The drive that eventually ended with Woodhead scoring his first TD was a great drive where we mixed it up. BJGE came in and had an immediate impact. He hits the hole so hard, and is the north/south runner that defines what Patriots smashmouth football is about.. On his first run he gets the first down, and on the next snap we throw them a strongside run look, while Crumpler motions weakside. This sets the defense on their heels and by the time they realize it is a pass play, it is too late. Both LB's are sucked in, as well as the safety who is covering Gronk. Gronk runs an excellent out post for a 20 yard gain. Next play, 1st and 10, on their 42, 4:23 2nd Q, in posse again 3 x 1, there is a trapping play by Connolly who is the kick out block, but the key to this play is Koppen who sheds his man and delivers a beautiful chip on Connolly's man, so that Connolly keeps running unchecked, and you can see BJGE being patient and having the foresight not to outrun his lead block until Connolly engages, then he bolts for daylight and gains 12 more yards. Taylor has the ball and slips on the next play, but I don't think it was a mistake, I think it had to do with the fact that he slipped on the foot where he injured his toe, because he couldn't get a good plant and cut from that. So I think at that point it was a very wise move to take him out.
I saw a lot of good things in the Woodhead TD- for one thing, it was that patented 3rd down Faulk draw, and if you weren't looking careful, you could swear it was Faulk juking in there, not Woodhead. However looking at the play again, only Woodhead could have made it because he popped through a tiny hole between the opening created by Neal and Vollmer.
That white shrimp sure ran!
