Of course everyone was looking to blame somebody......The coaching, the players, Brady, Belichick??? First off I'm blaming Josh McDaniel for his play selection......especially in crucial situations---Calling a running play on third and five as the Pats were trying to mount an offensive to get within one score of the lead......of course it only produced FOUR yards.....
THEN, as they were about to punt, on fourth and one, a defender stepped over the line BUT none of the Patriots linemen touched him which would have made it a five yard penalty and given the Pats a first down which would have allowed them to continue their drive.....They were about midfield and marching......COACHING pounds that into the linemen from day one.....I learned about it in high school......THE PASSING GAME-----the Pats receiving corps is thin BUT to criticize them because they don't get many receptions??? Even Jerry Rice can't catch passes if they're not thrown at him......
THAT is Josh McDaniel's territory......his play selection was/is atrocious.....McDaniel even got a gift thrown at him when the Jag's big mouth star corner back kept mouthing off that Gronkowski was not that good, claiming he shut down Gronk last time they played and would do it again today......THEN, during the game, Gronk was constantly double and triple teamed.......what a gift.....THAT meant that one or two other receivers were going to be open.....McDaniels could have put together a dozen plays (or more) to take advantage of those situations.......BUT Josh kept calling running plays, worst of all right up the middle......Everybody knows (except McDaniels) they don't get you any yardage.....
just wasted downs.......AND, late in the 4th period they eat up precious time on the clock when you're trying to score (and keep the Jags from scoring).
Another part of McDaniel's play calling-----I've been told by many enemy defensive pass rushers
that they love to play against Brady because they ALWAYS know where he's going to be. Maybe you noticed that Brady DID roll out on one play, allowing him to complete a decent pass,,,,,AND did run with the ball for a 12 yard first down when his guys were covered......In other words, McDaniel's play calls are too predictable.....I'd love to see Brady calling his own plays.....
Brady played a good game (with what he was given to work with) but in a crucial third down play, as they were mounting a drive, he tried to run what we used to call a "swing pass." to Cordorelle
Patterson.....The ball was thrown very slightly behind him,(not noticeably) but caused Patterson to have to slightly turn, taking him off balance and causing him to fall and be touched down.....Now, for you folks who don't know about "secret weapon" Patterson is that he is like Superman when you give him some running room......If he was able to get that pass just a bit ahead of him, in stride, he could do some serious damage. NOTE---ever notice the Pats almost never throw a "swing pass." That's because Brady has a tendency to throw slightly (even just inches) behind his receivers......I'm not trying to knock Brady, it just is what it is.....
Brady's a great field general and manages the game better than any other QB in the NFL......
Last week's game had a crucial play, as the game was winding down and the Pats needed to hold on to the ball---Gronk made an unbelievable catch for a first down with three men draped all over him.....It looked like it may have been dropped as he came down and, before the other coach could get a review, Brady rushed his guys to the line and hurriedly ran the next play.....That gave the Pats a new set of downs and possibly saved the game.....YES, Brady is the GREATEST OF ALL TIME......
The other "greatest" is Belichick and you can trust him to fix the mistakes and get the Pats back on track.......God help their next opponent, Detroit and old friend Matt Patricia.....
ENDING NOTE:---Pat's pass defenders, on third down and several yards, have a tendency to
tackle the receivers just AFTER they make the first down......In last years super bowl. on the Eagles last scoring drive that put them AHEAD of the Pats, it happened FOUR TIMES. all by a yard or so and TWO by less than a yard.....If the Pats stopped Philly just ONCE in that stretch the game is over......
Take a look for yourself.....NOW-----TRUST IN BILL.....Stay tuned............