Idle thoughts - the "God has a sense of humor" edition

Rob0729 · Feb 2, 2015

BTW, I did see a lot of talking heads giving Butler his proper due for an incredible play on the ball. Unfortunately, the way the press works, the focus will always be on the bad play call over the the incredible play by Butler.

If the Seahawks won, the focus would have been on the miracle catch by Kearse.

Oswlek · Feb 2, 2015

pencilneckgeek said:
No. 2014 prediction season is over. Only the players and coaches get credit today (unless you predicted a recurrence of the David Tyree catch and then redemption for Asante Samuel in the end zone).

pencilneckgeek said:
My last post notwithstanding, kudos to Ken for identifying the spread them out short-pass game plan in one of his pregame threads. Thanks for sharing your Idle Thoughts this year.

Hey! Wait a minute! I don't get credit for my prediction, but Ken gets credit for his in the very next post? When I also predicted NE would pass all over them? Offending am I.

50-yard-line said:
One thing I want to know: when Sherman was doing the 2-4, was he taunting Revis or counting their points.

My guess is...both.

But I hope I'm wrong. I hope it was just the points. The guy has all-world talent. He's too good and too smart to be that much of a punk.

Or is he?

It was a clear diss.

PP2 said:
Carroll simply fell on the grenade for his OC, Bevell's choice of call. I also don't think Bevell is to be blamed either, because when the entire world is expecting you to do one thing, you as an OC, are naturally going to instinctively not give them that. I also wouldn't blame Wilson; that throw was on the money.

Lost in all this is Bill's choice to not use the TO - one that I was apoplectic about at the time. Had he called the TO, it would have given Seattle an opportunity to discuss the play as well as enough time to feel comfortable running it three times. Instead, with the clock running down under 30 seconds and only one TO, they needed to act quickly.

Frankly, the play call wasn't that bad since they were thinking it would have either scored or stopped the clock, setting up the chance to do two runs. Sometimes the other guy just beats you.

pencilneckgeek · Feb 2, 2015

Oswlek said:
Lost in all this is Bill's choice to not use the TO - one that I was apoplectic about at the time. Had he called the TO, it would have given Seattle an opportunity to discuss the play as well as enough time to feel comfortable running it three times. Instead, with the clock running down under 30 seconds and only one TO, they needed to act quickly.

Frankly, the play call wasn't that bad since they were thinking it would have either scored or stopped the clock, setting up the chance to do two runs. Sometimes the other guy just beats you.

I had the same reaction after first down. I screamed that it was "simple mathematics" to call the TO then, but if BB had, Lynch would have had three cracks at it.

FlyboyPatsFan · Feb 2, 2015

Sticky Caulk said:
Has anyone else noticed that Brandon Bolden is the hardest hitting player on the team? He has straight up demolished people, especially lately. His rocking of Avril was a huge, game changing play.

Yup! Bolden has sent a few guys the to the locker room this season including demolishing a Studebaker. Hate to see guys coughing up blood on the side lines, but jeeez... Bolden sure has some lead in his pencil.

NYCPatsFan · Feb 2, 2015

What I loved most about the Butler INT was that he was playing and giving his best until the whistle blew - a concept that BB praised as a great trait of the Seahawks.

I mean, consider this - you are part of a D trying to prevent a TD and get the fourth SB, your spirits undoubtedly got crushed just seconds back due to a miracle catch AGAIN, your opponent is a yard away from waltzing into the end zone using Beast Mode or Russell himself taking it or the big WR Mathews, and there are only 30 second in the clock with the opponent having time outs to decide which killer blow to use - and yet, this undrafted rookie remains focussed and is all about playing his best until the whistle blows.

UNBELIEVABLE!!

Thank you Butler!

Though I was praying for Revis for an INT to shut that Sherman up for ever, I am glad to see Butler do this and seal his place in the Pats history.

Wish Brady had tossed the keys to that car to him

DarrylS · Feb 2, 2015

Oswlek said:
Absolutely. Everyone is my house was going crazy, but I was still very nervous about getting two kneels in without getting pushed back for a safety. The Patriots just schooled them there - and why not? How much further back can you go if you get called for drawing them offside? After that, it was a done deal and the Seahawks knew it, which is why they threw the equivalent of a temper tantrum. Seeing them act like cheap SOBs was immensely satisfying.

Great game. The better team won.

