Ok, so let's talk about it

[SlowGettingUp]

There has been a smattering of discussion about McDaniels putting all sorts of weird **** on tape the last month or so, even yesterday, we saw the off-tackle flea flicker make its long-awaited return (shoutout James White) - and we even saw the wildcat with Stevenson where he scored

So is the idea to give the opposing DCs and teams more to think about? Otherwise why not save them for when they would be a surprise in the play-offs?

 

[n1997y]

Historically, one of my favorite Patriots defensive formations was called “the Amoeba”.

It was the defensive front all standing up and milling around until the last moment of the snap, so offense had no idea of who would be where to block.

I’m envisioning how a team with a weakened offensive line, like say the Chargers? How they might handle, or not handle, something like Williams, Barmore, Tonga, Durden, and Jennings, or Gregory, or Landry, or whoever, doing the same kind of thing?

Showing the Chargers this kind of positional flexibility the week before we play them is just sick. It gives them a lot more to prepare for, introduces a lot of complexity at the same time that they’re trying to coach up replacement players into a cohesive unit.

The beauty of the Amoeba defense is that even when you know that’s the play it tells you nothing about how to counter it. It gives the attacking defense flexibility and unpredictability.

I love it!

 

[Wax Frog]

Maybe even in the sub ****le region?

SubCockleRegion would make a great username!

 

[Zoomnbyu]

Sex Baby...

 

[TommyD4207]

So is the idea to give the opposing DCs and teams more to think about? Otherwise why not save them for when they would be a surprise in the play-offs?

That would be the idea. Especially if you've got multiple plays in different formations.
The idea of Stevenson throwing from the wildcat sorta scares the piss out of me, but I guess it's on the table now.

 

[patfanken]

Historically, one of my favorite Patriots defensive formations was called “the Amoeba”.

It was the defensive front all standing up and milling around until the last moment of the snap, so offense had no idea of who would be where to block.

I’m envisioning how a team with a weakened offensive line, like say the Chargers? How they might handle, or not handle, something like Williams, Barmore, Tonga, Durden, and Jennings, or Gregory, or Landry, or whoever, doing the same kind of thing?

Showing the Chargers this kind of positional flexibility the week before we play them is just sick. It gives them a lot more to prepare for, introduces a lot of complexity at the same time that they’re trying to coach up replacement players into a cohesive unit.

The beauty of the Amoeba defense is that even when you know that’s the play it tells you nothing about how to counter it. It gives the attacking defense flexibility and unpredictability.

I love it!

Solid idea. It was especially effective back then because most defenses at the time were much more structured and not nearly as positionally flexible as they are today. Even though it looked like it was an amoeba, there was a lot of structure and work to make sure people knew where they had to be at the snap of the ball and their responsibilities. Ideally everyone would do this all the time, if it wasn't so hard and time consuming.

You see it in various forms now all the time, mostly in those 5 and 6 man fronts then either coming of dropping out, with the object of try to confuse blockers, speed up the QB or simply create a free rusher. I fantasize often about having a Flores - McDaniels DC/OC But I'm very old and all the other things you fantasize about seem a lot less important during football season.

BTW- I've been starving for a meaty football discussion that doesn't involve analytics or some chart that take 3 minutes just to find the Pats symbol and decipher what the **** they are even measuring. Thanks, and don't screw it up with some side argument that adds 3 pages

 

[PP2]

So is the idea to give the opposing DCs and teams more to think about? Otherwise why not save them for when they would be a surprise in the play-offs?

Yep. It isn't the first time McD has done this; force the upcoming playoff team (Chargers in this case) to plan for everything they've seen on tape then pull the rug out from under them with a completely different scheme.

 

[Real fan 02]

There has been a smattering of discussion about McDaniels putting all sorts of weird **** on tape the last month or so, even yesterday, we saw the off-tackle flea flicker make its long-awaited return (shoutout James White) - and we even saw the wildcat with Stevenson where he scored (against Miami, warmed the ****les of my cold, dead heart to see that one)

What I want to talk about in this thread is something that was really, really strange, and not something you'd expect to see on a team without a DC.

That was not just the rotation of the defensive line with (almost) everyone healthy, but where they were playing.

Christian Barmore spent the 2nd quarter as a 7/9-tech right defensive end. Pass rushing. Did pretty well too, although he didn't seal one edge where they gave up a big run.

Also saw Perpetual Late-Bloomer Anfernee Jennings playing some DT again, and the Practice Squad Crew playing all the positions up and down the line.

What are they cooking? Are they cooking something? Maybe it's Williams who gets some run outside in the playoffs, not necessarily Barmore?

I'd love to hear actual thoughts, surely it wasn't just me who saw this.

Tommy spot on. I did see Barmore lined up at DE. I believe it's more to do with the guys being out injured and the coaches trying guys out at difference angles on the fronts.

K. Williams has been running some routes that Hollins runs, chism has been impressive. Jennings and Ponder have come on nicely and have given the rush a booster. Durden has been great as well.

Hopefully we can get Spillane back for the game because he's the general in the defense and we could maximize more formations and blitz packages with him on the field.

 

[Real fan 02]

Historically, one of my favorite Patriots defensive formations was called “the Amoeba”.

It was the defensive front all standing up and milling around until the last moment of the snap, so offense had no idea of who would be where to block.

I’m envisioning how a team with a weakened offensive line, like say the Chargers? How they might handle, or not handle, something like Williams, Barmore, Tonga, Durden, and Jennings, or Gregory, or Landry, or whoever, doing the same kind of thing?

