Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Patriots A to Z Part 10 - Locked On Patriots July 5, 2019

Episode Date: July 5, 2019

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey there everybody, welcome on in to a Friday, July 5th installment of Locked On Patriots. Mark Schofield back in the big chair after the 4th of July. Hope those of you that celebrated had a wonderful holiday. We are on to part 10 of Patriots A to Z here at Locked on Patriots. Today's show brought to you by the great letters S and T. Obviously, look, I'm kind of partial to the letter S, as you might imagine. Got a lot to talk about. We've got a lot of players, a lot of plays, some moments, some former owners, some sad moments.

So we got some stuff to get through. But before we do that, your usual cavalcade of reminders. Please do follow along with the hijinks at Mark Schofield on Twitter. Check out the work at places like InsideThePylon.com, Pro Football Weekly, Matt Waldman's Rookie Scouting Portfolio. And yes, your trio of SB Nation websites, Big Blue View, Bleeding Green Nation, and of course, Pat's Pulpit. Let's not waste any more time. Let's dive right in with Asante Samuel. Venerable defensive back for the New England Patriots.

A stalwart in the Patriots secondary. Yes, do we dare say that secondary is an S term to talk about? Drafted in the fourth round, 120th overall out of Central Florida, but played a huge role for the Patriots in a number of Super Bowl teams. Appeared in nine games over his first two years for those 2003-2004 teams

that won back-to-back Super Bowls. Had two interceptions as a rookie, one in 2014. 2006, probably his best year as a pro, 15 starts, 10 interceptions, which led the league. Although in 2009 with the Eagles, he had nine interceptions. Unfortunately, his last year in New England will be marred by a failed interception in Super Bowl XLII, just before the David Tyree catch. But Asante Samuel kicking it off here in Part 10 of Patriots A to Z.

We've got James Sanders to break down here for you. James Sanders, a defensive back for the Patriots for a couple of seasons out of Fresno State. Drafted in the fourth round out of Fresno State, as we said. Made a number of starts for the Patriots. Made 15 starts in 15 games in 2007 and 14 starts in 14 games in 2008. He finished his career with Arizona after a one-year stint with the Atlanta Falcons. Rick Sanford, next up on our list. Rick was a defensive back for the Patriots in the 70s and early 80s out of South Carolina.

Marty Schottenheimer, linebacker. First with the Buffalo Bills in the AFL, and then he spent two seasons with the Boston Patriots. First when they were in the AFL, and then when they were in the NFL. Marty Schottenheimer, member of Patriots history, Junior Seau, obviously Seau taking his own life some years ago, but spent a couple of seasons with the Patriots after the bulk of his career was in San Diego, had three seasons in Miami, was a part of that 2017 that went 16-0 in the regular season. Seau, just a stalwart linebacker.

Basically, you look up linebacker in the dictionary, you see Junior Seau's pitcher. Richard Seymour, one of my favorite draft stories. When it was written after he was selected by the Patriots in the first round of that draft, sixth overall, didn't muster that many sacks in the past happy SEC. Those were the words written by a long-time Patriots columnist. Well, during his time in New England,

he racked up some sacks. In fact, on his career, he tallied 57.5 sacks. Not too bad. He finished his career with the Oakland Raiders, but Richard Seymour, definitely a person to mention here. Chuck Shonta. Chuck Shonta, next on our list here. He was a defensive back for the Patriots in the 60s out of Eastern Michigan when they were the Boston Patriots. Had 15 interceptions over eight years with the Boston Patriots. Chris Slade. Chris Slade was kind of in my wheelhouse when I was becoming a Patriots fan.

Linebacker for the Patriots out of the University of Virginia. And what's interesting about Slade is he had the one Super Bowl appearance with the Patriots when they made that run, even though they lost to the Green Bay Packers. Selected in the second round, 31st overall before expansion. Had some good years in New England. Tallyed 53.5 sacks. He had two 9-sack seasons and a 9.5-sack season in 94. Broke into the league, started five games, had nine sacks as a rookie. He had some great years in New England. Although two and a half of those sacks came at the Carolina Panthers

where he finished his career in 2001. But he had 51 sacks during his time with the Patriots. So Chris Slade, got to mention him. Fred Smerlis, little shout-out to the hometown boy from Waltham High. I remember seeing a Patriots-Browns game courtesy of Mr. Smerlis. Obviously, he spent the bulk of his career at Buffalo one year with the 49ers, but finished his career with the Patriots in 91 and 92. A little hometown love, the Waltham boy, Antoine Smith.

