Julian Edelman and the Wall of Doom

[IdiotKicker]

http://central.sonsofsamhorn.net/nfl/teams/new-england-patriots/julian-edelman-wall-doom/
 

 
 
This performance by New England’s punt return unit here is nearly the opposite of the New York Jets’ attempted (and botched) kickoff return last Sunday. The play is properly executed and well drawn-up, with the Patriots’ blocking resources allocated to where the returner is actually going. And it has a competent returner making strong decisions throughout his run to advance the ball upfield. Creativity doesn’t have to be complicated in order to be effective. The simplicity and elegance of this play provides exactly what is needed to make a game-changing sequence for the Patriots’ special teams.

 

 

[crystalline]

Cool.


You say Edelman is being creative. When the blockers overload the left side like this, does the returner usually take a few steps to the right and cut back left? How much room does Edelman have to improvise here- or does the blocking largely dictate the returner's route?

 

[IdiotKicker]

Yeah if you watch Edelman, he does briefly start to his right before coming back left, almost how a running back sets up his blocks. He may deviate later on if he sees something, but with a play like this, he will always look to follow it initially. Then the chaos of a punt return sets in and it's all instincs.