Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Patriots A to Z Part 12 - Locked On Patriots July 9, 2019

Episode Date: July 9, 2019

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Hey everybody, welcome on into part 12, the penultimate edition of Patriots A to Z here at Locked on Patriots. Today is Tuesday, July 9th, 2019. We are getting closer to the end of phase two of the offseason program here at Locked On Patriots. Gentle reminder, phase three is yes, some best of stuff for the next two weeks before we get into training camp and the full-on marathon slash sprint that is the NFL season here at Locked On Patriots.

But we have some business to do closing out this series A to Z. I hope you all have enjoyed it. Today's brought to you by the letters W and X. Let's just say at the outset, thinning out, don't have a lot of X's. In fact, zero X's to talk about in the first segment of today's show. However, we will dive back in after the usual cavalcade of reminders. As always,

do follow along with the hijinks at Mark Schofield on Twitter. Check out the work, places like InsideThePylon.com, Pro Football Weekly, Matt Waldman's Rookie Scouting Portfolio, and yes, that trio of SB Nation websites, Big Blue View, Bleeding Green Nation, and of course, Pat's Pulpit. rookie scouting portfolio and yes that trio of sp nation websites big blue view bleeding green nation and of course pat's pulpit now as i said we always kick these off with a discussion of the

people that have made the franchise and there are no x's to break down today so don't expect to hear about one we got some w's though kick it off with Adrian Waddell. Long-time swing tackle. Well, recent swing tackle for the New England Patriots. Spent a couple of seasons in New England. Three full seasons plus a season where he split some time with New England and Detroit. Picked up a Super Bowl win, but now on his way to different pastures. We won't say greener pastures, but he's now a member of the Buffalo Bills.

We wish him well. Ken Walter, punter for the New England Patriots during their first sort of dynasty phase out of Kent State. Bounced around the league a bit. Spent some time in Carolina. Then three years in New England.

He was a part of the 2001 and 2003 Super Bowl teams. Then spent the season in Seattle out of the league for a year. Came back with New England in 2006 just for four games, but again, part of some Super Bowl teams like Ken Walter, the punter, Ty Warren, defensive tackle for the Patriots during a big chunk of their dynasty-type history. He was part of the back-to-back Super Bowl teams, 2003-2004. He was part of the team that went 16-0 in the regular season.

Then he went on and finished his career with the Denver Broncos, but appeared in 105 games and 92 starts with the New England Patriots. A longtime member of this defense. Racked up 20.5 sacks on his career, all of which came with the New England Patriots. Warren was drafted in the first round, 13th overall by the New England Patriots in the 2003 NFL draft, and his rookie season perhaps didn't live up to the expectations. He only started four games, but after that, he was basically a put-em-in-pen kind of guy. He was going to be in the starting lineup no matter what, Ty Warren. Ted Washington came over with so much promise. Long-time NFL player.

He was drafted in the first round, 25th overall, the 91 NFL draft out of Louisville by the San Francisco 49ers. Spent some time with the Niners, the Broncos, the Bills, the Bears. Then comes to New England for one year. The 2003 season starts all 10 games, 40 tackles, two sacks, wins the Super Bowl, then goes on to Oakland and Cleveland where he rounds out his career. That's Ted Washington. We'll mention Benjamin Watson here.

He is a current Patriot. I usually do those at the end, but also most known for being a former Patriot. First-round pick, 32nd overall in the 2004 draft. Appeared and started just one game as a rookie. But that was basically a feature of this offense for the next five seasons. But then spent time with Cleveland, New Orleans, Baltimore, New Orleans again. Now back to New England facing a four-game suspension. Probably most known for that 2005 divisional round game at Denver where he chases down Champ Bailey.

