Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Patriots A to Z Part 9 - Locked On Patriots July 4, 2019

Episode Date: July 4, 2019

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

Hey there everybody, welcome on into a July 4th edition of Locked on Patriots. Mark Schofield back in the big chair for today, Thursday, July 4th, 2019. For a great many of you, this is a holiday. For some of you, this may be anything but a holiday. It may just be another workday. If you're listening across the pond, this may be a day that acknowledges some ungrateful traitors. I get it. But look, the show rolls on either way here at Locked on Patriots. Today is part nine of Patriots A to Z here at Locked On Patriots. We're going to have a show today brought to you by the letters Q and R. Getting closer and closer to the end of phase two of the off-season program here at Locked On Patriots,

which means we're getting closer and closer to phase three, which is a little time off for your boy where we're going to be running some best of stuff. But since it is a holiday, don't want to take up too much of your time, any more than necessary. So let's dive into it first with the cavalcade of reminders check out the workplaces like insidethepylon.com pro football weekly matt waldman's rookie scouting portfolio and yes that holy trinity of sp nation websites big blue view bleeding green nation where yes the qb sco show is back mr kist and i dropped episode 26 this week, covered such topics as the Battle of Alacia, and did Julius Caesar, stumbled on that a bit,

but did Julius Caesar have history's first burner account? Oh, and we talked some football, too. Also, of course, Pat's Pulpit, where my How It Happened series is back in action this week, breaking down week seven, Patterson's house call, and my How It Happened series is back in action this week, breaking down week seven, Patterson's house call and how that kick return came together. That's right. Your boy breaking down some special teams. Now let's dive into the agenda for today.

The people, the plays, and the moments that have made this franchise. We're going to start with the letter Q. And we're done. Not many Q's. Absolutely no Q's. Zero Q's. We are sans Q. So let's move on to the letter R. Tom Ramsey.

When your young venerable host here was just becoming a football fan, I was enthralled by the man on the sideline with a clipboard. Little did I know it would foreshadow my own future as a college football player. But Tom Ramsey, quarterback out of UCLA, drafted in the 10th round of the 1983 NFL Draft. Yes, Tom Ramsey was technically a part of the historical 83 quarterback class. He was drafted just nine rounds after Tony Eason. But the Patriots did double down on the quarterback position that year, drafting Tom Ramsey.

He spent the bulk of his career with the Patriots, saw some limited action in 1986, actually started four games for New England, three in 87 and one in 88. He threw nine touchdown passes, excuse me, that's nine interceptions and six touchdown passes during his time as he started for the Patriots,

spent his final year with the Indianapolis Colts. J.R. Redman, running back for New England, most famous for a catch and run on the game-winning drive in Super Bowl XXXVI. Redman, out of Arizona State, just spent a couple of seasons with the Patriots. But 2002, his last season with New England, was probably his best, at least in terms of what he contributed to the team on that final drive. His best statistical season by far was his first year.

He was drafted in the third round of the 2000 draft, 76 overall. And as a rookie, played in 12 games, started five, 125 carries for 406 yards and a touchdown. It would be his only regular season touchdown. Darrell Revis, one year in New England, but what a year it was. Better himself, little contract year, one year kind of deal. Wins a Super Bowl title.

Obviously, Revis is best known for his time spent with the Jets, one season with Tampa Bay. I mean, he's a fantastic player. Will go into the Hall of Fame someday. Probably wearing a Jets uniform. But still helped deliver a Super Bowl title. Jordan Richards. Jordan Richards.

Well, what can we say about Jordan Richards? He was drafted by the Patriots a little bit earlier than people expected. And his time in New England was met with some strife. Drafted in the second round, 64th overall. Well, let's just face it. There were some other players available. And if you're looking at evidence that perhaps Belichick the general manager might be a weak link in his tool bit toolkit tool bag whatever you want to call it this pick might

be a way to go because on the board when they picked Tyler Lockett pretty good wide receiver out of Kansas State that's that would been nice. Duke Johnson was on the board. Jordan Hicks was on the board. Tyler Croft was on the board. There are some good players available. Genio Grissom was on the board who the Patriots would draft

at the end of the third round. And so there were some good players available. Patriots went in a different direction. But Jordan Richards, part of Patriots history. Stephon Ridley had some fumble issues. Soon found his way out of New England. But he did have some good time spent in New England. His best year by far, 2012, his second year in the league.