Next couple of days will hear how they practice for this situation, which would not surprise me a bit, the Pats are kings of situational football and preparation for any eventuality helps make them the better team.

pencilneckgeek · Feb 2, 2015

I'm still in disbelief over the game. The Pats were dominant aside from a few big plays: Chris Matthews two downfield completions, the Wagner interception, the Kearse catch. And the big mistakes were the Pats: Brady's first interception and Ryan gifting Matthews a TD at the half. Take away one of those, and the Pats win comfortably. There were other big plays - Edelman and Gronk had key receptions, Wilson broke contain before the half for a long gain, the 31-yard Lynch reception, etc., but those weren't game changers. They were just drive extenders. In the end, the Pats had to make a game changing play, and Malcolm Butler was the guy to do it. It almost seems arbitrary, but there is no gray area when it comes to winning and losing. Do your job and make the play when you need to. Playing well wasn't enough. A player at the end of the roster made the last big play and all is sunshine and roses in New England this morning (and snow and ice, as it should be).

IcyPatriot · Feb 2, 2015

Arrington and Ryan were having very bad games ... so in came Butler end of 3rd quarter or so.

This play was all about Belichick's attention to even the final additions to the 53.

pencilneckgeek · Feb 2, 2015

DarrylS said:
Next couple of days will hear how they practice for this situation, which would not surprise me a bit, the Pats are kings of situational football and preparation for any eventuality helps make them the better team.

Butler did say in an interview after the game that he recognized what they were trying to do from film and that he just went to make a play on the ball. The fact that Browner didn't budge in bump & run made a huge difference there, too.

DarrylS · Feb 2, 2015

pencilneckgeek said:
Butler did say in an interview after the game that he recognized what they were trying to do from film and that he just went to make a play on the ball. The fact that Browner didn't budge in bump & run made a huge difference there, too.

I was referring to how well they were prepared for kneel downs on the Seattle 1 yard line, and in all probability had practiced that.. it really doesn't matter.

PP2 · Feb 2, 2015

Oswlek said:
Lost in all this is Bill's choice to not use the TO - one that I was apoplectic about at the time. Had he called the TO, it would have given Seattle an opportunity to discuss the play as well as enough time to feel comfortable running it three times. Instead, with the clock running down under 30 seconds and only one TO, they needed to act quickly.

Exactly.

When all the smoke clears from this drama, this will be recognized as one of the greatest coaching moment in superbowl history. Just a ballsy, gutsy call that forced Seattle into a standoff and they blinked first.

Fencer · Feb 2, 2015

Uncle Rico said:
it was fairly early, Wilson rolled out to the left and Revis flew up to swipe him down for a two-yard loss.

Yeah. It was a rare occasion on which a run in which Wilson was flushed from the pocket turned into a small loss rather than an annoyingly big gain.

PP2 · Feb 2, 2015

pencilneckgeek said:
The fact that Browner didn't budge in bump & run made a huge difference there, too.

That also is a huge, huge veteran move. Had he shifted, he would have become the pick that wiped out Butler and we would be looking at a very different ending.

Fencer · Feb 2, 2015

NYCPatsFan said:
What I loved most about the Butler INT was that he was playing and giving his best until the whistle blew - a concept that BB praised as a great trait of the Seahawks.

I mean, consider this - you are part of a D trying to prevent a TD and get the fourth SB, your spirits undoubtedly got crushed just seconds back due to a miracle catch AGAIN, your opponent is a yard away from waltzing into the end zone using Beast Mode or Russell himself taking it or the big WR Mathews, and there are only 30 second in the clock with the opponent having time outs to decide which killer blow to use - and yet, this undrafted rookie remains focussed and is all about playing his best until the whistle blows.

UNBELIEVABLE!!

Thank you Butler!

Though I was praying for Revis for an INT to shut that Sherman up for ever, I am glad to see Butler do this and seal his place in the Pats history.

Wish Brady had tossed the keys to that car to him

I think the defense was expecting to fail -- Browner had a quote to that effect. But nonetheless, they played as hard as they could.

Shades of the oft-cited Kansas City halftime vibe. They team expected to lose (correctly in that case), but didn't quit.

ausbacker · Feb 2, 2015

Rob0729 said:
BTW, I did see a lot of talking heads giving Butler his proper due for an incredible play on the ball. Unfortunately, the way the press works, the focus will always be on the bad play call over the the incredible play by Butler.

If the Seahawks won, the focus would have been on the miracle catch by Kearse.

The way some ****heads in the media are carrying on, you would think the Seahawks lost the perfect season on a helmet catch.

It's obvious to me now just how much the wider media community loathes the Patriots. Even some of the stories now are trumpeting Seattle lost it not New England won. Get ****ed. Seattle shouldn't have even been in the game if it weren't for the Patriots first half brain farts. From there, they showed their championship credentials only for a masterful 4th quarter performance from Brady and the Patriots.

Butler made a hell of a play. Nobody can convince me otherwise.

pencilneckgeek · Feb 2, 2015

DarrylS said:
I was referring to how well they were prepared for kneel downs on the Seattle 1 yard line, and in all probability had practiced that.. it really doesn't matter.

