- Joined
- May 28, 2005
- Messages
- 13,274
- Reaction score
- 0
Also check out other analysis at Patriots Planet
...
I only have tomorrow to work on this, so I'll try to get as much done as possible. Hopefully Box will take over then.
For those new to these breakdowns, Box_o_Rocks and I have been doing them since the 2005 season to give the fans here an extra edge following almost each Patriots game. Keep in mind we're going to miss games here and there, and it's nearly impossible to finish a game or even get halfway with the amount of typing that goes into this. So we'll tend to focus on the important, intriguing, and interesting parts of the games. In the preseason, as we're in now, an extra emphasis will be placed on some of the newer players, although we'll checkup on how the familiar faces are faring as well. You'll also see us list personnel on the field during the preseason, something we don't do once the regular season rolls around. These breakdowns used to be virtual books that focused on each and every player's role in as many plays as we could, but since just doing that took up a mammoth chunk of our time, we changed over to a single-paragraph format halfway through last season, but added the drive assessment and grades for the extra analysis.
So, without further ado, here is the first Patriots drive of 2007. This is all I'm going to get to tonight, but I'll start off where I left off tomorrow morning (actually this morning now!). I also included the key to the breakdowns for the new readers:
Color and Highlighting
Green Good for New England. Five or more yards on an offensive play or a first down, two or fewer yards on a defensive play or denying a first down. Underlined for big plays and 3rd down.
Black O.K. for New England. Three or four yards on an offensive or defensive play that doesn’t result in or prohibit a first down (a 4 yard gain on 3rd and 5 would be a red play – not black).
Red Bad for New England. Five or more yards on a defensive play or allowing a first down, two or fewer yards on a offensive play or not getting a first down. Underlined for big plays and 3rd down.
Yellow (highlight...not visible in vB code) Penalty or injury or editor’s choice for an important note.
First Half
Kickoff: Andrews from the NE 10, 26 yd. return, Andrews, with G. Williams leading the way, evades a Sanders missed block before being taken down.
Note: WCVB’s feed had the bleeps, the sweeps, and the creeps to begin the game, so bear with me. And then there’s the fact I haven’t done this in 7 months…
Offensive Series #1 Punt
Contributor: Pats1
Time: 15:00 remaining in the first quarter
Statistics: 3 plays (1 run, 2 pass), 8 yards (-2 run, 10 pass), time of possession was 3:00
Breakdown: 1 green play (0 run, 1 pass) for 8 yds., 2 red plays (1 run, 1 pass) for 0 yds. (-2 run, 2 pass)
1st and 10 NE 26
Result: Pass, Faulk, quick out, 8 yds.
Analysis: Shotgun 3 WR (Gaffney, Caldwell), Welker right slot, 2 RB (Faulk, Evans) vs. 4-2 nickel CBs off. Caldwell went in motion to behind Welker, then took a short hitch and with Evans going on a quick-out, put the LCB in a 2-on-1 situation. Brady looked to Heath first, and with great protection (despite Neal losing ground inside), turned left and found Faulk underneath the RCB zone. OL: Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur.
2nd and 2 NE 34
Result: Draw, Morris, right guard, -2 yds.
Analysis: Shotgun 3 WR (Gaffney, Caldwell), Welker right wing, 2 RB (Morris, Evans) vs. 4-2 nickel CBs off, NB showing blitz. Welker apparently was in the left slot and motioned in to the right wing as the NB was showing blitz. Kaczur did a good job of letting the RE swim his way inside, and Evans met the LLB coming in. Neal and Caldwell also did a good job sealing in the second level. Welker lost his outside leverage on the NB, conveniently as Morris bounced the run outside and into the NB’s arms. I’d actually go back and blame this on Evans, who maybe tried to sell the pass for too long before engaging with the LLB. This meant his block wasn’t ready in time for Morris, who was forced outside into somewhere Welker wasn’t anticipating the run to go. OL: Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur.
3rd and 4 NE 32
Result: Pass, Welker, quick out, 2 yds., pass thrown under pressure.
