Tom Brady: extra point holder
Last night’s game featured a problem with New England’s back-up extra point holder. Ryan Allen (punter) got hurt on the safety and was unavailable in the 4thquarter. (NE went for 2 on their 3rdquarter TD). With Ryan Mallett, wide receivers, and other ‘hands’ type players on the bench, in steps Tom Brady to hold. This was the first time he held for an extra point since college.
This says a lot about the guy. Big game, certainly a must win, but a chance to get injured. All he needed was a knucklehead Colt with a chip on his shoulder, willing to risk a 15 yard penalty, to come crashing into Tom on a “PAT block” attempt. Tom came out for a second hold after the game was in hand. Leading by example or what!
P.S. – Ryan Mallett is rumored to be on the trading block.
January 12th, 2014 at 3:25 PM ^
January 12th, 2014 at 3:25 PM ^
January 12th, 2014 at 3:28 PM ^
January 12th, 2014 at 4:21 PM ^
January 12th, 2014 at 3:29 PM ^
January 12th, 2014 at 3:30 PM ^
January 12th, 2014 at 3:45 PM ^
Yeah, the criticism seemed harsh for the punter and Dierdorf's strategy of falling on it at the 1 or 2 seemed like the worst idea. Throw the incomplete pass and the Colts take over at the line of scrimmage. Kick it through the endzone for the safety and give up 2 points, but force the Colts to go the length of the field after you kick it away. Falling on the ball at the 2 seems like an almost certain touchdown. Or am I missing something?
January 12th, 2014 at 3:58 PM ^
Yeah, hate to jump on a Michigan guy but his commentary on that play veered into Millen territory. His idea to "fall on the ball at the 2" was so stupid that even a small child would know that it was the worst possible idea. I don't know that the punter could have thrown an incomplete pass, as there most likely weren't any eligible recievers anywhere nearby, but he could have at least taken the safety. Just falling on the ball at the 2 would have been idiotic. Also, Dierdorf's commentary on the ensuing free-kick about how he couldn't figure out how the punter "dropping the ball to kick it could have hurt so much" when it was obvious that he probably broke his collarbone or something on the previous play was just brain-numbing.
January 12th, 2014 at 5:10 PM ^
Clearly Dierdorf was wrong on his reasoning in that situation, but the punter was taking a big risk. Taking the safety in that situation is the best move, but the punter was dumb to just fling the ball out like that. It could've easily turned into a TD for Indianapolis. I don't think it can be assumed the punter was trying to throw an incomplete pass. I think he was just trying to pitch it to the guy next to him so he could try to do something. It worked out about as well as possible for New England, given the terrible snap.
January 12th, 2014 at 11:47 PM ^
Chris Spielman is an announcing GOD, but Dierdorf sucks?
WTF is going on in this world? What have you done with my MGoBias? I feel like Will Smith in I Am Legend...all alone and surrounded by zombies. Rational, unbiased zombies.
January 12th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
and short of an incomplete pass, a safety was the best next option. dierdorf clearly misspoke initially and then kept trying to defend his "wrong" initial thought.
January 12th, 2014 at 4:49 PM ^
In terms of "strategy", Dierdorf was clearly wrong. It is much better to give up 2 pts and then do the free kick and get to defend ~70 yards of field, then it is to give the opponent a great chance for 7 pts by falling on the ball inside your own 5 yard line.
However, Allen was absolutely NOT trying to throw an incomplete pass. He panicked and tried to complete a pass to #27 Wilson, who was about 5 yards to his left. Look at the play -- he clearly looks at #27 right before he tries to get rid of the ball (and gets crushed):
http://nfl.si.com/2014/01/11/new-england-patriots-punter-indianapolis-colts/
It was only dumb luck (for him) that the Colts knocked the ball out before it become a pass and then knocked it through the end zone.
What the punter SHOULD have done was instead of picking it up and trying to throw it, he should have kicked it through the end zone himself. That would have ensured the safety.
January 12th, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^
What New England SHOULD have done was not cut Zoltan Mesko. He would have leaped 15 feet into the air, caught the ball, booted it and it would have been downed on the 1 yard line.
