“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!

SUPER BOWL 52 LIVE COMMENTARY – New England vs Philadelphia

I wrote this last year. The original quote was now 4 years ago. Many are talking of this 99th year of NFL Football – on the cusp of year 100.

Well the game of Football actually exhisted long before 1920. All the way back to the 1880s. Spread Football started with Rusty Russell in the 1920s when the NFL was just forming.

The 100th year Anniversary is coming and it’s for Power Spread Football. Everything we have seen in the game and are about to see. Dictated by what it means to play this game. Space Time Team through Aggressive Flexible Variety! Onward and upward…….

Things to look for…

right away:

• ARE THE YOUNG RAMS READY TO GO!?
  • In all 3 of their playoff games (1 last year) the Rams players have been ordinary at best. Nerves, Flat Emotions and Overwhelmed Feelings have all gotten the better of them so far.
  • Last game, a great game plan by DC Wade Phillips saved the day. The Players need to pick it up!
  • The Rams Players need to be involved, excited and ready to Rock-n-Roll out of the gates or expect a long day vs the Pats!
• Is Sean McVay finally getting back to his Aggressive ways?
  • Three somewhat conservative Game Plans so far in the playoffs.
  • He’s young but no more time for Fear!
• Are the Rams and Pats mixing more Zone Coverage in with their Man Pressure? Especially the Pats, who predominantly play M2M Press.
  • If both Defenses are too obvious or conservative, then both Offenses could get out of the gates fast.
  • I expect both Defenses to be showing Aggressive Variety from the start!

early on:

• Is Goff being patient? Taking what the Pats D is giving?
  • Mahomes of the Chiefs was Over-aggressive.
  • I feel Goff has better patience.
  • McVay playing aggressive schemes will help his young QB.
• Are the Rams creating Havoc up front vs the Pats Offense?
  • Whether 4 man rush or mixed blitz, the Rams need to make Brady feel the pressure.
  • Middle Pressure from DTs and LBs can present an issue for the Pats.

Injuries

• The Pats are old, but have had 2 Weeks to heal and rest.
• LB Hightower is a big factor in the pressure mix up front for the Pats. He has been sick this week. See how he looks early on.
• Both of the Rams great Kickers – K Zuerlein (Left Foot) and P Hekker (Ill) – are ready to go, but keep an eye on this very important part of the game.

Fun Scoreline:

Opposite of the Atlanta Super Bowl:

• Pats jump out quick, eventually leading 27-3
• Rams make an amazing comeback as Pats get conservative 27-31
• Brady leads late TD Drive 34-31
• Rams miss game ending FG off the Post!

This or simply a Pats Blowout!

Super Bowl LIII

1ST QUARTER

PATRIOTS DRIVE 1

• McDaniels doing it again.
  • Using Rams speed against them with Quick Power up the Middle
  • Nice Jet Sweep to Patterson to open up more Space in the Middle
• INTERCEPTION Littleton off a deflection!
  • Big pass deflect by Nickelback Robey who was the BIG PENALTY DB vs the Saints!
  • Wade Phillips went to Zone off a Man Look! Perfect!

RAMS DRIVE 1

Both Defenses playing great Aggressive Variety to start!

PATRIOTS DRIVE 2

• More great Aggressive Variety by Phillips D
  • Havoc from the DLine – Fowler and Suh!
• Questionable Unnecessary Roughness on that man again – Robey!
• Big pass to Gronk against Peters.
  • Rams don’t have anyone to matchup on Gronk!
  • Phillips needs to get tricky!
• McDaniel Breaking Tendency but big stop Rams on 3rd Down!!
  • 3rd&8 Draw White – Rams all over it! PHILLIPS!
• GOSTKOWSKI MISSES THE FG!

RAMS DRIVE 2

• McVay starting to FINALLY open up his play calling in the playoffs
• But another great coverage mix by Belichick on Defense!

