I actually think that McDaniels does a great job myself.
I did think that it was terribly important to come away with a TD when the score was tied at 17 with about 6 min left though; especially with the way that our defense was playing as a whole.
Throwing on 3rd and 1 when our running game was so effective was a bit strange, but I can understand it. What I can't understand was the particular playcall. I would have much rather have seen some kind of slip screen, bubble screen, or even a bunch to one side with a pick.
Other than that, I like JMcD and think that he's great. Actually, I wouldn't want anyone else.
McD is vastly overrated.
Playcalling aside, his gameplan yesterday played right into what the Panthers D does best. Slow grind it out games, minimal possessions. Instead of dictating to them and do what our offense and Brady like to do best and play an up-tempo game, we did the opposite.
Granted, we did move the ball, but we would have moved the ball if we played up-tempo no huddle anyways. Panthers D has a great front 7 and a suspect secondary. Brady played great yesterday and he finally has all his guys healthy.
Amendola couldn't be covered.
Vereen was a match up nightmare.
Even Dobson was open when he did go on a pass route.
Gronk was almost exclusively used as a blocker.
Running an up tempo game would have tired the Panthers front. A scenario where if the game was close in the end and we needed a TD, going up against a defense where they're probably tired from an up-tempo game vs going up against a defense who is fresh because of minimal possessions would have given our offense an edge.
Our defense is now back to its unreliable state because of injuries. It really is up to our offense to carry this team.
I am not a fan of McD. His gameplans for SB in 07 still is one of the worst gameplans I've ever seen.
His propensity to slow the game down when our offense is humming is also one of the most dumbfounding crap we see.
Players play. Coaches coach. But I don't think our offense is always put in the best position to succeed.