Some Lovely Chaw For You ~ FootBall Degenerates Only!!

What I Saw ~ Week 14 ~ 4th Quarter GameTape!!

1 ~ 02:27:00. On the 1st Play of the 4th Quarter ~ 1st & 10 from the Miami 35 ~ all the Momentum that the Patriots'd been building up exploded as Tom Brady hit Aaron The Navigator, streaking down the right SideLine, for an huge 31 Yard strike, to which was added 2 more Yards for a FaceMask. 1st & Goal.

What made that play look so easy?

Play Action Fake.

Set up by a strong, punishing Quarter of Running the FootBall right at the Dolphins.

11 for 46, by my Count.

That's a 184 Yard pace.

That's how you drive the action, rest your D, and take command of the Game, even if you're not racking up Scores.

Sweetness.

2 ~ To their considerable credit, the Fish Defense rallied furiously, and held us to a Field Goal. 20-10.

3 ~ 02:33:50. After a beautiful set of Team Blocking gave the Fish a 14 Yard Run on 1st Down for a fresh 1st Down on their own 34 ~ and now Momentum was clearing shifting Miami's way ~ the Patriots made an equally awesome team effort to get my man Trevor Scott his 2nd Sack of the day.

Vince Wilfork and Ron Brace both took on Double Teams, and the Secondary gave Ryan TanneHill nothing at all for long enough for Scott to beat 2nd Rounder Left Tackle Jonathan Martin and take TanneHill down.

While I'm an huge fan of Scott, and feel highly vindicated for my unwavering support by the terrific day he just had, this is a classic case of one Player getting a disproportionate amount of the Credit for a great Play that all 11 men were responsible for. Just as those same 11 ~ more or less!! ~ had been the victims, just a moment earlier, of a tremendous effort by the 11 Fish who put together a masterful bit of Blocking to spring Reggie Bush lose for 14 Yards ~ an effort that most casual fans will, sadly, attribute almost entirely to Bush's splendor ~ so, unfortunately, will Scott's Sack be credited mostly ~ by most ~ to Scott, who'd be the first person to correct that misperception.

4 ~ 02:41:40. The Fish had driven in downfield, all the way to our 7, where they had a 3rd & 4, when the Patriots Defense ~ which by no means played a perfect Game, mind you ~ came up with an huge Play when they needed it most: None other than Jerod Mayo came charging in through Left Guard on an exquisitely timed Delayed Blitz, and he just blasted TanneHill for an 8 Yard loss, forcing the Field Goal. 20-13.

5 ~ 02:48:15. On the next Patriots Possession, we got a 1st Down and had advanced to our own 31. You could sense that the Patriots had finally found their Rhythm on our previous Drive, and despite the Fish scoring on their own Drive, it was clear, two Plays into this one, that we were still clicking, still mixing the Plays up, still keeping the Fish back on their heels and uncertain...still grooving.

But it never hurts to get a nice Jolt, now and then.

And Steven "You May Fire When Ready" Ridley provided that on the very next Play: Taking it towards Left Guard and then cutting towards the Center, he looked like he was going to get stacked up for a piddling 1 Yarder. But at the last second, he executed a difficult Lateral move, shunting into the narrow Gap that was there, twisting his way through, and then surging downfield behind a Daniel Fells "Parkway" Block for an impressive 8 Yard Gain.

Huge.

We were already rocking nicely along, but that Play gave the Team a nice big boost, and on the next Play, they laid down some strong Blocking, and Ridley got the call again, blasting through Left Guard and surging downfield to rack up another 9 Big Ones and a 1st Down at our 48.

The Decisive Drive of the Game was on.

6 ~ 02:50:50. 2 Plays later ~ a 3rd consecutive Run by Ridley for 5 and a 6 Yarder to Wild Wes Welker to Move The Chains ~ our Grizzlies carved up yet more Real Estate for Ridley, who launched a tremendous surge through Right Guard, barreling'is way downfield to rack up 11 Big Ones for another 1st Down.

7 ~ 02:54:45. A few Plays later, we were at 2nd & 10 at the Fish 18. Brady handed it off to my man Shattering Shane Vereen, straight up Center. There didn't appear to be much there, but Vereen ~ who has now made it clear on several occasions that he didn't get the Memo that informed'm that he's not the kind of O Back who can drive it between the Tackles ~ surged right on through, thank you very much, and racked up 8 huge ones.

