Bill Belichick...Boy Genius

[Rocky56]

Very revealing footage of the 2nd half....

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/video-bill-belichick-implores-defense-giants-throw-mario-192504476.html

Just seconds before Eli Manning connected with Mario Manningham for the biggest play of the Super Bowl XLVI, Bill Belichick was telling his defense to force Eli to throw the ball to Manningham.

They did. The rest is history. This is all good stuff, but skip ahead to about the 1:30 mark if you want to see Bill Belichick unknowingly digging his own grave.

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[Hooper74]

Given that it's impossible to take away every offensive threat I don't think it was wrong to try instead to take away Nicks (the one who had the best game start to finish of any of them), Cruz (the explosive game breaker) instead of Manningham (the guy almost as likely to make a goof as he is a big play) or Bear Pascoe (no explanation necessary).

[LennG]

 BB did what he should have done, take away the Giants best weapons and make some 3rd stringer beat them. Eli and MM did just that and the rest is history.

I love video's like this that take you away from the talking heads on TV and radio and onto the field where you can really hear what's going on.

[joeynygiants]

proves one thing, you never know what a player can do until given the chance.

manningham is a fine player, and he can make some of the toughest catches.

has to learn not to get so close to the end line, like on the 1st pass that was no good, for he went out of bounds.

manningham was a steal in the thrid round.

[jimv]

Terrific video!!!

[MightyGiants]

Great video!   I don't blame Bill, he had a 3 headed monster he simple couldn't stop

[Rambo89]

 BB did what he should have done, take away the Giants best weapons and make some 3rd stringer beat them. Eli and MM did just that and the rest is history.

I love video's like this that take you away from the talking heads on TV and radio and onto the field where you can really hear what's going on.

It was absolutely the right thing to do.  Manningham isn't as big a threat a Nicks or Cruz.  Plus he has a tendency to run bad routes.

[T200]

Plus, I'm sure Belichick was hoping Manningham would get too close to the sidelines and catch the ball out of bounds like he did on an earlier drive.

[BlueMoshik]

What was BB supposed to do?

[T200]

What was BB supposed to do?

Exactly what he did. Attack the weakest link. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for him and his team.

[babywhales]

Regarding Manningham's catch, Bill played it smart used the odds by removing the top two targets forcing the Giants to beat them with their  3rd and 4th options.  A smart move that just diodn't work out.

 
If anything Belichick out thought himself in other instances or was outcoached.

Opening the game with his jumbo package on the first offensive play, told the giants defense they were going play action deep.  Multiple players have said this was very recognizable from there film study and knew to get at Brady as quick as possible.  Result safety.

For some reason despite the success other teams have had against the giants in the "No huddle" and the success the PAts had using no huddle on sunday ( 3 drives resulting in 2 scoring drives).  Bll only used it for 10 plays????????

In the second half Bill switched from a 3-4 to 4-3  the result doubled the yards per play 6.8 compared to 3.6 in the first half ort of a 3-4.

At the end of the game the pats quickly drove up to mid field.  Instead of slowing things down with the run Bill went pass 5 of 6 plays forcing the punt but more importantly with 3:46 left on the clock for Eli.

[andrew_nyg]

With all due respect and credit to Mario...this is a glowing example of what makes Eli...Eli.

He is one of the best ever at taking what the defense gives him and making the most out of it. He shows confidence in players and truly helps in their development (you need only look at Cruz, Ballard, Smith & Boss to know that).

For everything this TEAM has done to win it's 2nd Championship in 4 years...it's starts with Eli...for the abovementioned reasons.

[LennG]

 Look, Mario's no slouch either. he may be the 3rd WR on this team, but on others teams he would be a #2. he may not have all the brains and run the best of routes, but he can catch most of the time. Sure Cruz and Nicks are better and they have the ability to take it to the house on any catch. MM just doesn't do that, but it's not like we are throwing to Jacobs or Bradshaw. MM is an above average WR, who just happens to be on a team with 2 better WR's.

[CAGiantFan]

 Look, Mario's no slouch either. he may be the 3rd WR on this team, but on others teams he would be a #2. he may not have all the brains and run the best of routes, but he can catch most of the time. Sure Cruz and Nicks are better and they have the ability to take it to the house on any catch. MM just doesn't do that, but it's not like we are throwing to Jacobs or Bradshaw. MM is an above average WR, who just happens to be on a team with 2 better WR's.

IMO Mario is an above average #2 and would still be our #2 if Victor had not exploded out of nowhere.   Wally Pipp was still a starting quality first baseman after Gehrig replaced him.

[babywhales]

IMO Mario is an above average #2 and would still be our #2 if Victor had not exploded out of nowhere.   Wally Pipp was still a starting quality first baseman after Gehrig replaced him.

Even in 2010 the descriptive stats as you showed in the other thread show MM barely above Nicks,  but he was still ranked behind Nicks, although top 20, una just about every NFL statistical rankings such as but not limited to the Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement, Defense-adjusted Value Over Average and YAR. http://footballoutsiders.com/stats/wr


2010 was his best effort by far but in 2011 Mario dropped off significantly to levels below average and 53 and 59 th. Regardless of Cruz's excellent play Manningham still significantly dropped in his level of play. 

That being said with 32 teams in the league even his  2011 numbers and stats are still in the top 60 and as such one a#2 in the NFL.