Patspsycho
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
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Going to look at the first Miami drive in depth as that is the worse drive we had all game- try to get to the bottom of it.
As always, if I err on formation, personnel, or scheme, throw the flag on me. I don't pretend to be smarter than anyone in this forum.
Dolphins 15
1st and 10
Fins in 3 x 1 posse shotgun, Bush in as HB.
We are in 4-3 okie (nose is covered) but after Henne assigned protection, we shifted to the over (3 tech is weakside).
Ninko is strong and Mayo is will. Secondary is in man-free, weakside is cover 2, strongside is cover 0, because of Henne's tendency to throw strongside. Nobody is on Ninko and he has a free path to blitz.
This is the terrible completion to Marshall that should have been ruled incomplete. To Miami's credit, they hurried to get the ball snapped before anyone could review the play.
Dolphins 39
1st and 10
Fins: same formation
We are in 4-3 under (3 tech strongside). Man-free in cover 0.
Fins run reduced splits to the flat (no rub). This left Mayo to pick up Bush on the over part. Bush is a little too fast and already has a head of speed, and is able to elude Mayo.
Patriots 43
1st and 10
Fins: basic I formation
We are in 4-3 under, still man-free, strongside is man to man, weakside is cover 2.
Dolphins know we are one-gapping and execute their blocking scheme perfectly, springing Bush for 12 yards through weakside B gap. This is so well played that the FB doesn't even have anyone to block. Henne fakes bootleg
McCourty will get yelled at in the film room. His head just was not in on this play. He failed to read the fake bootleg and disengage from his man. Chung was also slow to react. They bite too hard on the fake bootleg. A simple case of MNF opening night jitters.
Patriots 29
1st and 10
Fins: Posse 2 x 2
We show cover 2 basic, then quickly go to cover 1 with strongside being cover 0 and weakside cover 2. Chung rolls up on the slot.
A simple wide split dig off a 3-step hot read (they were expecting us to blitz) with Hartline beating McCourty inside. This is another incomplete pass that the refs blew again. However, we didn't challenge either so we are at fault here too. McCourty is still not 100% there.
Patriots 25
2nd and 4
Fins: Posse 2 x 2 shotgun
We are in 4-3 under, both sides cover 0. Bess motions outside numbers and goes under the slot to stack weakside (and you know an inside route is coming). Credit Dowling and Chung (star) for making a seamless switch. Chung sticks to the under (Bess) and Dowling covers the top. Chung stays with his man (Bess) who fumbles the catch away. Incomplete pass.
Patriots 25
3rd and 4
Fins: Posse 3 x 1 trips left
We are in 4-3 under. By this time we are usually in the nickel, but curious choice here- we are not, but we are in cover 0. Wright brings the heat and flush Henne out of the pocket. Mayo reads the play all the way through and nails the slant short of the down.
Patriots 25
4th and 1
Fins: 2 x 2 ace ISO
We are in a reduced line 4-3 okie (Haynesworth directly over the nose). TE motions strongside and this shows we are in zone.
Dolphins feint strongside pull and do a FB draw through the weakside B gap. Haynesworth is double-teamed but nearly breaks through. It is clear they want to hit the guard bubble and Guyton as the 20 tech is the weak point and it is clear they want to go at him. Long does a good job riding Wilfork away. A well designed play by the Dolphins who knew we would be in the 4-3, prior to regular season and practiced for it.
Patriots 19
1st and 10
Fins: 2 x 2 Ace, Henne under center
We are in 4-3 over and read this as run all the way through. Guyton is walked up over the B gap. This is a strongside run, aiming for the B gap, but Wilfork and Ellis do a great job filling the lanes. Bush reads this and bounces outside and is tackled by Chung (personal foul). This is offset by the holding foul on Ninko.
Repeat 1st down.
Fins: 2 x 2 Ace, Henne under center.
We are in 4-3 under. Ninko is the mike and Mayo is in will. Cannot see top of screen, but Dowling is in cover 0 on weakside. Chung in rover.
This is the same play with a different wrinkle (TE pulls inside for the wham) and the blocking is "better" (RG rides Wilfork to the ground and Incognitio is blatantly holding on Haynesworth). Bush hits the B gap for a gain of 5 yards, which is retracted.
Patriots 29
1st and 20
Fins: 2 x 2 ace shotgun
We are in 4-3 under with only 3 true lineman (Ninko is in 3 point) cover 2 base that changes to cover 0 strongside at the snap. Marshall gets lucky and chucks McCourty right when he is off-balance and gains a full step. He comes in for the dig and gains
Patriots 25
2nd and 15
Fins: 2 x 2 ace, Henne under center
We are in 4-3 okie (Wright over the nose) over (3 tech on weakside). Can't see top of screen but Marshall is at weakside slot now and McCourty follows him there and is in press coverage with weakside CB (Dowling, I think) in cover 2.
