POWERSPREAD

“The NFL doesn’t have the advanced PS Schemes of College but it’s starting to change. Even in this fractured, watered down version changes are a happenin’. Bill Belichick is the best of a conservative lot.” This was what I wrote in my last Super Bowl Commentary 3 years ago. This is no longer the case as Power Spread is used all across the NFL now. There’s going to be even more next year!

1ST QUARTER

EAGLES DRIVE 1

• No nerves. Great sign for Philly.
  • So much for SB Inexperience.
  • The important experience was gained during the course of the playoffs.
• Pederson stuck with Spread Pass attack more than I expected. NE actually stacked the middle to aggressively take away the run.
  • Again, I didn’t expect this right away.
  • Good move by Pederson to spread the field.
• Great RPOs, Misdirection, Play-Action,  as the drive progressed. Unfortunate penalty near endzone.
• NE defense experience very solid in the redzone. Did not get faked out by Pederson’s great schemes.
• FG. This I did say in my preview. First half Redzone Battle will be won by Pats.

Eagles 3-0

PATRIOTS DRIVE 1

• Great Spread Scheme and gameplan to start by Belichick and McDaniels!
  • Unlike last year, they did not start off conservative.
  • Mixed in some Tempo and aggressively looked for the open space.
• More importantly for Pat Fans – Brady playing for space rather than personnel!
  • That means he’s working with, not against OC Josh McDaniels.
• Except last play, where Brady zeroed in on Gronkowski. Mistake and almost an interception.
  • In my preview I said TDs for Pats in 1st Half. FGs for Eagles.
  • Wrong on Drive 1 as Pats get a FG.
    • Big stop by Eagles!
    • Bad play by Brady.

Patriots 3-3

EAGLES DRIVE 2

• What a battle of Offensive Brilliance going on between Pederson and McDaniels!!
• After all the Spread Passing, Pederson goes to the Power Game with who else….
  • LeGARRETTE BLOUNT – My call for MVP of the Game!
• Then of course, Pederson takes a shot deep! TOUCHDOWN!
  • Spread Wide
  • Power Middle
  • Throw Deep
  • POWER SPREAD!
• Missed Xpt by Jake Elliott! After I built him up in my preview and on twitter!

Eagles 9-3

PATRIOTS DRIVE 2

• Jim Schwartz playing more aggressive early than I expected early!
• Unfortunately not on 3rd+Long.
  • 4 Man Rush got pressure on Brady as expected.
  • BUT…a terrible blown coverage by Patrick Robinson who has had a great year…unfortunate. It happens.
• NE right back to Tempo! This I expected.
  • Closing in on anther Touchdown.

Eagles 9-3 – END OF 1ST QUARTER

This is more like my original pick where I thought there would have been a lot of Offense! Surprised that the Eagles are scoring TDs and holding NE to FGs this early. They are less nervous than I expected. Pederson has surprised me again!

2ND QUARTER

PATRIOTS DRIVE 2 (cont)

• Huge stop on 3rd&2 by CB Jalen Mills!
  • Nice call by McDaniels, though fans won’t get it.
    • Reverse can work versus aggressive teams on the goaline.
    • Mills stayed home and just made a great play!
  • Eagles players playing with less pressure than New England – what I thought might happen.
• MISSED FG! Huge – bad snap!
  • Mentioned in my preview about some Kicking gaffs of late for New England!

EAGLES DRIVE 3

• Patricia got more aggressive with his Defense just in time.
• A little too much Spread by Pederson
  • Surprised not going with more power with Blount.
  • I’m sure it’s something NE is doing on Defense. Will need to see replay later.
• HUGE 3 AND OUT FOR NE
  • Philly building momentum
  • Another long drive would have made even more pressure on an already uptight team!

PATRIOTS DRIVE 3

• Big pass Kerry Cooks who leaves with injury
  • Patriots playing much better than Atlanta SB last year.
  • Much more aggressive game plan. Wasn’t sure, but I called it correctly.
    • Belichick more scared of Atlanta offense last year.
    • Not worried about time possession this year.
    • Letting Brady spread it around!
• Still Patriots seem to be playing with a lot of pressure. Again what I said in my Preview.
• UNBELIEVABLE TRICK PLAY BY MCDANIELS BUT BRADY DROPS A BIG WIDE OPEN CATCH!
  • Collinsworth commenting on Brady’s bad thumb! Ridiculous.
  • Pats would have practiced this play for 2 weeks! IF Brady couldn’t catch, they wouldn’t have ran it!
• SCHWARTZ BRINGS A FULL HOUSE BLITZ!!! Coverage by Mills – Incomplete. (Interference?)
  • Schwartz is calling a great game!!
  • Wasn’t aggressive the 1st Half of last 2 playoff games.
  • Pederson got in his ear – MUST BE AGGRESSIVE! On all fronts!

