Cell phone video was leaked of the scene:Veteran left tackle Russell Okung, who signed with the Broncos last March, stepped forward to speak, and cornerback Aqib Talib strongly objected.
Cell phone video was leaked of the scene:Veteran left tackle Russell Okung, who signed with the Broncos last March, stepped forward to speak, and cornerback Aqib Talib strongly objected.
Crazy stat: through 9 games, the Patriots defense forced 23 drives with zero first downs (quick turnovers or three-and-outs, essentially, not counting end-of-halfs). This was tied for fifth fewest in the NFL. Over the past 5 games - 25 zero-first-down drives for opposing offenses, the most in the NFL. So they've gone from one of the worst teams in the league at forcing three-and-outs to the best. FWIW, the 2015 Pats were #1 in this category also.As for game balls, rather than tiring for the 4th quarter as with many past games played at altitude, the Defense got stop after stop after stop. Take a look at the drive chart from yesterday, it's ridiculous. FIVE CONSECUTIVE three-and-outs, followed by a 6-play turnover on downs? They gave up two bend-but-don't-break 11-play drives in the first half, ending with an INT and a punt, preceded by a 47yd FG drive. The rest of the game they played with flawless execution. Show me a game, since the 2004 AFC Divisional game, where the Pats' defense played better. And we're talking with an UDFA at #1 CB, Eric Rowe, Sheard and Kyle Van Noy are all reclamation projects on their 2nd franchise, etc etc.
I think you are grading a little harshly here. Compared to the AFC championship, this was an excellent performance. Stonewalling Von Miller is a great feat. I think NE came out with a very basic game plan and felt no need to deviate. Why play to Denver's strengths which are its corners? They made a commitment to run the ball and stuck with it.On the negative side, I'm a bit surprised at the OL love. They did shut down Von Miller, true, but there were free rushers at Brady on a number of plays and he needed all of his pocket movement skills just to avoid a sack. Joe Thuney in particular seemed to have a rough day. They only ran for 3.5 yards per carry against a D that's allowed 4.2; they couldn't get anything going with Blount all day (he had 17 carries and his longest run was FIVE yards).
The few times I saw Butler, he was draped all over the guy he was covering. I remember that sideline play in particular, where the throw took Sanders out of bounds, but had it been in a catchable range, Butler was the one who had position.Emmanuel Sanders @ESanders_10 1h1 hour ago
If you think malcom butler shut me down.. child please!! My 2 year old son Princeton can play Cover 2. Go watch the tape. He know better!
To be fair, Sanders got some good separation at the end of that play when he shoved Malcom Butler in the back.The few times I saw Butler, he was draped all over the guy he was covering. I remember that sideline play in particular, where the throw took Sanders out of bounds, but had it been in a catchable range, Butler was the one who had position.
Yeah, they don't travel like that but they aren't exactly sausaged in like you and me on a Southwest flight from Denver either.Not to derail the thread, but this comment got me thinking. 2 hours on the tarmac for an NFL team (at least a well-run and managed one like the Pats) shouldn't be as big of an inconvenience compared to your average Joe. In other words, teams should have charter planes to accomplish travel in the best way possible for the players (i.e. extra large, fully reclining seats, recovery chambers, etc.). A quick Google search turned up some nice plane interiors with executive-style first class seats, but I'm thinking more along the lines of this story about a Nike concept:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2192671-nike-helps-design-airplane-interior-focused-on-athlete-specific-needs
This WSJ article is interesting, but also from 2012, so who knows how accurate it still is.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203897404578076574126494236
[/hijack]
Judging by this tweet, the closest he'll come to Princeton is reading his son a bedtime story.Sanders did a great job complaining to the refs as Logan Ryan zipped the other way down the field after intercepting the ball. He probably learned his whining ways from Princeton, who I hear plays a fundamentally sound Cover 2 defense, but hates bedtime.
