4 Patriots Plays That could Help Them Win SB XLVI

Here is just a few plays I came up with to help the Patriots get past the New York Giants. Hope you enjoy.

This play is basically just a running play, but I'm going to break it down. You have Hernandez left, Gronkowski on the end of the offensive line, Brady in the shotgun with Green-Ellis to his right, Welker in the slot on the right, and Ochocinco outside. But the most important part of this play is that Hernandez and Gronkowski are both on the same side, and the Giants are more than likely going to double both. And you need a big body of Gronkowski and Hernandez, like a linebacker. So now you have 2 linebackers to the left, and only one in the middle, because Welker and Ochocinco will have CBs on them. The free safety is going to hover over Hernandez and Gronkowski in an attempt at bracket coverage, and the SS will try to cover Welker and Ochocinco (mainly Welker). But the Giants have to put all their big bodies, all their beef, to the left on Gronkowski and Hernandez, so the smaller bodies will be right. Which is perfect for the Patriots. Play action to Green-Ellis from the shotgun. Now Green-Ellis is basically going to run a short flat route in basically a screen, with Welker and Ochocinco blocking their men, while right guard Marcus Cannon pulls to the right as another big body. In my mind, because the big defensive players will be on Gronkowski and Hernandez, this play could be big, and even be a touchdown.

In this play, Branch is lined up wide left, Gronkowski on the end of the line, Brady in the shotgun, Hernandez beside Brady as a running back (the Giants will immediately think run if Hernandez is in the backfield), Welker in the slot to the right, and Ocho wide right. Basically the same formation as the last play, with slightly different personnel. Brady's primary route will be Welkers, with his in-out route (he goes forward, then left, and then turns to his left to end up going right again), Ochocinco will be Brady's secondary route, with a corner-post route that I've seen Ochocinco run well many times. Branch will be third with his hitch, then Hernandez on his arrow-slant route. Gronkowski will be last on the read with his option out-post, because he likely won't be open on the route, but his big body will still require double coverage even if injured, and if he's open, it could be a great play. The key to this play is that it's outside. A couple different route on the outside, which isn't covered very well by the giants if they run the same defense they did the last time they played us (a lot of press coverage and doubling of both right ends, keeping the middle of the field cloudy so Brady couldn't figure out coverages).

This is a pretty simple defense I think could help shutdown the Giants O. The Giants like coming out in this formation, with Manningham outside left, Cruz in the slot to the left, Manning under center with Bradshaw behind him, Ballard on the end of the offensive line on the right, and Nicks wide right. I have Arrington in Nicks, Fletcher on Ballard, Mayo blitzing, Spikes dropping into a zone over the middle of the field, Ninkovich calling pre-snap whether he'll blitz or whether he'll pick up Cruz (if he does blitz, Spikes will be the bottom of the bracket coverage, with Ihedigbo over the top) and McCourty on Manningham. Ihedigbo will be dropping into pass coverage if Ninkovich doesn't blitz, and Chung would be doing the same. I think this defense could be good, with Wilfork requiring double-teams, and NE blitzing 5 total guys (unless Ninkovich covers Cruz) to help get pressure on Eli and stopping any outside run, with Spikes plugging any holes he sees over the middle.

This play is pretty simple, with New England in an unbalanced formation to combat Man coverage and Zone coverage. Ochocinco would be mid-way between the numbers on the field and the end of the line of scrimmage, Woodhead next to Brady in the shotgun, Hernandez on the end of the line of scrimmage on the right, Welker in a bunch with Branch. Ochocinco would be running a corner-post again, which would probably require double coverage, and if he isn't doubled, just heave that ball up there to him. Woodhead would stay behind to protect Brady, and Hernandez would be running basically a rounded post, so that he keeps speed through the whole route, to occupy the upper-middle of the field, causing a safety of linebacker to take him, Welker running an arrow route to the outside (basically running just past the line of scrimmage, to the outside horizontally), and Branch running a delayed Drag route. This play would keep safeties on their heals, as well as attack the Giants linebackers, making them play smart football. Welker would be Brady's first choice on this play, with Ochocinco being his second deep over the middle, Hernandez and Branch could be read at relatively the same time on the third routes, because Hernandez will be in the same line of sight as Branch on this play.

So what do you guys think? Would these plays work in the game? Tell me below in my comment box!