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....on Superbowl Sunday....and some other assorted thoughts, because I'm already so BORED waiting for this freakin' game to happen! 
1. I desperately want to LOSE... the coin toss. The more I see the games unfold, the more I am CONVINCED that having the ball to start the 2nd half is an advantage. I've already gven the reasons several times so I won't waste your time repeating all of them, but I will mention one that is specific to THIS game.
With all the hoopla and a Giants team with NO superbowl experience, it will be very difficult to put together an effective offensive drive at the start of the game, when they will be SOOOO amped up. On the other hand, being THAT amped up could be an advantage if they start on defense. I could be wrong, but I don't remember a lot of scoring on opening drives in the Superbowl. It takes a bit of time for the offenses to get settled down. Suffice it to say, that I would feel relieved if we started the game kicking off.
2. On defense I want to see more of the trap type coverages which were so effective against the Colts in 2003 & 2004. To be more specific, coverages that provide tight coverage in the short zones and opportunities for turnovers when routes are read correctly.
This is just ONE example. At the snap the defensive front rushes 4 or 5 to signal immediate pressure to the QB. The CB jumps to the LOS to provide IMMEDIATE phyisical pressure to the WR (ie Burress). The CB then releases the WR to a rotating S, after about 5-7 yds and jumps the underneath short route.
Now here's the trap. If the QB, feeling the pressure, throws to his hot receiver in the flat, the result is a shot at pick, or at worst a short gain. However if the QB thinks he sees the CB on his flat receiver, he will know to throw to the deep out underneath the rotating S. What Law did so well vs Manninng was to read the QBs eyes and drop off the short man and get UNDERNEATH the deep out for the pick. Law litterally 'trapped' Manning into throwing the deep out.
Now this is just one example of a trap coverage that uses more pressure and tighter coverages than the Pats have shown lately. There is an INFINITE world of additional coverages that could be explained. The point is that THIS game would be a great time to bring some of them out against a relatively inexperienced QB who has a history of getting confused vs pressure, even if its only PERCEIVED pressure.
3. Now this will be a shock to those who read my missives, but I REALLY want to see SEVERAL Play Action Passes (PAP) this game. We have a legitimate explosive running threat, and strong running OL, and an extremely DANGEROUS set of WRs. Isn't this the perfect situation to run PAPs. Now I may seem to be stating the obvious, but somehow the memo hasn't gotten to Josh.
Most people think that bootleg action requires a running threat from the QB position, but not really. It is a great way for team to break keys and create holes in a secondary. If only ONE person makes a miss stet it can create huge gaps in the secondary. IMHO, Brady would be able to do damage to the Giant's seconday off the Bootleg action, especially since he hasn't done it yet IIRC.
The PAP off the stretch, or power plays is another difficult read for a defense. I think the PAP off the power play will be more effective in THIS game, since I think the Pats will want to run INSIDE the DE, to take advantage of the outside rush. This will be especially effective against Osi.
Another great one is the fake power and the pass to the FB in the flat or seam. We haven't shown this much this year, and will be even more effective given Maroney's recent running success.
4. As in the last game, I want to see Maroney more active in the passing game. I want to see swing passes and delays to go along with the usual screen passes. The Giants (by tendency) will be ready for passes to a RB when Faulk is in there, and runs/screens with Maroney. I want to take advantage of that prior tendency.
5. I want to see some motions from Moss that will make it easier for him to get quick releases of the LOS. I also want to see him attacking the deep middle and their safeties, rather than the sidelines and and their CBs. Though I don't think EITHER of their CBs can match speed with Randy.... their Safeties are even slower. Either way I think this will be a big game for Moss.
6. The Giants CAN'T win unless they get at least one special teams TD. They got one last time they played, and it can't happen again. I want to see the same great coverage that we got against the Chargers...who had a better returner. All I want from the Pat's return teams is NOT to FUMBLE. Any return yardage is just plain gravy IMHO. Getting special teams TO's is the other way the GIants can stay in this game.
Those are the specific things I'd like to see the Pats do on game day. It will be interesting to see how many come to pass. Now what is your list of things YOU'D like to see.?
GENERAL THOUGHTS... for a bye week that may or may not have any interest
1. Conspiracy Theories:
a. I don't think BB concocted Brady's "high ankle". I DO think that he might be taking advantage of it by holding out Brady from any of the team's practices until they get to Arizona.
Now I don't think that BB is thinking that anyone will believe that Brady won't be playing in the game. No, I'm thinking he's doing it for the "little guy". I think he feels badly that Pats bettors have been 2-7 in the last 9 games, and he wants to drop the odds a bit to give all the Pats supporters a better chance to get their money back.