Analysis: Shotgun 4 WR (Welker, Caldwell), Gaffney left slot, Mills right wing, RB Faulk left vs. 4-2 nickel press, LBs and SS showing blitz. Despite showing blitz, only the RLB actually came in. Morris stood up the RLB easily, but even in this 6-on-5 (C and RG doubled) situation, both Light and Mankins were simultaneously beaten outside by the RE and RDT, respectively, putting pressure right in Brady’s face. Welker came in motion inside and was picked up by the RCB in the Tampa-2 short zone, releasing Gaffney deep to the FS. Even though Brady’s pass was lobbed under pressure, this was a dumb mental mistake by Welker to stay a good yard short of the marker his entire route. Mills was picked up by the SS and Caldwell by the LCB. OL: Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur.
4th and 2 NE 34
Result: Punt, Baugher, to the TB 24, Jones gets help on backside blocks on Andrews and Rogers, but is caught from behind by Mays, 42 yd. punt, 6 yd. return.
Score: New England 0 – Tampa Bay 0
Assessment
Despite lining up in the shotgun with multiple receivers on all three plays, it was still a very conservative approach, featuring RB routes on the first play, a draw on the second play, and short, quick routes on the third play. As far as the WRs go: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. It was like the offseason never happened with Caldwell and Gaffney lining up wide (although Welker and Gaffney did switch for the 3rd down play). Neither, working against a non Cover-2 defense the first two plays and the Tampa-2 on the third play, made any impact. The draw play was a complete mess. Evans had to stay back for a second in order to sell the pass, but a lead blocker who starts at the same lateral position as the RB has to begin his movements before the RB, and this did not happen. Poorly drawn play if you ask me, unless Evans stayed back when he wasn’t supposed to.
Drive Grades
QB ‘B’ - Welker throw could have been better
RBs ‘B’
WRs ‘C’ - Failed to get open, stay aware of marker
TEs ‘Incomplete’
OL ‘B’ - Only mistake was on Welker play
OC ‘B’ - Final two plays were poorly-designed
...
I only have tomorrow to work on this, so I'll try to get as much done as possible. Hopefully Box will take over then.
For those new to these breakdowns, Box_o_Rocks and I have been doing them since the 2005 season to give the fans here an extra edge following almost each Patriots game. Keep in mind we're going to miss games here and there, and it's nearly impossible to finish a game or even get halfway with the amount of typing that goes into this. So we'll tend to focus on the important, intriguing, and interesting parts of the games. In the preseason, as we're in now, an extra emphasis will be placed on some of the newer players, although we'll checkup on how the familiar faces are faring as well. You'll also see us list personnel on the field during the preseason, something we don't do once the regular season rolls around. These breakdowns used to be virtual books that focused on each and every player's role in as many plays as we could, but since just doing that took up a mammoth chunk of our time, we changed over to a single-paragraph format halfway through last season, but added the drive assessment and grades for the extra analysis.
So, without further ado, here is the first Patriots drive of 2007. This is all I'm going to get to tonight, but I'll start off where I left off tomorrow morning (actually this morning now!). I also included the key to the breakdowns for the new readers:
Color and Highlighting
Green Good for New England. Five or more yards on an offensive play or a first down, two or fewer yards on a defensive play or denying a first down. Underlined for big plays and 3rd down.
Black O.K. for New England. Three or four yards on an offensive or defensive play that doesn’t result in or prohibit a first down (a 4 yard gain on 3rd and 5 would be a red play – not black).
Red Bad for New England. Five or more yards on a defensive play or allowing a first down, two or fewer yards on a offensive play or not getting a first down. Underlined for big plays and 3rd down.
Yellow (highlight...not visible in vB code) Penalty or injury or editor’s choice for an important note.
First Half
Kickoff: Andrews from the NE 10, 26 yd. return, Andrews, with G. Williams leading the way, evades a Sanders missed block before being taken down.
