Mike Martz - Riverboat Gambler - Super Bowl 2001.

[IcyPatriot]

So perhaps I was naive but I never knew about the Mike Martz pushing the envelope gambler in him thing. I always thought Belichick's strategy in 2001 was to knock the snot out of the receivers and they would be afraid to go over the middle and/or even catch the ball.

Last nights Martz bit before the game talked about comparing him to a gambler ... Mike called it opportunistic or something. Anyways ... I remember that game like it was yesterday and I remember thinking why weren't they running the ball more??? Marshall Faulk was a top rusher that year.

Bill had to know that Martz had a propensity to be the gambler type which pretty much told Bill that Martz would stick to his system ... which is what gamblers do ... stay with their system.

Just wondering if anyone out there knew this then or figured it out later ... in my case 9 years later.

I figured it was old school football and Bill was an old school football guy back then

... but there was more ... much more.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I've always thought Belichick's gameplan was overrated. Not that it wasn't a good gameplan, but with every X's and O's strategy, it takes a lot more than just drawing up a way to stop the offense. A lot of it depended on luck, the Rams making a lot of mistakes, perfect timing on the interception return (jumping the route and hitting Warner at the split second that forced the ball where it ended up.) Just like the Giants-Pats in SB 42, it was a combination of coaching, underrated talent, offensive mistakes, and some luck.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

I've always thought Belichick's gameplan was overrated. Not that it wasn't a good gameplan, but with every X's and O's strategy, it takes a lot more than just drawing up a way to stop the offense. A lot of it depended on luck, the Rams making a lot of mistakes, perfect timing on the interception return (jumping the route and hitting Warner at the split second that forced the ball where it ended up.) Just like the Giants-Pats in SB 42, it was a combination of coaching, underrated talent, offensive mistakes, and some luck.

Yup. The defensive focus clearly was on the passing game (particularly Faulk), basically daring the Rams to take the yards in smaller bites on the ground, yet Martz never adjusted. This is why the Pats were the better team...coaching is part of the team and BB clearly outcoached Martz in that game.

What's strange is that despite Martz's stubornness in SB36, he made the needed adjustment to the ground game the week prior vs. Philly. After playing a pass-wacky 1st half vs. the Eagles and going into the lockerroom behind, the Rams went to Faulk much in the 2nd half and took control. I was shocked that Martz didn't make the same adjustment vs. the Pats just one week later.

Regards,
Chris

 

[FCB02062]

Belichick's gameplan from week two against the NYJ was overrated...

 

[IcyPatriot]

Belichick's gameplan from week two against the NYJ was overrated...

did your rock move.

 

[FCB02062]

did your rock move.

Funny guy! Nope, just been busy counting Coach Bill's road wins of the last two years I hope he adds another one tonight, but not counting on it...unfortunately

 

[IcyPatriot]

Funny guy! Nope, just been busy counting Coach Bill's road wins of the last two years I hope he adds another one tonight, but not counting on it...unfortunately

Aww come on now ... give Bill some love ...