Patriots-Broncos Game Observations (First Half)
A few observations from the TV copy:
- Although its difficult to assess special teams play on the TV copy, what is obvious on kickoff coverage is that WR/S Matthew Slater or WR/DB Julian Edelman are always the first guys to get down the field near the turner. It’s not suprising Slater leads the team in special teams tackles.
- The Patriots return of a botched extra-point can be taken two ways - one, that the Patriots are coached in such a way that they go hard on every play, regardless of value, or two, that Sergio Brown and Kyle Arrington don’t know that an extra point can’t result in a score for the defensive team in the NFL.
- On the Patriots first goal-line play, the Broncos ran a defensive line “hard-count” shift, similar to what the Patriots have done successfully over the past few weeks. The Patriots did not commit a false start penalty, but the shift could’ve been something the Denver coaching staff has picked up from their Patriots film study.
- One comment by Phil Simms got me thinking about WR Chad Ochocinco’s lack of catches - he mentioned that the Patriots use the screen game to everyone, receivers, tight ends and backs, but I can’t think of any screens to Ochocinco. If the Patriots or QB Tom Brady were aiming to get Ocho involved early by giving him a few catches, what better way then the screen game? Obviously, the Patriots view their tight ends and Welker as higher priorities in the screen game then Ochocinco (or Ocho is such a good blocker that they always want him blocking outside).