And to this day, I will go to my grave convinced that he knocked that ball out of bounds and that it was a touchback benjamin watson current and former member of the new england patriots don webb defensive back for the boston patriots and then finally the new england patriots spent 10 seasons with the franchise first big chunk of those were when they were the bostonots, but then when they were the New England Patriots. You have limited numbers on him in terms of games and games started, but 21 interceptions during his time with the franchise. After Don Webster, Clayton Wyshen, linebacker out of Angelo State,

spent a couple of years with New England, drafted in the third round, 60th overall. His best year, 1983, where he started all 16 games. Had a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown, two sacks. Had four sacks during his career, all of which came with the Patriots. Wes Welker. And I was on last week the third I was on WGR in Buffalo

and the Wes Welker vs. Julian Edelman debate came out and Nate Gary the host of the show that day sort of alluded to Welker's numbers during his time in New England during his

six years with the Patriots, there was only one season in which he had fewer than 100 receptions. Now it was 2010 when he only started 11 games.

It was the fewest number of games he started his entire time in New England. And he had 86 catches. In 2007, his first season with the franchise, 112 receptions led the league. 111 the next year, 2009, 123 led the league. 2010, 86. 2011, 122 led the league. 2012, 118.

He had over 1,000 yards received in each of those seasons except for that 2010 season. I mean, these are impressive numbers for a boundary receiver, for an X receiver. He's doing it as a slot. And he's averaging 10 yards of reception, 12 yards of reception in 2011 as a slot. Those are insane numbers for a wide receiver.

And the reason why Edelman was brought up sort of in this discussion was there's been some talk on the timeline and elsewhere that there was a poll and people preferred Edelman over Welker. Edelman has had one year with more than 100 receptions. He has had two years with over 1,000 yards. the only time he has averaged 12 yards of reception

was 2010 when he started in three games and had seven catches so there's a sample size issue there but Welker he's doing that all the time now to be fair to Edelman to be fair

he's averaging over 10 yards of reception as well. So Edelman's got that going for him. But Welker's numbers are astronomical. And part of the reason I think we maybe downgrade Welker in a sense is, yes, recency bias in part, but also I think the drop in that giant Super Bowl, the second one, I think that sticks with people.

But I would just invite those listening to go back, look at his numbers. Wes Welker was putting up video game type numbers as a slot receiver. So just give him the credit he's due, Wes Welker. James White, obviously a current Patriot, but we're going to talk about him a little bit later as well. Defensive tackle, Reggie White.

No, not the one you're thinking of. Selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 6th round of the 1992 NFL Draft where he spent his first three seasons. He spent one year in New England. 16 games, 7 starts. That was 1995. Had one and a half sacks. I just wanted to do a little Reggie White there.

Jermaine Wiggins, member of the Super Bowl XXXVI. Now you hear him on the radio, bouncing around a lot. Did have, I believe, a pretty big catch on the game-winning drive in Super Bowl XXXVI. Somebody can check me on that if I'm wrong, doing that off the top of my head.

Ed Williams, linebacker for the franchise during the 80s. Derwin Williams, wide receiver for the franchise in the 80s. Adrian Wilson, a defensive back, just spent one year with the franchise after the bulk of his career with the Arizona Cardinals he spent over a decade with Arizona was a fantastic safety came over with some promise a lot of people thought the Patriots could get a couple of years out of them but didn't have much left in the tank. Eugene Wilson. Eugene Wilson was part of this secondary that won back-to-back Super Bowls. Selected in the

second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. 36th overall out of Illinois. Started 15 games as a rookie. 14 games his second year and 16 games his third year. As a rookie, he had four interceptions. Spent the bulk of his career with New England, then went on to Houston again. Two Super Bowl wins, a Super Bowl appearance with the 2017 Eugene Wilson. Mark Wilson, if there's a former quarterback,

you know I'm going to mention him. He was a first-round pick by the Raiders, 15th overall in the 1980 NFL draft out of BYU. That's where he spent the majority of his career. He spent his final two years in New England where he made 10 starts through nine touchdowns, through 16 interceptions.