You can't think about Antoine Smith. Close your eyes. Ward Association time. Antoine Smith, what's the first thing you think of? I almost guarantee it's him running onto the field after Vinatieri splits the uprights in Super Bowl XXXVI because that's the first thing I imagine. Obviously Smith, long time Bill, spent some time with Tennessee and New Orleans

after his time with the Patriots, but won two Super Bowls with the Patriots. Big part of that 2001 team, 15 starts, 1,157 yards, rushing in 12 touchdowns, by far his career year. He was clock-k cory dillon before clock killing cory dillon who else do we have on our list john smith the kicker that we talked about a couple shows ago the kicker that converted the snowplow game field goal but he was a long time kicker for the patriots came into the league in 1974 out of England, Southampton. That's where he went to school.

But spent his entire career with the Patriots from 74 to 83. And then Tony Franklin stepped in. But Charlton Smith, going to mention him. Otis Smith as well. We talked about him yesterday. A little scoop and score in that AFC Championship game against Jacksonville. Setting them up to that trip down to the Big Easy to play the Packers. Nate Solder, longtime left tackle.

Brandon Spikes. I'm going to show Brandon Spikes some love. Linebacker for the New England Patriots for a couple of seasons. Never quite lived up to the potential. Drafted in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft, 62nd overall. Four seasons with the Patriots, then two in Buffalo. Dante Stallworth spent a couple of years with the New England Patriots, now in his second career as a writer,

but he had a number of teams that he played for. The Saints, the Eagles, played for the Patriots in 2007, part of that 16-0 team, then came back to New England to finish his career in 2012 after stints in Cleveland, Baltimore, and Washington. John Stevens. We're going to talk a little bit about him later, but again, for those of us that became, you know, sort of Patriots fans during the 80s and early 90s, Stevens is a name you might remember. Drafted in the first round, 17th overall out of Northwestern State. Had some

great years with the Patriots early in his career. We'll sort of talk about how his career wound down, but his rookie year is best year by far. 16 games starts 297 carries a career high 1168 yards also a career high he did have seven touchdowns his second season 1989 but his rookie year very good one for the patriots john stevens and daryl stanley who we talked about at length in yesterday's show, wide receiver of the Patriots who suffered an injury that ended his career and left him as a quadriplegic and not hit by Jack Tatum. Of course, you can't talk about the letter S without mentioning a couple of other things. The Sullivan family.

Billy Sullivan, or his actual long-form name name William Hallisey Sullivan Jr. He owned the Boston Patriots from 60 to 69 and then the New England Patriots when they became the New England Patriots until he sold them

in 1988. Now obviously Sullivan had some ups and downs as an owner of this organization but he saw them get to the playoffs six times,

an AFL championship game in 63, and of course Super Bowl XX. But his business career was marred by some bad decisions. The Jackson 5 1984 victory tour, by one estimate, the losses from that tour equaled to Sullivan's net worth. He had to pledge Sullivan Stadium as collateral. He quietly put the team

and the stadium on the market in 1985 as well to sort of make up the difference there. He was headed towards Bay Grand City, asked Michael Jackson to bail him out.

No avail. Out of desperation, he asked the NFL he could sell half the team in a public offer, and the NFL refused the request. He asked Reebok CEO Paul Fireman to purchase a stake in the team. That went nowhere. At that point, he had no other choice.

