FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- For those interested in a deeper understanding of football X’s and O’s, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s weekly breakdown of plays is a good place to start.
One thing that stood out this week was a closer look at the impact linebacker Barkevious Mingo is having on special teams, and also how attention paid to Matthew Slater benefits others. Belichick showed the team’s punt coverage at the 12:27 mark of the third quarter, which was a 5-yard return by Denver’s Jordan Norwood, as Slater is triple-teamed on the outside.
“If they want to take away our outside guys, then we have to get plays from the inside guys,” Belichick said on the breakdown, circling with his marker how Slater draws three players to him.
Mingo delivered in that area, with Belichick showing his aggressive move off the line of scrimmage at the snap, fighting off Broncos linebacker Quentin Gause and then racing past him. After making that move, Mingo then spotted Broncos receiver Cody Latimer looking to block teammate Nate Ebner and forcefully pushed Latimer to the ground.
After doing so, Mingo then tackled Norwood, the returner, with decisiveness.
“Good tackling technique -- shoulder, wrap-up, keep the feet moving, drive through, knock him back,” Belichick said of Mingo’s effort.
Mingo has fallen out of the defensive rotation (he hasn't played on D since coming on late for 10 snaps against San Francisco on Nov. 20), but as Belichick’s plays of the week show, he’s become an important part of the club’s special-teams units.
Belichick also showed the team’s final play of the third quarter -- a 43-yard punt by Ryan Allen that was down by Slater at the Denver 7 -- as an example of the team’s solid work on special teams in a field-position type of game.
Other plays Belichick used in his breakdown:
Focusing on strong run blocking, Belichick detailed aspects of Dion Lewis' 14-yard run (6:58, first quarter) and how a double-team block from left tackle Nate Solder and left guard Joe Thuney was key. Lewis’ 13-yard run (1:56, second quarter) also was shown as fullback James Develin wham blocks a defensive tackle to help open space.
How a strong running game aids the play-action passing game was shown on Martellus Bennett's 34-yard catch (10:56, fourth quarter).
Logan Ryan's second-quarter interception was cited as a good example of recognizing down and distance, as he undercut the route, with Belichick spotlighting the strong pass rush and then the hustle of fellow defenders on Ryan’s runback.
Julian Edelman's 17-yard catch-and-run on second-and-14. Belichick called up the play as an example of how the offense generally avoided third-and-long situations, which was critical against Denver’s rush and creative scheming in those situations.
Malcom Brown's sack (11:34, fourth quarter) was aided by an excellent initial surge up front by defensive end Trey Flowers.