Bedard on the TE driven offense and it's hybrid driven counter

[MoLewisrocks]

Excellent work by Greg. Including some interesting personal insight into the mindset inside the organization between 2009 and present. From get the TE tandem that works to locate that outside the numbers threat to make sure you can run when you have to. And why we will likely carry 4 TE, not so much to use them (although we may at times) as insure we can always field 2 capable of filling their specific roles. As well as comments from around the league on the evolution in defending the multiple TE offense and the increasingly popular hurry up, what it takes and the difficulty that presents when constructing the roster that still has to be able to play more traditional or base defense. Something Belichick has also set out to do.



Rise after fall - Patriots - Boston.com

Tight ends are changing how defenses are constructed - Sports - The Boston Globe

 

[Gronkandez]

Good read.

Still can't believe how close they came to NOT getting Gronkowski. With the Raiders on the clock and the Ravens picking in between the Raiders and Patriots and also desperate for a Tight End..somehow the Pats pulled off the trade right before time expired.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Good read.

Still can't believe how close they came to NOT getting Gronkowski. With the Raiders on the clock and the Ravens picking in between the Raiders and Patriots and also desperate for a Tight End..somehow the Pats pulled off the trade right before time expired.

And to get Hernandez in the FOURTH FREAKING ROUND.

 

[patfanken]

I don't always agree with some of Bedard"s speculative opinions, but when he sits down and writes about the game of football in general he offers one thing that is very rare in today's age of tweeter journalism......INSIGHT. You walk away from these articles knowing more than you did before. Understanding more than you did before, and perhaps getting closer to figuring out that elusive "Why", that we are always trying to figure out.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Mo. Kudos to you and BRAVO to Bedard.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

And to get Hernandez in the FOURTH FREAKING ROUND.

maybe we need to get better college scounting and get some solid picks to smoke weed and have their stock fall in the draft.

 

[Kontradiction]

And to get Hernandez in the FOURTH FREAKING ROUND.

After the 2009 season, I stated that Belichick needed to have a slam dunk of a draft in order for this team to enter a new era of dominance. The free agent moves weren't coming. Guys like Boldin were going to the Ravens while we were sitting tight and only resigning Leigh Bodden. Lo and behold, a slam dunk occurs. We steal Gronk and grab Hernandez in the 4th. We get a violent LB to pair with Mayo. That draft really set up this new era for us and has really re-defined the league. Sure, they're responding to it with the return of the Big Nickel but the league is still years away from perfecting a style of defense across the board that can stop this TE combo, let alone an outside threat (preferably multiple, IMO) that can operate outside the numbers.

 

[Shockt327]

Also, this article points out just how awesome Bill Belichick is at addressing a need following a playoff loss...

 

[Sicilian]

After the 2009 season, I stated that Belichick needed to have a slam dunk of a draft in order for this team to enter a new era of dominance. The free agent moves weren't coming. Guys like Boldin were going to the Ravens while we were sitting tight and only resigning Leigh Bodden. Lo and behold, a slam dunk occurs. We steal Gronk and grab Hernandez in the 4th. We get a violent LB to pair with Mayo. That draft really set up this new era for us and has really re-defined the league. Sure, they're responding to it with the return of the Big Nickel but the league is still years away from perfecting a style of defense across the board that can stop this TE combo, let alone an outside threat (preferably multiple, IMO) that can operate outside the numbers.

That draft also yielded McCourty, Cunningham, Mesko, and Deaderick, who could all be key players for this year's team (Cunningham and Deaderick in more reserve/situational roles).

 

[Gumby]

Excellent work by Greg. Including some interesting personal insight into the mindset inside the organization between 2009 and present. From get the TE tandem that works to locate that outside the numbers threat to make sure you can run when you have to. And why we will likely carry 4 TE, not so much to use them (although we may at times) as insure we can always field 2 capable of filling their specific roles. As well as comments from around the league on the evolution in defending the multiple TE offense and the increasingly popular hurry up, what it takes and the difficulty that presents when constructing the roster that still has to be able to play more traditional or base defense. Something Belichick has also set out to do.