16 games, 12 starts, 290 carries for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns. Those numbers would all be career highs. Spent some time with the Jets, with Atlanta. Last two seasons with Pittsburgh. And in April of 2018, he was re-signed by the Steelers for one more year. So we'll see how Mr. Ridley fares in the year ahead. Tony Romero. No ahead. Tony Romero. No, not Tony Romo.

Not the former quarterback turned football seer. But no, Tony Romero. A tight end for the Patriots out of Florida State during the 1960s. Started his career with the Dallas Texans in the AFL, but then spent the rest of his time in the AFL with the Boston Patriots. He had 110 receptions for the Patriots and 10 touchdowns over his career. His best year, touchdown-wise, was 1964 where he had four touchdown receptions. His best year in the league, probably his first year with the Patriots.

34 catches for 608 yards 20 were male tight end for the patriots during the 1960s eric rowe defensive back of note moving on jack rudolph a linebacker for again the boston patriots in the 60s out of georgia tech played for them in 1960 and then 62 63 64 65 66 he had two interceptions in 1960 66 he had one interception as well tackles don't have stats on that but he played oh excuse me 66 he was with the Miami Dolphins so he did not have an interception for the Patriots that year if he did that would be a little strange but Jack Rudolph a linebacker for the Patriots, who was drafted by the Boston Patriots in the second round of the 1960 AFL draft.

Logan Ryan. Logan Ryan, a reserve defensive back for the Patriots. As far as current Patriots, D'Angelo Ross, defensive back out of New Mexico. Landon Roberts, middle linebacker, two-down thumper type. Derek Rivers. Are we going to see this year, finally,

Derek Rivers live up to the promise? A lot of people are hoping, praying, hoping beyond hope that Rivers will live up to the hype hype but we have yet to see it maybe this will be the year also some coaches rod rust one year in new england 1990 and what a year it was what did 15 look i mean that 1990 team it was a rough bunch.

Just a rough bunch. They started 1-1. They lost to the Dolphins, opening day, 27-20, home loss. But then they go to Indy, 16-14. You're thinking, okay, 1-1. And then things sort of go south from there they lose the remaining 14 games

and Rod Russ spent just one year in New England some of the great players on that team well quarterback Mark Wilson we have yet to get to him started six games Tommy Hodgson started six games that year. Yeah, this is rough.

This was rough times. Those of you younger Pats fans, those that did not live through this 1990 team, just be glad. Irvin Fryer, part of the same. Mosey to Tupou. Can't wait to talk about Mosey. But yeah, this was a rough team. Hartley Dykes, 10 games, 10 starts, 34 catches, two touchdowns. Patriots, their best receiver that year, Ted and Marv Cook, 51 catches, five touchdowns.

Irvin Fryer, 54 catches, 4 touchdowns. Those aren't great numbers. But, yep, Rod Rust. Also, another coach of note to mention here, Clive Rush, coach for the Boston Patriots. Or were they finally the New England Patriots? I'm trying to see. Yep, they were still the Boston Patriots. He coached 21 games for the Boston Patriots,

14 in 1969 when the team went, 4-10. And then just 7 in 1970 when the team went, 1-6. So Mr. Rush, a 5-16 record as coach of the New England Patriots. So the two coaches we talked about today have a combined 6-31 record. That's why you're not hearing about these guys too much. Anyway, that will do it for part one of the show. Part two, the plays. What are we going to talk about? We've got a ton. We've actually got some cues, but we've got a lot of ours to get to. I don't know how many we're going to cover. We're going to do our best.

That is ahead on part nine. Is it part nine? Yes, it is part nine of Patriots A to Z here at Locked on Patriots. Mark Schofield back here now. Here in part nine of Patriots A to Z brought to you by the letters Q and R mostly focusing on R because let's face it

as we just saw no Q's to talk about when it came to the people but we do have a couple of plays to talk about but we got a lot of R's to talk about and we've got like a whole slew of terms to get to let's start with rock out which is an inside receiver slot slot receiver, out route.

Release to 12-yard stem. Roll off your inside foot and speed cut towards the sidelines. Gate in depth to 15 yards. This is a good route versus cover five. No hint at the top of the route. You don't want to give it away that you're going to break to the inside. Those are the coaching points on this route. There's return. Also a slot receiver route. Inside release. break to the inside. Those are the coaching points on this route. There's return.

Also a slot receiver route. Inside release. Get to four yards. Sit if uncovered. Pivot and return outside if matched. Sell the under. Sell the crossing route that you're going to stay underneath before pulling back out. Versus zone.

