Patriots
In the NFL, it is almost sacrilegious to speak
about anything other than your next opponent, due to the time constraints in
preparing for that opponent, but we are on a bye week where both players &
coaches are supposed to take the time to recharge their cells ... to get back to
some sort of normalcy in their lives, however doing so might mean losing out or
having to deal with missed opportunities. It wasn't long ago where a very
successful sales manager described his mothers work ethic as the main
achievement in his success. What it came down to is that although he had a
stack of papers in his in-basket, he reasoned that he would sleep better if he
attacked that stack before going to bed knowing he's accomplished a major chunk
of it before letting his hair down. No he didn't have much hair left at
the time.
Since we are on our bye, it would be prudent to note our most difficult up
coming opponents and begin to formulate our plan of action ... even if it is
just in the back of our minds. Said another way ... there is a reason why
Coach Zimmer has done so well versus Belichick's cheating crew. Don't
think that for one moment that to beat this franchise Belichick is going to have
to cheat because after all, if your not try to cheat then your not trying to win
the game..
Last Sunday night versus the Packers, Tom Brady's put-on an opening sequence
that was nothing less than a league-wide clinic in hyper-drive. It is
without doubt that the purpose was to broadcast a message league-wide. The
Patriots are on another level, and after viewing the disheveled Packer's
defense, there was absolutely nothing that could be done to stop that offensive
Juggernaut. The no huddle discipline (control over mind body & soul)
demonstrated was a marvel to watch as the Patriot's offense was in their set,
ready to snap the ball before a linebacker could find, pickup & then put his
mouthpiece into his mouth. Mouths throughout the league were agape after
this astonishing feat (Special note, if your using a mouthpiece, you better
consider having it attach to your face mask). By comparison, in
navel bombardment, the enemy could get off a salvo before you'd be able to load
your gun. Although this pace would not exist throughout the game, it
quickly recorded a 7 point lead, and it also influenced the complete psychology
over the game.
Now that Mike Zimmer has had the opportunity to observe this feat ... there now
remains only one question ... "Can head coach Mike Zimmer formulate a
response to the latest evolution under Tom Brady"?
Everyone knows that all rosters are not the same (equal) just as each
organizations brain trusts vary widely. In regard to Mike Zimmer, he
has a set roster of how he plans to utilize his roster, but he has to know that
his tried & true defense will not work against Belichick's latest
evolution. The answer Coach Zimmer is looking for may lie in our prior
failures which will provide the answers to his dilemma. It's about the
match-ups & an understanding that the Patriots are now on the cutting edge
of bringing today's "end game" first & by tossing the league an
incredible curve ball. Flip is only too aware of this concept ... but Flip
has had to come to grips with the fact that these Vikings do not include Tom
Brady on its roster ... so we clearly realize that our offense is nowhere near
Brady's level yet ... in fact we're still a bunch of newlyweds by
comparison. Keep in mind that Cook & Cousin's haven't even played 3
full games together but in time the league is about to find out how dangerous
this team really is. If Coach Zimmer finds a way to execute & evolve
his defensive plan of action... he has a chance to end Tom Brady & expose
that franchise before it own home crowd & upon that hallowed sandlot.
Doing this on their home court will go along way at opening a door that's been
closed to this franchise since the bicentennial
season.
So what do we know? Versus the Vikings, there is no way that Tom Brady is
going to rely upon the long ball, which isn't his history anyway. How many
times have you heard people complain about Tom Brady dinking & dunking you
to death? Also, the Patriots will clearly not win any game by running the
ball (even though our own draft pick Patterson looks tough, he's only of limited
use). What is odd is that the Patriots opening series began with
very successful runs but that was most likely a rouse as thereafter Tom Brady
took control.
To counteract the Patriots, we need to consider the match up and adjust our
personal to the sequence ... and that has to happen without substitution.
The preparation needs to begin immediately with the thought of facing Belichick's
immediate perfect no-huddle offense. It is here that we need to identify
our plan of attack.
As of late, Coach Zimmer has been
very successful attacking the focal point of the exchange. This is the
direct benefit of the brilliant assembly of his defensive personnel as well as
the benefit of developing that personnel having to face the continuous onslaught
of adversity.