This is a PA with Fasano on a go route. Guyton who was supposed to pick up on him bit hard on the fake, and that is why you see him trail. Chung has bit hard too, but the fault lies with Barrett who took a bad read on the situation. He will receive a lecture in the film room. When he enters the screen, he is already signaling OPI. I can imagine BB telling him "what the ****? You wanna be a line judge now?"
Now this is the third incomplete pass that the refs missed (you can see Fasano fumble the ball as he lands on the ground), all on the same drive. But also three straight missed opportunities for challenges. Sloppy on the refs, but also sloppy on us.
Patriots 2
1st and goal
Fins: Tank personnel I formation
We are in our goal line package (6 linemen 4 backers 1 safety).
This turns into another PA, but everyone is covered pretty well (the backers read pretty good) and Henne is sacked by Wright/Carter.
Patriots 11
2nd and goal
Fins: 3 x 1 posse, Henne under center
We are in 4-3 under pass D. Ninko is the 4th DL in 4 point.
Run play to the strongside B gap.
This is vintage Haynesworth. Shedding a doubleteam and clotheslining Bush with one arm. Not sure why the Dolphins would want to run right at him. Maybe they wanted to test him.
Patriots 10
3rd and goal
Fins: 3 x 2 empty, Henne in shotgun.
We are in 4-3 under, pass D (nickel). Base cover 2 with Guyton in robber and the rest in cover 0 (including Mayo). Ninko, again the 4th DL in 4 point.
(note: still attached to this post).
This is the one wrinkle that the Dolphins worked on for this week's game- the trick QB draw. Well executed. Caught us flat-footed. Simple as that.
Mayo had the opportunity to nail Henne, but for some reason he stops and hesitates, probably thinking that Henne could flick the ball over his head to his man. Just a case of thinking and not simply playing.
Reviewing this drive- it was simply a case of opening night jitters on the part of our D, the referees, and the Pats upstairs staff, particularly on those three incomplete passes.
Bottom line: Dolphins were in hurry-up for the most part, and pushed the tempo, being very aggressive, and this set us back on our feet a little
Some of our DBs, particularly McCourty didn't seem to be 100% there. A lot of rust just had to be knocked off.
I think that the Dolphins should experience a rejuvenation if they keep this offensive aggressiveness up- they aren't going to flop like they did last year- they'll continue to give everyone a hard time.
Barrett looks lost at time- but I think given a little more time he'll find his groove.
As always, if I err on formation, personnel, or scheme, throw the flag on me. I don't pretend to be smarter than anyone in this forum.
Dolphins 15
1st and 10
Fins in 3 x 1 posse shotgun, Bush in as HB.
We are in 4-3 okie (nose is covered) but after Henne assigned protection, we shifted to the over (3 tech is weakside).
Ninko is strong and Mayo is will. Secondary is in man-free, weakside is cover 2, strongside is cover 0, because of Henne's tendency to throw strongside. Nobody is on Ninko and he has a free path to blitz.
This is the terrible completion to Marshall that should have been ruled incomplete. To Miami's credit, they hurried to get the ball snapped before anyone could review the play.
Dolphins 39
1st and 10
Fins: same formation
We are in 4-3 under (3 tech strongside). Man-free in cover 0.
Fins run reduced splits to the flat (no rub). This left Mayo to pick up Bush on the over part. Bush is a little too fast and already has a head of speed, and is able to elude Mayo.
Patriots 43
1st and 10
Fins: basic I formation
We are in 4-3 under, still man-free, strongside is man to man, weakside is cover 2.
Dolphins know we are one-gapping and execute their blocking scheme perfectly, springing Bush for 12 yards through weakside B gap. This is so well played that the FB doesn't even have anyone to block. Henne fakes bootleg
McCourty will get yelled at in the film room. His head just was not in on this play. He failed to read the fake bootleg and disengage from his man. Chung was also slow to react. They bite too hard on the fake bootleg. A simple case of MNF opening night jitters.
Patriots 29
1st and 10
Fins: Posse 2 x 2
We show cover 2 basic, then quickly go to cover 1 with strongside being cover 0 and weakside cover 2. Chung rolls up on the slot.
A simple wide split dig off a 3-step hot read (they were expecting us to blitz) with Hartline beating McCourty inside. This is another incomplete pass that the refs blew again. However, we didn't challenge either so we are at fault here too. McCourty is still not 100% there.
Patriots 25
2nd and 4
Fins: Posse 2 x 2 shotgun
We are in 4-3 under, both sides cover 0. Bess motions outside numbers and goes under the slot to stack weakside (and you know an inside route is coming). Credit Dowling and Chung (star) for making a seamless switch. Chung sticks to the under (Bess) and Dowling covers the top. Chung stays with his man (Bess) who fumbles the catch away. Incomplete pass.
