Posts tagged Bill Belichick

Super Bowl Linkstravaganza

0 Comments read Reads Listens Views
Ahmad Bradshaw and Aaron Hernandez have been two of my current favortes at their positions. I understand why Bill Parcells mentioned them as pivotal players to watch this weekend. Photo by Ted Kerwin.

Here’s some notable posts past and present from here and elsewhere to get you prepped for the game:

Super Bowl Preview: Bill Belichick’s Blitz Package – I may be an offensive guy, but I love Blitzology. I feel like I should be paying this blog for the lessons.

Jokers – Why Aaron Hernandez is the ultimate chess piece for the Patriots.

Pats Two-TE Sets: A Long Time Coming? Later this year, I read a good Yahoo! piece on Belichick experimenting with this two-TE set in Detroit with Charlie Sanders and David Hill.

Ode to the War Daddies – Chris Brown’s fantastic piece on the way Belichick approaches defensive schemes.

Play Defense, Not Defenses – Jene Bramel paving the way in Week 1 with this thought Brown elaborated on at Grantland.

 

On the Defense: The RSP Football Writers Project

0 Comments read RSP Writers Project
Is a shutodwn corner like Charles Woodson your preference or are you seeking a gianormous, space-eating defensive tackle? Its these choices you'll face when building a team as a part of the RSP Football Writers Project. Photo by Elvis Kennedy.

By Jene Bramel

Last week, Matt introduced the RSP Football Writers Project, in which a collection of football writers and thinkers will have 4-6 weeks to put together an NFL team.  Each writer will have access to any player they want, but they’ll be forced to work within a salary cap and personnel requirements. More importantly, they’ll have to defend their choices as part of a coherent fundamental and philosophical approach.

I expect the writeups and discussion on this blog in the coming weeks to be among the best football reads you’ll see all year.  Continue reading →

RSP Football Writers Project: The Readers Team

0 Comments read RSP Writers Project
In fantasy football Adrian Peterson is a great player to build a team around. However if you had to build a real team from scratch with realistic fiscal constraints it's not as easy a decision. Photo by xoque.

Last week, I announced the RSP Football Writers Project, which is the collection of terrific football writers who will each be given 4-6 weeks to construct an NFL team from scratch within the constraints of a salary cap. Fellow Footballguys.com writer Sigmund Bloom and I will be developing the salary list, personnel requirements, and fundamental questions that the writers must answer.

We’ll also share the info and instructions here so anyone can download and construct a team. If I can arrange the right kind of panel to judge, I might even sponsor a contest for those of you playing at home. Stay tuned.

For the past two weeks, I’ve had several initial thoughts about the construction of my team. I’m sure many of my ideas will change dramatically as I get further into the process of building my NFL team, but I thought I’d share my thoughts. In fact, I’ll probably keep you guys posted with my progress and depending on the situation, ask for your feedback.

One idea I am going to implement is a Readers Team. Based on your votes, I’ll compile a team on your behalf. Today we’re going to begin voting on the Readers Team’s football philosophy.

Continue reading →

“Football Player”

0 Comments read Matt Waldman
George Blanda led teams down the field with his arm and often finished off drives with his foot. He was a football player in the truest sense. Photo by Nateog

We live in the football era of specialization: Slot receiver. Third down back. Move tight end. Pass rush defensive end. Nickel back. In the box safety. But there was a time when its best players played more than one role.

Sammy Baugh was both a great passer and ball hawking safety. Chuck Bednarik played on both sides of the trench. George Blanda used his arm to lead his teams down the field and his foot to finished the drive.

They transcended a single position and were best known as “football players.” Believe it or not, we still have football players in the NFL. Continue reading →

The Pats Two-TE Sets: A Long Time Coming?

0 Comments read Tight End
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is not the joker Aaron Hernandez is, but is production will still be as serious as a heart attack. Photo by WBUR

 

Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski combined for 13 receptions, 189 yards, and 2 touchdowns against the Dolphins on Monday night. Yesterday they combined for 11 receptions, 143 yards, and 3 touchdowns against the Chargers. If you’ve been reading this blog throughout the summer then you know the hybrid position has been a common theme.

While I’m not certain the Patriots intended to incorporate two tight end sets immediately into their base offense when they drafted Hernandez and Gronkowski in 2010, I think they envisioned it. These are two very different types of players so redundancy wasn’t the intent. Continue reading →

Jene Bramel: Play Defense, not defenses

0 Comments read Matt Waldman
Will the Pats be using a 4-3 or a 3-4? Bill Belichick bristles at the desire to label. Jene Bramel explains why. Photo by Sean O'Brien.

[Editor’s note: Jene Bramel is an excellent football writer best known for his expertise with individual defensive players at Footballguys.com. One of the reasons he’s so good in this area (as well as the offensive side of the ball) is that he analyzes the game. He enjoys watching games and breaking down what he sees. Jene asked me if he could occasionally contribute to The Rookie Scouting Portfolio blog when he had something he felt like writing. How could I refuse?]

Much was made of the New England Patriots’ defensive scheme this preseason.  The signing of Albert Haynesworth and the release of Ty Warren prompted lots of discussion about whether the Pats would move away from what has been their traditional base 3-4 front in recent seasons.  Continue reading →