So those starts, they didn't go too well. But Mark Wilson, part of Patriots lore. Tavon Wilson, defensive back with the team for a couple years now. Also out of Illinois. Second round pick, 48th overall. Currently with the Denver Broncos. I mean, excuse me, the Detroit Lions.

Danny Woodhead, former Patriot running back. Now current defender of Tom Brady on the Twitter machine. Going after Bernard Pollard, who has labeled Tom Brady a system quarterback. I hope some of you caught my appearance in Vancouver. I was back on with my boys, Sat and John, on the 4th of July, where I tried to take a blowtorch to the system quarterback argument, particularly as it relates to Tom Brady. But long-time listeners to the show,

they know my stance on the quarterbacks being system quarterbacks. Every quarterback is a system quarterback. Anyway, that's Farrar Fields from Danny Woodhead. He only spent a couple of seasons with New England, but he was part of that 12 personnel package that they could run out there where they had Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski, Danny Woodhead. They could go up-tempo.

They could go no-backs. They could spread you out. That was a fun offense to watch. Damian Woody, center-turned-ESPN commentator. First-round pick, 17th overall, the 99 NFL draft. Started 15 games for the Patriots. I mean, he was a day one starter for this team. 16 starts as a rookie.

16 starts his second year. Super Bowl 36 team started 15 out of 16 games for that team. Won some Super Bowl wins for this franchise. Went on to spend some time with the Lions and the Jets, now on ESPN. Damian Woody. Timothy Wright. What do you think of Timothy Wright? He spent just three years in the league, one year with the Patriots, 2014.

He will be etched in my mind during his first time in New England based on one catch alone. We're on to Cincinnati game. When they had their open and drive, you all remember they got blown out by the Chiefs on a Monday night. They were coming back on a Sunday night to play the Bengals who at that time looked to be pretty good. You had people like Trent Dilfer out there saying they're not good anymore. And they come out open and drive and just you could tell that they were back and Brady threw a seam route I think I think it was a seam route to Timothy Wright on that open a drive but I'm like okay

he's ripping it now everything's fine and that moment will forever be seared in my brain, that catch, even though he's just spent one year in New England. So Timothy Wright, Devin Wayman, defense tackle out of Kentucky State, two years with the Patriots, one year with Barcelona, the Dragons.

I only mention him because it reminds me of Tim Wayman. Tim Wayman, a fantastic quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines. And if you're wondering, wait, Tim, who? I'm referring to the program, my friends, and last year's offseason content, football and film. Finally, Isaiah Wynn, Dietrich Wise, closing out with some current Patriots, Chase Winovich as well, Jovan Williams, James White, Kandarius Webster, Ben Watson.

Those are the current Patriots with a W. But those are the people. Up next, the plays on Part 12 of Patriots A to Z here at Locked on Patriots. Mark Schofield back with you now on Part 12 of Patriots A to Z here at Locked On Patriots. Going to do some of the plays, some of the routes. There is wheel, as you all might expect, right off of a diagonal. We remember the diagonal route, three yards to the flat. It's part of almost every three receiver concept.

Well, you convert that to a diagonal and up, basically. Coaching point, possible back shoulder throw. Leave yourself five yards from the sidelines. And this is a foot race! Exclamation point. You got to beat the defender up the field. Run off the diagonal. Release outside.

Look back at the quarterback to simulate the diagonal. Turn up field and run by or stack the defender. So that's wheel. Patriots in their playbook. They also have wheel and i know what you're thinking wait we just did wheel well they also have it out of the backfield here's the backfield description run off the diagonal free release outside so that's critical to this you're not involved in the protection at all look back at the quarterback

to simulate the diagonal. Turn up field and run by or stack the defender. So it's basically the same as an outside receiver's wheel route, but you have that free release aspect to it. Possible back shoulder throw. Leave yourself five yards from the sideline. This is a foot race! Here's the other thing, though.