Patriots 25
3rd and 4
Fins: Posse 3 x 1 trips left
We are in 4-3 under. By this time we are usually in the nickel, but curious choice here- we are not, but we are in cover 0. Wright brings the heat and flush Henne out of the pocket. Mayo reads the play all the way through and nails the slant short of the down.
Patriots 25
4th and 1
Fins: 2 x 2 ace ISO
We are in a reduced line 4-3 okie (Haynesworth directly over the nose). TE motions strongside and this shows we are in zone.
Dolphins feint strongside pull and do a FB draw through the weakside B gap. Haynesworth is double-teamed but nearly breaks through. It is clear they want to hit the guard bubble and Guyton as the 20 tech is the weak point and it is clear they want to go at him. Long does a good job riding Wilfork away. A well designed play by the Dolphins who knew we would be in the 4-3, prior to regular season and practiced for it.
Patriots 19
1st and 10
Fins: 2 x 2 Ace, Henne under center
We are in 4-3 over and read this as run all the way through. Guyton is walked up over the B gap. This is a strongside run, aiming for the B gap, but Wilfork and Ellis do a great job filling the lanes. Bush reads this and bounces outside and is tackled by Chung (personal foul). This is offset by the holding foul on Ninko.
Repeat 1st down.
Fins: 2 x 2 Ace, Henne under center.
We are in 4-3 under. Ninko is the mike and Mayo is in will. Cannot see top of screen, but Dowling is in cover 0 on weakside. Chung in rover.
This is the same play with a different wrinkle (TE pulls inside for the wham) and the blocking is "better" (RG rides Wilfork to the ground and Incognitio is blatantly holding on Haynesworth). Bush hits the B gap for a gain of 5 yards, which is retracted.
Patriots 29
1st and 20
Fins: 2 x 2 ace shotgun
We are in 4-3 under with only 3 true lineman (Ninko is in 3 point) cover 2 base that changes to cover 0 strongside at the snap. Marshall gets lucky and chucks McCourty right when he is off-balance and gains a full step. He comes in for the dig and gains
Patriots 25
2nd and 15
Fins: 2 x 2 ace, Henne under center
We are in 4-3 okie (Wright over the nose) over (3 tech on weakside). Can't see top of screen but Marshall is at weakside slot now and McCourty follows him there and is in press coverage with weakside CB (Dowling, I think) in cover 2.
This is a PA with Fasano on a go route. Guyton who was supposed to pick up on him bit hard on the fake, and that is why you see him trail. Chung has bit hard too, but the fault lies with Barrett who took a bad read on the situation. He will receive a lecture in the film room. When he enters the screen, he is already signaling OPI. I can imagine BB telling him "what the ****? You wanna be a line judge now?"
Now this is the third incomplete pass that the refs missed (you can see Fasano fumble the ball as he lands on the ground), all on the same drive. But also three straight missed opportunities for challenges. Sloppy on the refs, but also sloppy on us.
Patriots 2
1st and goal
Fins: Tank personnel I formation
We are in our goal line package (6 linemen 4 backers 1 safety).
This turns into another PA, but everyone is covered pretty well (the backers read pretty good) and Henne is sacked by Wright/Carter.
Patriots 11
2nd and goal
Fins: 3 x 1 posse, Henne under center
We are in 4-3 under pass D. Ninko is the 4th DL in 4 point.
Run play to the strongside B gap.
This is vintage Haynesworth. Shedding a doubleteam and clotheslining Bush with one arm. Not sure why the Dolphins would want to run right at him. Maybe they wanted to test him.
Patriots 10
3rd and goal
Fins: 3 x 2 empty, Henne in shotgun.
We are in 4-3 under, pass D (nickel). Base cover 2 with Guyton in robber and the rest in cover 0 (including Mayo). Ninko, again the 4th DL in 4 point.
(note: still attached to this post).
This is the one wrinkle that the Dolphins worked on for this week's game- the trick QB draw. Well executed. Caught us flat-footed. Simple as that.
Mayo had the opportunity to nail Henne, but for some reason he stops and hesitates, probably thinking that Henne could flick the ball over his head to his man. Just a case of thinking and not simply playing.
Reviewing this drive- it was simply a case of opening night jitters on the part of our D, the referees, and the Pats upstairs staff, particularly on those three incomplete passes.
Bottom line: Dolphins were in hurry-up for the most part, and pushed the tempo, being very aggressive, and this set us back on our feet a little
Some of our DBs, particularly McCourty didn't seem to be 100% there. A lot of rust just had to be knocked off.
I think that the Dolphins should experience a rejuvenation if they keep this offensive aggressiveness up- they aren't going to flop like they did last year- they'll continue to give everyone a hard time.
Barrett looks lost at time- but I think given a little more time he'll find his groove.
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