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Archives for December 17, 2010
PFW: Why BB is Coach of the Year
PFW: Why BB is Coach of the Year
This year is neck and neck with 2001 and 2007 in terms of BB’s greatest coaching seasons, and we won’t know where it ranks until the end.
Let’s remember in 2001 he did it with a back up quarterback. Granted that quarterback ended up being Tom Brady, but at the time he wasn’t the legend he turned out to be yet. He also shut down one of the greatest offenses in history with a great game plan to win the Super Bowl.
2007 is close behind because it was an impossibly difficult schedule and they rewrote the record books. But by not winning the Super Bowl I can’t put that above the 2001 season.
I’m not sure if this season could top 2001 yet. What he’s done with such a young defense has been remarkable, but surely having Tom Brady has given them some leeway. Put a lesser quarterback on the Pats and they’d probably have lost at least three more games.
But the game plans and execution in 2010 have been nearly flawless as we’ve come down the stretch and this schedule has been just as difficult as 2007’s.
ProFootball Focus: Patriots vs. Bears Re-Focused
Here are some of the numbers that PFF graded for the Pats in their win over Da Bears.
Deion Branch (+3.1) continues to excel since coming over from Seattle, and he had his best grade of the year against the Bears (3.1). While many people struggled with footing, Branch used it to his advantage to make opposing corners slip on cuts as he collected eight balls for 151 yards.
While the Bears’ offensive line struggled, the Patriots line as a whole posted an across-the-board spectacular effort. The big strength came on the left side, where LT Matt Light (+4.0) and LG Logan Mankins (+5.3). Mankins in particular is hitting his stride, and approaching the form that has made him the most consistently good guard in the league since the start of the 2008 season.
Perhaps the Bears couldn’t establish the running game because of the Mack truck lined up in front of them. Vince Wilfork (+1.5) made sure the Bears had no room to run when they tried. He anchored himself in the snow nicely and wasn’t giving the Bears blockers any push off the line for the running game. In games like this, it’s imperative for your defensive linemen to eat up blockers so linebackers can focus more on their footing and finding the ball carrier. Wilfork did just that.
Rookie report
Patriots CB Devin McCourty was having another big game (+2.8) before he was forced to leave with an injury. … Jermaine Cunningham (-0.8) struggled getting pressure on the quarterback against a line known for giving up pressure. … TE Rob Gronkowski(+1.9) continues to see more time than fellow rookie TE Aaron Hernandez (49 snaps to 17) and had another solid game.
Random note
Tom Brady was only under pressure 9 times and posted a 63.2 quarterback rating and was sacked three times. When under no pressure his passer rating skyrocketed to 122.3.