Make It A Double: Keys To The Game
(I want to welcome Double D to the staff. He’s been one of our strongest and most dedicated commenters forever, and we are thrilled to officially add him to the squad. It looks like Thursday will be his day. He fits into our “Team of Rivals” (more on that soon) blueprint, and gets us closer to having a featured article from a featured contributor each day of the week. - Adam)
As the clock ticks closer to Sunday’s opening kickoff at Gillette Stadium, Chiefs’ and Patriots’ coaches are working tirelessly to strategize and implement their respective battle plans for that event. How do you think each team will approach this game?
Here’s how I would do it if I were to take a turn in each coach’s chair:
Kansas City’s Keys to the Game:
On Offense:
1. Effective blocking will be the top priority in terms of both pass protection and creating lanes. This applies not just to the line but as well for the backfield and receivers when called upon to do so.
2. Spread the ball around both on the ground and through the air. Don’t be afraid to test NE’s secondary with posts, double goes, etc.
3. Wear down their LBs by relying heavily on diversified running plays, short slants, screens, etc.
4. Substitute early and often to take advantage of your youth and speed. It will also allow you to keep your best players fresh at the end when you need them most.
On Defense:
1. Pressure the QB. Gunther in ’05 and others ever since have proven over and over again it is the most effective way to stop the juggernaut.
2. Be aggressive. Attack receivers at the line. Match speed with speed. Hit hard. Go for the ball.
3. Stuff the run and wrap up.
4. Substitute early and often for the same reasons as stated before.
New England’s Keys to the Game:
On Offense:
1. Protect your QB. Be ready for the blitz because you know it’s coming.
2. Dispel all doubts. Get the momentum early by moving the ball quickly and effectively on your first quarter possessions.
3. Test the Chiefs’ secondary often.
4. Establish the run.
On Defense:
1. Stop the run and force Brodie to beat you with his arm.
2. Double up on Gonzalez and Bowe.
3. Pressure the QB.
Let’s hear it fellow Addicts! What would be your game plan?
DD
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Double D - I enjoy reading your posts and am looking forward to more articles from you. Congrats.
I think you were saying this in your comments about the Chiefs offense but to emphasize; we need to have a balanced attack. Last year we saw what happens when your offense is predictable and we can’t have that this year.
You said that the Patsies offense needs to ‘dispel all doubts’ and I think that goes for the NE defense too. Stopping the chiefs early and often, especially with three-and-outs, will get into Brodie’s head and collapse his psyche. That could possibly be the most devastating thing that could happen to the Chiefs.
It is always interesting to see how analysts break down the game like this. There always seem to be things that counteract each other. For example, DD says that the KC offense should not be afraid to go after the NE secondary and then goes on to say that NE should make Brodie prove that he can beat you by stopping the run. I’m not knocking ya DD, in fact I agree with you on these points. I just think it is interesting to see how the same thing can be seen as a benefit for both teams.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:52 pmThis is cool! Way to go Dbl D!
I would play my safety’s close to the line of scrimmage, send blitzes from all diff. sides and mix in some middle blitzes and try and disrupt Mr. All America’s timing, hell yeah! play man on man more than the zones.
Ball control on offence, Much the same way we did it when Montana was QB, dink and dunk em to death and then try to pop a big one over the top a few times.
If we have a lead late, Heavy dose of every running back that suites up.
Glad your here Dbl.D
September 4th, 2008 at 5:12 pmyea awesome post man!!!
September 4th, 2008 at 5:35 pmWelcome Double D!! Excellent post too.
Offense: As their LB’s are old, we should spend a lot of time running wide early in the game and try to wear them out some. Their dline is tough up the middle but if we can get in their heads and make them think outside rush, then we should be able to bust LJ through the middle on counter action off the sweep. I agree with John about dink and dunk passes early to maintain possession, with an occaisional deep one to keep them out of the box. We need to keep their D on the field and ours off. If we can score enough in the first half to keep it close and wear out their LB’s I think we can have our way with them late and win a close one. If not… gonna be a loooooong day in blackrock.
Defense: We’ve got to double team Moss - especially if Welker is out or playing nicked. So, we need to be physical with Moss on the line to break his timing, and be sure there is help over the top.Maybe a BOX and ONE Zone in the 3-3-5? Against the run we need to play our regular line sets and schemes for the LB’s. We also need to bring at least one blitzer on every obvious passing down if not all the time for that matter.
I think Belicheat will try to rush the ball with Maroney and give Brady some time to knock off the rust. We need to get inside his head before he manages to do that.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:49 pmDull.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:51 pmy u say that kcmizzou??? we can sit here and talk about the x’s and o’s but it comes down to us play almost a perfect football game we have to force turnovers!!! if we do not do that we will NOT win!!!
September 4th, 2008 at 5:56 pmIt was just a bunch of static. Put pressure on the quarterback? Isn’t that every team every game? This isn’t a breakdown. It’s plagiarism.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:08 pmI’ve been saying that for awhile.. But I don’t like saying/reading the ‘keys to the game’ cliches that are posted everywhere, or shown at the start of games. It’s all common sense.