EAGLES DRIVE 4

• Big 3rd&Long catch by TE Zach  Ertz. Foles had all day long in the pocket.
  • I said the Pats Dline not as fast as Atlanta or Minnesota!
  • Patricia being way too conservative.
    • I said this was his weakness.
    • When the offense has some success, Patricia will back off.
• Another big pass to Jeffery who’s really come alive again in the playoffs!
• Pass, Pass – back to Power!!
  • BLOUNT TOUCHDOWN!
  • My MVP!
• 2PT Attempt – Great design – Diamond Set Right
  • This is very much  a type of Power Spread Air Raid (PSAR) design from the College Ranks
  • Foles throws to the single WR – one on one – to the left.
    • Great way to combine Space + Team (Personnel Match-Up)
    • Jeffery a great one on one matchup because he’s so big. Should have had it or interference!
• Don’t like 2 points left off the board with 2 Touchdowns.
• But the Eagles energy is much better than NE right now so lets go forward!

Eagles 15-3

PATRIOTS DRIVE 4

• Great Slip Screen to Rex Burkhead for a huge gain!
  • Pats doing Pederson staple!
  •  McDaniels uses his backs as receivers as well!
• Pats continuing the Tempo! Way better aggression than last year’s Super Bowl!
• Great Defense by Philly!
  • Pressure with 4 man rush + blitz mix.
  • Mixing the coverage as well!
  • Watching for the RB passes – only got burned on the one!
• Great FG Kick by Gostkowski after the missed Xpt!

Patriots 6-15

EAGLES DRIVE 5

• PERFECT POWER SPREAD PLAY CALLING – Breaking Tendency!
  • 2ND&14 Quick Pass Smith.
  • 3rd&4 – Draw Play Ajayi for huge gain!
  • 1st&10 – Big pass play down sideline to Jeffery!
    • Unfortunately a bobble by Jeffery that created an Interception!
    • Alert play by a veteran NE Secondary!

PATRIOTS DRIVE 5

• More aggressive D by Eagles
  • Gronkowski can’t bully these DBs like most!
• 3rd down holding penalty on Mills – ? – It’s ok – stay aggressive Mills!
• More top play calling by McDaniels!
  • Dion Lewis power run left
  • Lewis stretch run left
  • Brady big pass to Hogan down right sideline.
    • 4 man pressure didnt get to Brady
    • Mills bit on a great double-move by Hogan
• HUGE POWER RUN LEFT JAMES WHITE FOR A TOUCHDOWN!
  • Eagles looked a little flat on that Drive – after the disappointing interception at the other end.
  • Schwartz got a bit conservative. Needs to get subs in and get more aggressive!
• GOSTKOWSKI MISSES ANOTHER XPT!!
  • Snap good this time??
  • This is getting weird.

Patriots 12-15

EAGLES DRIVE 6 – 2 Minute Warning

• 3rd&3 – RB CLEMENT SWING PASS DOWN THE SIDELINE FOR HUGE GAIN TO NE 8 YARD LINE!!!
  • This is genius Spread Passing Offense by Pederson!
    • Simple pick underneath by WR – opens up Clement for a fake swing, race down the sideline!
    • Set up with all the RPOs and Crossing Routes over the Middle!
  • Patricia had the right Defense – 3-2-6
    • Jordan Richards – the Dime Back is a very good player
      • He crossed underneath the pick to make and aggressive play.
      • Didn’t expect the more aggressive play by Pederson and Clement!
      • Pederson made Richards Over Aggressive through Scheme! SpaceTimeTeam!!
• 2nd&Goal – Great Multiple Shifting
  • Run straight up gut – POWER SPREAD!
  • Good job by experienced Pats D to hold their ground in the middle
    • Rueben Brown – Lawrence Guy
    • Big DTs don’t get enough credit
• 3rc&Goal – Another Match-Up pass to Jeffery left!
  • Another Incomplete
  • Looked like a penalty. Maybe. But good coverage by top CB Stephon Gilmore.
  • Jeffery, like Gronkowski, having trouble with these more physical DBs on both sides.
• 4TH&GOAL – EAGLES GOING FOR IT!!
  • 1st Set – Timeout – Smart by Pederson. Let NE show their hand.
  • DIRECT SNAP TO RB CLEMENT, REVERSE TO TREY BURTON, TOUCHDOWN PASS TO QB FOLES!!!

  • POSITIONLESS FOOTBALL!

