Revisiting the big hit on Tom Brady
Patriots QB Tom Brady is sacked by Bengals DE Robert Geathers. (Barry Chin / Globe Staff)
FOXBOROUGH – When Tom Brady was crunched to the turf by Robert Geathers in the Patriots’ 7-6 preseason loss to the Bengals Thursday, it looked like right tackle Nick Kaczur missed a block.
But as is often the case, there was more to it than that.
Kaczur was asked about the breakdown today at Gillette Stadium.
“It was a communication error on what we were running,” he said before the Patriots' afternoon practice. “Unfortunately, he took a hit on that one, which we never want to see. ... We had a draw and thought we were running the ball. Unfortunately, he held the ball and it was a communication error and that led to him getting hit. I don't want to put blame on anyone. It was a communication error. " (edited 2:10 to add more to quote)
After the game, Bill Belichick had explained that there was a mix-up on the play, but he didn’t specify the root of the breakdown. Still, Belichick’s remarks seemed to hint that it wasn’t simply a blocking miscue, it was about the offense failing to be on the same page.
Yet Kaczur alone seemed to take the brunt of criticism after the game.
“I went home that night, turned on the TV, and they said ‘Nick Kaczur missed a block and [Tom] Brady gets blown up’,” said guard Logan Mankins, tiptoeing around the specific breakdown. “But really it wasn’t Nick’s fault at all.”
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So if it was a draw, Brady should have handed off the ball? But didn't?
No wonder the running back Taylor didn't seem to know what was going on. Still - Kaczur let the guy go straight by him...
So how does that happen? Did Brady miss the call?
If it was a draw play Kaczur did the correct thing. You use a defensive player's aggressiveness against him in the running game. If the running back breaks through the line, the aggresive player is then completely out of the play.
On a draw you want to let the defender up field.
If it was a running play, you want the rusher to go right by you. If he's in the backfield, he can't make the tackle on a runner who's already headed downfield.
It sounds like make the OL as a whole thought it was a run, but it was really a draw. Kaczur would take the blame as he has no support to this right. It's hard to tell when a guard or center is run blocking or passing blocking, for tackles it becomes much more obvious.
It's pretty obvious now by the OL's comments that Brady was the one that didnt know the call. How can a starting QB of his caliber NOT know the play he is running? That's a bad sign. I think Brady needs more time studying the playbook and less time with the wife.
How can Brady not know the play?
Bill probably tricked Brady by giving him the wrong play so he would take a big hit. Ah, the genius of BB never ceases!
Have you SEEN Brady's wife? JK that's why it's preseason. It's not like Brady's fighting to show what he can do - we already know what he can do. It's about shaking off the rust for him and readjusting to football.
He was throwing off his back foot alot in that game. Not a good sign.
I also heard that the sky is actually falling, that's something else to be concerned about.
This OL is weak. Can't run block against ANYONE, and can't pass block against elite DL's. How long do we have to watch Light get abused by the top DE's? Once a Sunday his guy destroys Brady. Kaczur is no better, the two worst Offensive Tackles in the AFC.
Brady won't see October.
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