Sold the team to Victor Kime for $83 million. He remained as team president until 1992 when he and Kime sold the team to James Orthwine. The stadium then lapsed into bankruptcy was purchased by robert craft and you know how the story goes from there but sullivan and that family obviously part of patriots lore sullivan stadium that at one point schaefer stadium and eventually that got torn down to gillette stadium the stadium we know and love right now

now we're going to talk about some teas and, and I know we're going long here, so I'm just going to kind of go through this quickly. Aqib Tlaib, defensive back for the Patriots, obviously had a couple great years here with the New England Patriots. He's bounced around now currently with the Denver Broncos, but Tlaib, he was with the New England Patriots from 2012, 2013, just two years, and he was acquired in a mid-season trade, but had some good times in New England. Spent some time in Tampa Bay as well. And last year,

obviously, excuse me, he was with the Los Angeles Rams, so he was on the other end of a Patriots Super Bowl. Mosey Tatupo, special teams player, fullback, running back. Everybody loved Mosey Tatupo, kind of a fan favorite, growing up in the New England Patriots area out of USC. Was with the organization from 78 to 1990, part of that Super Bowl XX team. In 1983, he had 100 rushing attempts for 578 yards. His average of 5.45 led the league. Kind of impressive. He also had four touchdown runs that year.

Vinny Testaverde, one year with the Patriots. Got to mention an old school quarterback. Adelius Thomas, acquisition by Bill Belichick on the defensive side of the ball, but didn't quite pan out. Andre Tippett, Hall of Fame type player, linebacker for the New England Patriots. Ross Tucker, one year with New England, but perhaps most notably, now he's in the media business. Good for him.

Tom Tupa, punter slash quarterback kevin turner fullback obviously kevin turner um when you speak his name right now you're probably thinking more about als the former patriots running back passed away in march of 2016 after a multi-year battle with als which had been triggered by CTE. In his time in New England, he was drafted into the third round, spent a couple of seasons with the Patriots before moving on to the Eagles. He did have a huge touchdown reception. Kevin Turner catching a touchdown pass from Drew Bledsoe in a game against the Minnesota Vikings in 1994.

Bledsoe attempts 70 passes on that afternoon. Leads the Patriots back in a comeback victory. His 70th and final pass, a 14-yard touchdown to Turner that would secure the Patriots' victory. And those 70 passing attempts, still the most in a game by an NFL quarterback. We mentioned Kevin Turner and Brian Timms. I remember Brian Timms my first year as a writer. I made the case that, look, in Super Bowl XLIX,

he might be the secret to sort of split that legion of boom, take the top off the defense, Brian Timms. He would be a huge role for the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX, and he was inactive. I guess I'll do something here. Final S to mention, me, a host of Locked On Patriots, your favorite daily Patriots podcast. How about that?

So that will do it for the S's and the T's. But first, let's talk about sex. Good sex. Remember those days, guys, that you were always ready to go? Now you can increase your performance and get that extra confidence in bed thanks to our great friends at BlueChew.com. That's right, blue, like the color blue.

BlueChew brings you the first chewable with the same FDA-approved active ingredients as Viagra and Cialis, so you know they work. You can take them day or night, anytime, even on a full stomach. And since they're chewable, they work up to twice as fast fast as a pill so you can be ready whenever an opportunity arises. No more making appointments, planning ahead. You can be spontaneous again. If you could benefit from extra function and more confidence when it counts, BlueChew is the fast and easy way to enhance your performance. Most guys talk a good game.

BlueChew helps you follow through. BlueChew is prescribed online and shipped straight to your door in a discreet package, so no in-person doctor's visit, no waiting in the pharmacy, and best of all, no more awkwardness. They're made in the USA, and since Blue Chew ships and prepares direct, they're cheaper than a pharmacy. Right now, we've got a special deal for our listeners. Visit BlueChew.com and get your first shipment free when you use our special promo code LOCKEDON. Again, you just pay five dollars shipping that's blue chew b-l-u-e chew dot com promo code locked on to try it free blue chew is the better cheaper faster choice and we thank them for sponsoring

the podcast mark scoffield back with you now here on part 10 of Patriots A to Z, working through our 10th installment of this series, letters S and T. We get a lot of plays now to break down. Let's dive right in, as you might expect a lot, with the S and the T. We've got seat to kick things off here. What is seat? Wait, I can't even read my writing. SCAT.

