erod
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Belichick was the first to employ a unique method of coverage for passing teams. I expect him to do so this week.
For years, and still today, most teams put their top corner on the other teams top receiver. Others, like Dallas, like to just leave their corners on the left or right so that there's more down-by-down familiarity for each of them.
Belichick likes to do something quite different. Instead of lining up the uber-talented Stephone Gilmore on Amari Cooper all game like most coordinators would, he does very much the opposite. Usually, Belichick likes to put Gilmore on the #2 receiver (Gallup), and then line up his other corner on the best receiver with a safety over the top all game. With a guy like Gilmore and a gimpy Cooper, the idea is to force Dak to look to others instead.
Then, he employs all sorts of run blitz schemes and disguised underneath coverages, and on long 3rd downs, he likes to put a bunch of linebackers across the line of scrimmage with a single big defensive tackle. That allows him to disguise coverage and rush schemes in a way that quarterbacks rarely see.
When Sam Darnold said he was "seeing ghosts," that's what he meant. He literally didn't know what he was looking at before the snap or during the play, and he got beat, 33-0.
Belichick is going to try to overload Dak's brain the same as he did Darnold. It worked brilliantly last year against Mahomes and Goff, who were just shaking their heads. Wentz found out last week. He likes to call plays with no rhyme or reason, sometimes as if he's giving up plays here and there on purpose to instill a false sense of confidence. Then, he checkmates them later when they think they know what they're looking at.
The guy is just freaky brilliant at this.
However......
If Dallas can effectively run the ball, it will destroy much of Belichick's game plan, much like Baltimore did to them. Or, if Cooper can beat Gilmore consistently, it will muddy the whole scheme as well. But if neither of those things happen, he can can confuse and frustrate young Dak into seeing Darnold's ghosts.
Also....
The Patriots aren't running away from people these days, so if mistakes and turnovers can be avoided, the Cowboys should be in this game for the full four quarters. Player for player, I think Dallas has an advantage in a long game, except at quarterback of course where Brady trumps all late in games.
Dallas needs to dig deep into the playbook. Don't play safe or conservative. Run the ball and the clock, but not with just the typical plays everyone knows. Lots and lots of motion. Screens and quick throws, just like the Patriots. Lots of Pollard and Jarwin. Let it loose.
I'm really looking forward to this one.
For years, and still today, most teams put their top corner on the other teams top receiver. Others, like Dallas, like to just leave their corners on the left or right so that there's more down-by-down familiarity for each of them.
Belichick likes to do something quite different. Instead of lining up the uber-talented Stephone Gilmore on Amari Cooper all game like most coordinators would, he does very much the opposite. Usually, Belichick likes to put Gilmore on the #2 receiver (Gallup), and then line up his other corner on the best receiver with a safety over the top all game. With a guy like Gilmore and a gimpy Cooper, the idea is to force Dak to look to others instead.
Then, he employs all sorts of run blitz schemes and disguised underneath coverages, and on long 3rd downs, he likes to put a bunch of linebackers across the line of scrimmage with a single big defensive tackle. That allows him to disguise coverage and rush schemes in a way that quarterbacks rarely see.
When Sam Darnold said he was "seeing ghosts," that's what he meant. He literally didn't know what he was looking at before the snap or during the play, and he got beat, 33-0.
Belichick is going to try to overload Dak's brain the same as he did Darnold. It worked brilliantly last year against Mahomes and Goff, who were just shaking their heads. Wentz found out last week. He likes to call plays with no rhyme or reason, sometimes as if he's giving up plays here and there on purpose to instill a false sense of confidence. Then, he checkmates them later when they think they know what they're looking at.
The guy is just freaky brilliant at this.
However......
If Dallas can effectively run the ball, it will destroy much of Belichick's game plan, much like Baltimore did to them. Or, if Cooper can beat Gilmore consistently, it will muddy the whole scheme as well. But if neither of those things happen, he can can confuse and frustrate young Dak into seeing Darnold's ghosts.
Also....
The Patriots aren't running away from people these days, so if mistakes and turnovers can be avoided, the Cowboys should be in this game for the full four quarters. Player for player, I think Dallas has an advantage in a long game, except at quarterback of course where Brady trumps all late in games.
Dallas needs to dig deep into the playbook. Don't play safe or conservative. Run the ball and the clock, but not with just the typical plays everyone knows. Lots and lots of motion. Screens and quick throws, just like the Patriots. Lots of Pollard and Jarwin. Let it loose.
I'm really looking forward to this one.