PATRIOTS DRIVE 3

• Wade Phillips continuing a great Coverage Mix!!
  • Man Look – Zone
  • Zone Look – Man
• Finally Brady so confused, Rams almost get a fumbled sack on a 4 man rush!!
  • BRADY HELD THE BALL TOO LONG!
  • PHILLIPS CONFUSING HIM!
• 3RD&5 RAMS DROP 8 MAN ZONE!! FAKE BLITZ – 3 MAN RUSH
  • BRADY COMPLETELY CONFUSED!

2ND QUARTER

RAMS DRIVE 3

MCVAY IS TOO DAMN CONSERVATIVE AT PLAYOFF TIME! He’s killing Bum’s Son!

PATRIOTS DRIVE 4

• Some more completions and a FG, but Phillips is really mixing it up brilliantly. Brady confused a lot of the time.
• McVay is screwing his team’s chances with more conservative Offense!!

PATRIOTS 3-0

RAMS DRIVE 4 – TIME FOR MCVAY TO WAKE UP!

Started to open it up a bit, but then a horrible run call on 2nd&7. Something they do all the time – set, scheme everything. Pats were on it. Another Punt!

PATRIOTS DRIVE 5

Pressure by Phillips. Then Fake and Deep Zone. Brady still clueless. Even McDaniel’s great variety in Play Calling not getting it done vs Phillips!

RAMS DRIVE 5

• More McVay Conservatism!
• GREAT CALL BY ROMO “BELICHICK SPECIAL!”
  • Showing Pressure
  • Dropping Deep ala Bum’s Son!
  • Totally fooled Goff!

PATRIOTS DRIVE 6

• BUM’S SON – THE MAN – WADE PHILLIPS!
  • 4-3 Zone
  • Man Press
  • CB Blitz!
  • 4th&1 DROP 8 MAN/ZONE COMBO!!
• ALL ON ONE SERIES!!

RAMS DRIVE 6

More great pressure/coverage mix by Belichick’s D! Hightower got a sack on the first play. So much for Illness (see at top of post- Injuries).

HALFTIME

• WADE PHILLIPS, WADE PHILLIPS, WADE PHILLIPS
• Sean McVay Conservative Nature in the Playoffs once again
  • He’s holding his team back and possibly ruining this game!
  • Needs to really get back to what makes this Offense great
    • Spread Precision passing with great route designs and mis-direction.
    • Power off the Spread – Not the other way around!
• Belichick’s D great as well. Mixing man and zone pressure as predicted.
• Brady and Co. won’t be held down in 2nd Half. McVay needs to open up the Offense or this game is over!

3RD QUARTER

RAMS DRIVE 1

• Nice Play Action first play, but Goff late and almost Intercepted!
• Gurley finally breaks a run! Nice Breaking Tendency by McVay on 2nd&10!
• Nice Stretch Run Gurley
  • Top DB Chung Injured – Old Pats (see above)
• Conservative 2nd Down Run – keep spreading it McVay!
• Puts Goff in another bad spot – 3rd&Long – big play Gilmore! Another Punt!

PATRIOTS DRIVE 1

More incredible D! Peters got burned once by Edelman, but gets his revenge the 2nd time. Maybe a hold – but good non-call. Let them play!

Did anyone see such a low scoring game? I didn’t. Belichick can get conservative, but I’m disappointed in McVay. Open up the Offense, Sean!

RAMS DRIVE 2

SEAN MCVAY TERRIBLE! More conservative play calling near his endzone again putting his young QB in a bad spot! HUGE PUNT HEKKER!

PATRIOTS DRIVE 2

Just more great stuff from by Wade! Looks like Zone -oops man – looks like middle oops edge pressure. False looks -mixed schemes – PS Variety!

RAMS DRIVE 3 – FINALLY MCVAY SPREADING IT SOME AND BREAKING TENDENCY!

• McVay finally unleashed some of his Offense and surprise, surprise…Goff is looking more confident!
• Finally some open spread passing – setting up some runs.
• But huge miss in End Zone by Goff
  • Coverage breakdown by Chung’s replacement
  • But Goff LATE to see Cooks wide open for easy TD!
• HUGE Sack Hightower and Co!! Is he still sick??
• LONG FG ZUERLEIN – AGAIN! – Bad Left Foot and all!

