Where coaching matters: Marcus Jones punt returns tweak

[Mike the Brit]

I'm not sure about this one. It looked like Marcus made 6 guys miss him right after he caught the ball, and some of the Patriots even gave up on him and didn't block at all. Look at Austin, for instance.

You're right. Nothing to do with the original personnel. There were plenty of Panthers downfield -- Jones just sent them the wrong way.

Look at this screenshot.




There are 4 Carolina players within 5 yards, and 10 (everyone except the punter) within 15. Jones has veered sharply to the right, one of the Carolina players is grabbing him, and the rest are all pursuing, assuming he is going to the right.

This one is just a second or so later.




By this time Jones has jinked to the left and in so doing shaken off his tackler. He's about to beat the guy on his right shoulder, who is the only one in position to make a play. The others are two to ten yards behind because they have had to completely change direction. His only other problems are to beat the guy who is being blocked on the 17-yard-line, who probably can't even see what is happening, and then beat the punter.

Absolutely stunning individual play!

 

[Tunescribe]

I'm not sure about this one. It looked like Marcus made 6 guys miss him right after he caught the ball, and some of the Patriots even gave up on him and didn't block at all. Look at Austin, for instance.

I don't know what it shows happening at the LOS, I'll have to rewatch it myself. Otherwise take it up with Vrabel, I just reported what he said in his press conference.

 

[PatsFan2]

Including his own guy on the TD return.

Like Tebucky Jones taking out Teammates.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I'm not sure about this one. It looked like Marcus made 6 guys miss him right after he caught the ball, and some of the Patriots even gave up on him and didn't block at all. Look at Austin, for instance.

Gotta wonder if he was supposed to call fair catch and forgot as both teams looked surprised!

But as we get the benefit of seeing this from above it does look like the big ST guys are pushing/blocking so that the returner knows where there's more likely to be an opening

It's great to see that chess match from above like many of the ST coaching staff does to design plays in the first place.

Best of all I've always gotten the sense that the strength of ST tells you what you have in the wings for your future starters, and the players know this is their chance to get noticed and make an impact. We kindof lost that part of the Patriots culture later in BB's tenure and good to see Vrabel brining it back.

 

[Kdo5]

I'm not sure about this one. It looked like Marcus made 6 guys miss him right after he caught the ball, and some of the Patriots even gave up on him and didn't block at all. Look at Austin, for instance.

Thank you, that’s exactly what I observed.

We don’t need to praise Vrabel or the ST coach and act like they were partly responsible for those returns. They can have credit when it’s due.

These ones were all Marcus.