Optimum Offense: Patriots Offensive Play of Week 3
- Thread starter mascho
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There were two other notable Gronk plays, one successful and one not, and I wondered at the time of the second, successful play if they were identical plays run in mirror. In the case of the unsuccessful, I am referring to the play where Gronk lines up right, there was Play-action toward taht side while Gronk slid off his block and went all the way across the field to the left, leaving him wide open as the whole Raider team pursued the fake to their left. Unfortunately Brady badly overthrew Gronk.
Later it seemed like the same play ou reversed with Gronk lined left and the PA heading taht way while Gronk slipped out to the right flat for an easy completion.
Later it seemed like the same play ou reversed with Gronk lined left and the PA heading taht way while Gronk slipped out to the right flat for an easy completion.
Yeah, good observation. The first play was exactly as you described. They fake the stretch play to Gronk's side of the formation, he simulates a block and then runs a route over the middle. Brady missed that one.
With how open Gronk was, I think this was a case of the effect of constant pressure. The blocking is good but Brady sets his feet a little quicker than usual before the throw. I think he rushed it.
And you are exactly right, the later play (both were in the second quarter) was a mirror of the first.
With how open Gronk was, I think this was a case of the effect of constant pressure. The blocking is good but Brady sets his feet a little quicker than usual before the throw. I think he rushed it.
And you are exactly right, the later play (both were in the second quarter) was a mirror of the first.
Mark Schofield said:Yeah, good observation. The first play was exactly as you described. They fake the stretch play to Gronk's side of the formation, he simulates a block and then runs a route over the middle. Brady missed that one.
With how open Gronk was, I think this was a case of the effect of constant pressure. The blocking is good but Brady sets his feet a little quicker than usual before the throw. I think he rushed it.
And you are exactly right, the later play (both were in the second quarter) was a mirror of the first.
I don't have the All 22 replays but they showed a quick replay of this on Sunday. It looked to me like Gronk slowed down in his route, thinking possibly to sit in the zone where Brady could hit him. Brady, to my eyes, looked like he was expecting his route to continue. Not sure it was necessary innaccurate, but possibly some miscommunication.
It was 95% on Brady. Gronk may have slowed down just a bit, but if a guy is that wide open you have to give the ball some loft so there's more of a margin of error. Terrible throw. Of course would help if Gronk had even a 2nd gear...hopefully he gets some of his speed back as the season goes on.
Great stuff as usual!
This play got me thinking about our use of the shotgun. As I see it for passing the shotgun allows Brady to have more time to react to the rush, makes it a little easier for RBs to chip off the edge and can allow Brady to get the ball off a little faster on a quick route because he just has to step in and throw as opposed to the backpedal, plant and then step in. Overall, it also seems he is less susceptible to big hits in the shotgun. The reasons I can think of that we arent using it are because think Connolly has issues with the shotgun snap (had a big snafu this week near the goal-line), it creates less balance because they are much less likely to run the ball and therefore makes them more predictable. I certainly do have concerns about all 3 of these issues, but I would be willing to live with them because I really thought Brady was going to get hurt with the revolving door offensive line he had in front of him against the Raiders.
Is there something else I am missing with the shotgun in terms of cost and benefits?
This play got me thinking about our use of the shotgun. As I see it for passing the shotgun allows Brady to have more time to react to the rush, makes it a little easier for RBs to chip off the edge and can allow Brady to get the ball off a little faster on a quick route because he just has to step in and throw as opposed to the backpedal, plant and then step in. Overall, it also seems he is less susceptible to big hits in the shotgun. The reasons I can think of that we arent using it are because think Connolly has issues with the shotgun snap (had a big snafu this week near the goal-line), it creates less balance because they are much less likely to run the ball and therefore makes them more predictable. I certainly do have concerns about all 3 of these issues, but I would be willing to live with them because I really thought Brady was going to get hurt with the revolving door offensive line he had in front of him against the Raiders.
Is there something else I am missing with the shotgun in terms of cost and benefits?