So do these guys.Malcom Brown deserves all the praise he can get
The OL did play better than in the AFC Championship Game. And they did do a great job limiting Miller. They did not do an especially good job stopping the rest of the Denver pass rush. And while they committed to the run, they ran the ball poorly. Almost all the scoring drives were pass-heavy; they had a difficult time moving the ball on the ground. Yesterday was the converse of the early-season games where the O carried the load for a suspect D; they really could not get much going offensively, but because the D was handling Denver so effectively, they did not need to try to force the issue. That's different from the OL (or offense in general) playing well.I think you are grading a little harshly here. Compared to the AFC championship, this was an excellent performance. Stonewalling Von Miller is a great feat. I think NE came out with a very basic game plan and felt no need to deviate. Why play to Denver's strengths which are its corners? They made a commitment to run the ball and stuck with it.
You know the Belichick fantasy team is just Mark Bavaro playing every skill position.Belichick cares about his fantasy team too
I think the Patriots just charter jets from one of the airlines (Delta), and the players sit in coach. Som not much better than what a regular person would get when it comes to comfort.Yeah, they don't travel like that but they aren't exactly sausaged in like you and me on a Southwest flight from Denver either.
That's how most teams do it. Some may take bigger planes with more seats to spread out their players depending on length of flight and also depending on if they fly their equipment to the game or drive the equipment with a semi.I think the Patriots just charter jets from one of the airlines (Delta), and the players sit in coach. Som not much better than what a regular person would get when it comes to comfort.
http://www.patriots.com/sites/patriots.com/files/styles/gallery__lightbox/public/2013/11-November/tempDSP_1397.JPG?itok=Tu5Kj6Fb×tamp=1439580638
I agree teams should do stuff like that, but teams don't always do what's best for their players for some reason. For example, many teams apparently still make many of the players share rooms when they are on the road (if I recall Andrew Brandt correctly), and I would imagine being the same room as another 300-lb guy is sub-optimal for rest or recovery.Not to derail the thread, but this comment got me thinking. 2 hours on the tarmac for an NFL team (at least a well-run and managed one like the Pats) shouldn't be as big of an inconvenience compared to your average Joe. In other words, teams should have charter planes to accomplish travel in the best way possible for the players (i.e. extra large, fully reclining seats, recovery chambers, etc.). A quick Google search turned up some nice plane interiors with executive-style first class seats, but I'm thinking more along the lines of this story about a Nike concept:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2192671-nike-helps-design-airplane-interior-focused-on-athlete-specific-needs
This WSJ article is interesting, but also from 2012, so who knows how accurate it still is.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203897404578076574126494236
[/hijack]
Another way to look at the OL play is that the Pats had only 1 negative run out of 38 running plays (ignoring Brady's kneel down).The OL did play better than in the AFC Championship Game. And they did do a great job limiting Miller. They did not do an especially good job stopping the rest of the Denver pass rush. And while they committed to the run, they ran the ball poorly. Almost all the scoring drives were pass-heavy; they had a difficult time moving the ball on the ground. Yesterday was the converse of the early-season games where the O carried the load for a suspect D; they really could not get much going offensively, but because the D was handling Denver so effectively, they did not need to try to force the issue. That's different from the OL (or offense in general) playing well.
Also deserving a game ball: the gods of fumble luck. Last year the Broncos recovered all three fumbles in the regular season meeting; yesterday, the Pats recovered all five fumbles.
Yes, but since every play called a turnover or score on the field is reviewed (and I believe refs err on the side of calling them as such since they could overturn with no harm done), there are fewer opportunities to challenge these days. How often do teams even use two challenges in one game? If you think it's a TD you should definitely challenge (and it sounds like BB tried to).If the refs don't agree that there's indisputable evidence, then your next challenge is your last.
I would have preferred Bill challenge, especially with the down-the-line angle we had, but at the 1 yard line and with a recovery ruled for the offense, I can understand him holding onto his ammunition.