Sit. Versus man. Stay in the move back towards the sideline. The difference between this and juke, which are two very similar routes, on Juke you have the option to work across the field. Return, you don't. You either sit or break back outside. Also, some coaching points on this.

One, you've got to get to four yards. Two, zone, sit down. We just talked about that. You have a possible locked return on some concepts. Rain, which we will probably get to if we have time, as well as follow. You are coming back no matter what. Also, again, zone coverage. Know which defender you're working off of.

Make sure you know if you want to work off that inside middle of the field underneath defender. You don't want to make your decision based on somebody else. So that's return in the Patriots playbook. Reed, another inside receiver route. This is an convertible option type route. Get to six yards at the top of that stem. You must break out or turn and sit. Against zone, you turn outside and sit versus man. You break out towards the sidelines off the inside foot. So this is a convertible option type route where you're running either a curl route where you turn to the outside or you run an out. If the flat is unoccupied, take it. Alert for trap coverage.

Remember, we talked about this in a previous show. That trap coverage with a corner looks like he's going to stay vertical and then traps a slot receiver. You have to be ready for that. Similar to what we just talked about with a corner looks like he's going to stay vertical and then traps a slot receiver you have to be ready for that similar to what we just talked about with return there are some situations on this route design where you are locked main situation is pair a route concept we talked about the other day you have to break out you cannot sit down so that is read in the patriots playbook rattler another inside route middle of the field open or closed adjustment. Middle of the field open, you're running a middle read. We've talked about that before.

It's kind of like a post route where you stay skinny. If the middle of the field is closed against man coverage, you run a cross route and get deep. Remember that cross or shoot or stutter, they've termed it a couple of different things, but what they want you to do, diagonally to six, then vertically to 12. Then if the middle of the field is closed versus man, you just stay across 12, get in depth to 22 all the way across the formation. If this is zone, but say cover one or more likely cover three, which is a more zone

with the middle of the field closed, you're going to attack that post-safety to 18 yards and then sit down and work back to the quarterback between the hashes. And we've talked about why you might do that. If it's, say, cover three, you might want to sit down in front of that safety because the Patriots will in all likelihood pair something deep over the top with that and try to get that safety to bite down on it so that is rattler in the patriots playbook r a sticks the patriots have some stick routes

which are basically you're going to run it either to the first down marker or to the goal line. They have RA sticks and they have a 2x2 version and a 3x1 version. Now the RA sticks and the 2x2, we have two receivers to each side. This is run by the slot or the tight end. The route is run on the goal line. Sticks runner must understand what route is being run on the end line behind him.

Deep return. So if you're matched, sell it to the inside and return back to the outside so you get up field get to the goal line and then you sort of break to the out on the in cut if you are matched you break it out if you're not matched you sit expect a low throw quarterback's going to put this low you don't want tipped balls in the end zone. And then on R.A. Sticks, the number three receiver in the three

receiver part of the three by one, you stem to three yards and then up to five yards on the goal line and then across the field no deeper than one yard deep in the end zone. So R.A. Sticks, the inside receivers run different routes whether they're inside on a two by two or the

number three guy in a three by one so that's ra sticks patriots also have q in their playbook and q is a variation of a comeback it's an outside receiver route you get a pre-snap read. Versus off coverage, you're going to run a 16-yard comeback. That's easy. Versus a rolled coverage, where they kind of roll the coverage toward you, you are going to run a stem bow. Bow route, start inside a couple of steps, then break vertically, get to about 18, and then you break to the outside, allowing yourself. It's a speed break to the outside, so you're going to gain some depth. Versus press,

you're going to run a wiggle, which starts like bow, but instead of breaking outside, you turn inside a couple of steps and then you get diagonally working away from the quarterback. That's a wiggle route, but that's Q. Again, three options based on coverage for just one receiver's route. I keep

telling you, Patriots playbook is tough on receivers, and we're seeing that in this series. Read in, it's a dig route. Get to 14 yards, plant with outside foot, and break inside, working slightly downhill. That is read in. Patriots also have in their playbook

some running back routes. They have Ringo, which the other one is Lucky. Remember, we talked about some of the backfield routes. We talked about Lucky. Well, Ringo, it's blitz pickup, then chip to the tackles outside on the end, and release outside. Run a sneak or trail to the called side. So on Ringo, you get to the left edge.