That was the last Big Play of the Game. It allowed Ridley to convert another 1st Down on the next Play, and even though the scrappy Fish tightened up yet again and held us to a Field Goal, this Drive decided the Game.

By the time it was completed, we'd burned through 16 Plays and 7:18...and taken a 10 Point Lead.

Game.

Set.

Match.

That, Ladies & Laddies, is how it is done.

mayoclinic said:

Too bad. "Chateau Petrus" would have been one for the ages. Oh well ... I guess Dante felt that bottle was corked.

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No, Petrus had no cab in him. Dante likes his linemen to have big bold grapes.

Through The Looking Glass ~ Week 12 ~ Vince Wilfork!!



1 ~ 00:15:10. The Fish started their 2nd Possession at their own 20, 1st & 10, after the Patriots's taken a 7-0 lead. Richie Incognito had the unenviable task of taking on Wilfork, one on one, and he failed: Ryan TanneHill handed it to Reggie Bush, who attempted to take it up the middle, but found that Lane stuffed by Brandon Spikes and Trevor Scott, so he wisely moved to cut to'is right and flank around to the outside...but it was too late.

Vince Wilfork planted'm.

3 Yard Loss.

Why those Plays don't get tallied right alongside with "Sacks", I'll never know.

2 ~ 00:31:10. 3rd Fish Possession, and they were finally driving, but had a critical 3rd & 6 at the Patriot 45...And for some inexplicable reason, they tasked poor Richie Incognito with Man on Man coverage of Vince Wilfork, something that they had ~ wisely ~ not done for several Plays...And Wilfork again beat Incognito, drove up the middle, stormed down on TanneHill...and forced'm into an awkward, hurried throw: Incompletion.

Drive Over.

3 ~ At 01:08:50, the Fish had a 3rd & 4 at their own 26, and when Ryan TanneHill dropped back to throw, my boy Trevor Scott launched a great charge from Left End, pushed Nate Gardner inside, and blasted TanneHill, not only getting the Sack but forcing the Ball out for a Fumble that bounced right to Vince Wilfork's waiting hands!!

Yet again, it was a classic case of the other 10 guys doing their jobs...and Wilfork selfishly hogging the Glory Stats.

Haw.

4 ~ At 01:10:00, Brother Vince, quite chivalrously, presents His Lady, Fair Bianca, with a Trophy, Spoils of War!!

5 ~ 02:04:10. 3rd Quarter. 17-10. The Fish were starting to move, and starting to feel confident, with a 2nd & 10 at their own 42. Looking good. Yet, once again ~ inexplicably ~ they tried to go One On One with Vince Wilfork, which often results in Tragedy...unless of course you happen to be a Patriots Fan!! Hah!! Wilfork yet again asserted his Dominance, barreling through Richie Incognito and then just destroying Daniel Thomas, for a 4 Yard Loss!!

One Play later, the Dolphins' bid for a Game Tying Drive was over.

That, Ladies & Laddies...is what Wilfork does.

6 ~ 02:33:50. After a beautiful set of Team Blocking gave the Fish a 14 Yard Run on 1st Down for a fresh 1st Down on their own 34 ~ and now Momentum was clearing shifting Miami's way ~ the Patriots made an equally awesome team effort to get my man Trevor Scott his 2nd Sack of the day.

Vince Wilfork and Ron Brace both took on Double Teams, and the Secondary gave Ryan TanneHill nothing at all for long enough for Scott to beat 2nd Rounder Left Tackle Jonathan Martin and take TanneHill down.

While I'm an huge fan of Scott, and feel highly vindicated for my unwavering support by the terrific day he just had, this is a classic case of one Player getting a disproportionate amount of the Credit for a great Play that all 11 men were responsible for. Just as those same 11 ~ more or less!! ~ had been the victims, just a moment earlier, of a tremendous effort by the 11 Fish who put together a masterful bit of Blocking to spring Reggie Bush lose for 14 Yards ~ an effort that most casual fans will, sadly, attribute almost entirely to Bush's splendor ~ so, unfortunately, will Scott's Sack be credited mostly ~ by most ~ to Scott, who'd be the first person to correct that misperception.

That, Ladies & Laddies...is what Wilfork does.

