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McVay's "Tell"

February 12, 2019 08:22PM
Personnel-wise, New England did what any other defense would have done against the Rams: It matched the Rams’ 11-personnel sets (one running back, one tight end and three receivers) with its nickel package (five defensive backs). But L.A. has two different 11-personnel sets; one with Tyler Higbee at tight end and one with Gerald Everett. And that’s where you’ll find McVay’s tell. The Rams lined up in 11-personnel with Everett on the field 273 times during the regular season (not including garbage-time snaps), per NFL GSIS. They ran only 37 times. That’s only 14 percent of the time.

So what did Belichick do? When Higbee was on the field, he matched the Rams with the run-stuffing 4-3 front and played that three-level coverage we’ve already covered. When Everett was the lone tight end on the field, Belichick played his nickel fronts with man coverage on the backend. With Higbee on the field, the Pats had to be mindful of the run; with Everett out there, they could focus solely on stopping the pass. And that’s what they did. The Patriots completely shut down the Rams passing game out of those three-receiver sets. Jared Goff averaged just 5.6 yards per attempt on those passes.

Other coaches may have treated every 11-personnel grouping the same. Not Belichick. He recognized the different threats posed by the Rams’ two tight ends, figured out the tendency and planned accordingly.
SubjectAuthorViewsPosted

  How Bill Belichick outclassed the NFL's latest genius in Super Bowl 53

RamBill345February 12, 2019 07:22PM

  McVay's "Tell"

RamBill272February 12, 2019 08:22PM

  Now that's very interesting stuff

waterfield187February 12, 2019 08:38PM

  Re: idk but I have been saying for weeks

Speed_Kills176February 13, 2019 02:24AM

  evolution

LMU93118February 13, 2019 03:12AM

  Re: Well, 30+ points almost every week......

oldschoolramfan109February 13, 2019 05:16AM

  agreed, OSRF....defense was huge liability last year..imo

SunTzu_vs_Camus248February 13, 2019 05:23AM

  Re: the offense must evolve Sun

Speed_Kills86February 13, 2019 06:12AM

  "some" teams can stop it...

SunTzu_vs_Camus94February 13, 2019 07:12AM

  Re: not down the stretch they didn't nm

Speed_Kills187February 13, 2019 07:15AM

  Re: Now oldschool with all due respect

Speed_Kills91February 13, 2019 06:09AM

  I don't see Kupp as a 3rd WR

LMU93266February 13, 2019 07:35AM

  Re: I know people don’t but

Speed_Kills82February 13, 2019 07:59AM

  Woods is our best all around WR...imo

SunTzu_vs_Camus66February 13, 2019 09:34AM

  "Tell"?????....Hell, we fans knew that Everett meant pass.

SunTzu_vs_Camus200February 13, 2019 07:06AM

  Re: McVay's "Tell"

cool_hand_luke86February 13, 2019 06:53PM

  Belichick Did His Job For Sure...But Aren't We Forgetting Something?

ramBRO127February 13, 2019 08:36PM

  I don't think

waterfield85February 13, 2019 08:41PM