Patriotic Fervor
2nd Team Getting Their First Start
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
- Messages
- 1,520
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- 83
Really nothing new. Just a variation on the "disrupt his rhythm" and "keep him off schedule" memes. There is a fundamental problem with pulling if off though...the Pats formations and motion cause the defense to reveal and commit a lot pre-snap. At that point, Brady's first read is not dictated by the formation, but by the matchups. Problem for the defense is that even if you can guess the matchup, there may not be anything you can do about it.
Lots of examples from the last Jets game, but a more recent one from the Packer game. 1st and goal and Pats shift from a tight formation so that Hernandez is the lone receiver split left. The nickelback Shields follows him. That is the matchup Brady wants. You know it. I know it. Shields' mom knows it. Quick out route and a touchdown.
The defense is 11 independent brains trying to do a coordinated activity. Change the situation and it is a lot to expect all of them to react appropriately. In the above example, if a safety moves wide with Hernandez, then Gronk or Welker are covered by a LB in the middle of the field. Drop LBs in zone to protect this and Brady checks to a run with Woodhead behind Mankins (which was probably the original call). There literally is no good answer besides hoping for a dropped pass or an offensive penalty.
So far this year Brady has thrown 4 picks...one Hail Mary, one deep to Moss that was like a punt on 3rd-n-long, one that Moss played volleyball with and one nice play (pressure and coverage) by the Ravens. But for a guy that has really only thrown one "legit" pick all year, Brady has hit a couple of defenders square in the numbers. Why? Because those defenders gambled and almost won. The key to messing up Brady is to be random. Just stop in an unexpected place for no particular reason. Hope that Brady loses track of you and throws the interception.
Obviously that is amazingly risky, but dude hasn't thrown a pick in 3 months. And unless you can steal a possession or two, you aren't going to win. So either throw caution to the wind or get your kicker ready for some onside kicks.
That was a nice post. Thanks!