Prognosis

1 ~ Yet Another dominant performance by Vince Wilfork. Richie Incognito is no slouch, but Wilfork made'm look awfully bad, today. Wilfork was constantly eating up Double Teams all day long, freeing up his 10 Partners to make Plays. And on the rare occasion that the Fish decide to tempt fate and isolate Incognito on Wilfork...it got scary.

2 ~ I was ecstatic to see Mad Bill & Coach Patricia rest up Big Vince for a few stretches, there, going instead with Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick. The results were certainly far less stellar, of course, but I couldn't be happier or more impressed with the Vision and Strategic Thinking that Coaches Belichick & Patricia showed in easing up on Big Vince's Market Share:

We're not in the Business of winning individual Games. We're in the Business of winning Championships.

And as annoying as it is to face up to the reality that the smartest way to approach that Great Goal is to regularly take your best Defender & 2nd most important Player off the field...it is utterly essential to that Grand Quest...and I applaud Coach Bill II ~ The Mad and Coach Patricia for having the Wisdom, the ForeSight, and, above all, the Testicular Fortitude to place a single Game at greater Risk in order to increase our chances of Winning It All!!

Through The Looking Glass ~ Week 12 ~ Brandon Deaderick!!



I like Kyle Love a great deal, but I was nevertheless greatly intrigued by Mad Bill's decision to start Deaderick in'is favor, and awaited results with baited breath...OH, those Tricky Patriots!!

1 ~ 00:40:40. The first Play that I saw where I felt that Brandon Deaderick distinguished himself was towards the end of the 1st Quarter, on the fourth Fish Possession, with the Patriots leading, 7-0, and the Fish with a 2nd & 20 from the Patriot 33. The Fish tried to run Daniel Thomas up the middle, but Deaderick hit'm and knocked the Ball loose. In all fairness, though, I can't give Deaderick the Credit and must instead attribute Blame to Thomas, as Deaderick's reaction made it crystal clear that he initially had absolutely no notion nor thought of having caused a Fumble. Still, it was a solid Play, and worth mentioning, even though Richie Incognito recovered it for the Fish.

And, honestly: that was it.

Prognosis

1 ~ It's not easy to play 34 of 63 Snaps ~ ESPN's Mike Reiss is an invaluable & reliable Source for this Data ~ and so completely fail to distinguish yourself...But Deaderick managed it. In all fairness, he was going up against Richie Incognito most of the time...but it was still a remarkably unremarkable performance.

At virtually all times, he was blocked One On One, yet never managed to condense the Pocker, disrupt Running Lanes, or in any way make any substantial Impact. Very unimpressive, I'm afraid.

Through The Looking Glass ~ Week 12 ~ Kyle Love!!



It was startling to learn that Kyle Love wouldn't draw the Start for this week's contest with the Pernicious Fish...But not worrisome. Mad Bill always has something up'is sleave, and I am probably aligned with the great majority of Patriot Fans in assuming that this was more of a reflection of Mad Bill's selective weekly Tactics...than a Strategic decision to cut into Brother Love's Market Share in favor of Brandon Deaderick.

Even so: Mad Bill does like to keep'is boys on their toes!! Hah!!

1 ~ 01:23:05. Love did not distinguish himself in any manner whatsoever until late in the 2nd Quarter, when the Fish had driven to the Patriots 13, with a 1st & 10. The Dolphins appeared to design a QuarterBack Draw up the middle, at this point, but Love happened to be in the right place, and corralled Ryan TanneHill for a 2 Yard Loss.

2 ~ 01:27:40. Fish 1st & Goal from the Patriot 3. Love did an excellent job of shucking a Block and helping to stuff Daniel Thomas for a 1 Yard Gain, although TanneHill would score on the next Play.

Prognosis

Not an especially impressive Performance. Perhaps Mad Bill deduced that Love simply doesn't match up that well with Left Guard Richie Incognito ~ who is very impressive, as long as he isn't going One On One with our man Vince Wilfork!! ~ or with Right Guard John Jerry, who is relatively unimpressive but huge.

In any case, it was a distinctly forgettable Performance by Kyle Love, who didn't disrupt what the Fish were doing on any occasion, despite usually getting One On One Blocking...and reinforces the Notion that we might very well need to take a long look at upgrading that Position, next April.

Through The Looking Glass ~ Week 12 ~ Ron Brace!!