You block for a second. If you don't have to block, you can then release. Get to four yards and you turn to the right. Now what's the difference between Ringo and Ram? Or excuse me, is it Roy? Yeah, Roy. Roy, you break to the opposite side. So if it is Roy, you are going to sneak through the line of scrimmage,

blitz pickup, release through the line to a depth of four yards, and turn to your left. So even though it's our Roy, right, you turn left. We talked about this with Lee and Lucky. So that's some confusing stuff, but those are some of the single receiver routes. Some of the two-man concepts we'll get to here quickly Patriots have one called rake rake is a two-man concept in the Patriots playbook it is off of their sort of option series I guess you could say option or shake where the outside receiver runs the return route which we just talked about inside receiver runs

a shake which you get up field the sixth, a couple steps outside, and then go. It's kind of like a stick nod kind of route. So that's rake in the Patriots playbook. Patriots also have read, which is part of their dig or in series. In this series, all the receivers run 14-yard digs. Outside receiver gets up to 14 and then turns to the inside. There is read, which you have the in route and a read route, which we just broke down.

Six yards, turn to the outside, and either you curl by turning to the outside or you get to the out, to the flat. So you break outside at six yards. Or there's rain, which is in on the outside, and then return. The return runner will be tagged.

For example, Z-ring would be how it was called in the playbook. But that's ring in the Patriots playbook. Patriots also have a two-man concept. They have rock. Whereas outside receiver runs return, inside receiver runs the rock out. That's rock in the Patriots playbook.

And the Patriots have rope. And the rope concept, as we get to it here, is that outside receiver runs a stop, get to nine yards, stop, turn around. But if you get rolled coverage, you're going to go on that. And a return route on the inside. So that's part of it. Those are some of the two-man concept. Let's talk three-man here for a second.

We've got a couple to get to. We've got rocket. Outside receiver runs a hitch. Middle receiver runs a ram, which is kind of like an angle route. Inside receiver runs an under. There's also racket, which is similar. Inside receiver under. Middle receiver runs that angle route, which is similar. Inside receiver under. Middle receiver

runs that angle route, which Patriots call ram. And then outside receiver runs a comeback, which you can convert to a fade if you get press coverage over the top of that. So that is rocket in the Patriots playbook. What else can we get to here? I mean, excuse me, that's racket. There's rifle, which is a three-receiver bunch. Inside receiver runs a deep out. Middle receiver runs that ram. Outside receiver runs the under. That's rifle.

There's also return, another bunch concept. Outside receiver runs a return, as you might expect. Middle receiver, the apex receiver on the line of scrimmage, runs a deep in at 12 yards. Inside receiver runs a diagonal. We've seen a lot of that in the Patriots playbook where we get these bunch looks and that inside receiver runs a diagonal.

But that play returned in the Patriots playbook. We're running low on time, so I'm going to skip the rest of these, but just know that there are a ton of R-designated plays in the Patriots playbook. I was stunned going through it. I mean, there are some we didn't get to. Raffle, rake, red.

But we got a lot more to talk about. Specifically, the Raiders. That's ahead to close out Part 9 of Patriots A-Z here at Locked on Patriots. Mark Sofiel back with you now. And we'll close this out by saying a few words about the Patriots and the Raiders and look the history between these teams it's a lot more

than just the 2002 divisional round which some people call the tuck rule game and I have yet to decide when we fully cover that game if I'm going to do it under S for snow or T for tuck it's probably going to be S for snow. But we can do it in either show because remember, S and T are going to be paired together in episode 10 of Patriots A to Z.

But these teams have played a lot over the years. And there have been some fascinating games in the history between these two teams. For example, September of 1978, this is a game that the Patriots won 21-14. Oakland got out to a quick start, 14-0 after the first quarter. But the Patriots stormed back. Three unanswered scores.

You got a touchdown pass from Steve Grogan to Russ Francis. Horace Ivory and Sam Bam Cunningham each got some run touchdowns and the Patriots would pull off a 21-14 win. 1986, Patriots 27, Raiders 20 in the divisional round.

New England scores early on a Lynn Dawson touchdown reception with Tony Eason, who was in for an injured Steve Grogan. But the Raiders took a 17-7 lead. They got touchdown runs from Jesse Hester and Marcus Allen. At halftime, this was a 20-17 game.

But the Raiders would not score again. Patriots defense stiff. New England scores 10 points in the third. They had a fumble recovery in the Raiders' end zone. And the Patriots move on to the AFC Championship game. November 1987. Patriots 26, Raiders 23. Just one touchdown offensively.