  • I’ve talked about this for sometime. In the future – not always about the QB – many different athletes can do many things!
    • Part of my PS History which colleagues and friends have seen.
    • More on this in future articles!

Eagles 22-12

PATRIOTS DRIVE 6

• Prevent Defense by Schwartz.
  • Almost burned for it.
  • Brady got the Pats to Eagles 23 before time ran out.
    • Passes to Dorsett and Amendola.

HALFTIME – Eagles 22-12 

NE FEELING PRESSURE. EAGLES ARE NOT! Pederson’s Aggressive Schemes have overwhelmed the Patriots players and coaching staff.

PS ENERGY – NAME OF THE GAME – EAGLES FIRED UP – PATS LEAVE THE FIELD DEPRESSED!

3RD QUARTER

PATRIOTS DRIVE 1

• HORRIBLY CONSERVATIVE DEFENSE BY SCHWARTZ
• Deep Zones open up the middle for Gronkowski and the little Patriot WRs as I said in my preview.
  • Brady just picked apart a conservative Cover 1 or 2 with 4 man rush by hitting Gronk underneath over and over!
  • Terrible! Plus, the Eagles looked flat – What Happened?
  • Shocked after Pederson’s interview going in at halftime! Stay Aggressive for 30 more minutes.
  • Big Letdown Eagles players and coaches on that drive!

Patriots 19-22

EAGLES DRIVE 1

• More incredible stuff by Pederson.
  • Nice power run by Blount.
  • Nice RPO, rollout left Foles, dropped pass Agholor. Eagles still flat.
  • Blitz – perfect call – crossing pattersns. Agholor wide open and catches it this time. 1st Down.
  • Power Stretch Run Right Blount.
  • Power left Blount. 1st Down.
  • 2nd&10 draw Ajayi for 9!
  • 3rd&1 play-action pass down sideline to Ertz 1st down!! BREAKING TENDENCY!
  • Blount power.
  • Long pass incomplete to Burton.
  • 3rd&6 DEEP THROW DOWN THE SEAM TO A RB!!! TOUCHDOWN CLEMENT!!
• Breaking Tendency with Aggressive Variety using SpaceTimeTeam
• AND NOW THE ENERGY IS BACK UP!
  • Scheme 1st – SpaceTime
  • Then Team!
  • Then Energy!

Eagles 29-19

PATRIOTS DRIVE 2

• Holding Penalty on LB Kendricks. 1st Down
• Passess eating up the middle of the Eagles Zone Defense
  • Hogan then Amendola.
• HOGAN 26 YD TOUCHDOWN CATCH!
• Eagles were more aggressive on Defense this drive – but the players need to pick it up.
  • A lot of this is the great scheme + play calling of McDaniels.
  • Also, using Tempo with or without a huddle. Something I expected but rarely saw with the Pats in last year’s SB!
• THESE ARE 2 GREAT OFFENSIVE COACHES – PEDERSON (Frank Reich as well) and MCDANIELS.

Patriots 26-29

 

EAGLES DRIVE 2

• More RPO action, but this time Agholor fakes a crossing route and heads down the sideline for a big catch!
  • May have been an option route – Run and Shoot Style.
  • Or maybe just a design – hard to know without a replay.
  • Either way, more Breaking Tendency from Pederson.
• Reverse to Agholor – as a runner – 1st Down. Pederson keeps mixing it up!

Eagles 29-26 –  END OF 2ND QUARTER

Eagles came out flat in 2nd Half. Great Schemes by Pederson brought the Energy back up, but Schwartz schemes too passive and McDaniels is eating their defense alive with brilliant schemes and play-calling.

Ironically, Schwartz was more aggressive in the 2nd Half of the last two playoff games. This game just the oppsoite!?? He needs to pick it up!

4TH QUARTER

EAGLES DRIVE 2 (cont)

• 3rd&3 Reverse Motion Swing Pass Right to Agholor!
  • This is another PRO PSAR (air raid) call by Pederson. The Rams did this very effectively all year.
  • GREAT PLAY BY MARQUISE FLOWERS – talked about him in my preview – the great pass defense of the Pats.
• Good FG Elliott.

