Belichick '07: To stop Dallas, you have to stop Witten, not TO

[Temo]

From new Eagles corner Ellis Hobbs, via Peter King:

Saturday, 11 a.m. (Eagles camp) In practice this morning, new cornerback Ellis Hobbs -- acquired for two fifth-round picks from New England on draft day -- deflected a long ball down the left side away from a receiver and exulted, pumping his arms and exciting the crowd. "That's the first time I celebrated with pure emotion in a long time,'' said Hobbs. "In New England, they believe in keeping your emotions down. It zaps the life out of you. I remember standing on the sidelines in my first playoff game, home against Jacksonville, and getting all excited and I'm jumping around, and I feel this touch on my shoulders. I was told, 'Calm down.' I'm thinking, 'Wow, my first playoff game. Let's enjoy it.' But that's not the way it's done there.''


Hobbs wasn't happy about his contract, and he saw the Pats draft Darius Butler from UConn in the second round, and he knew it was over. Funny thing is, he's not bitter at the Patriots, even though he might sound as if he is. He's happy he had the chance to play there.


"I respect Bill as a coach more than anyone I've met,'' Hobbs said. "Bill was so smart. He went about it like the team we're playing is a building. You don't just throw a bomb at the building; it has to be strategically placed. Like against Dallas a couple of years ago. Everyone's analyzing the game and saying, 'We've got to stop T.O. to win.' Bill said to us that the key to the game for Dallas was [tight end Jason] Witten, not T.O. You stop Witten, you stop Dallas. We did, and we won.


"Early in my career, Bill called me into his office, and we sat there -- for a long time -- studying film. He taught me to look for the simple things, and not to make football so complicated. I got better. I realize I was with one of the best coaches of all time, and he helped me become a better player.''

 

[theogt]

And enters Martellus Bennett.

 

[Stash]

I seem to recall Dallas' defense not being able to get in New England's way that day.

I think that helped too.

 

[Temo]

I seem to recall Dallas' defense not being able to get in New England's way that day.

I think that helped too.

No doubt, but I think it'll be interesting to see if the success of the Dallas offense was TO opening up the game for everyone else, like most have said (probably logically, considering). Or if it was really Witten, in which case the offense shouldn't drop off too much.

Edit: Although really, that may not be it either. For instance, we've seen that the real key to stopping the Patriots' offense is not covering Moss (because no one can), but rather getting to Brady before he can get to Moss, and covering all the Welker underneath routes so he has no outs.

That doesn't mean that Welker is better than Moss, just that he was the key. So really this quote shouldn't mean TOO much, just thought it was interesting.

 

[stilltheguru]

Weren't we leading in the 3rd quarter or at some point 24-21?

 

[Stash]

No doubt, but I think it'll be interesting to see if the success of the Dallas offense was TO opening up the game for everyone else, like most have said (probably logically, considering). Or if it was really Witten, in which case the offense shouldn't drop off too much.

I know it sounds wishy-washy, but I think it's probably a bit of both.

What I'm hoping is that, between an improved running game and a talented trio of running backs, Martellus Bennett improving in his second year, and Roy Williams becoming a bigger part of the offense, that the loss of Owens would be negated and Witten will be as great as ever.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

This is probably common knowledge among actual football coaches who don't give a damn about TO's biceps or reality shows or "motivating" of teammates.

 

[Rampage]

I know it sounds wishy-washy, but I think it's probably a bit of both.

What I'm hoping is that, between an improved running game and a talented trio of running backs, Martellus Bennett improving in his second year, and Roy Williams becoming a bigger part of the offense, that the loss of Owens would be negated and Witten will be as great as ever.

If only we could get Matt Jones we'd be unstoppable!......

 

[stilltheguru]

This is probably common knowledge among actual football coaches who don't give a damn about TO's biceps or reality shows or "motivating" of teammates.

. Like I said, the offense was looking good once Romo stopped playing like a timid punk the first couple of series. The defense lost the game. Them taking Witten out of the game didn't win the game for them. Thats common knowledge to anybody who watched that game.

 

[Stash]

If only we could get Matt Jones we'd be unstoppable!......

Instigator!

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

And enters Martellus Bennett.

ding! ding! ding!

Oh, and you forgot to mention Felix Jones underneath if they scheme to take away both TEs.

Double ding! ding! ding!

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Weren't we leading in the 3rd quarter or at some point 24-21?

Yep, then the wheels fell off.

 

[Rampage]

I forgot they added Hobbs. what a nasty cb trio they got in philly. what New England cornerback are they gonna sign next season?

 

[Temo]

. Like I said, the offense was looking good once Romo stopped playing like a timid punk the first couple of series. The defense lost the game. Them taking Witten out of the game didn't win the game for them. Thats common knowledge to anybody who watched that game.

Again, it's not about what happened. I'm just saying that possibly the greatest defensive mind of the past decade thought that Witten was the guy to stop, which is contrary to what you hear in the media (other than John Madden, who had a huge man-crush on Witten).

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

. Like I said, the offense was looking good once Romo stopped playing like a timid punk the first couple of series. The defense lost the game. Them taking Witten out of the game didn't win the game for them. Thats common knowledge to anybody who watched that game.

I saw what you saw....especially with Romo being TIMID

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Whoever is the best one left.

 

[Doomsday101]

Again, it's not about what happened. I'm just saying that possibly the greatest defensive mind of the past decade thought that Witten was the guy to stop, which is contrary to what you hear in the media (other than John Madden, who had a huge man-crush on Witten).

I think there is truth to it because Witten moves the chains which keeps drives alive. TO at times would not get the 1st because he was trying to make a big play.

 

[YosemiteSam]

And enters Martellus Bennett.

I know. Thats going to be stupid. Then having Roy and Miles on the outside and Barber and Felix behind the line.

What is going to make or break this team on offense is injuries and the oline.

 

[Temo]

I know. Thats going to be stupid. Then having Roy and Miles on the outside and Barber and Felix behind the line.

What is going to make or break this team on offense is injuries and the oline.

And more specifically, injures TO the OLine. We have zero decent backup O-line guys, and our O-Line is aging. I could seriously see a single O-Line injury decimating our offense a la Kosier last year, the backups are THAT bad.

And I know if that happens, the media will immidietly start talking about how overrated Tony Romo is, or that he's choking, or how much we miss TO. But I don't think that'll be the case.

 

[sonnyboy]

Again, it's not about what happened. I'm just saying that possibly the greatest defensive mind of the past decade thought that Witten was the guy to stop, which is contrary to what you hear in the media (other than John Madden, who had a huge man-crush on Witten).

Don't think that's neccessarily true. Most talking heads realize our passing game under Romo and even prior to Romo had Witten as the most frequent #1 option.