SI article slamming Belichick's defensive genius legacy

by psvirsky on Jul 25, 2008 2:48 PM EDT

As soon as I read this, I knew I had to post it here, email all my friends and put it up as an away message for all to see. Someone from ColdHardFootballFacts.com wrote an article featured on SI that essentially picks apart Belichick's legacy as a defensive genius, mainly because of all the breakdowns at huge moments. Honestly the article probably goes a bit further than it needs to, but it proves a good point. I also have a hard time swallowing Brady praise but it's appropriate. Here are a couple quotes to whet your appetite:

"Despite Belichick's reputation as a defensive mastermind, his defenses have habitually reserved their worst performances for the biggest moments in the biggest games. In fact, Belichick has overseen some of the greatest defensive catastrophes in modern NFL history, a series of gridiron Hindenburgs that explode live on national television year after year as all of New England cries out for humanity"

"Indy's victory begets a simple question: Can you be a defensive genius when your defense suffers the greatest meltdown on American soil since Three Mile Island?"

I really hope this starts to stick out as his legacy. His last two playoff exits came in the worst possible defensive meltdowns. Every pats fan should know this.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/07/25/chff.belichick/index.html?eref=T1

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

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Uh Oh

Patriots fans are all collectively going to bitch and moan for days now.

http://naptownsfinest.com

by Colts Homer on Jul 25, 2008 3:13 PM EDT reply actions

Gotta take the good with the bad

I read it all with a grain of salt. A well written negative article is just as valuable as a well written positive article, even more so in my mind. From my admittedly Pats homer mindset, I saw a few flaws in this article. 1) Calling SB wins big game defensive implosions is a little silly. Let’s not forget the Giants only won XLII by 3 points, same as the Pats 3 SB wins. Would anyone suggest they had a defensive implosion? I think not. 2) These perceived implosions can’t all be placed squarely on BB’s shoulders. A coach can prepare his team to the Nth degree. Once they’re on the field, it’s mostly up to them.

Blogger at SBNation's New England Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit

by MaPatsFan on Jul 29, 2008 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Gotta agree..

I don’t even think this is a well-written article. The author is obviously biased, which is a shame. I think there’s some good points in there, but they are forced through to the reader, which makes them – in my mind – less valuable.

by jocre on Jul 30, 2008 5:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Just an awful choice

If they piss off Boston homers who will read their biased Pats homer rants (aka everything else they’ve ever written)?

"To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead." - Thomas Paine

(Yes, that is a non-Lil Wayne lyric sig).

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by shake n bake on Jul 25, 2008 4:19 PM EDT reply actions

Did you even READ the article?????

Nice juicy headline, but nothing to back it up. NOTHING! Maaayyybbeeee I’ll grant you guys the AFC loss to the Colts. Huge implosion. Huge. If you look at the game however, was it really Belichick’s faulty game-plan, or was it simply injuries and lack of depth taking its toll against a team that ya can’t really make too many mistakes against?

The Carolina – New England SB? The stadium in Houston was incredibly hot and humid. Both defenses ran out of gas in the second half after outstanding first half performances. This guy - whoever the author was - is an idiot. Or worse, just assumes that his audience are idiots and will believe everything he says and not bother to check anything out. (Maybe he’s right, but it doesn’t make his article right.)

He wants to talk about a defensive implosion in SB XXXVI? It doesn’t make any sense! And even against the Giants in SB XLII, it was clearly and definitely an offensive issue - no in-game adjustments, the fewest points scored in the whole year - coupled with the Giants’ Strahan and his crew playing their best game of the year.

Come on, you guys can do better than that!

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Aug 2, 2008 6:24 PM EDT reply actions