Steven Parker - DE/OLB

[Native]

Just keep the field goal block unit out there. 10-1 or sell out with 11-0

 

[Middle-aged_Ball_Coach]

What do you change to with CB challenges?

A 5-4-2 defense

How about the 5-6 Hulk Smash defense?

Didn't you guys watch the Super Bowl? Belichick unveiled the answer to our dilemma: the 6-1-4 defense:

Of course, that would introduce our new dilemma of finding a Chung and a Van Noy to play at either end of the new D-line.

 

[Warhorse]

Didn't you guys watch the Super Bowl? Belichick unveiled the answer to our dilemma: the 6-1-4 defense:

Of course, that would introduce our new dilemma of finding a Chung and a Van Noy to play at either end of the new D-line.

I didn't notice that. That was the very same defense I had my high school team run on obvious passing downs years ago. On run downs we played a 6-2-3 and our goal line defense was an 8-3. Our ends were in a two-point stand up and our down linemen lined up in a gap and came hard on the snap. We played in a run-oriented conference and our linemen were undersized but quick.

 

[Middle-aged_Ball_Coach]

I didn't notice that. That was the very same defense I had my high school team run on obvious passing downs years ago. On run downs we played a 6-2-3 and our goal line defense was an 8-3. Our ends were in a two-point stand up and our down linemen lined up in a gap and came hard on the snap. We played in a run-oriented conference and our linemen were undersized but quick.

I sincerely would love to sit down with Belichick over a few beers and discuss how their gameplan developed. As much as I'm curious about the nuts and bolts of it, I think that I'm even more curious about how they brainstormed the ideas and worked it all together into a cohesive plan. There have got to be some top-notch assistants and quality control/scouting guys that Belichick listens to because I just can't believe that it's possible for him to have come up with all of this on his own in only 2 weeks of prep time (since they couldn't have known that the Rams would beat the Saints). Maybe I'd be disappointed to know the truth, but I have this image of the Patriots' headquarters having a vault of gameplans for all of their what/if scenarios similar to the Pentagon, who has often been said to have a logistical plan for the invasion of Canada, just in case.

If behind-the-scenes underlings broke down the film and brainstormed these sorts of ideas, it is a testimony to Belichick and the Patriots organization that they are that good at using the tools and the talents at their organization's disposal.