Your numbers are the yards to gain on 3rd down, yes? So they averaged 3rd and 4 when running twice?Another way to look at the OL play is that the Pats had only 1 negative run out of 38 running plays (ignoring Brady's kneel down).
Also, I took a quick look at the play-by-play, and the Pats had 31 series of downs in their 13 offensive drives. Of those, I counted 17 series where the Pats had 3rd down. I took a look at the yardages the Pats had to make on those 17 series, and broke those out by types of preceding plays:
a.) Pats ran on first two downs: 3, 8, 3*, 5*, 4 (FG), 1*, 5, 3 (FG), 3**, 4 (Mean: 3.9)
b.) Pats ran on one down: 10 (FG), 10, 9, 2*, 6* (Mean: 5)
c.) Pats passed on first two downs: 5, 10 (Mean: 7.5)
The * means the Pats converted the 3rd down to a first; the ** indicates a defensive penalty (this was TJ Ward's penalty on Edelman).
The offense was by no means perfect running the ball. However, if you look at the running game as a tool to give you 3rd-and-short, the Pats did OK. There were only 3 3rd-and-10's all day, and staying out of 3rd-and-long was probably a key factor in neutralizing the Bronco's pass rush.
It wasn't perfect, but they were playing against the league's top passing defense.
I think the graphic popped up on the screen during the Giants game yesterday but Belichick "leads" the league in fewest challenges this year with 2, while McAdoo has 4.Yes, but since every play called a turnover or score on the field is reviewed (and I believe refs err on the side of calling them as such since they could overturn with no harm done), there are fewer opportunities to challenge these days. How often do teams even use two challenges in one game? If you think it's a TD you should definitely challenge (and it sounds like BB tried to).
Yes it was a Delta A-330. I know a senior pilot who almost picked up the charter.I think the Patriots just charter jets from one of the airlines (Delta), and the players sit in coach. Som not much better than what a regular person would get when it comes to comfort.
http://www.patriots.com/sites/patriots.com/files/styles/gallery__lightbox/public/2013/11-November/tempDSP_1397.JPG?itok=Tu5Kj6Fb×tamp=1439580638
Seventeen third downs is way too many. That is a shocking number of third downs. Consider that in their one touchdown drive, they faced zero third downs. In one of the FG drives, they didn't face a third down until the drive stalled out. Running twice and asking Brady to complete a stick throw on third down is tough sledding. Running the ball effectively isn't just making third down manageable, it's also picking up first downs. They had 37 rushes yesterday and gained only six first downs.Another way to look at the OL play is that the Pats had only 1 negative run out of 38 running plays (ignoring Brady's kneel down).
Also, I took a quick look at the play-by-play, and the Pats had 31 series of downs in their 13 offensive drives. Of those, I counted 17 series where the Pats had 3rd down.
I think it was their passing game that was the problem, not the run game. And, in this particular case, one really does need to take into account both the venue and the opposition. There's only been 3 games where Denver has allowed more than 200 yards passing all season.Seventeen third downs is way too many. That is a shocking number of third downs. Consider that in their one touchdown drive, they faced zero third downs. In one of the FG drives, they didn't face a third down until the drive stalled out. Running twice and asking Brady to complete a stick throw on third down is tough sledding. Running the ball effectively isn't just making third down manageable, it's also picking up first downs. They had 37 rushes yesterday and gained only six first downs.
I don't think it's an either-or. They struggled to run the ball and they struggled to pass the ball.I think it was their passing game that was the problem, not the run game. And, in this particular case, one really does need to take into account both the venue and the opposition. There's only been 3 games where Denver has allowed more than 200 yards passing all season.
You get a game ball for enduring that cold. No such thing as a "dry cold" either, huh?Everyone gets a game ball.
This is not meant to sound braggy, but I was at the game yesterday and it was *brutally* cold, particularly in the shade, which covered most of the stadium and field. The last thing I would have wanted to do yesterday was play football. I had several layers, thick socks, boots, gloves, etc and I was still freezing my ass off.