Now what OTHER HC would be that conciderate, compassionate, and caring. It doesn't hurt the teams chances of winnning. Besides it will definitely give the media something else to focus on rather than Moss' hearing and spygate. AND gives BB additional chances to tweak the media pukes for a few days with his cryptic and ambiguous responses to their inane questions.
2. Like I predicted the media focus on the Giants is in full swing. It seems every show has lined up a Giant as an in studio guest, with corresponding "analysts, that hype the Giants momentum and the fact that Eli has a better QB rating than Brady. Meanwhile any Pats coverage is religated to the stock interviews in the Pats lockerroom, in which the Pats players give their best imitation of BB's party line....in other words....NOTHING of interest.
On the other hand, with the instudio Giants players, experienced interviews like Bob Costas can manipulate the inexperienced GIants players into making provocative remarks like the Osi did on HBO. It also serves a dual purpose of putting the Pats into a BAD light. (BTW- its not like Osi is a friend of mine, but I have NO chance of coming close to spelling his last name. )
3. Speaking of that, even though its been proven ON FILM that Seymour didn't do anything of the things that the Hartwick claimed, its still being reported as if it were fact. Also the Packer claims that the Giants were the dirtiest team in the league has been completely ignored. Only the Pats do dirty things. Clearly the Good v Evil story is being ramped up again, especially by the NY media. I'm sure it is ironically satisfying that a NY team is being pictured as the "little engine that could", rather than the "evil empire" that MOST NY teams get when they are successful.
So be prepared for that tactic to be in full force next week. Remember the truth and fair play won't be factors in their reporting. Don't forget that its "all about them", and shaping the story to the message THEY think will sell, which is much more important than what is actually going to happen on the field.
4. I'm already tired of the ramp up to the Superbowl. If the game were THIS Sunday it couldn't happen soon enough. BUT NOOOOOOOOOOO!, its a WEEK from Sunday.... and a six oclock start to boot. The 2 week wait is great for the teams, and I guess the media loves it because it give them 2 weeks to create content. But for the fan, its like slow torture.
OK, I'll stop here. If I make it much longer many might refuse to read it all, and since I have 10 more days until the game, I'd be better served saving some stuff for later in the week. Enjoy....I hope.
1. I desperately want to LOSE... the coin toss. The more I see the games unfold, the more I am CONVINCED that having the ball to start the 2nd half is an advantage. I've already gven the reasons several times so I won't waste your time repeating all of them, but I will mention one that is specific to THIS game.
With all the hoopla and a Giants team with NO superbowl experience, it will be very difficult to put together an effective offensive drive at the start of the game, when they will be SOOOO amped up. On the other hand, being THAT amped up could be an advantage if they start on defense. I could be wrong, but I don't remember a lot of scoring on opening drives in the Superbowl. It takes a bit of time for the offenses to get settled down. Suffice it to say, that I would feel relieved if we started the game kicking off.
2. On defense I want to see more of the trap type coverages which were so effective against the Colts in 2003 & 2004. To be more specific, coverages that provide tight coverage in the short zones and opportunities for turnovers when routes are read correctly.
This is just ONE example. At the snap the defensive front rushes 4 or 5 to signal immediate pressure to the QB. The CB jumps to the LOS to provide IMMEDIATE phyisical pressure to the WR (ie Burress). The CB then releases the WR to a rotating S, after about 5-7 yds and jumps the underneath short route.
Now here's the trap. If the QB, feeling the pressure, throws to his hot receiver in the flat, the result is a shot at pick, or at worst a short gain. However if the QB thinks he sees the CB on his flat receiver, he will know to throw to the deep out underneath the rotating S. What Law did so well vs Manninng was to read the QBs eyes and drop off the short man and get UNDERNEATH the deep out for the pick. Law litterally 'trapped' Manning into throwing the deep out.
Now this is just one example of a trap coverage that uses more pressure and tighter coverages than the Pats have shown lately. There is an INFINITE world of additional coverages that could be explained. The point is that THIS game would be a great time to bring some of them out against a relatively inexperienced QB who has a history of getting confused vs pressure, even if its only PERCEIVED pressure.
3. Now this will be a shock to those who read my missives, but I REALLY want to see SEVERAL Play Action Passes (PAP) this game. We have a legitimate explosive running threat, and strong running OL, and an extremely DANGEROUS set of WRs. Isn't this the perfect situation to run PAPs. Now I may seem to be stating the obvious, but somehow the memo hasn't gotten to Josh.