15-yard pass from Mosey to Tupu to Tony Collins. They also did, I read that wrong, they also did get a touchdown pass from Steve Grogan to Irvin Fryer. Patriots hold on. And then they would get a Tony Collins game-winning field goal with one second left to break a 23-23 time, pull out the victory. 1994, Drew Bledsoe gets one crack at the Raiders,

throws three interceptions, and the Raiders topp Throws three interceptions. And the Raiders topple the Patriots 21-17. Of course, the snow game. Patriots 16, Raiders 13. We all know how that one turned out and why. Yes, we know the rules and everything. But the Raiders got a little bit of revenge the next year.

Went in November of 2020, the following season, 27-20. September 2014, Patriots 16, Raiders 9. Raiders back to Foxborough. Some other games between these franchises. Well, there's a moment we do need to talk about. This was a preseason game, 1978, between the Patriots and the Raiders. Darryl Stinley was hit by Raiders defensive back Jack Tatum. He reached for an errant pass.

His helmet made contact with Tatum's shoulder pad, compressing his spinal cord and breaking his fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae. He eventually regained some limited movement in his right arm and spent the rest of his life as a quadriplegic. That injury came just after Sinley had finished negotiating a contract extension that would have made him one of the highest paid receivers in the NFL. The new contract was to be announced when the Patriots returned from this game. Instead, it was never signed. The hit was controversial at the time, but it wasn't against the rules. It was not helmet-to-helmet contact. No penalty was called.

However, today the NFL has banned all blows to the head or neck of a defenseless player and has disallowed players to launch themselves in tackling defenseless players. Now, the other thing to remember is that this came in a preseason game. And part of the frustration for Patriots players is that you did not need to do this. You did not need to have a hit like this in a preseason game. And it sort of brings up the, why play these games? They're just preseason games. Nothing good can really come out of them. And the other thing to remember is that Tatum was known as the NFL's assassin. This was who he was as a player. He played 10 seasons, won a Super Bowl win, but he was as a player.

He played 10 seasons, won a Super Bowl win, but he was a ferocious player. I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault, he wrote in the 1980 book, They Call Me Assassin. Stingley and Tatum never reconciled. Tatum did not apologize for the hit earning him considerable national score in that book Tatum wrote when the reality of Stinley's injury hit me with its full impact

I was shattered to think that my tackle broke another man's neck and killed his future in 1996 Tatum and Stinley were supposed to meet for a television appearance but Stinley called it off after being told it was to publicize a book written by Tatum and Stinley were supposed to meet for a television appearance but Stinley called it off after being told it was to publicize a book written by Tatum it's not so much that Darrow doesn't want to but it's the people around him Tatum told the Oakland Tribune in 2004 so we haven't been able to get through that every time we plan something

it gets messed up getting to him or getting him back to me, it never happens. But the Stinley hit was not the only one that Tatum was known for. In 1977, that Super Bowl against the Vikings, he hit Vikings wide receiver Sammy White so hard that White's helmet flew off, a play now seen on highlight reels. It was Tatum's hit on receiver

Frenchy Fuqua in a 1972 playoff game that sent a Terry Bradshaw pass ricocheted into the arms of Franco Harris, who ran the ball in for the Steelers' touchdown to play christened the Immaculate Reception. Part of the Raiders' Patriots history is this play between Tatum and Stinley, and it's a play that changed both men's lives in serious ways,

especially for Darryl Stinley, who never signed that contract and never walked again. Just part of the Patriots Raiders lore and part of Patriots history, which we are covering in this Patriots A to Z series. But that will do it for part nine,

part 10, S and T. We're going to talk some more Patriots Raiders with the, let's say, snow game. We also got a lot of players, a lot of coaches to talk about. I mean, just some of the names we're going to get through. You know, Asante Samuel. You'd want to talk about moments.

That's a name we'll be talking about. Junior Seau, Richard Seymour. Some great Patriots over the years to get to. Some plays to get to. So it's going to be another fun show. So that will do it for today. Again, happy 4th of July to all of you who are observing. For those of you who are looking at this,

this is just a day of ungrateful ingrates that bailed you. I do apologize. Remember, United States, Great Britain, still strong allies and friends so don't be too bitter over it but that will be that will do it

for today I'll be back tomorrow until next time keep it locked right here it's me Mark Schofield and Locked on Patriots