willie Andrews, Jeremy Mincey, and LeKevan Smith were all defense.

As for you crapping on the players, your expectations for rookies are clearly out of whack.

Kaczur played pretty damn well last year and, once he was healthy, this year as well. To say he shouldn't have been playing in a play-off game is just stupidity on your part.