By game plan. Don't look back. This is just a foot foot race so basically what they mean is this they will call wheel it's a game plan specific call for running backs because they believe they can get a matchup that they can win so that's wheel out of the backfield in the Patriots playbook. And guess what? Those are the only two. Those are the only two W or Xs in the Patriots playbook as far as single receiver routes. Now, double receiver, two-man receiver routes combinations. What do we have for us in terms of W and X?

Well, since we had wheel, you might expect that there would be some in the wheel series of the two-man concepts in the Patriots playbook, and there are two. There's whirl. Outside receiver runs a curl. Inside receiver runs the wheel.

There's also win, which, as you might expect, inside receiver runs an in route at 14 yards outside i mean yeah outside receiver runs the in inside receiver runs the wheel there's also which outside receiver runs the cross which is a route cross shoot inside stutter we've heard a term different things but diagonal to six vertical to 12 the diagonal across getting to 22 that's the outside receiver inside reseal inside receiver runs the wheel route and that's it for the two-man concepts now let's get to the three receiver concepts and we finally have an x we have x follow and the

interesting thing about x follow is that it is a three-man concept, but it's not out of trips. You have two receivers to one side and the inside receiver to actually the trip side, as we'll see in a second. They run the three-man concept of X-Follow. So how it works is this way. It's only run out of empty, meaning you're going to have two receivers to one side and three to the other. So the two receiver side and then the inside trips receiver are part of the three-man X follow concept. Outside receiver X runs a follow, sort of released to the inside, get up the field to 12, and then down the line of scrimmage. So

it's like an inside release and then a dig, but they're calling this a follow-in. Why? The receiver inside of you is going to run a return route where he's going to, as you know, start to the inside, get to four yards, then either sit down or break back to the outside. So that's the second, that's the first of two return routes because on the other side of the formation, that inside trips receiver who's going to be part of a three-man concept but away from trips, not part of the trips concept, but part of a three-man concept paired with the two receivers to the left, he also runs a return route.

But he'll start to the middle of the field. Basically, the two return routes are working towards each other. Then they can both either sit down or break back to the outside. So that is X follow. We finally have an X to talk about on part 12 of Patriots A to Z. And folks, that's it. Those are the plays, W and X, that have helped make this franchise. Up next, I'm going to close this out with a couple of thoughts

about a couple of different things in the moments category. So that's ahead to close out part 12 of Patriots A to Z here at Locked on Patriots. Mark Schofield back with you now to close out part 12 of Patriots A to Z here at Locked on Patriots. And let's talk about James White because he has been a critical part of this franchise over there, recent run, right? You know, you look at what he's meant to this franchise out of the backfield, what he's been able to do as a receiving threat, you know, part of that running back by committee kind of situation. But I think for many, what comes to mind with James White is Super Bowl 51.

And this gives us sort of a chance to talk about that game, a game where if you were anything like me, this was pre-Mark Schofield, that locked on. If you were anything like me, you probably thought this game was over midway through the third quarter. If not before that. Perhaps you thought it was over at 21-0

when Robert Alford picked off Brady and took it 82 yards to the house and it was 21-0 with two minutes left to go in the half. Now the Patriots, to their credit, they got that field goal, but you weren't feeling great

about the way Super Bowl 51 was going. You probably weren't feeling great about a 28-3 deficit. But then James White gets into the end zone on a five-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady with 2.06 left in the third quarter. Steven Kostowski misses the extra point. So again, do you even feel good there?

But then the fourth quarter, thankfully, is all New England. And James White was a huge part of that. He had a two-point conversion after Amendola's touchdown that made it 28-20, that made it a one-score game. Then he had a one-yard touchdown plunge with 57 seconds left in Super Bowl 51. And then he has the game winner in overtime.

