Grantland/Chris Brown: The Great Defender: Understanding Bill Belichick’s Genius
Grantland/Chris Brown: The Great Defender: Understanding Bill Belichick’s Genius
When Chris Brown writes about Belichick,it’s a MUST READ! Great stuff, including some insight into how the Patriots defense can decide who blitzes after the snap. Great stuff.
Hey Mike; In some ways I believe the Pats already played their Super Bowl against the Ravens – a team who knows they’re tendensies, and a team it seams that gives they’re offensive line more problems, aka the Giants of old. Your thoughts ?
I would’ve felt more that way in 2011 after they beat a Ravens team that was better than this year’s version. Seattle is the best team the Patriots have played all season and pose a number of problems that have been weaknesses for New England this year.
Do they also have some areas that play into the Patriots strengths? Sure. And at least on paper, they don’t have the pass rush depth that the Giants had to take advantage of the Patriots’ line.
I think there’s something to be said for the Giants getting a look at the Patriots in both regular seasons before their Super Bowl matchups, playing them tough both times. Seattle doesn’t have that kind of familiarity, and for a team that isn’t big on disguise on defense, that could hurt them when seeing the pace and variation that New England can run their offense with.
The Pats will need their best game of the season to win this one, just like Seattle will need their best. I expect both teams to play clean games, with no more than one turnover each.
Looking back at two days before the game for the last few SB’s this is what I remember. SB 36 – I was hoping we wouldn’t get embarrassed and hopeful for a good game. SB 38 – I was confident we would win. SB 39 – I thought we would never lose. SB 42 – It felt like a coronation. SB 46 – I wanted revenge for destroying our perfect season. SB 49 – Pride in this team. The mental toughness carried over from 2013. They will be ready to go and it will come down to a handful of plays one way or the other
That sums it up. Say what you will about the Patriots, but the amount of fight in them is unequalled. I never thought we’d lose either of those two Super Bowls, but especially SB46, because a win would’ve just been so poetic.
Now, I realize nothing is assured, even if the Patriots are due to play a Super Bowl where they make the clutch plays and get the clutch bounces. Both of the last two they played tight for most of the game. Nothing is assured, but I am proud of this team and how they’ve had to weather incredible controversy once again.
A win Sunday would be a beautiful thing but it will certainly not come easy. All I know is that the Patriots will fight down to the final whistle. Will it be enough? We’ll see.
The Pats gameplans and analysis from yourself and other Pats-centric sites have been great, but where do you think the Seahawks view the weaknesses in this New England team and what spots will they target offensively and defensively?
Good question. I feel like I know the Patriots’ weaknesses pretty well so if I’m the Seahawks I’m really wanting to attack them with our running game, especially by getting the Pats into nickel defense. The Patriots don’t make a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage, which means the Seahawks should try to just grind it out on the ground, even if it’s just with gains of 4 yards a pop.
The Pats won’t give up long runs, but I’d make them prove they can force third-and-longs. If the Pats don’t win against the run on early downs, they’ll see a lot of third-and-makeables, and that’s when Russell Wilson can have the most options at his disposal.
As for the other side of the ball, I’d attack the middle of the Patriots line with our pass rushers, and I’d also use Cover-3 and allow the underneath passes, then destroy the receivers after they make the catch. Gronk certainly has to be jammed at the line at every chance, but I’d be careful matching up with him when he splits out wide.
What would worry me most would be if Blount gets rolling up the middle of our defense, or if Brady is in sync with LaFell on Maxwell. Those are things that the Seahawks can’t afford.
Questions, Comments, Complaints, Compliments, Whatever
Questions, Comments, Complaints, Compliments, Whatever
It’s a Super Bowl edition of Q&A! Fire any and all questions via the link above, and as it was last week, you’re much more likely to get it answered if it’s related to football, not footballs.
Damon and Affleck on @jimmykimmel’s “I Am The Locker Room Guy” gets the WIN for Friday #GoPats
See, you can have fun with a tired and annoying story while showing hometown pride during the most overcovered media event of the year. Fahk yeah, doods!
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/townienews-damon-and-affleck-on-jimmykimmels-i/