SCAT is a variation of the jerk route from a slot receiver it is a jerk route with a possibility of going vertical versus too high undercut coverage inside receiver you break inside kind of like a jute you can sit down you can go across the formation you can break to the outside but you could go vertical if you get a too high look z scat equals juke and in in the red area. That's a coaching point on this. You've got shake, which is an inside route. You run off of a hook stem. You go to six. You hook to the outside. Plant off your inside foot at six yards. Break out. On third step, break upfield. If the middle of the field is open, you run at the nearest upright. If

the middle of the field is closed, you go straight upfield. That's the shake route. Patriots also have in their playbook an entire portion of the playbook dedicated to various types of seam routes. Your standard seam, release upfield, aim your width to the top of the numbers inside edge, look for the ball when you get to the inside edge of the numbers, and never before. There's's seam read a seam route with a coverage adjustment if the middle of the field is closed middle of the field safety meaning you stay vertical up the seam if it's open seam erase for inside foot of the numbers plant off outside foot at 12 yards and run a post aiming for the near upright there's seam curl seam route with coverage adjustments middle of the field closed you run the seam middle of the field open seam release for inside edge of the numbers turn and sit at 12

yards there's toga seam a seam route with yes coverage adjustments run by the number two on the toga concept middle of the field closed you run the seam middle of the field open straight vertical stem attack in the safety stick and run the post to the near upright. You cannot get rerouted on this! Exclamation points and everything in the playbook. Get up on the safety's toes before the stick. Coaching point, we are trying to get two on one versus the safety. That's what you're trying to do on this. If middle field is open, you're trying to get that two on one. Middle field is closed, two on one again. There's a special seam, a seam route with more coverage adjustments. If it's closed in the middle of the field, you run a seam route versus zone.

That's cover three. Middle field closed, cover one, sort of man. You run seam with a fade adjustment. Middle field open, you run a seam release for the outside edge of the numbers. Plant off outside foot at 12 and run post aiming for the near upright fade adjust only versus cover one there's indigo seam which we've covered there's also stab a seam release to 12 yards turn in and work down back the stem uncover outside if match so if you get sort of man coverage you can release

to the outside against zone you sit at the top of the number so that's a whole seam series for you and the patriots run a ton of seam routes so now you know how they can adjust them there's stop which is basically run off of a fade release sell the fade to nine yards stop and turn inside expecting the ball on your outside shoulder do not drift versus a rolled coverage you'll run the fade versus off coverage it's a six yard hitch not a nine yard hitch there's sl, you'll run the fade. Versus off coverage, it's a six-yard hitch, not a nine-yard hitch. There's slant. You probably know what a slant is. Push out field three steps.

Plant off outside foot. Crush the defender's face. Show your numbers to the quarterback. A note about the slant route. Bill Walsh in the West Coast offense wrote that the slant route, you don't lead the receiver. You put it on the numbers. That's why you see that coaching note.

Show the numbers to the quarterback because that's going to be his aiming point. You want to put the football, have your receiver between the defender and the ball. So that's slant. Toga comeback. Stem to 20 yards depth. Plant inside foot.

An angle downhill to the sideline at 45-degree angle. You can fade this against sort of press or rolled coverage as well. Patriots also have in their playbook, looking here now, a stutter series, which is a whole variation of different kind of double moves. There's a stutter go, double move. Stem to six yards or the corner's toes, slight stutter, and then accelerate. Do not lose much speed on the stutter. And you want to stack the defender.

What that means, you kind of like post him up in a sense, even though you're doing it like 40 yards downfield. You want to get him on your back and use your body to stack him against you and then make the catch. There's a stutter post, double move, slight inside stem, keeping the corner on your outside, slight dip to the boot, and then run the post. So you're going to slight dip boot to the outside to get into that corner and then break away from him. Sluggo, slant and go. Three-step slant, then go. Sell the slant for three steps, plant off inside foot, find the corner, avoid contact. Slug in. It's the same thing, but you

start getting vertical on a 12 to 14 yards. You get inside, break inside. It's kind of like a dig adjustment. And then there's squirrel, a double move, out, come back at 22 yards, run by outside receivers only. You're going to get to nine yards on an outside sort of vertical release, then run an out to 12, then break vertically to 22, then that deep comeback. That's squirrel. So that's another play in the Patriots playbook. Let's get to some two-man concepts here.