Maybe, but you could read Belichick's lips when Tom went over to the sideline, before the play where Seattle was offside. He said, "Just fire off." That would have been one hell of a suspenseful QB sneak.

Kulko · Feb 2, 2015

RelocatedPatFan said:
Butler made 3 heads up plays in a very short period.

First he made sure to tackle Kearse when he got one of the "those" completions. I mean you're heart just sunk and we all shared the same look as TB did on the sidelines. Kearse could have scored from there (though I would have been ok with the amount of time left on the clock, but why risk it).

I also want to point our that Harmon never played the ball/whistle and jumped over Kearse while he was playing bouncy football with his legs. This will be an excellent teaching point for BB next training camp.

I find it very hard for Harmon to be faulted in this play. The receiver is lying defenseless on the ground and has apparently no chance to catch that ball. Harmon is coming full speed, sop basically his only options are jumping or driving into the receiver. In the second Scenario Kearse does not catch the ball, but since it the ref would surely have assumed it to be uncatchable already there is a very good chance of a late hit flag, which would have resulted in the same scenario as a catch. And remember these players are conditioned for years to avoid this kind of stupid penalties, so this is hard to switch of in a split second. And once he decided to jump there was no way of turning back fast enough to change the outcome.
But your point about Butler is correct it was very well defended and superbly reacted once the catastrophe struck.

RelocatedPatFan said:
Third - I believe he was aware that one of his feet stepped into the field of play/out of the end zone, so that is why he jumped to the 2 yard line. Maybe I'm giving him too much credit or maybe people are overlooking it because I've heard it mentioned many times that he should have gone down in the endzone or (most likely situation) I'm not 100% certain on the rules, but it could have resulted in a safety.

I think the momentum of his catch (Actually of his collision with Locette) was driving him backward and therefore he would be ok, to stay in the endzone. But better safe then sorry. And seeing a victory Formation at the half yard line and how this would evolve was actually very fascinating to see.

RelocatedPatFan said:

And for people complaining about the tripping penalty (mostly because Collinsworth called it out), doesn't a defender have a right to protect/brace himself when he hits the ground. I don't recall seeing him swipe at the feet of the defender.

As always its the defenders job to make sure he does not risk the punters safety. Unless he blocks the punt he has no business rolling into the punters leg at the most dangerous point, and that has always been a clear roughing Penalty. But I would check this one also under the SB-Special "let them play" rule. and I would be very surprised if we hadn't had our share of No-calls under this rule too.

RelocatedPatFan said:

Yeah the Pats had the talent in Brady and the receivers to play Seattle. not sure how many other teams could do that to them, but you have to admire and be slightly alarmed at a defense that doesn't adjust. Just makes me appreciate the coaches and smart players we have on defense.

Click to expand...

Over in Football Outsiders People are wondering, why other teams do this too, but its actually incredibly hard to do.

Pats have 4-5 competent receivers on the field most of the time, none of which can reach Moss-type separation, but all of which are sure-handed good route runners. This means against any Secondary in the world, somebody is going to have a mismatch (Our there are easy running gains), as long as pressure is not obscenely high (Good O-Line). So far everybody could do this.
But now comes the hard part. Each snap its going to be somebody different, depending on various decisions of the Off and Def. And you got presnap + 2 secs to correctly identify the open throw, and deliver a sharp throw, and you have to do this 8 out of 10 times each drive. This part is incredibly hard to achieve, and I am not sure if even Manning/ Rodgers can do it consistently. This is why most teams don't copy Pats gameplans and also why TB12 is the GOAT.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Kulko · Feb 2, 2015

PP2 said:
I think a lot of credit should go to BB for practicing that specific scenario. In fact, eerily enough, that same play was done in practice earlier in the week and Butler was beat for the TD (Boyce). So when he saw the same alignment, the same double stacked receivers, he knew exactly what was coming.

Exactly. This is why the Pats are SB Winners, not some second guessed call by whoever was responsible, but that the Pats were prepared and pounced on their chance to deal the death blow. Seattle was in the position largely due to luck (Helmet Catch MkIII) while Butler took it away from them due to Prepartaion and execution.

BTTA · Feb 2, 2015

When they took the 10 point lead, there were several shots of Carroll on the sidelines smiling and congratulating players. I said out loud, "They are smiling, that's going to give us a chance." Loved it!

everlong · Feb 2, 2015

BTW for all the talk of how dominant Lynch was his line was 24/102 and a 4.3 YPC which is good but not in the other worldly category. His biggest play was actually receiving the on the last drive which went for 31 yards. That was a very good play call.

Idle thoughts - the "God has a sense of humor" edition

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