Exactly, he showed a disrespect for the strongest part of the Giants' defense (their pass rush) and thought he could make it on Sportscenter. It was a dumb move and NOT an instance of good coaching/play-calling.
If the Pats were trying to go deep, there wouldn't have been an intentional grounding penalty. That play had nobody running a deep rout.
that's not true at all. Brady just threw it deeper than they were and not where they were. but there is a receiver on the 35 yard line. another on the 30. a 35 yard route is a deep route.
Wrong. There is no receiver beyond the 24 yard line. The line of scrimmage was the 5. While I really hate this particular video, it shows that the Pats were not looking to go long on the play. All the receivers were running crossing or hook patterns. I'm sure most of you will enjoy it. [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB_x0nOMHKI&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]
Regardless of if he's got guys running 50 yards downfield or if he has 3 WRs running slow-developing intermediate routes, it was NOT a good playcall for that situation. Slants, WR screens, A RUNNING PLAY; any of these would have been better options than a deep QB drop with slow developing routes.
Going 5 wide and doing their timing route with Welker to the sideline would have worked much better. The playaction and every receiver at least 15 yards down field was confusing. Usually you try to catch the defense blitzing and exploit a 1 vs 1 there, but they called PA on the first play of the game and sent Branch and Welker down the field, two WRs who get better the closer they are to Brady. Also, did Bill and nobody else on that coaching staff realize Brady has been struggling on deep throws in the air for a while now? His accuracy on them is very off.
The frustrating part of that play is that just before Brady heaves it downfield, BJGE breaks open about three yards from the LOS. Wouldn't have been a big play of course, but he either could have dumped it off to him or thrown it at his feet. I don't think that was a great play call given their field position. But Belichick doesn't call plays, so if anyone got "outcoached" there it was O'Brien.
After the fact it's easy to second guess any play. The fact is Brady had plenty of time to get the ball out if any of the receivers had broken open. I'm not sure what play you folks are watching, but the Pats had 3 wide, Gronk on top, Welker in the slot, and Branch wide left. They are the only 3 who went out on the play. Hernandez and the RB both stayed in to block, which is just about max-protect on the play. The routes were not slow developing plays. Gronk went 8 yards and turned. Welker went through the double team and across the field, and Branch ran a midrange post. Brady had ample time, but nobody broke open when the safety didn't bite on the play fake. Brady screwed up when he threw it away. Any claims that this was some really bad play call by the coach is ridiculous. If Brady had gotten rid of it properly, it would have been 2nd and 10 and nobody even talks about this play again.
Of course it's easy to second-guess... wasn't my point. Green-Ellis must have realized Brady was in trouble and ran out in the flat just a second too late. I still don't think it was a good play to run that close to the goal line given the Patriots' history of having problems with the Giants' pass rush. Play action in that spot? Brady had time, he just had no one open. And at that point he really had no choice but to chuck it away.