It got so cold that we left after the third quarter to watch the rest of the game at a nearby bar. My friend's toes were literally going numb because Mile High did a horrible job with snow removal from a moderate (at best) storm that rolled through a full two days before the game, so all of our seats and rows were covered in snow, and in the shade it had to be around 0 degrees. It was the least amount of fun I've ever had at an NFL game. It made me never want to purchase a ticket again for a game at Mile High that's after the month of November.
Having said all of that...super, super brutal conditions against a hard-hitting team and they pulled it out. This team has plenty of mental toughness.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/patriots/2016/12/19/patriots-created-mismatches-offense-expose-broncos-flaws/ZEcuoXsvJE8omrKpC8aRRJ/story.htmlDid you to see the Patriots’ formation with about 5:40 to go in the first quarter? Yup, they ran the same eligible-ineligible play that they did in the Ravens playoff game two years ago (and it just happened to come in a game being officiated by Walt Anderson, who was the Deflategate referee). And it was legal, too.
The Patriots put linebacker Shea McClellin in the “Shane Vereen role” as the ineligible player, took Thuney off the field, put Solder at left guard and Lengel at left tackle, who was eligible. At the snap, McClellin ran backward because he was ineligible, but he still drew Miller over to cover him, taking Miller out of the play.
Meanwhile, Lengel streaked down the field, and the Patriots were hoping he would be wide open, like Michael Hoomanawanui was two years ago. But credit Broncos linebacker Corey Nelson for recognizing the play and covering Lengel, forcing Brady to throw incomplete to Bennett instead.
Why did the Patriots use McClellin in that position? The new NFL rule that came in response to the Patriots’ formation makes it illegal for an offensive player with an eligible number to line up outside the tackle box as an ineligible receiver. So a running back, receiver or tight end couldn’t do it.
But the rule doesn’t say anything about defensive players. And McClellin, a linebacker who wears No. 58, does not wear an “eligible” jersey number
He really had a missed opportunity:Emmanuel Sanders @ESanders_10 1h1 hour ago
If you think malcom butler shut me down.. child please!! My 2 year old son Princeton can play Cover 2. Go watch the tape. He know better!
Even with the wonky rule change (based on uniform numbers now!), the fact that BB's players are all so cross-trained that even a backup LB draws coverage, well that is particularly delicious.How about a game ball to Belichick for trolling the shit out of the league:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/patriots/2016/12/19/patriots-created-mismatches-offense-expose-broncos-flaws/ZEcuoXsvJE8omrKpC8aRRJ/story.html
Wait until they break out the Colts fake-punt formation and actually run a decent play out of it. I'm surprised they didn't do it while Grif Whalen was on the roster.See, now what they can do is go into an odd-looking (but legal) formation, and have a WR approach the line yelling and waving his hands "I AM ELIGIBLE"
Enter the dumbass corner overthinks it and let's him go uncovered for an easy completion.
"Oh no, I ain't fallin for that shit... oh fuck me."
True. But it takes a supremely well-coached, calm and confident defender to look at McClellan, where he was lined up, who he plays for, and just leave him be.It's really not meant to be that hard.
The eligible receivers are the guys on the ends of the line and the guys off the line (including the guy taking the snap if he's not under center).
Hogan waved that off. Saving it for the divisional round.Wait until they break out the Colts fake-punt formation and actually run a decent play out of it. I'm surprised they didn't do it while Grif Whalen was on the roster.
I wonder if McClellin's uniform number 58 was part of the plan here, too. I imagine guys aren't paying super-close attention to the uniform numbers and the "8" in there gives it some legitimacy. McClellin is 6'3" 250 too, so easy to mistake him for a third-string TE in the heat of the moment.Even with the wonky rule change (based on uniform numbers now!), the fact that BB's players are all so cross-trained that even a backup LB draws coverage, well that is particularly delicious.
"Shit, ineligible? What? I bet he was a receiver in college or some shit... uhhmmm....I better cover him."
Game ball to BB