Rise after fall - Patriots - Boston.com

Tight ends are changing how defenses are constructed - Sports - The Boston Globe

nice read. thx for intertwining the 2 articles.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Kudos to Bedard & Mo for a football content informative thread
5 *****

 

[patchick]

maybe we need to get better college scounting and get some solid picks to smoke weed and have their stock fall in the draft.

The stars really had to align for Hernandez to fall into the Pats' laps. This was hardly an under-the-radar guy -- he was the Mackey Award winner as the nation's best college tight end. The drug tests were obviously a huge factor, but the 2010 draft class itself was every bit as important. Check out the TEs drafted before him:

Jermaine Gresham
Rob Gronkowski
Ed ****son
Tony Moeaki
Jimmy Graham

With that kind of unprecedented bonanza available, it was easy for teams to talk themselves out of gambling on a talented "character risk."

 

[ThatllMoveTheChains!!!]

Great articles; not just the analysis, but how he described what happened on the field and tied it all together. Being a fan would be so much more enjoyable if this was the standard and not the exception.

 

[ivanvamp]

The stars really had to align for Hernandez to fall into the Pats' laps. This was hardly an under-the-radar guy -- he was the Mackey Award winner as the nation's best college tight end. The drug tests were obviously a huge factor, but the 2010 draft class itself was every bit as important. Check out the TEs drafted before him:

Jermaine Gresham
Rob Gronkowski
Ed ****son
Tony Moeaki
Jimmy Graham

With that kind of unprecedented bonanza available, it was easy for teams to talk themselves out of gambling on a talented "character risk."

If the Saints had taken Hernandez, say, I think the Pats would have been just fine with Graham. Or Gresham. Or Moeaki. Etc. They were likely to score with a good second TE.....I'm just glad it was Hernandez.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Sure, they're responding to it with the return of the Big Nickel but the league is still years away from perfecting a style of defense across the board that can stop this TE combo, let alone an outside threat (preferably multiple, IMO) that can operate outside the numbers.

As a minor point, doesn't the mere fact that the Patriots were willing to sign GRONK and Hernandez to mega-extensions suggest that BB doesn't see anyone truly "solving" this problem anytime soon?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

One other thing worth noting: Bedard suggest Ebner is a "tweener" similar to Tavon Wilson.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

One other thing worth noting: Bedard suggest Ebner is a "tweener" similar to Tavon Wilson.

That was my exact thought when these guys were drafted.
Risk being that Ebner had no PT experience. Could he, can he "see" the field?
Despite that he was an instant binkie.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

As a minor point, doesn't the mere fact that the Patriots were willing to sign GRONK and Hernandez to mega-extensions suggest that BB doesn't see anyone truly "solving" this problem anytime soon?

Until college football produces more Tavon Wilson's, the answer is probably "No".

Ofcourse, the concept also pre-supposes outstanding coaching and flexibility. That's most likely the limiting factor.

Only the master craftsman can realize the full potential of superior tools.

 

[Gwedd]

Great read, and my thanks for the links to those articles!

Greg mentions the same thing I've said here many times: Coach Belichick is playing chess, Master-Level Chess, mind you, while many of the other teams are still playing Monopoly or Chutes & Ladders.

It is what he does, I believe, better than anything else. Looking at what he has now, what the rest of the league is doing, who is coming down the pike from the College ranks, and how can I use them, and then designing a plan to best utilize all of that information.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Greg mentions the same thing I've said here many times: Coach Belichick is playing chess, Master-Level Chess, mind you, while many of the other teams are still playing Monopoly or Chutes & Ladders.

As opposed to the JEST, who have yet to figure out that "roshambo" is another name for rock-paper-scissors.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Good read.

Still can't believe how close they came to NOT getting Gronkowski. With the Raiders on the clock and the Ravens picking in between the Raiders and Patriots and also desperate for a Tight End..somehow the Pats pulled off the trade right before time expired.

The Ratbirds claim GRONK wasn't on their draft board. Not sure if I buy that.