Did you hear the Brady audio "what the fuck is up with our clock guy?"Lots to like for grinding out a win. But seriously WTF was wrong with the clock operator on the Pats last offensive play?
I noticed that too. Get it down to 4-5 seconds left on the playclock, Tom.Given the circumstances I thought it was one of Brady's best games of the year and drops made the final line look much worse than it should have been.
That said, why on earth was he snapping the ball with 10+ seconds left when they were on their side of the 50 nursing the 4pt lead with around 4min left? Three straight plays they saved DAL about 30 seconds collectively. Not sure if that was coaching or on Brady but seemed like a very odd decision.
The Pats do march to a different drummer when it comes to snapping the ball. Sometimes it’s to further wear out a tired defense, other times, who knows.I noticed that too. Get it down to 4-5 seconds left on the playclock, Tom.
They do that. It isn’t the first time. I think maybe Bill or Josh think that it’s more important to run things their regular way to try to make the play instead of rushing things at the line for the snap. Dunno. But they don’t seem to put a premium on play clock management until after the two minute warning or close to situational victory formation time.Given the circumstances I thought it was one of Brady's best games of the year and drops made the final line look much worse than it should have been.
That said, why on earth was he snapping the ball with 10+ seconds left when they were on their side of the 50 nursing the 4pt lead with around 4min left? Three straight plays they saved DAL about 30 seconds collectively. Not sure if that was coaching or on Brady but seemed like a very odd decision.
Brady doesn’t want to fall below 1000 career rushing yds.I also felt - not in hindsight, at the time - that the time left on the clock called for a couple of those “back up a few yards and THEN take the knee” snaps.
It makes sense if you don't want them to time the snap and you're trying to catch them unawares, but they didn't really do that effectively. The one that killed me was they snapped with 10 seconds left on second down and DAL jumped the snap anyway and took down Michel for a big loss. That shouldn't happen.Given the circumstances I thought it was one of Brady's best games of the year and drops made the final line look much worse than it should have been.
That said, why on earth was he snapping the ball with 10+ seconds left when they were on their side of the 50 nursing the 4pt lead with around 4min left? Three straight plays they saved DAL about 30 seconds collectively. Not sure if that was coaching or on Brady but seemed like a very odd decision.
Harry's was trickier because he ran his on the outside, while Brown was in the slot so he had a lot more room to work with. The play at the catch point looked very similar.I wasn’t in the game thread today but it looked like the Harry TD was on the same route AB ran in his lone game. Someone mentioned in the AB thread that they would think about taking AB back because the Pats don’t have anyone on the roster that can make that play. A very timely response.
I think it was a combination of using the RBs to block a lot in the passing game and also not liking the matchup against the Cowboy coverage LBs, who are very good (especially Jaylon Smith). Those three RB catches came on 8 targets so it wasn't like this option was working when we went to it.Why did the Patriots not use the running backs in a shorter passing game? Conditions? 3 catches for 8 net yards. With rookie receivers it seemed like this was an option but pretty much nothing. The running back in the flat seems to be a regular feature of the offense of pretty much every NFL team but the Patriots haven’t really looked for like they did earlier in the year. Which is weird since they have a guy that is so very good at it.
Thanks SN. I knew it looked similar in the end zone.Harry's was trickier because he ran his on the outside, while Brown was in the slot so he had a lot more room to work with. The play at the catch point looked very similar.
He is so impossibly bad at commentary that it’s fun to watch.Gronk deserves some love for finding a way to say "the Patriots did what they needed to do and sometimes that's all you need to do to win" three times in a row on the postgame show.
Strange to say the least. I make it my December ritual to whine about James White touches so I’m on the case.Maybe not the right thread for this, but what do we make of the disappearance of James White? Three touches today, and two other incompletions sent his way. Even Aikman was citing the mismatch with Sean Lee in particular.
Saving him for the stretch run? Phasing him out? Injury we don't know about?
Could Gronk spell cat if you spotted him the c and t?Gronk is being groomed for Bradshaw’s replacement. You can tell that’s the seat they have picked out for him. The lovable lug and mug not too “bright” character.
