The 3rd Down Punt was a statement

[DaBruinz]

A bit confusing. Do you want to "rephrase" this before it is completely debunked? For starters, a run on 3rd down would allow the Patriots to run down the subsequent play clock.

And it needlessly opens up your RB to a potential injury..

By using the quick kick, it catches the Broncos by surprise and it runs more time off the clock. And doing it on 3rd down shows they aren't trying to run up the score.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Doesn't necessarily mean it's being reciprocated.

You have zero evidence to support your claims.

 

[kennyb]

I don't agree! I don't think Belichick makes statements. I think it was just a neat play that made a lot of sense.

 

[Patspsycho]

You have zero evidence to support your claims.

I don't recall making an absolute claim. "Doesn't necessarily" isn't an absolute statement.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

It was an interesting play. But, why didnt they just put in Mesko and just punt the ball? What difference is there between the 2 plays??

Because you'd be choreographing a punt, and have a jailbreak to try and block the punt. . . .

Now if they had put Edelman in at QB to punt. . . .

 

[IcyPatriot]

Let's run the QB punt play is how I saw it ... game time conditions are best for that.

 

[Wolfpack]

Since the grounding must happen first, what if a punt coverage guy were to arrive at the punted ball and kick it through the goalposts while it was lying there, instead of downing it by touching it with another part of his body. Would that be the equivalent to a drop kick field goal???

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh no.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Since the grounding must happen first, what if a punt coverage guy were to arrive at the punted ball and kick it through the goalposts while it was lying there, instead of downing it by touching it with another part of his body. Would that be the equivalent to a drop kick field goal???

Illegal attempt to kick the ball, receiving team takes possession at the spot of the foul.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Well, I personally think it was vintage BB.

Much like the drop-kick by Flutie a few years back. It was a very strategic play that served a specific objective which helped his team in a specific spot.

......... and at the same time....... it's a subtle "eff you" to all the haters who piss and moan about the Patriots and what we stand for. The only statement made, if there was one, was "We'll do whatever we want, whenever we want to help our team win this game..... and there isn't a sh!tting thing you can do about it".

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think it was Tom saying, "I want to get home to Gisele. . . ."

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Much like the drop-kick by Flutie a few years back. It was a very strategic play that served a specific objective which helped his team in a specific spot.

What are you talking about? The drop-kick was a PAT!

Exactly what "specific objective which helped [the Patriots] in a specific spot" was having Flutie drop-kick an extra point instead of having the placekicker do it?

 

[Wolfpack]

What are you talking about? The drop-kick was a PAT!

Exactly what "specific objective which helped [the Patriots] in a specific spot" was having Flutie drop-kick an extra point instead of having the placekicker do it?

+1. It was a fun play but there was nothing strategic in letting Flutie do that. You don't get anything extra for the drop kick. If it was an important conversion, they would have kicked it in the conventional way.

 

[Wolfpack]

And it needlessly opens up your RB to a potential injury..

By using the quick kick, it catches the Broncos by surprise and it runs more time off the clock. And doing it on 3rd down shows they aren't trying to run up the score.

How does a quick kick run more time off the clock than a running play up the middle followed by a conventional punt?

I swear, the things people in here will say astounds me to no end.

 

[jbb9s]

the play took a 11 seconds. I have no idea how the clock had anything to do with this strategy. How could 11 seconds be more than running up the gut and forcing the Broncos to use a timeout or alternately running 40 seconds before Mesko kicking which would have been higher and longer than 11 seconds by itself)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amjaVMLkAYo

 

[YearbookCurfew]

It was awesome getting to see TFB punt. That was quite the game

 

[BradyFTW!]

The three runs on the goal line was to give the Polite some time with the O in live action in a short yardage situation (IMO).

The 3rd down punt was to protect Brady from getting hit.

Part of it is that BB does have respect for John Fox.

If it were say Jeff Fisher the score might be a bit different.

Yeah, you could say that.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

What are you talking about? The drop-kick was a PAT!

Exactly what "specific objective which helped [the Patriots] in a specific spot" was having Flutie drop-kick an extra point instead of having the placekicker do it?

It scored the point (which is the ultimate objective in football, no?) ........ Why the hell would you drop kick for a point after, when you can go for a traditional sure thing placekick.

BECAUSE YOU CAN........ very simple.

It's a simple way to say "sure, we could score points in a traditional way, but we'd rather do it like this."

The punt is basically the same thing. We could have just run the ball (which would have had the same effect of negating a blitz and protecting the QB), and then used our VERY RELIABLE punter to pooch a kick inside the 10. Would have had the same effect. But no..... by having Brady do it (which is a very non-traditional and riskier approach) you are basically saying..... We will have our way with you anyway we want.

It obviously tweaked their noses a bit judging by Von Miller's reaction. I'm sure that was the subtle message that was being sent. But doing it this way gives you the a reasonable out so that BB can deadpan a response in the post game PC and say some BS like "we felt like that was a good place for a quick punt and we wanted to avoid the blitz pressure".... or some likewise BS answer. Everyone knows its a lie, but can't quite call you on it.

Actually.... I was pursuing some article on Yahoo sports about the kick and resulting fight when I came upon a user comment that puts it much more colorfully then I did. The comment was simply.

I thought it was Brady's way of saying, "Your money's on the counter, I'm done with you. Now go wash up, get dressed and go home."

 

[player52]

Mesko >>> Brady

Tom Brady is the leading punter in the post season with 48yards so

Brady >> Mesko

 

[English Patriot]

I don't give a F what anyone thinks about us. All i know is at this point there are 29 teams in the NFL that can't say we are better than the pats.

 

[zoostation]

"Game's over and we don't want to risk a blocked punt or injured punter" was the statement I got out of that.

Exactly...the outside rush was on Zoltan all night. No statement...just another smart (and completely unexpected) call. It's a play they have practiced on and off for the last 6 years.