Patriots have a number of those, starting with sting. Sting is a two-receiver concept that I just scrolled by here. So we'll go on to stopper instead stopper is a two receiver concept outside receiver runs a deep stop at 25 yards inside receiver runs that option route get to six yards and you make a read break dependent on the coverage shack outside receiver runs a comeback inside receiver runs a shake route which we just broke down sort of a double move six yards break out and then break upfield There's also Saturn, return route from the outside receiver, six yards, come to the inside, sell that inside under route, break in inside, and then break back towards the

outside. Seam route from the inside receiver. So that's Saturn. There's also spin. It's a hitch and go on the outside, and then a seam curl like we just talked about. You can either, if the middle of the field is closed, stay vertical up the seam or if it's middle of the field is open, you're going to sort of sit down. You're going to sit down against, say, a Tampa 2 coverage type thing. So that's spin in the Patriots playbook. Toga. we just mentioned toga previously outside receiver comeback inside receiver that toga seam where you either stay up the seam if the middle field is closed middle field is open you're running a post so that is toga in the Patriots playbook

south it's a out route on the outside receiver 9 9 to 12 yards. You're going against press or roll coverage. You're going to run a fade. Inside receiver runs that seam curl. Again, you could stay vertically if the middle of the field is closed, or if you get sort of a middle field open Tampa 2 look, you're going to sit down on a curl route. So that route right there is self a two-receiver concept in the Patriots playbook.

Let's get to some three-receiver concepts here for a moment because we've got some cool ones to break down. There's Texas off the top, which as you might expect has an angle route or as it's sometimes called a Texas route. And so this three receiver concept has the following design to it. On Texas, it's run basically out of a bunch look. That outside receiver runs an under route. You slant insideant inside upfield first step and then break across the formation at a depth of three yards inside receiver runs an in get an upfield get to 12 and break so it's like a dig inside receiver you're going to run an angle route which is sometimes what a texas route is called but you have the option to break this out so you release to the outside like you're running a flat route then

come underneath at a diagonal to get to five yards if you get walled outside like you're running a flat route, then come underneath at a diagonal to get to five yards. If you get walled off, then you sort of return to the outside. So that's Texas in the Patriots playbook. There's tree, which is sort of a red zone type play. Three receiver concept. Two outside receivers run return routes. So you get to four yards, kind of working inside, then break to the outside. So both of those do that. Now the inside, one of those receivers, who's the middle receiver,

you can sit down if you get zone coverage. Now the inside receiver, the number three inside receiver and the three receiver formation, they run what they call a toggle route. You get to the end line and you break off the safety's leverage. So you release vertically, get to the end line.

If you've got outside leverage against you, you break inside. If you've got inside leverage against you, you break outside. So that's tree in the Patriots playbook. There's also another red zone play called screw. Very similar, only this time the two return routes, they're run by the inside two receivers. The outside receiver runs an in route and you just get to the end line and go down it. So that's screw in the Patriots playbook. And they also got some of those named convention plays, as you might expect, since a lot of them have been basketball teams, their spur, which is another indigo. These are those three level stretch plays. So you get that dig route from an outside receiver, a seam route from the inside receiver. That's adjustable. Middle field closed. You stay vertical. Middle field open. You run a post. And the backside, you get an under route from the X route. So that play could be

G trips open, Yig, R135 gut, away spur lead. And that's a lot. But what this is is another sort of high, middle, low read with the vertical route from that seam. Then the intermediate is that dig route. That's the indigo part of the play. Then you get an under by the X. G trips open is the formation.

So you're going to get zero trips open. So you get quarterback under center trips open is the formation so you're going to get oh it's zero trips open excuse me so you get quarterback under center trips open to the right so you have tight end z then f yeag is a tight end motion motions to the quarterback then takes a couple steps back to the outside he's going to check and run a quick under route running back remember back. Remember, R135 gut. So that's basically a fake play action. R135, that tells the offensive line and the offense that it's a play action play. He's going to run that lead route where you break to the outside after carrying out the fake. So that's a lot. Zero trips open. Yig are 135. Gut away.