Note: WCVB’s feed had the bleeps, the sweeps, and the creeps to begin the game, so bear with me. And then there’s the fact I haven’t done this in 7 months…
Offensive Series #1 Punt
Contributor: Pats1
Time: 15:00 remaining in the first quarter
Statistics: 3 plays (1 run, 2 pass), 8 yards (-2 run, 10 pass), time of possession was 3:00
Breakdown: 1 green play (0 run, 1 pass) for 8 yds., 2 red plays (1 run, 1 pass) for 0 yds. (-2 run, 2 pass)
1st and 10 NE 26
Result: Pass, Faulk, quick out, 8 yds.
Analysis: Shotgun 3 WR (Gaffney, Caldwell), Welker right slot, 2 RB (Faulk, Evans) vs. 4-2 nickel CBs off. Caldwell went in motion to behind Welker, then took a short hitch and with Evans going on a quick-out, put the LCB in a 2-on-1 situation. Brady looked to Heath first, and with great protection (despite Neal losing ground inside), turned left and found Faulk underneath the RCB zone. OL: Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur.
2nd and 2 NE 34
Result: Draw, Morris, right guard, -2 yds.
Analysis: Shotgun 3 WR (Gaffney, Caldwell), Welker right wing, 2 RB (Morris, Evans) vs. 4-2 nickel CBs off, NB showing blitz. Welker apparently was in the left slot and motioned in to the right wing as the NB was showing blitz. Kaczur did a good job of letting the RE swim his way inside, and Evans met the LLB coming in. Neal and Caldwell also did a good job sealing in the second level. Welker lost his outside leverage on the NB, conveniently as Morris bounced the run outside and into the NB’s arms. I’d actually go back and blame this on Evans, who maybe tried to sell the pass for too long before engaging with the LLB. This meant his block wasn’t ready in time for Morris, who was forced outside into somewhere Welker wasn’t anticipating the run to go. OL: Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur.
3rd and 4 NE 32
Result: Pass, Welker, quick out, 2 yds., pass thrown under pressure.
Analysis: Shotgun 4 WR (Welker, Caldwell), Gaffney left slot, Mills right wing, RB Faulk left vs. 4-2 nickel press, LBs and SS showing blitz. Despite showing blitz, only the RLB actually came in. Morris stood up the RLB easily, but even in this 6-on-5 (C and RG doubled) situation, both Light and Mankins were simultaneously beaten outside by the RE and RDT, respectively, putting pressure right in Brady’s face. Welker came in motion inside and was picked up by the RCB in the Tampa-2 short zone, releasing Gaffney deep to the FS. Even though Brady’s pass was lobbed under pressure, this was a dumb mental mistake by Welker to stay a good yard short of the marker his entire route. Mills was picked up by the SS and Caldwell by the LCB. OL: Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur.
4th and 2 NE 34
Result: Punt, Baugher, to the TB 24, Jones gets help on backside blocks on Andrews and Rogers, but is caught from behind by Mays, 42 yd. punt, 6 yd. return.
Score: New England 0 – Tampa Bay 0
Assessment
Despite lining up in the shotgun with multiple receivers on all three plays, it was still a very conservative approach, featuring RB routes on the first play, a draw on the second play, and short, quick routes on the third play. As far as the WRs go: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. It was like the offseason never happened with Caldwell and Gaffney lining up wide (although Welker and Gaffney did switch for the 3rd down play). Neither, working against a non Cover-2 defense the first two plays and the Tampa-2 on the third play, made any impact. The draw play was a complete mess. Evans had to stay back for a second in order to sell the pass, but a lead blocker who starts at the same lateral position as the RB has to begin his movements before the RB, and this did not happen. Poorly drawn play if you ask me, unless Evans stayed back when he wasn’t supposed to.
Drive Grades
QB ‘B’ - Welker throw could have been better
RBs ‘B’
WRs ‘C’ - Failed to get open, stay aware of marker
TEs ‘Incomplete’
OL ‘B’ - Only mistake was on Welker play
OC ‘B’ - Final two plays were poorly-designed