I took some time to do a different post on the Cardinals vs Patriots and the game plan the Cards used to shut Murray down.
Cardinals vs Patriots week 12 featured another good matchup of Belichick vs the very good offense of Murray and the Cardinals.
A few things that stood out. Lets look at the run game first.
1. On run downs the Patriots were content on having Drake beat them in the run game. They played their defensive ends extremely wide. It forced the give to the back. They were more concerned with Murray as a runner and forced the give. Smart coaching.
Murray was limited to 5 carries for 31 yards using this strategy. They also brought pressure on medium downs which took the draw away. Good scheme by Coach Belichick and staff as they held the Cardinals to 300 total yards. Played mostly 4-2 with some odd mixed it.
RUN GAME ANALYSIS
Heres an example of man free coverage on the outside with the inside lb playing combo on the tight end and ss and excellent run defense
When the cards go under center they decide to go cover 3
1st and 10 the Patriots go to an odd front with 4is, they still play the olb really wide and sit him for Murray forcing the give. They go 1/4, 1/4 , 1/2 to the trips. The olb does a great job squeezing as does the safety playing cut back and the de does a nice job shedding the tackles block. Great team defense.
As you can see from the above examples they did an overall nice job keeping Drake contained and limiting Murray's carries.
PASS GAME ANALYSIS
In the passing game, again it was a simple yet effective gameplan.
1. When going man bring 6 get pressure but also get hands up to try to take away passing lanes.
2. Bringing 6 man pressures took away the qb draw element and made that a non factor.
3. Run games inside as the Cardinals have shown a tendency to get beat on some inside games, both 3 hands and 4 hands.
4. Gilmour on Hopkins was a given but just thought id mention, play the best on the best.
5. They disguised some coverages in zone 2 to 3, and man to zone with some good disguises.
6. When they blitzed, they went out of their way to get their hands up and at times Murray pulled the ball down and it caused the big interception in the 2nd half! They helped take away the quick throw.
Here are some examples of the game plan discussed
3rd and 12
The Patriots go cover o and bring 6, dropping the nose.
They force Murray to throw it away.
on another 2nd and 12 they go cover 0. They force the slide and the right def end comes clean.
Murray scrambles for no gain.
On the next play 3rd and 10.
The Patriots confuse Murray, they show cover 2 and jump to a cover 3 look with the safety robbing #3.
They get inside pressure from #50 and they force the check down for no gain and get off the field.
The inside pressure and stunts gave the Cardinals trouble inside. Here is another Twist from their 4 hands look that gets home. on a key 2nd and 12.
On the big interception on 3rd and 3 , Murray has Hopkins open for the slant, but watch all the de get in the lane and force him to pull the ball down. By the time he tries to throw it #70 gets his paw up and knocks it up for the interception. Great coaching getting the hands up on cover 0 pressures all game to take away the quick easy throws.
On the goalline the Patriots ran cover 0 , sent 4 and played the lbs underneath as rat defenders.
They made it difficult on a few plays but got hurt with a few penalties.
3rd and 3
On a similar 4th and 4 they run the same concept
The Cards come out in empty
To the 2 wr side. They pats combo 2 and 3 with tthe safety and lb. LB takes him because he releases inside and the other player (the safety acts as a rat on #1) All other players are in man. 3 wr to the top of the screen are in man. If not for a tough penalty, the defense works out.
As you can see from the results, the game plan worked ut great . They kept the Cardinals to under 300 total yards and did a great job containing Murray in the run game.
Kudo's to Coach Belichick and staff.
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