Eagles 32-26

PATRIOTS DRIVE 3

• Incredible Play Calling by McDaniels
  • After all the Passing – 3 straight runs to Burkhead. Eagles not ready for this!
  • Two Short pass completions.
  • 3rd&3 crosser for a big gain to Amendola.
    • WAY TOO PASSIVE BY SCHWARTZ
    • DEEP ZONE – TONS OF SPACE UNDERNEATH!
    • No Blitzing either.
  • Short pass back to Amendola.
  • Power run White
  • Pass to White in Endzone. Incomplete.
  • Gronkowski Match-Up on Darby. TOUCHDOWN!
    • Darby is a physical corner.
    • But don’t understand not having Jenkins, who’s bigger, on Gronk?
• Knew we would see offense. My first pick was 45-35 Eagles as one scenario. But I am surprised that lack of pressure from the Eagles
  • Schwartz being way too conservative this Half.
  • A lot of this is McDaniels though. As I said in my Preview – both he and Pederson are the future – we are seeing that tonight!
    • Brady is looking for Space better today than I’ve ever seen.
    • He and McDaniels are clicking better than Tennessee game.
    • Four time better than last year’s Super Bowl!

Patriots 33-32

EAGLES DRIVE 3

• Continued Power Spread aggressive mix in another long drive by the Eagles.
• Big 3rd&6 completion to Ertz. Pats playing too passive.
• Another pass to Clement.
• Great play-action pass to Smith on 3rd&1, but great play by Harrison to reroute the play!  Again the 3-3 combo I talked about!
• PEDERSON GOES FOR IT AGAIN ON 4TH DOWN!
  • Pats brought a blitz with tight man coverage. Good aggression Patricia.
  • But great call by Pederson, again! Crossers – Ertz man got picked – Ertz open FIRST DOWN!
• Three straight passes to Agholor. Pats too passive again. Just sitting in zone – easy for Foles.
• 3rd&7 at the NE 11
  • Trips Right / Motion RB Clement right – Ertz all by himself versus a Safety far left!
    • Pederson using Space to set up a Match-Up….Team.
    • Ertz makes a good move, McCourty stumbles – TOUCHDOWN!
  • Thank god review didn’t reverse it.
• 2Pt Attempt – Fails again
  • A play that looked similar to the one I diagrammed here from the Viking game.
  • Another fake handoff right to the RB Clement, roll right Foles.
  • This time instead of a dump off in the middle to Ertz, the play was pass right to Clement in the endzone.
  • He was breaking open, but Foles was late getting the ball to him. Great call, scheme – bad execution.

Eagles 38-33

PATRIOTS DRIVE 4

• More passivity from Schwartz. Easy completion again to Gronk.
• BRANDON GRAHAM HITS BRADY’S ARM – FUMBLE – RECOVERED BY ROOKIE BARNETT!!
  • Unbelievable. No pressure the whole 2nd Half from Eagles until now.
  • Still no blitz, guys were open again – Brady was about to throw another short completion.
  • Surprisingly the Eagles didn’t get much pressure from their front all game – one of the best DLines in the league!
    • Graham did this all on his own. Great move on the Guard.
    • Brady a little slow on the release on that play. Probably because he hadn’t had pressure all half!
    • Barnett did a great job of jumping on the ball quickly! Alert and aware!

EAGLES DRIVE 4

• First time Pederson was conservative all game.
  • 3 straight runs.
  • A play action on 3rd&5 may have worked, but Pederson had trust in his kicker.
  • Sure enough Pederson did it again. Rookie Elliott nails a 46 yarder!

Eagles 41-33

PATRIOTS DRIVE 5

• More passivity from Schwartz. All 2nd Half. Unbelievable.
• Crazy reverse on the KO put NE in bad field position at their own 9.
• Passive zone scheme, but Eagles D finally fired up – for first time since 1st Half!
  • Finally pressuring Brady with 4 man rush.
  • Better coverage – more active – more energy.
• 4th&10 huge completion to Amendola for 1st Down.
• More passive zone defense and underneath completions to Gronk.
• LAST PLAY OF GAME
  • DEEP TO ENDZONE – GRONK THERE – BALL STILL IN AIR – FINALLY INCOMPLETE
  • MY GOD IF SCHWARTZ PASSIVE CRAP BLEW THAT GAME!! CLOSE BUT…

EAGLES WIN! EAGLES WIN!

Eagles 41-33

The Changing of the Guard is Complete. This was Power Spread  Football in the NFL. The Defenses were somewhat disappointing. Especially Schwartz going into a shell in the 2nd Half.

But a lot of that was 2 great Power Spread Offenses led by great minds. I don’t meant to leave out Frank Reich and others on Pederson’s very good staff, but Pederson and McDaniels are the future of the NFL. Aggressive Flexible Variety in SpaceTimeTeam coming your way soon.

THREE DEFINING MOMENTS IN POWER SPREAD HISTORY (3X3)

• 2012 – Dana Holgorsen’s West Virginia team exploding for 70 points versus Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
• 2015 – Urban Meyer’s National Championship with Ohio State with his 3rd String QB.
• 2018 – Doug Pederson’s Super Bowl Win with his 2nd String QB.

~PS