Spur Lee. There you go. And there's also Seattle. In the Patriots playbook, you have outside receivers. It's a two-by-two formation. Each outside receiver runs a hitch, which could convert to a fade if you get press or rolled coverage. So G spread.

Yeah, G spread right. 66-66, the protection hitch, Z Seattle, flare. So Z, you are running a route from the slot to the left. You can run a post route if the middle of the field is open. If it's closed, you're running that shoot route, diagonally to 6, vertically to 12, then diagonally across the formation. Running back checks and then runs a flare to the left tight end runs sort of that that jerk route or juke route it's a juke route because you're not breaking vertically so get to four sit down stay across the formation or return

so that's seattle just threw a lot at you but we're done with that portion. Up next, we're going to talk some of the moments that have made this franchise. That's ahead on Part 10 of Patriots A to Z here at Locked on Patriots. Mark Schofield back with you now. Going to close out Part 10 of Patriots A to Z here at Locked on Patriots. And, okay, I guess we've got to mention David Tyree, right? We'll just do it quickly. Super Bowl XLII, the Patriots' chance, okay, I guess we've got to mention David Tyree, right? We'll just do it quickly. Super Bowl XLII, the Patriots' chance to go 19-0, be the first 19-0 season in history.

And then David Tyree makes a catch, which I still, to this day, don't understand how he made that catch. Basically pins the ball to his head. He's got people clawing at his arms. Giants go on to win that game. And, yeah. So let's move on. I mentioned John Stevens.

And this is a player, a running back, that had tremendous success for the New England Patriots his rookie year. Just career-high numbers in almost every single category. 297 rushing attempts, 1,168 yards, 3.9 a carry, which was his career high. Also had a lawn of 52. Career number of touchdowns, that was the set the next year in 89, was seven.

But his rookie year was his best year. But then there was a moment the next year, and it was a game against the San Francisco 49ers, October 22nd, 1989 at Stanford Stadium. You get a pitch headed around right end. Fuller, Jeff Fuller, excuse me, safety for the 49ers, comes up to make the tackle. They collide.

Stevens was a very physical runner. But Fuller, after the collision. Went limp, slid to the ground, and he had broken his neck. He lay paralyzed for weeks. Eventually, he recovered the use of everything but his right arm. Now, for Stevens, he developed a phobia for contact after that play. He was fearful of it, as you might expect when you leave another player like that. And he was never really the same.

And then after he left the game of football, there were also some sort of off-the-field conflicts. He was guilty of sexual assault on one woman. He died in a car crash. He was facing 80 years on charges of forcibly raping another woman. And he barely raised one of his daughters. Grew up to be Sloane Stevens, a great American tennis player who won the 2017 U.S. Open. But it was four years too late.

John never got to see her win that. So a very sort of conflicted and difficult part of Patriots history. I mentioned the Sullivan family and Schaefer Stadium and Sullivan Stadium and all of that, so we don't need to dive into that. But those are some of the S's. We've got Tyree, we've got

John Stevens, so S&T kind of a difficult part of Patriots history, and of course the Sullivan family as well. So I'm sorry to leave you on such a downer. It pains me to do that, but let's look at the bright side. You've got the weekend. For some of you, you might already have been on a weekend and some days off with the 4th on Thursday. Maybe you took today off.

But wherever you're at, I hope you're having a wonderful time. And we will be back Monday. Remember, this is how the schedule is going to work going forward. We're going to have the final couple of episodes of Patriots A to Z. On Monday, we're going to have Part 11 with the letters U and V. Then Tuesday, Part 12, WX. And on Wednesday, we close it out with Y and Z. WX, Y, and Z.

There might not be a lot there to talk about. Those might be quick shows. And then, look, two weeks best of until after training camp because Papa Bear needs a break. So that will do it for today. I will be back Monday with part 11. Until then, keep it locked right here. To me, Mark Schofield, and Locked on Patriots.