borg
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- Joined
- Sep 16, 2004
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What Brooks states regarding defending NE proves my thesis....
(Posted this in another thread)
Verses a team like the Ravens, figuring out where the battle was lost is very easy......The Ravens D Line owned the Patriots and forced NE to become one dimensional.
Here are the facts:
NE executed 27 2nd down plays....12 were runs....for 34 yds total (9 under center hand offs to RBs for 24 yds)
NE executed 15 3rd down plays......4 were runs....for 11 yds total (7 yards from shot gun direct snap gimmick......so....3 runs with Brady under center totaling 4 yds)
Summary: 0n 2nd and 3rd down combined....12 under center hand offs to RBs for 28 yds...2.3 yds/play
Lets remember that Baltimore was in nickel for a majority of their defensive snaps (as proven by individual photos displayed in another thread)
It's as clear as day that not only did NE significantly lose the LOS battle, but they accepted defeat by avoiding direct battle on the LOS. They accepted defeat by not even attempting a single play action pass on 3rd down. What's the point...the Ravens D line owned the LOS, even in nickel...and NE became one dimensional. Baltimore executed the bend don't break defense near flawlessly, clamping down on NE inside the 20. And because NE lacks a field stretching play maker, Baltimore simply allowed Brady to play small ball, and NE eventually kept shooting themselves in the foot....drops and turn overs.
No doubt, Gronk was a missing piece to NE's O puzzle, but the fact remains that even in nickel, the Ravens D Line owned NE's. Can NE go into '13 with the same O line and expect to start winning the LOS battles against the more physical D lines? Look who they lost to, Ariz, Balt, Seat, SF, Balt.
(Posted this in another thread)
Verses a team like the Ravens, figuring out where the battle was lost is very easy......The Ravens D Line owned the Patriots and forced NE to become one dimensional.
Here are the facts:
NE executed 27 2nd down plays....12 were runs....for 34 yds total (9 under center hand offs to RBs for 24 yds)
NE executed 15 3rd down plays......4 were runs....for 11 yds total (7 yards from shot gun direct snap gimmick......so....3 runs with Brady under center totaling 4 yds)
Summary: 0n 2nd and 3rd down combined....12 under center hand offs to RBs for 28 yds...2.3 yds/play
Lets remember that Baltimore was in nickel for a majority of their defensive snaps (as proven by individual photos displayed in another thread)
It's as clear as day that not only did NE significantly lose the LOS battle, but they accepted defeat by avoiding direct battle on the LOS. They accepted defeat by not even attempting a single play action pass on 3rd down. What's the point...the Ravens D line owned the LOS, even in nickel...and NE became one dimensional. Baltimore executed the bend don't break defense near flawlessly, clamping down on NE inside the 20. And because NE lacks a field stretching play maker, Baltimore simply allowed Brady to play small ball, and NE eventually kept shooting themselves in the foot....drops and turn overs.
No doubt, Gronk was a missing piece to NE's O puzzle, but the fact remains that even in nickel, the Ravens D Line owned NE's. Can NE go into '13 with the same O line and expect to start winning the LOS battles against the more physical D lines? Look who they lost to, Ariz, Balt, Seat, SF, Balt.