January 12th, 2014 at 6:03 PM ^
I think we can all agree about that!
January 12th, 2014 at 10:32 PM ^
January 13th, 2014 at 11:48 AM ^
Even if they held them at the 2, they would have kicked a Field Goal for 3!
still more than a safety at 2!
January 12th, 2014 at 7:19 PM ^
To me it looked like he was trying to punt it whatever distance he could.
January 12th, 2014 at 3:31 PM ^
I was much more impressed by his desire to cover the spread!
I love New England cause I love Brady...
jdon
January 12th, 2014 at 3:32 PM ^
but I'm rooting for them all the way this playoff season, and Tom Brady is the reason. I'd love to see Tom Terrific pick up another SuperBowl Ring as he approaches the end of his great career.
Has he indicated in any way, shape, or form how many more seasons he intends to play?
January 12th, 2014 at 3:43 PM ^
He's still a top QB in the league, but he turns 40 in 2017. He'll have to work hard to be at the top of his game for that much longer.
January 12th, 2014 at 3:43 PM ^
He just signed a contract extension through the 2017 season, so he has a few years left.
January 12th, 2014 at 3:45 PM ^
NFL.com had an article which Brady tries to remember the last time he had ever done that. In his own words:
"I think (the last time I held) was when I played in the Orange Bowl 14 or 15 years ago (with Michigan)," Brady said. "I don't even do it in practice. They said, 'Get in there and do it,' and I said, 'What do I say?' But we figured it out."
Actually, Stephen Gostkowski also mentioned that Brady is indeed called on to do this in practice sometimes, but not every week.
January 12th, 2014 at 4:00 PM ^
January 12th, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^
Said it before, I'll say it again. I want to have his babies.
/not weird right? right?
January 12th, 2014 at 4:17 PM ^
your babies grow up to be rich NFL players who buy you a house? You are so selfish!
January 12th, 2014 at 8:56 PM ^
It's only weird if you are physically unable to have children, because you are chasing a dream that can never be.
January 12th, 2014 at 4:29 PM ^
or is Bill Belichick a genius, setting up Tom Brady to hold the rest of the way and a huge fake FG if they need it.
January 12th, 2014 at 4:46 PM ^
Is the punter really injured at all? Hmmm...
January 12th, 2014 at 4:29 PM ^
This will be Tom Brady's 8th Conference Championship Game. He has more Conference Championship appearances than 25 of the 32 NFL Franchises have had in their entire existence.
January 12th, 2014 at 4:48 PM ^
January 12th, 2014 at 5:41 PM ^
January 12th, 2014 at 6:05 PM ^
Just think how much longer Brady can stay in the league with this new skill. Designated Holder plus a wicked upside for when you need a fake.
January 12th, 2014 at 6:14 PM ^
To have your starting star QB doing the holding is an interesting choice - why not Mallett the backup QB (which often is done) or another option is to have a WR like Edelman (like we do with Dileo)? Both Mallett (throwing) and Edelman (running or throwing) will give the same concerns about a fake while not risking Brady to injury. I'm less worried about being hurt in the play then by some freakish hit to his throwing hand by the kicker's foot.
Maybe we're overthinking it - and what happened on the side line was:
Coaches:"we need someone to hold on the PATs"
Brady:"I can do it"
Coaches:"Uh, okay"
January 12th, 2014 at 6:17 PM ^
I hope the Bronco's close this one out, I'd love to see the Manning vs Brady duel one more time. It's amazing that both these guys are still playing, let alone both still at the height of their abilities.
January 12th, 2014 at 10:17 PM ^
January 13th, 2014 at 2:55 AM ^
Jay Feely tweeted last night
Brady holding on FG's for Patriots!!! Last time I remember Brady holding was for me at Michigan http://t.co/dvc6xhbrJt
— Jay Feely (@jayfeely) January 12, 2014
January 13th, 2014 at 6:03 AM ^
January 13th, 2014 at 11:45 AM ^
It's obviously WRONG to fall on it at the 2.
BECUASE, even if your defense holds them, they will get a Field Goal for 3 on 4th down.
3 is more than a safety of 2.
You save at LEAST one point