You know, James White played such a critical role for this team in that game. And when you look at Super Bowl 51, and yes, Brady, you lead the comeback. People obviously remember that part of it, the Edelman catch. There were many that thought that White should have been the MVP of this game, including the MVP himself, Tom Brady. And it came out after Super Bowl 51 that Tom Brady gave him the MVP truck, which James White then turned around and gave away.

But if you look at what he did in Super Bowl 51, he had 139 yards from scrimmage, 29 rushing, 110 receiving. He joins Roger Craig as the only running back with more than 100 receiving yards in a Super Bowl, broke Demaryius Thomas' previous record for most recept yards in a Super Bowl. Broke Demaryius Thomas' previous record for most receptions in a Super Bowl with 14. Scored three touchdowns

and a two-point conversion. Set a record for points in a Super Bowl with 20. But, look, Brady won MVP. Interestingly enough, while he's the only player to score an overtime of a Super Bowl,

he's the second player to score the winning touchdown in overtime in an NFL championship game. Alan Amici did it for the Colts in 1958 in a game that kind of put the NFL in a sense on the map. So that's James White. I think we also have to talk about winning.

And I know it's a nebulous term, and we're supposed to be talking about moments. But think where this franchise has come over the Brady-Belichick era, which I know in part one of this show, we talked about the Brady and Belichick era, but this was a franchise that, absent some bursts here and there,

wasn't the best franchise. Lots of losing seasons. And I'll throw another W at you, Waltham. Why? For a kid growing up in Waltham in the 80s, there was a Twitter thread or Twitter tweet the other day that I jumped in on, what number did you wear in sports and why? And I put up there my three numbers. Three numbers I wore, at least in football. 16, 3, and 9. I wore 16 playing Paul Borner. Why?

Joe Montana. You know, it was the 80s. I wasn't going to wear 14 for Grogan. I wanted to be Joe Montana growing up. When I went to high school, 16 was always taken. But what wasn't? Three. Why did I take three?

That's what Montana wore at Notre Dame. When I got to Wesleyan and three was taken, I wore nine. Why? Three times three. If I were a kid growing up now, I'd wear 12

because you'd want to be Tom Brady. The wins that this team, that this franchise has put together over the past two decades, basically, have changed the landscape so much and how this franchise is viewed both in New England and around the world. Because I've made this point before. Prior to the Brady-Belichick era, this team wasn't winning. And so they were like the number four team in town. Now, you can make a case that they're probably, if not one,

then at least 1B with the Red Sox. I know Boston was always sort of beta baseball Red Sox town. But the Patriots have sort of changed that. And you look at divisional finishes throughout the years. The last time they didn't win the division was 2008. And Matt Castle was their quarterback that year because of Brady's injury. Last time they didn't win the division before that, 2002, the year after they won Super Bowl 36. I mean, this run of wins has been astonishing.

The last time they didn't have a double-digit winning season was, again, that 2002 campaign where they won nine. But you can scroll for a while now. I mean, from 65 to 76, they never won double-digit games. They lost double-digit games. They lost double-digit games. That was what this franchise used to be. Sort of my formative years as a football fan. You want to know why I was wearing 16? Here's what the Patriots were doing, say, in 87.

They won 8. 88, they won 9. 89, they won 5. Then they won 1. Then they won 6. Then they won 2. Then they won 8 88 they won 9 89 they won 5 then they won 1 then they won 6 then they won 2 then they won 5 those are all double digit losing seasons

and so this franchise it struggled but now they're winners and that might be the ultimate moment for this franchise. That will do it for Part 12 of Patriots A to Z, the penultimate episode tomorrow.

We close it out with Y and Z, and in terms of players, we've got some Zs to talk about. Scott Zolak, we've got some Ys to talk about. We've got some plays as far as moments. We might just play a bunch of Scott Zolak radio calls. But that will close out Patriots A to Z. So stay tuned for that.

Until next time, keep it locked right here to me, Mark Schofield, and Locked on Patriots. you