Showing the Chargers this kind of positional flexibility the week before we play them is just sick. It gives them a lot more to prepare for, introduces a lot of complexity at the same time that they’re trying to coach up replacement players into a cohesive unit.

The beauty of the Amoeba defense is that even when you know that’s the play it tells you nothing about how to counter it. It gives the attacking defense flexibility and unpredictability.

I love it!

Played that in 2009 I remember it well that season was pretty effective. We are going to really need Spillane.. he's the key here.. the general in the middle of D that sets up everything.. he also allows other guys to become free blitzers and helps in run support.

 

[Steve102]

I think you want to get as much on tape as you can to make the opposition spend time on more than they need to.

 

[Water Boy]

Been divorced over 15 years- but when I read this I  still got that bad feeling in the pit of my stomach

I know, right! I've been divorced 5 years and it sent a shiver up my spine.

"Ok, so let's talk about it..."

 

[Water Boy]

That would be the idea. Especially if you've got multiple plays in different formations.
The idea of Stevenson throwing from the wildcat sorta scares the piss out of me, but I guess it's on the table now.

I'd love to see him throw a fade to 6'5" Maye in the corner of the end zone.

 

[Real fan 02]

I'd love to see him throw a fade to 6'5" Maye in the corner of the end zone.

I think the caviat here the chargers can defend is Drake running into the end zone. I'd fully expect to see some of this.

 

[mgcolby]

And there ain't a goddamn thing anybody can do about it
You know why? Because we've got the bomb, that's why!

It’s a Dennis Leary song.

Great album

 

[Brotherblues]

So is the idea to give the opposing DCs and teams more to think about? Otherwise why not save them for when they would be a surprise in the play-offs?

I think that's spot on.

A defender could think to cheat to one side to blow up a run for a loss. But if the idea is planted in his head that it could be a trick play, he stays on his side and the run turns into a 60 yard Henderson TD.

 

[Wozzy]

I noticed the same as far as running different combos /rotations on the DL. After rewatching I was moderately impressed with Eric Gregory, dude seems very strong and fought through double teams quite a few times on run plays.

Agreed, liked the Gregory signing when it happened. The guy is a solid rotational DT, especially at that price.

 

[n1997y]

Interesting to hear David Andrews talking about it. Especially amusing to hear him confess that he didn’t recognize some of the things he saw Josh calling.

 

[Hyped]

There has been a smattering of discussion about McDaniels putting all sorts of weird **** on tape the last month or so, even yesterday, we saw the off-tackle flea flicker make its long-awaited return (shoutout James White) - and we even saw the wildcat with Stevenson where he scored (against Miami, warmed the ****les of my cold, dead heart to see that one)

What I want to talk about in this thread is something that was really, really strange, and not something you'd expect to see on a team without a DC.

That was not just the rotation of the defensive line with (almost) everyone healthy, but where they were playing.

Christian Barmore spent the 2nd quarter as a 7/9-tech right defensive end. Pass rushing. Did pretty well too, although he didn't seal one edge where they gave up a big run.

Also saw Perpetual Late-Bloomer Anfernee Jennings playing some DT again, and the Practice Squad Crew playing all the positions up and down the line.

What are they cooking? Are they cooking something? Maybe it's Williams who gets some run outside in the playoffs, not necessarily Barmore?

I'd love to hear actual thoughts, surely it wasn't just me who saw this.

I also appreciated the irony of running the Wildcat vs. the Fish. Was Vrabel on the team the day Saparano unleashed the Wildcat on us??

 

[Hyped]

Historically, one of my favorite Patriots defensive formations was called “the Amoeba”.

It was the defensive front all standing up and milling around until the last moment of the snap, so offense had no idea of who would be where to block.

I’m envisioning how a team with a weakened offensive line, like say the Chargers? How they might handle, or not handle, something like Williams, Barmore, Tonga, Durden, and Jennings, or Gregory, or Landry, or whoever, doing the same kind of thing?

Showing the Chargers this kind of positional flexibility the week before we play them is just sick. It gives them a lot more to prepare for, introduces a lot of complexity at the same time that they’re trying to coach up replacement players into a cohesive unit.

The beauty of the Amoeba defense is that even when you know that’s the play it tells you nothing about how to counter it. It gives the attacking defense flexibility and unpredictability.

I love it!

Crennel also ran it in Cleveland too…

 

[tuckeverlasting]

There has been a smattering of discussion about McDaniels putting all sorts of weird **** on tape the last month or so, even yesterday, we saw the off-tackle flea flicker make its long-awaited return (shoutout James White) - and we even saw the wildcat with Stevenson where he scored (against Miami, warmed the ****les of my cold, dead heart to see that one)

What I want to talk about in this thread is something that was really, really strange, and not something you'd expect to see on a team without a DC.

That was not just the rotation of the defensive line with (almost) everyone healthy, but where they were playing.

Christian Barmore spent the 2nd quarter as a 7/9-tech right defensive end. Pass rushing. Did pretty well too, although he didn't seal one edge where they gave up a big run.

Also saw Perpetual Late-Bloomer Anfernee Jennings playing some DT again, and the Practice Squad Crew playing all the positions up and down the line.

What are they cooking? Are they cooking something? Maybe it's Williams who gets some run outside in the playoffs, not necessarily Barmore?

I'd love to hear actual thoughts, surely it wasn't just me who saw this.