Buffalo Breakdown - opening day

[gomezcat]

Defensive Series #8 Safety



Analysis: As soon as the Pats brought the blitz, both WR routes were out of the question, either because of jams or deep patterns. The Bills brought both RBs through the line and into underneath routes instead of keeping them in blitz protection. Losman was under pressure before either of those routes could develop, and Vrabel had them both covered from behind, meaning both would probably not produce first downs. Losman first felt the pressure from Banta-Cain, who he was able to elude, but he only ran a short way out of the pocket before Warren slammed him down from behind for the safety.

Score: New England 19 – Buffalo 17

Thanks for the breakdown as always, Pats1. You are a true asset and excellent at what you do.

I did some thinking about the safety and whether Losman should have done anything differently. It was excellent pressure. I watched it a number of times and I can't see what else he could have done, post snap. The pocket collapsed so quickly- throwing the ball away could easily have produced a pick or resulted in a grounding penalty. That would have backed Buffalo back on their own 1, NE would likely have got the ball back at the halfway or Buff's 40. Instead, they at least had to start way downfield.

 

[flutie2phelan]

Pats1 & BoxOrocks,
This is by far the most thorough ... and best documented ... writing on the Patriots actual football games
... anywhere in the public domain!

The pains you take to ascertain what really happened out there ... inspire awe.
Forgive me if i liken the breakdowns to footnotes ... that come first.
But they impart unmatchable authority to your analyses.

Many of us deep-dyed fans are in your debt!

 

[pats1]

Offensive Series #11 End of Game

Contributor: Pats1
Time: 6:15 remaining in the third quarter
Statistics: 11 plays (10 run, 1 pass), 53 yards (25 run, 23 pass), time of possession was 6:15
Breakdown: 4 green plays (3 run, 1 pass) for 44 yds. (21 run, 23 pass), 2 black plays (2 run, 0 pass) for 7 yds., 5 red plays (5 run, 0 pass) for -3 yds., 5 penalty yards gained for the Patriots.

1st and 10 NE 25

Result: Run, Dillon, up the middle, 3 yds.
Offense: 2 WR, Caldwell wide left, Brown wide right, 2 TE, Watson down off LT, Graham down off RT, Dillon lone RB.
Defense: SLB tight over Graham, SS tight over Watson, LCB press on Brown until last second, RCB 10 yards off Caldwell.
Blocking: Watson kicks the SS out
Light turns the RDE outside
Mankins and Koppen double the RDT, but Koppen loses his balance and falls forward into the MLB
Neal turns the LDT outside
O’Callaghan pulls left and gets a knock on the WLB coming in
Graham turns the LDE outside

Analysis: The Bills brought their SS into the box to pit 8 defenders against 7 blockers. Koppen and Mankins started off with a great combo block on the RDT, but when Koppen broke off to get the MLB in the second level, he got too low and stumbled forward, while Mankins lost control of the RDT. The unblocked SLB Crowell as well as the RDT Anderson would converge on Dillon for the stop.

2nd and 8 NE 28

Result: Pass, Graham, seam pattern, 23 yds.
Offense: 2 WR, Caldwell wide left, Brown wide right, 2 TE, Graham standing left wing, Watson down off RT, Dillon lone RB.
Defense: 4-3, SS 5 yards off Watson, both CBs 10 yards off.
Blocking: Light gets brushed back by a RDE spin move, but recovers to steer the RDE past Brady and to the right
Mankins sits back in reserve before picking up the LDT
Koppen has the RDT stunt, so he and Mankins pick up the LDT coming underneath
Neal picks up the stunting LDT
O’Callaghan is bull rushed back by the LDE, but Brady sidesteps left
Coverage: Caldwell keeps the RCB shallow on a comeback pattern
Brown keeps the LCB shallow on a comeback pattern
Watson blows past the SLB and is wide open
Graham slips past the WLB and into a void
Dillon comes through the line and turns underneath

Analysis: For anyone who watched Patriots Kickoff Special on CBS4 before the game, when Brady showed Burton his “favorite play,” this was that exact play. As Brady diagramed in the show, this play is designed against a cover-1 defense. That’s what Buffalo brought on this play, so the Pats stretched the single deep zone with TE seam routes. The key to the play is Brady looking off Watson to draw the FS just far enough for Graham to be open on his route.

1st and 10 Buf 49

Result: Run, Dillon, right guard, 9 yds.
Offense: 2 WR, Caldwell wide left, Brown motion wide to tight right, 2 TE, Graham offline off RT, Watson online right wing, Dillon lone RB.
Defense: 4-3, LCB press on Brown motion, RCB 10 yards off Caldwell.
Blocking: Light blocks the elusive WLB in the second level before Neal pushes his man into Light, allowing the WLB to make the tackle
Mankins rides the RDE outside
Koppen turns the RDT outside
Neal drives the LDT left and off the line
O’Callaghan rides the LDE into the backfield but off left
Graham takes a step back before leading Dillon and sealing the MLB inside
Watson seals the SLB outside
Brown seals the RCB outside just long enough for Dillon to get by.

Analysis: By Graham taking a step back on the snap before seeking out his block, he essentially acted as a non-FB lead blocker. Watson and Graham sealed off the LBs, while Dillon broke free from the RCB, who shed Brown just a bit too late. From there, it took the FS and the WLB to take Dillon down.

.........

I'll finish the last 10 plays of the game this evening, then start on the Jets tape tomorrow.