RAMS 3-3

PATRIOTS DRIVE 3

• Big cutback Michel following Develin’s lead!
  • Now too conservative by McDaniels – RARE!
  • 2 Michel power runs
  • No misdirection or breaking tendency. Just straight runs.
• 3rd&Long – more mix pressure from Phillip and the Rams!
  • Hard rush from outside.
  • Man Coverage this time with a Robber
  • LB all over RB White on a crossing route. Deflection!

4TH QUARTER

RAMS DRIVE 4

• McVay trying to open it up. Thank God. But just great Match Up Zone Defense I predicted Belichick would go to vs the Rams Gillman+ Pass Spread!
• Finally a penalty against NE. 1st Down Play Action Pass for another 1st! Finally Spread!
• And now a weak holding call vs Rams – Pats Luck!
• GREAT PICK UP BY ROMO ON MISS BY GOFF!
  • Great Route Design by McVay
  • Crosser wide open over the middle – instead Goff threw into coverage deep!
• McVay’s picked it up- but needed to be doing this all game!

PATRIOTS DRIVE 4 – First time all game Phillips went conservative on D

• Gronk fake block, release down sideline
• Edelman middle clear – M2M – easy peasy!
• Middle clear again – Gronk down Seam!
• TOUCHDOWN power run! (1st TD of the game!)

PATRIOTS 10-3!

RAMS DRIVE 5

• Nice misdirection WR Screen first play!
• Back to conservative play calling after!!
• Another 3rd&Long – Big crosser Reynolds M2M – 1ST DOWN!
• Another Bullet – another 1st down catch Woods!
• JUST MISSED TD TO COOKS! Great pass Goff – Gilmore grabbed an arm
• BIG TIME BLITZ INTERCEPTION GILMORE!! Great Call Belichick!
• Rams finally spreading the ball around. Needed to do this far earlier in the game!

MCVAY OPENING UP THE OFFENSE AFTER 8 DRIVES IS FAR TOO LITTLE TOO LATE!

PATRIOTS DRIVE 5

• Finally the Rams D lets down.
  • Wade Phillips – after such great Aggressive Variety, is not doing much but watching from the sideline now.
  • The Rams look totally deflated. Getting pounded on.
• McVay really blew it by never giving his Offense a chance until the end of the game.
  • The D did everything they could
• 4th&inches – right call Belichick
• FG

PATRIOTS 13-3

RAMS DRIVE 6

No Huddle Spread. Way to go McVay. Well, maybe he will learn from this. But he didn’t learn from last year’s average performance . Or the first 2 playoff games this year… so…. Missed FG – appropriate.

A 20 YEAR DYNASTY COMPLETE!

PATRIOTS 13-3

No Surprise

• Expectant Experience won out over Timely Destiny.
• Wade Phillips and Bill Belichick’s Defenses played fantastic PS Aggressive Variety.
• The Pats played pretty conservative on Offense – but came up big when it counted.
• The Pats Special Teams were great again!

Big Surprise

Sean McVay called another conservative playoff game until Drive #9! I really thought he would finally go for it. Not taking anything away from the Pats Defense – but they had a lot of help.

It’s a miracle the Rams were even in the Super Bowl, let alone with a chance to win. They have yet to play a great game on Offense in 2 playoff years. This is on McVay.

I will provide future video analysis to explain exactly what I’m talking about.

PS Football Evolution Continues

Two strikes down and I finally took the Pats and ended up 8-3. The Pats are about to wrap a 20 year Dynasty. And while this may be looked at as a step back for PS Football – it certainly is a very small step. The NFL is exploring and evolving like never before. Teams will learn from what they saw today.

Play aggressive and you win – like Doug Pederson and the Eagles. Play conservative and you lose. High Scoring- Low Scoring – Offense – Defense – NONE OF THAT MATTERS. Aggressive Flexible Variety in Space Time Team. Onward and Upward we go…..

~DP