Most people think that bootleg action requires a running threat from the QB position, but not really. It is a great way for team to break keys and create holes in a secondary. If only ONE person makes a miss stet it can create huge gaps in the secondary. IMHO, Brady would be able to do damage to the Giant's seconday off the Bootleg action, especially since he hasn't done it yet IIRC.
The PAP off the stretch, or power plays is another difficult read for a defense. I think the PAP off the power play will be more effective in THIS game, since I think the Pats will want to run INSIDE the DE, to take advantage of the outside rush. This will be especially effective against Osi.
Another great one is the fake power and the pass to the FB in the flat or seam. We haven't shown this much this year, and will be even more effective given Maroney's recent running success.
4. As in the last game, I want to see Maroney more active in the passing game. I want to see swing passes and delays to go along with the usual screen passes. The Giants (by tendency) will be ready for passes to a RB when Faulk is in there, and runs/screens with Maroney. I want to take advantage of that prior tendency.
5. I want to see some motions from Moss that will make it easier for him to get quick releases of the LOS. I also want to see him attacking the deep middle and their safeties, rather than the sidelines and and their CBs. Though I don't think EITHER of their CBs can match speed with Randy.... their Safeties are even slower. Either way I think this will be a big game for Moss.
6. The Giants CAN'T win unless they get at least one special teams TD. They got one last time they played, and it can't happen again. I want to see the same great coverage that we got against the Chargers...who had a better returner. All I want from the Pat's return teams is NOT to FUMBLE. Any return yardage is just plain gravy IMHO. Getting special teams TO's is the other way the GIants can stay in this game.
Those are the specific things I'd like to see the Pats do on game day. It will be interesting to see how many come to pass. Now what is your list of things YOU'D like to see.?
GENERAL THOUGHTS... for a bye week that may or may not have any interest
1. Conspiracy Theories:
a. I don't think BB concocted Brady's "high ankle". I DO think that he might be taking advantage of it by holding out Brady from any of the team's practices until they get to Arizona.
Now I don't think that BB is thinking that anyone will believe that Brady won't be playing in the game. No, I'm thinking he's doing it for the "little guy". I think he feels badly that Pats bettors have been 2-7 in the last 9 games, and he wants to drop the odds a bit to give all the Pats supporters a better chance to get their money back.
Now what OTHER HC would be that conciderate, compassionate, and caring. It doesn't hurt the teams chances of winnning. Besides it will definitely give the media something else to focus on rather than Moss' hearing and spygate. AND gives BB additional chances to tweak the media pukes for a few days with his cryptic and ambiguous responses to their inane questions.
2. Like I predicted the media focus on the Giants is in full swing. It seems every show has lined up a Giant as an in studio guest, with corresponding "analysts, that hype the Giants momentum and the fact that Eli has a better QB rating than Brady. Meanwhile any Pats coverage is religated to the stock interviews in the Pats lockerroom, in which the Pats players give their best imitation of BB's party line....in other words....NOTHING of interest.
On the other hand, with the instudio Giants players, experienced interviews like Bob Costas can manipulate the inexperienced GIants players into making provocative remarks like the Osi did on HBO. It also serves a dual purpose of putting the Pats into a BAD light. (BTW- its not like Osi is a friend of mine, but I have NO chance of coming close to spelling his last name.
)3. Speaking of that, even though its been proven ON FILM that Seymour didn't do anything of the things that the Hartwick claimed, its still being reported as if it were fact. Also the Packer claims that the Giants were the dirtiest team in the league has been completely ignored. Only the Pats do dirty things. Clearly the Good v Evil story is being ramped up again, especially by the NY media. I'm sure it is ironically satisfying that a NY team is being pictured as the "little engine that could", rather than the "evil empire" that MOST NY teams get when they are successful.
So be prepared for that tactic to be in full force next week. Remember the truth and fair play won't be factors in their reporting. Don't forget that its "all about them", and shaping the story to the message THEY think will sell, which is much more important than what is actually going to happen on the field.
4. I'm already tired of the ramp up to the Superbowl. If the game were THIS Sunday it couldn't happen soon enough. BUT NOOOOOOOOOOO!, its a WEEK from Sunday.... and a six oclock start to boot.
The 2 week wait is great for the teams, and I guess the media loves it because it give them 2 weeks to create content. But for the fan, its like slow torture.OK, I'll stop here. If I make it much longer many might refuse to read it all, and since I have 10 more days until the game, I'd be better served saving some stuff for later in the week. Enjoy....I hope.
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