Although
Anthony Barr is an integral part of Mike Zimmer's defense, we must be very
careful when he is deployed versus the Patriots. If we learned anything
versus the Ram's, it was that Barr was a liability in coverage, whereas Kendrick's,
being a tackling machine, has become integral to every defensive
concept.
Zimmer's
Hybrid Defense
What we
have is a very seasoned rotation at safety of Smith, Iloka, Harris & the missile
seeking destroyer Sendejo, which now also very clearly includes what has evolved
into Zimmer' coverage hybrids of Kearse & Alexander. These are the key
pieces to attack Belichick's focal point of the exchange. Is there any
doubt that the best spot to tackle Paterson or Gronk is when they've bled their
energy (the exchange point) or would you rather tackle them running at full
speed? In other words, the key eleven defensive personnel to face
Belichick's no-huddle offense begins with Kendricks in the middle, using two safeties,
plus a hybrid (or another 3rd safety), using three corners Rhodes & Waynes
as his shut-down corners with Hill on the rotation (in places of Hughes).
Holton Hill may be the key in coverage versus the Patriot #1 threat (Edelman).
The final piece of Coach Zimmer's masterpiece is to insert Joseph to in the
center, using his three (3) defensive ends to feast on any Tom Brady attempt to
chuck it way down the field. Although Robison is no longer with us, what
was learned from using Coach Zimmer's three defensive ends sets makes the
combination of Weatherly, Griffen & Hunter the most lethal combination in
the league. Before the league year began it was thought that the
most lethal combination resided in LA with their two defensive tackles but
what's about to be unleashed will be a marvel by comparison. The key
... it is physically impossible for Tom Brady to run out of the inside-out stunt
filled pocket (Mike Zimmer's gift wrapped lethal
invitation).
The concept of using beefcake on defense, forgoing point skills, to counteract
the size of both Gronk & Patterson is obsolete as compared to Coach Zimmer
point attack at near zero velocity. This was clearly on display when
Kamara was blown up by Smith thereby removing him as an offensive threat.
This concept becomes even more lethal imposing the experience of a heat seeking missile
into that backfield exchange. Everyone of Zimmer's hybrids, safeties &
corners can bring down anything as they use almost flawless tackling technique,
where they are willing to give up the yards in favor of establishing position by
stopping RAC. Preventing the home run is paramount as this defense has the
chance to stop anything but it has no chance once they've touched home
plate. Recognizing that Brady's home runs come from his feedings of passes
along & behind the line of scrimmage (dinks & dunks), will go along way
to understanding the flaw of using any base defensive set to stop the run.
If Winfield taught us anything it is that DB's are much more dangerous in
generating negative plays than any linebacker (less maybe LT) where DB's can
tackle any running threat too.
{3) Cover 1 safety
working with Rhodes & Waynes, (4) plus Joseph & three DE's nullifies
long ball Gordon & Cooks. Edelman nullified by (2) Hill &
underneath rover safety. Gronk nullified by (1) hybrid & rover
safety. Tackling machine Kendricks roams the center. With the
great risk of utilizing your corps ... comes great rewards.
The normal rotation, especially along the defensive line will ensue as the game
evolves but coming to grips with Barr being a liability versus both the Ram's
& Patriot's will go a long way toward shutting those offenses down.
Barr has both his value & purpose, especially versus Kansas City all world
running back but it is in the clear understanding of the defensive point of
attack that will tip the balance into your favor.
Imagine the Patriots trying to run the ball the entire first half, without the
lead. The other key axiom is that Tom Brady never throws the long ball
into coverage, unless he absolutely has no other choice. Xavier Rhodes
& Trae Waynes might be quaking in their boots having the prospect of facing
Cooks & Gordon in Boston's nest of cheaters but Mike Zimmer's Weatherly,
Griffen & Hunter might have a message for a 42 year old legend. Tommy
boy ... you don't have to give us a thing ... we'll just take it from
you.
The Ram's have no chance of doing this, as their defense is a sieve.
Although Drew Bree's is a marvel ... his team is not.
The Viking Ghost Writer
http://MyVikingBlood.org
Date: November 6, 2018
