Kudos to Bill O'Brien
 

After a week where he was getting criticized left and right on this board I think he deserves a lot of credit for last nights performance and some posters need to reevaluate their opinions on him. This guy has improved a great deal from last year and it has shown.

Clearly the coming in it was known that it was going to be tough to run the ball against the Steelers defense, but you simply cannot pass the ball every single play. BOB did a great job of running the ball just enough to be able to keep the safeties honest which set up the play action and Brady is one of the best play action fakers in the league. This set up some big plays last night.

Also, they got creative with the TEs. There were pretty much always 2 TEs on the field at a time, this helped with the blocking and giving Brady some time, but it also set up Gronk in some passing plays based on the coverages, defense schemes from the Steelers. Herndandez wasnt on the field much because he is not known for his blocking, and last night was a game where you needed blocking TEs both in the running game and passing game. This shows how valuable the TEs are in the Pats offense and how they can be used effectively.

Another thing that BOB has been criticized on has been is lack of creativity and predictability. He was very creative last night and mixed things up. He also took some shots down the field, which he hasnt the past few weeks. The Patriots did a good job on first and second downs setting up manageable 3rd downs, which definitely was key against the Steelers D.

I would like to see this game plan in the majority of the games the rest of the season. The Patriots are not a run first offense, so they arent going to be a run the ball down your throat team, but they need to run the ball just enough for the opposing defense to atleast respect it. Doing this helps Brady and the WRs in the passing game. BOB definitely deserves some credit on his game plan, especially after getting a great deal of criticism last week.

Re: Kudos to Bill O'Brien
 

Agreed, I thought there was a nice mix in the playcalling, I especially liked the plays when he faked the reverse and bought even more time for receivers to break free.

That being said, I feel like the steelers (especially Polamalu) were overplaying the run alot of the time, I mean the patriots don't usually run on 2nd and long:p.

Re: Kudos to Bill O'Brien
 

I agree with the OP. Kudos to O'Brien.

Personally, I don't understand how using two TE's is "creative", when we have three quality TE's.

Using a 2 TE formation most times (and sometimes there TE's) merely puts high priority on the protection of Brady and put high priority on the use of the considerable talent of the tight ends.

This approach is overdue.

Re: Kudos to Bill O'Brien
 

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Re: Kudos to Bill O'Brien
 

Good point. I guess creative wasnt a good word. I guess it just took 9 games to figure out the best way of utilizing their TEs the best way

Re: Kudos to Bill O'Brien
 

The thing that impressed me was how they managed to keep the Steelers in mismatches, keeping Hampton off the field, getting Gronk matched up with William Gay.

I like how attacked the defense short, med and long, really took advantage of those Steeler corners.

Re: Kudos to Bill O'Brien
 

The Steelers bit hard on the play-action that led to Gronk's 2nd TD. Nicely designed and well-executed.

Re: Kudos to Bill O'Brien
 

I liked the one best where BJ ran into Brady and threw the whole defense off:D

Re: Kudos to Bill O'Brien
 

"I meant to do that!"

Re: Kudos to Bill O'Brien
 

Brady's play action ability of one of the best in the league and that sometimes doesnt get recognized.