In fairness to Gronk, seconds seemingly are now longer than ever before.I loved Gronk’s opening about Jones putting up the bubble every time it drizzles in Dallas. I think he’ll be fine once he slows down and doesn’t try to fill every second with words.
I have been thinking about this too.Maybe not the right thread for this, but what do we make of the disappearance of James White? Three touches today, and two other incompletions sent his way. Even Aikman was citing the mismatch with Sean Lee in particular.
Saving him for the stretch run? Phasing him out? Injury we don't know about?
Lee and Smith are unusually athletic LBs. I can see why the idea was to try to run them over rather than attack them through the air. I wouldn’t be worried about workload or injury unless it happens again next week.Maybe not the right thread for this, but what do we make of the disappearance of James White? Three touches today, and two other incompletions sent his way. Even Aikman was citing the mismatch with Sean Lee in particular.
Saving him for the stretch run? Phasing him out? Injury we don't know about?
Sure that was part of it. That screen to White fooled absolutely no one.I figured pregame Dallas would be expecting a ton of passes to RBs with little other passing threats on the active roster. maybe our gameplan simply was to counter that.
Yep thought Folk was very good in those conditions. Maher might have the strongest leg in the NFL and he was struggling in that direction as well. On the Folk 48yd miss he might make that if they run the previous play towards the left hash mark not the right. Given his previous miss went wide right I thought it was a mistake to run the last play of the half towards the right hash. I get you have to take what the defense gives you but Folk had no shot on that kick from the right hash in that weather.Watching on tape just now, the Jedi mind tricks played on Dallas as they were punting end of third quarter resulted in a huge change in starting field position. That drive ended in a Folk FG.
Also, Folk should have been 3-4 today - false start was the difference between a good performance and an average one in today’s weather.
And a game ball to the weather, which definitely played to the Pats strengths.
Really? You don't know Gronk.Could Gronk spell cat if you spotted him the c and t?
Articulate is not the same as intelligent.Could Gronk spell cat if you spotted him the c and t?
I think Harry was mostly matched up against Byron Jones, so it makes sense he didn't get a ton of targets. Edelman and Meyers had more favorable matchups. I do like that Brady looked his way in a couple congested spots even when he didn't have separation; the TD was like that, and the jump ball late that went through Harry's hands.I was glad to see TB and Harris hook up early, but it didn't seem like he had many targets the rest of the way - especially after that drop. Was obviously tough conditions, although I feel like the Pats had more drops than the Cowboys. Maybe it was just because the Pats had better defense so the receivers never touched it. Or maybe the Pats' drops just frustrate me more so they are more memorable.
Overall, the offense seemed much improved - even without Sanu. Brady just seemed to have much more time than he has all season.
If they can get through this, forcing Brady to work with these guys may be a huge benefit down the stretch. If Harry and Meyers can just provide some value and they get Sanu and Doresett back, the offense may actually start functioning again.I think Harry was mostly matched up against Byron Jones, so it makes sense he didn't get a ton of targets. Edelman and Meyers had more favorable matchups. I do like that Brady looked his way in a couple congested spots even when he didn't have separation; the TD was like that, and the jump ball late that went through Harry's hands.
I would probably phrase it as "getting these guys more practice and game reps" rather than "forcing Brady to work with these guys." You seem to be implying that it's Brady's fault they're not more of a factor on offense.If they can get through this, forcing Brady to work with these guys may be a huge benefit down the stretch. If Harry and Meyers can just provide some value and they get Sanu and Doresett back, the offense may actually start functioning again.
C | Patriots |
It wasn't pretty for the Patriots, but they know how to win ugly games, and so they again did just that. Their defense contained the No. 1 offense in the league -- aided by inclement weather -- but they were bailed out by the Cowboys'' decision to pull back on feeding Elliott. The All-Pro running back was having his way whenever he touched the ball, and the Patriots had no answer for him, but they didn't need one because the answer was the Dallas coaching staff; opting to pass at inopportune times and refusing to take what the Patriots defense was giving them. They used the poor decisions by the Cowboys to land a four-point win, and it didn't have to be their most polished outing to do it. All they had to be was average, and they were, against a Dallas team hellbent on being graded an F in Week 12. |
The funny thing is, assuming White doesn't completely disappear in the last 5 games, it's likely that he'll end up with his second most rushing attempts and receptions in his career.I have been thinking about this too.
