Nate Solder TD reception

What a game and what a play!?!? A NATE SOLDER TD RECEPTION!?!? absolutely crazy

My brother and I were talking about it later though....and while the play clearly worked, was this an example of the Patriots out-thinking themselves?

Before you start with the 'The play worked! Just be happy you ungrateful (bleep)." Just remember this is a fan messageboard so I'm just trying to start an insightful intelligent conversation.

So here is why I found the play call to be questionable.

On any third down in a massive rainstorm I would find it odd to pass to any player that has little to no receiving skills. Add in the fact that it was third and 1 in a game in which the rushing game was dominant. When taking those two statements together it seems like an odd time to call that play.

If Belichick/McDaniels had the intentions of going for it on fourth down if the play was unsuccessful then the play does make sense. Do you think that was the case?

Solder was a high shool tight end. Probably has caught bunch of passes in practice. Looked like a great call to me.

Froob said:

Solder was a high shool tight end. Probably has caught bunch of passes in practice. Looked like a great call to me.

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I was unaware of that fact so thank you for sharing. While it makes the call easier to understand I'm sure it's been a long time since he's caught passes on a regular basis.

Almost like the bomb they threw to Matthew Slater in last year's game. He's technically listed as a receiver but certainly a peculiar call.

Froob said:

Solder was a high shool tight end.

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Yes, this makes all the difference. He's done this before.

Imagine how long the list of formations and plays that need to be prepared for that the Seattle defensive coaching staff is making over the next few days.

brdmaverick said:

On any third down in a massive rainstorm I would find it odd to pass to any player that has little to no receiving skills. Add in the fact that it was third and 1 in a game in which the rushing game was dominant. When taking those two statements together it seems like an odd time to call that play.

If Belichick/McDaniels had the intentions of going for it on fourth down if the play was unsuccessful then the play does make sense. Do you think that was the case?

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First, I am not sure what you are basing him having little to no receiving skills on. He was recruited in college as a TE, and did not transition to a Tackle until his Sophmore (3rd because he Red Shirted) year. The reason he plays Tackle has nothing to do with whether or not he has good hands, it has to do with his frame, and ability to block. While he is certainly not a graceful route runner, I have never heard that the reason he was moved from TE had anything to do with his hands. I don't doubt at all that this play has been run quite a few times in practice, and they found it to be a high percentage play, otherwise they wouldn't have run it in that situation.

Keep in mind that the previous drive they ran 8 plays inside the 15 without scoring a touchdown. That probably contributed to the decision to pull out something new.

I think it was also 3rd and inches. No doubt a QB sneak or something on 4th down if Solder had dropped it.

brdmaverick said:

I was unaware of that fact so thank you for sharing. While it makes the call easier to understand I'm sure it's been a long time since he's caught passes on a regular basis.

Almost like the bomb they threw to Matthew Slater in last year's game. He's technically listed as a receiver but certainly a peculiar call.

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Do you remember the LB who caught his first TD in the 03 SB?

Should've kept this play for the SB. Oh well, hopefully the Pats win anyway.

Galeb said:

Do you remember the LB who caught his first TD in the 03 SB?

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Of course, Mike Vrabel indoors in perfect weather conditions. I'm all for trying to be creative, I'm just not sure doing it in the rain when the running game was dominating was the right time. Clearly it worked, though and will make a great highlight on my highlight tapes.

I was hoping McDaniels would call a Nate Solder goal line play since I first saw it in 2012 against Miami. He was wide open but unfortunately he was the final read and as soon as Brady turned to look for him(all other receivers were covered) he got sacked because Donald Thomas couldn't pick up his block in the run fake.

I never thought they would call the play on a 3rd and 1 but not on the goal line!!! Freaking awesome! Glad he finally got his receiving TD. I've been waiting for that for 2 years!

patsderoer said:

Should've kept this play for the SB. Oh well, hopefully the Pats win anyway.

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We've got all of the plays that we didn't use against GB at Lambeau to use.

brdmaverick said:

On any third down in a massive rainstorm I would find it odd to pass to any player that has little to no receiving skills. Add in the fact that it was third and 1 in a game in which the rushing game was dominant. When taking those two statements together it seems like an odd time to call that play.

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I don't think the Patriots would allow a play like that to go forward if they weren't reasonably sure it could be successful. (Obviously there are no guarantees, etc.) But this is just another play like the Edelman-to-Amendola TD last week—tested in practice, and now put into motion in the game itself.

big boy trucked it. always fun to see a guy like that get a clutch reception

Adds it to the list of play types on tape that seattle needs to game plan for. I think that was the reason they did a lot of unique things last night even after the game was out of hand.

brdmaverick said:

I was unaware of that fact so thank you for sharing. While it makes the call easier to understand I'm sure it's been a long time since he's caught passes on a regular basis.

Almost like the bomb they threw to Matthew Slater in last year's game. He's technically listed as a receiver but certainly a peculiar call.

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I expect they've run this a lot in practice before using it in a game.

High school tight end, college tight end.... whatever. I seem to remember him running routes for us his rookie year when Light was entrenched at LT.

His catching the ball was comparable to JE11 throwing a pass. It was more along the lines of, "it's about time," than, "WTF?"

Maybe he can become an all pro TE like JJ Watt

As a general rule, if a play involves an unconventional QB or receiver, the receiver will be wide open when the pass is thrown. I think there may have been a few Vrabel receptions where that wasn't as true, but ... well, I looked it up, and Mike Vrabel had twice as many career TD receptions as Michael Hoomanawanui (up to this point) and Rod Rutledge (who is long retired) combined.