Big Blue Huddle

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Sorry I

The first play is the one New England had so much success with this year. Outside receiver runs a quick slant (and the player defending him follows) and blocks on the player covering the inside receiver. This leaves the inside receiver space as he catches the ball.

Since the catch is behind the Line of Scrimmage, there is no pass interference against the outside receiver for blocking while the ball is in the air. (Someone check me on this.)

I think so JimmyZ. I don't see any reason why the QB would be the only one confused. When the tackle lines up with Umenyiora over him, he probably locks in on Osi as his responsibility. Then if Umenyiora drops into coverage, the OLT has to look elsewhere to see if a blitz is coming from that side, a Defensive Tackle is stunting into his area, or quite possibly both. Even with a 4 man rush, that would leave one guy blocking two and several O-linemen blocking air. Since Brady isn't very mobile and they rarely keep a back in as a blocker, that's a bad scenerio for the Patriots.

Painter, I think some injuries and players leaving the lineup for a few plays during that 12-play drive, may have dictated some of the Defensive sets. I agree, it was out of character and a strange decision but not much need to question it now. Who knows, it might have set up some things for them later in the game.

Well done Painter.

I think the 7th paragraph was the key to the Giants effectiveness in post season. Much of what QBs saw, or thought they were seeing was new. The perception of a blitz, or fear of one, was confusing for opposing QBs late in the games, and just as effective as an actual blitz. Farve in particular was looking for his hot reciever several times when there was actually only a 4 man rush. The problem was that the four men were three D-linemen and one LB. Technically not a blitz but it was read as one. Farve threw the hot read as the receiver ran his normal route. Result: Incomplete.

Brady was looking for the hot receiver all day which is why Welker ended up with so many catches. Brady never had a chance to look for Stallworth, usually the second read on most passing plays, and he was therefore a non-factor. Moss didn't have time to get deep in Brady's mind. The trump card for the Giants in the Superbowl was that they were able to get pressure with four rushers. Even when Brady read it right and thought he could get the ball downfield, he got pressure and sometimes sacked. That was a killer for them. The Superbowl was perhaps the most confused I have ever seen Tom Brady. He just couldn't figure out what was coming or where it was coming from. It was very well disguised and/or different than anything Brady had seen on film from the Giants previously.

Yes, all of the above.

I had asked this question before and received terriffic responses and realized many had the same lack of understanding of what these terms mean that I did. I want to say GiantJason and Painter gave great insight.

.........not to mention consecutive Superbowls lost.

Quote from: beaugestus on November 15, 2007, 05:36:28 AM
Did anyone else notice when they flashed on the screen he made only 1 of 5 FGs on grass 40 yds + that year?! It wasn't even close, at least at this time. ;D

Correct, and Norwood had never made one from that distance on grass.

Since I haven't updated this in about 3 years, I figured I would make it current.
1. Just south of Birmingham, Alabama - the best kept secret in the country.

2. Started following the Giants in the 70s when 8-8 would have been a great year.

3. Senior Engineer for Southern Nuclear. No, I can't get you Homer Simpson's autograph.

4. I'm actually better described as a soccer coach who works when he can, and my oldest daughter just won the Alabama high school State Championship. I must admit I had little to do with her development other than teaching her a love for the game. She also won two Academic State Championships in environmental science and will represent Alabama and the US with a team of students in the International Championships this summer. My job now is to stay out of her way and not screw her up before she heads off to college on scholarship. 

Two other children; Tatum (15) and Kendall (13) who keep me plenty busy. My wife is a Golden Domer, so she gets the TV to watch her game on Saturday and I get it for mine on Sunday, which makes for a happy marriage. She's a former college researcher and grant writer (Rutgers, Auburn, UAB) that was forced into retirement early due to a physical disability. She is now writing books from home and hopes to have the first of two ready for publication in early 2013.

First name is Mitch.