1 ~ 02:33:20. I believe that the first Action that Ron Brace saw ~ he had a total of 3 Snaps, according to the reliable Mike Reiss at ESPN ~ was early in the 4th Quarter, with the Fish starting at 1st & 10 from their own 20, after we'd scored a big Field Goal to go up, 20-10.

On this Play, the Fish concentrated their Attack on Brace, himself, who was line up at Left End in a 3-3-5: Right Guard John Jerry and Right Tackle Nate Garner initially double teamed Brace, then Garner attacked downfield, taking out Jerod Mayo, as Reggie Bush surged into the Hole where Brace'd been, and cut left for a big Gain.

He was double teamed, mind you, but Brace didn't seem to offer much resistance before being blasted out'f the way, and didn't recover'is feet, once it was just him an Jerry: an altogether schytty effort.

2 ~ 02:33:55. Brace would gain some measure of Redemption on the very next play, as both he and Vince Wilfork took on double teams ~ Brace, much more successfully, this time!! ~ which, combined with impressive Coverage, gave Trevor Scott enough time to beat Left Tackle Jonathan Martin and sack Ryan TanneHill.

This was a Big Play, as the Fish were starting to build some momentum, mostly because of the previous Play.

Prognosis

One doesn't want to draw far-reaching conclusions from a mere 3 Plays ~ the 3rd one wasn't noteworthy ~ but it's disturbing when a guy comes in fully rested, yet the opposing team not only run right at him, but humiliates him.

That actually could've had an enormous Impact on the Game: We were wearing the Fish down at that point, but that play suddenly gave'm a Boost, and started a Drive that cut our Lead down to one Score.

Not good.

Thanks for the analysis, OTG, and for the time & effort needed to present it. I'm a bit disappointed,
however, that you didn't break down the total clusterfeck which immediately followed Hernandez'
catch & run to the 2-yard line. The 1st/goal play, especially, was a gigantic steamy pile of diddly-poo,
as in poorly conceived, poorly blocked & poorly executed.
The 2nd/goal play admittedly was Welker's fault for dropping the pass;
The 3rd/goal play had blocking failures - again - all over the place, and Brady was sacked for the 2nd time
in 3 snaps. To add injury to insult, Edelman broke his foot on that play while making a cut to the post.
Never should have happened, had Bill & Skippy stopped thinking that they were the smartest coaches
who ever lived, and started instead to just run the damn ball.

The Gr8est said:

How about the NFL HOF? Yes, he IS that good.

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Name another assistant coach in Canton as an assistant coach. (I added the last part to prevent "Raymond Berry was an assistant and he is in the HOF.)

(Oh, I haven't checked. If Raymond Berry, the inventor of route running, isn't in the HOF that is more evidence that the HOF voters are idiots.)

Excellent work as usual OTG, but I feel something is missing. You used to be a great exponent of all the formatting possibilities that the computer has to offer. I think this bland approach you have taken is seriously cramping your style. You need to bring the flair back!

lurker1965 said:

Name another assistant coach in Canton as an assistant coach. (I added the last part to prevent "Raymond Berry was an assistant and he is in the HOF.)

(Oh, I haven't checked. If Raymond Berry, the inventor of route running, isn't in the HOF that is more evidence that the HOF voters are idiots.)

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I bet **** LeBeau will eventually make it , and not for his stint as HC of the Bungles.

It's like reading chinese. I have no idea of what i'm seeing.

It can't be off the grid. I'm blaming the almost empty bottle of whiskey and pink floyd.



That being said cliff notes for bored drunkards? I expect this feature in the future off the grid.

I'm blaming the almost empty bottle of whiskey and pink floyd.

don't blame anything...I live vicariously through your efforts to comfortably numb existence...

Observer said:

Excellent work as usual OTG, but I feel something is missing. You used to be a great exponent of all the formatting possibilities that the computer has to offer. I think this bland approach you have taken is seriously cramping your style. You need to bring the flair back!

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Heh!! Thanks, Bro.

1 ~ Nothing cramps my style, my good man. Life is too short.

2 ~ These are "unplugged" reproductions and each Title has a Link.

3 ~ I'm just experimenting, right now...tryng out new ideas...

And I'm thinking that I will probably streamline my approach, starting next week...and that would indeed give me the time to reintroduce that obnoxious formatting for which I am infamous!!