‘Don’t turn the ball over.’ Really, you think? I figured we’d toss ‘em a few picks just to make it an exciting game..
‘Fewer penalties.’ Oh, ’cause I wasn’t sure if we lost yards or gained yards on a false start. My bad.
‘Run the ball.’ Naw, now you’re talking crazy… Brodie’s gonna throw it 68 times, and subsequently get sacked 12 times in one game. Awesome.
It’s all common sense, the real key to the game is we can’t be timid. We come out scared, it’s over from the start. If we go out there with an attitude, something to prove, and play with some heart, we got a game on our hands.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:13 pmI happen to agree with DD. A lot of this stuff looks easy on paper, but doesn’t get accomplished, hence the 4-12 record. KISS–Keep It Simple, Stupid. It’s Week One, when back to basics isn’t as easy as it sounds. Not all of this was common sense stuff by any means…
September 4th, 2008 at 6:20 pmOk. Maybe I’ll give you the “hence the 4-12 record” part. But this was also about a team that went the Super Bowl last year. Is it back to basics for them too? Because that’s what their keys to the game were also. I’m sorry, but I think you guys are muddying up the site by allowing so many random commentators, Adam. I’ve always liked the lighthearted, but intelligent analysis on this site. And I’m not just trying to just crap on Double D right now.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:27 pmYou are certainly entitled to your opinion. I’m not an Xs and Os guy, and that’s a big part of why I have expanded the staff. I also want us to have more original content than any other Chiefs site out there. Lastly, there is the “Team of Rivals” theory that I will divulge soon. We were really impressed with Double D, and think that overall he will be a big hit with our readers. We’re mixing it up a little more for sure, though. Every staff member won’t likely be a hit with every reader.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:36 pmAre you breaking up with me, Adam? I swear to god I will burn down your house like Left Eye.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:38 pmlmao…When did I morph into Andre Rison? No, I’m not breaking up with you. After yesterday’s piece, I think you’re about the only one who would have me round these parts right now. Not as popular as I used to be. Agreeing with Whitlock and calling Brodie Boller is apparently the equivalent of the freshmen 50.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:42 pmI thought Whitlock’s article was humorous. Like you said, I didn’t think he was being all that serious. The dude pisses me off A LOT, but sometimes we just need to hear the bad news. I do still believe that Brodie has a chance though, but also Brodie Boller is funny.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:42 pmI think Dbl.D was a good edition to the blog, I think someone (or two) Like CMZ and Dbl D. who can talk strategy with some intelligence is an asset.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:17 pmI would hate to say it but Roll-outs, slants, running the corners with a speedy back (wonder who that could be) and passing into their weak secondary are keys to the offence.
On d? Let the dogs loose on them. Keep Carr / Flowers on point against the WR’s. I think these young kids have the speed to keep up, lets just see if they can get the tackles and timing of it all with them. Something tells me Brady and Co. may have a bit more coverage downfield then they are expecting.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:21 pmToo bad there was hardly any real strategy in the post.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:37 pmKCM, you have too much personality not to have a gravatar! What’s up with that?
September 4th, 2008 at 8:46 pmI dunno how to make one. I’m borderline retarded.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:19 pmLOL KCM
September 4th, 2008 at 10:22 pm2. Double up on Gonzalez and Bowe.
If they do this, SOMEONE (Cottam, Darling, Webb, etc.) is going to have to step up - hell, if they do this, just throw 5 yard passes to Charles all day - eventually he’ll break one for a huge gain.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:39 amThanks for the welcome, both positive and negative, everyone. And thanks to Adam and Zach for allowing me this opportunity. I hope to have some fun with it and I hope all (or at least some) find my contributions interesting, provocative, and above all entertaining.
KCMizzou, what I wanted to do here was not so much to provide a detailed breakdown but rather more or less focus on areas I felt were each team’s respective strengths and weaknesses. My hope was that it would at least provide an adequate foundation for further insight and discussion. I think I did an okay job on that.
You’ve offered your criticism of my analysis; fair enough. My response to that is simply an invitation for you to share with everyone how you would break it down.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:56 pmMy point is I’m not necessarily a “breakdown” type of person either, but that even I could have come up with this.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:39 pmAll I can say is I did my best to avoid the one-size-fits-all cliches and stick to what I thought was actually relevant about each team. Whatever, not expecting to please everyone - just trying to solicit some discussion.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:19 pmPVChiefsfan - I don’t disagree but if I’m Bellichek, I’m going to make the Chiefs prove to me that they have viable alternatives before I consider backing off of either Bowe or Gonz.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:22 pmLet’s just move on with our lives, shall we?
September 5th, 2008 at 7:52 pmI’ll have to say I have a new level of respect for KC Mizzou for piping up. We like dissent around here too. My advice would also be take it easy on the cliche’s. lol at Left eye and FREE CAT which was one of my most favorite unnecessecary jokes ever.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:30 pm