Part of me thinks that the blocking in the screen game and wheel routes he has excelled at has been diminished by bad OL (piling on to OL), no Develin, Gronk, Allen, etc...
Also, many of the passes he has received this year are less designed and more “safety valve” as TB is getting demolished or about to be and White is instantly tackled.
Or maybe, much to my chagrin, his feet are just getting less sweet.
The line got better holes in the run game today, maybe the RB passing game is next.
The pats have a weird combo at RB right now and seems like they’re not sure of their identity. Michel has also started catching a few more balls.. as has Burkhead. I wonder if either are better at blocking than White? Perhaps the weakness of the OLine has dictated keeping the RB in more to block which doesn’t play to White’s strengths? It has been an odd season for him.Maybe not the right thread for this, but what do we make of the disappearance of James White? Three touches today, and two other incompletions sent his way. Even Aikman was citing the mismatch with Sean Lee in particular.
Saving him for the stretch run? Phasing him out? Injury we don't know about?
It was a weird game where the Patriots either converted a first on first or second down or wound up in third-and-long. White is money on those 3rd-and-four-type downs, but they only faced three three downs where they had less than seven to go. One of these Brady got sacked, one he threw to White (well-covered on a hitch, incomplete), and one he threw the seam ball that Meyers couldn't hang on to.Maybe not the right thread for this, but what do we make of the disappearance of James White? Three touches today, and two other incompletions sent his way. Even Aikman was citing the mismatch with Sean Lee in particular.
Saving him for the stretch run? Phasing him out? Injury we don't know about?
I was just thinking about this. His stat line was virtually identical to Sony Michel's-- Ellliot had one more yard on one more carry. Yet somehow it felt like he was on the verge of breaking out the whole game. I guess part of this was just the running game looking good in comparison to the passing game— a trick of perception. But it also seemed as though he was close to breaking much longer runs off in some of those 8+ yard runs, only to be brought down by sure-handed tackling in secondary.Here were Elliott's touches:
1st drive:
4 yd run
2nd drive:
7 yd run
7 yd run
19 yd reception
3rd drive:
4 yd run
-3 yd run
4 yd reception
4th drive:
0 yd run
5th drive:
8 yd run
3 yd run
12 yd run
5 yd run
2 yd run
6th drive:
2 yd run
5 yd run
2 yd run
3 yd run
7th drive:
3 yd run
8th drive:
5 yd reception
2 yd run
9th drive:
10 yd run
2 yd run
10th drive:
5 yd run
12 yd reception
3 yd run
11th drive:
(3 yd reception called back on penalty)
12th drive:
Elliott had a solid game: 25 touches, 126 yards, 5.0 yards per touch. But it wasn't like he was destroying the Pats. 37 yards on 4 touches to start the game their first two drives (9.3 per touch). 89 yards on 21 touches after that (4.2 per touch).
Not a bad game, and he was fine. But he wasn't rolling all over the Pats until Dallas decided to stop giving him the ball.
Elliott was more consistent. In that list you've got one run for a loss and one for no gain. His longest run was only 12 yards but he was consistently gaining yardage. Michel had four runs for 12+ (which ups the average considerably) but two for no gain and three for -4.I was just thinking about this. His stat line was virtually identical to Sony Michel's-- Ellliot had one more yard on one more carry. Yet somehow it felt like he was on the verge of breaking out the whole game. I guess part of this was just the running game looking good in comparison to the passing game— a trick of perception. But it also seemed as though he was close to breaking much longer runs off in some of those 8+ yard runs, only to be brought down by sure-handed tackling in secondary.
I love Gronk, but man he's horrendous at the commentator thing, I cringe every time he opens his mouth. I also wonder who beyond Pats fans wants to hear from him, particularly if he's going to be a ridiculous Patriot homer. I don't get it.