NFLN replay: Pats vs. NO constructive analysis

[convertedpatsfan]

Great post.

As for play calling, I agree that is trial by fire. But one thing that seems to be lacking is an overall scheme of what the offense should be doing. It seems to change from possession to possession, and seems to be called on a spur of the moment.

One thing that was obvious against the Saints was the offensive playcalling. Payton seemed to be stringing calls together. Each call had a purpose, not just for that specific down, but to set up a future play as well.

And we never really adjusted either. McKenzie played a fantastic game, full credit to him. But it was obvious he was jumping some routes and cutting underneath consistently. I didn't see any attempt at a double move to take advantage of that. Part of that might have been the OL struggling. I couldn't believe how much pressure that 3-man front was generating.

And Mayo definitely doesn't look like himself. He made an amazing recovery from his injury, but maybe he's not 100%.

 

[maverick4]

Of course we need to let the offense adjust to the loss of a coordinator, but i disgree that it's guaranteed to get better.

An offensive coordinator is more a specialist, an artist, if you will. You can plan all year and all week for what you'd like to do, but making it work, putting the defense off balance, is another thing.

Then of course, there's the situation where the defense has a book on you and is determined to stop what you plan to do.

You either have a feel for adjustments, or for setting up the defense for future play calls in crunch time, or you don't.

Designing a ton of pass plays, then marveling at the talents of Moss, Welker and Brady, does not necessarily constitute creative play calling. Everyone's a genius in 50 point wins.

Weis is an offensive coordinator, that's why 6 teams are supposedly after him. McDaniels is a smart and driven guy. I'm not convinced he used the outlandish talents in 2007 to take advantage of the defense to kill teams with easy scores when they overplayed. Everyone looks at the SB as if it was a fluke, but our offense peaked in week 11 and we never took what defenses gave us, leaving us one dimensional and more easily defensed.

Play designing makes for awesome high scoring games. Play calling means keeping the defense off balance and having a couple can't miss plays you set up, available for crunch time.

Extremely eloquent and prescient.

 

[oldskool138]

I couldn't believe how much pressure that 3-man front was generating.

I could.

 

[goheels22002]

It clearly was the reversion to almost 100% shotgun plays which largely cost us at least two games.

According to Rob0709's views, the Pats offense can never lose a game because in any loss, the last meaningful points were given up by the Patriots defense to the opposing team.

It's a neat little trick to never lay blame on the offense. Ever.




Mayoclinic did a phenomenal job, twice here on this link, showing how the offense largely caused losses:
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...y-pats-vs-no-constructive-analysis-page3.html

.

A couple of points here. First, this is a really young defense that is learning to operate as a unit - this ain't the 2004 - 2008 group anymore. The DB's were great early and Brees completed passes by hitting his receivers in spots that were unbelievable in some cases.

Second, this whole stream of thought about the shotgun and the offense is very much right on. It's tough to grind clock to keep good offenses off the field and give the defense a chance to stay fresh and adjust without a punishing ground game.

The SB teams (other than 2007) had a workhorse running back who kept the linebackers and corners honest. Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris were supposed to share that role but both got hurt.

Other than Moroney, I've always wondered why the Pats haven't drafted a big tough back every year to pound the rock and eat clock. They always pass on some good ones in the 3 -5 rounds that wind up helping teams out. I realize that RBs have a short shelf life and do not make for good early picks, but this revolving door of older guys with more than 4 years experience just seems like a bad idea since they arrive with so much wear and tear.

 

[Krugman]

Kudos to you Patpsycho for that post,but be warned we will now hold you to a very high standard(wink)in regard to future endeavours....