Brady, Elway's "The Drive" and Montana's "The Catch"

[Fixit]

Some critics apparently somehow hold it against Brady that he's never led a game-winning last-second TD drive in the playoffs, and that Vinatieri is the one who won those games. Please.

Anyway, Brady's SB 36 drive began with 1:21 on the clock. SB 39 was 1:08. Last week's San Diego game was 3:30...and let's not forget that he had just driven for the game-tying TD...and that drive began with only 6:16. In all cases, there was little time on the clock (in two cases, very little) and a FG was all that was needed to win.

Now, Elway's Drive began with 5:02 on the clock, and I bet a lot of people don't remember that he only tied the game. Give Brady, needing a TD to tie, that much time and they score. And then he smacks you across the face with his undefeated OT record.

I don't remember how much time was on the clock for Montana, but it was an 11-play, 89-yard drive, so I'm betting there was a lot. Again, put Brady in that situation.

At how high a level for how long a time does a guy have to perform before it becomes outright insanity to try and tear him down?

 

[zippo59]

Well on "the Catch" Montana's throw was really high and he might have just been trying to throw it away but Clark made a great catch so we shouldn't give Montana any credit for that.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

Some critics apparently somehow hold it against Brady that he's never led a game-winning last-second TD drive in the playoffs, and that Vinatieri is the one who won those games. Please.

Anyway, Brady's SB 36 drive began with 1:21 on the clock. SB 39 was 1:08. Last week's San Diego game was 3:30...and let's not forget that he had just driven for the game-tying TD...and that drive began with only 6:16. In all cases, there was little time on the clock (in two cases, very little) and a FG was all that was needed to win.

Now, Elway's Drive began with 5:02 on the clock, and I bet a lot of people don't remember that he only tied the game. Give Brady, needing a TD to tie, that much time and they score. And then he smacks you across the face with his undefeated OT record.

I don't remember how much time was on the clock for Montana, but it was an 11-play, 89-yard drive, so I'm betting there was a lot. Again, put Brady in that situation.

At how high a level for how long a time does a guy have to perform before it becomes outright insanity to try and tear him down?

A thought about the last game and the Charger's drive. After they got down to the 16 or so, it was first down, and Dillon ran the ball for 2 yards. He looked like he had the corner, but was clearly trying to stay in bounds. Basically, that was a decision that 40 seconds were more important than trying to do your best to get 7 points. (In other words, by forcing the Chargers to use their last time out, the Patriots ensured they could wind 40 seconds off the clock after the two minute warning.)

I expect that was a coaching decision all the way, not a player decision. In fact, Dillon has gone out of bounds before in that exact circumstance.

What do people think of that decision? Turned out right, but it's sort of one of those little decisions that if the Chargers make the 54 yarder at the end of game is one you wish you had a do-over on.

Anyway, the issue of Brady not leading his team to a touchdown drive is absurd. The drives at the end of the first halves in both superbowl 36 and the chargers game last week were just as instrumental in securing wins as any, and they were as impressive as any.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

BTW, I just saw the replay w/player insights of that 1982 NFC Champ. game when Montana threw the "The Catch." Joe said he was throwing to Clark but never realized he had thrown so high until seeing the replay. He started with around 5 mins left on the clcok also. And don't forget - the 49ers had to score a TD or they too would have kicked.

What was really freaky watching that game was the realization Montana and Brady are nearly mirror images. Joe was a little more fleet of foot, but the way he moved around the pocket is a dead ringer for TB's style. The way he threw the ball also looked eeirly familiar - including having bad strecthes where he would clang every other throw. For all the hero worship, deserved without doubt, it should be noted that Montana threw 3 INT's (two really bad ones) in that game himself. Just like Brady though, he shook off his bad play and turned it on when it mattered. These two guys are cut from the similar cloth...

That was the 49'ers first SB trip and checking out the team they reminded me of the 2001 Pats - not many stars yet with an emerging superstar at QB. This was before Rice, Taylor and Roger Craig. They alos had a future HOF coach just beginning to get his message through and got the team to play beyond the sum of their parts.

 

[Cramden]

Well on "the Catch" Montana's throw was really high and he might have just been trying to throw it away but Clark made a great catch so we shouldn't give Montana any credit for that.

I watched this game on the NFL Network yesterday and I'm not sure if the throw was masterful or just lucky ending up in Clark's hands. But one thing I didn't know was that Montana threw 3 picks that game.

 

[kolbitr]

BTW, I just saw the replay w/player insights of that 1982 NFC Champ. game when Montana threw the "The Catch." Joe said he was throwing to Clark but never realized he had thrown so high until seeing the replay. He started with around 5 mins left on the clcok also. And don't forget - the 49ers had to score a TD or they too would have kicked.

What was really freaky watching that game was the realization Montana and Brady are nearly mirror images. Joe was a little more fleet of foot, but the way he moved around the pocket is a dead ringer for TB's style. The way he threw the ball also looked eeirly familiar - including having bad strecthes where he would clang every other throw. For all the hero worship, deserved without doubt, it should be noted that Montana threw 3 INT's (two really bad ones) in that game himself. Just like Brady though, he shook off his bad play and turned it on when it mattered. These two guys are cut from the similar cloth...

That was the 49'ers first SB trip and checking out the team they reminded me of the 2001 Pats - not many stars yet with an emerging superstar at QB. This was before Rice, Taylor and Roger Craig. They alos had a future HOF coach just beginning to get his message through and got the team to play beyond the sum of their parts.

The major difference in my mind being the 49er secondary. All were very young (three rookies?), anchored by the incredible Ronnie Lott. They were there from the beginning. All were future Pro-Bowlers. Just amazing. Bill Walsh was a very good evaluator of talent!