Being aware and being dumb

Two things have emerged for me in the wake of Game 1.

• The coaching staff's admission that the radio communication in NE is always messed up, yet they did not seem to have a plan to cope with it.

• Ben saying they knew from tape that the Pats shifted during the cadence, especially at the goal line, yet it still suckered our linemen.

This reeks of lack of preparation, which always seems to be an issue with the team. Here are examples where they admit they knew tendencies, yet seemed poorly prepared. During the week, did they practice goal line stands with d-linemen jumping all over the place? Did they practice having the radios not work and have a back-up plan? It seems not, though I guess we will never know for sure. It could be poor execution, even with practice. But this is a long-term issue, at least from a fan's perspective.

Just dumb.

OK a third thing. Ben saying "I'm not sure if this is a rule . . .". A hundred million dollar veteran QB ought to know the rules of the game he is playing. Inside and out. Learn the freakin' rulebook in the off-season.

 

Hahaha all good points.

 

I have witnessed dumb football for the last 9 years.

 

A double amen to your second point. If Ben knew that was a tactic their DL employs the last thing he should have said as they broke the huddle is "don't bite on the shift!". SMH

 

Did anybody ask Bill or any of the pats if they simulated the snap count?

 

What I heard Ben say was that he thought the rule was that a defense can not shift like that when the offense is in their snap cadence...he thought it would be a penalty on the defense...

also....our lineman jumped thinking that their defense had entered the neutral zone...

 

Apparently it's not a penalty. Betcha Brady knows that.

 

The rule is they can shift but they can't use audibles before the shift in a way to purposely cause a penalty. That's what Ben was complaining about and he was right.

With all of the noise the refs didn't hear it...but really it's no excuse because our line should be disciplined enough not to fall for it.

 

The Steelers well defined the phrase grasping at straws Thursdaynight.

 

1) Why wouldn't Ben or anyone (who's not sure of a rule, any rule) not ask the ref before the game if they suspect something like this?
2) Why not alert the refs before a goal line stand that they will be doing an illegal shift here instead of leaving it up to them to catch.
3)If they have seen them do this on tape before, did the Pat's get a penalty in those situations and if they didn't wouldn't that make you think, hey maybe it's not illegal. Let's call the league and find out the rule.

 

would the question be answered?

 

Well it would probably be answered something like this: "Right now we're just thinking about the Bills..." LOL!

 

with a little mumble sprinkled in

 

Well, the issue is the call to start the shift. Which obviously, combined with the noise in the stadium, caused the false start. Yes, it's bush league crap, but technically not illegal and I'd bet they don't use it anywhere but in their home stadium.