The REAL reason Belichick is so good? (1 Viewer)

[Drifter]

Did a scan of page 1 and didn't see this yet. Very interesting article on ESPN.com about Ernie Adams - the real genius behind the Pats.

Link

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I read a couple biographies of Belichick, and Ernie Adams was featured heavily in both. I didn't realize he was under the radar among Patriots fans and players (if that article is right about that).

 

[Silver & Black]

I thought this was going to be about the video guy who has spent years illegally videoing the opposing team's defensive signals.

 

[Drifter]

I thought the throw away paragraph about how Ernie Adams is the reason why the Pats stealing signals WAS significant is one of the more interesting aspects. Most people at the time were saying there was no reason they could make any use of the information in game, but having an intuitive genius with photgraphic memory breaking it down seems to make a lot of sense. Also helps explain why the Pats made such great in game adjustments.

 

[Drifter]

I thought this was going to be about the video guy who has spent years illegally videoing the opposing team's defensive signals.

Why the roll eyes? See my post above. Adams could very well be the reason they did something that most people say had to have been insignifcant. With a guy like that breakign it down, the information becomes much more significantly and useable.

 

[BelichicksRevenge]

I have heard about Ernie as well in reading Halberstroms book. He is an odd guy but definitely a smart person. I got a kick out how Moddell wanted to know what he did and why he was on the payroll. Halberstrom discussed it in his book.

 

[Silver & Black]

I thought this was going to be about the video guy who has spent years illegally videoing the opposing team's defensive signals.

Why the roll eyes? See my post above. Adams could very well be the reason they did something that most people say had to have been insignifcant. With a guy like that breakign it down, the information becomes much more significantly and useable.

My post was pure tongue in cheek. Your post, however, may be dead on. Those "in game adjustments" by the Pats, time and time again certainly don't look so spontaneous any more.

 

[dgreen]

Interesting:

Or there's Rutgers statistics professor Harold Sackrowitz, who got a call from Adams a few years back. Adams wanted to talk about some research Sackrowitz had just completed, dealing with how teams try two-point conversions far too often. Adams sent the professor the Patriots' when-to-go-for-two chart, and asked Sackrowitz to tear it apart. Of the 32 NFL teams, the statistician told the New York Times, only the Patriots called.Here's another example: The academic paper of a Berkeley researcher, referenced in the same Times story, dealt with how teams punt on fourth down far too often. That paper ended up on Belichick's desk.

It was amazing to watch them this year go for 4th and 6 on the 45 without hesitation.

 

[BelichicksRevenge]

I thought this was going to be about the video guy who has spent years illegally videoing the opposing team's defensive signals.

Why the roll eyes? See my post above. Adams could very well be the reason they did something that most people say had to have been insignifcant. With a guy like that breakign it down, the information becomes much more significantly and useable.

My post was pure tongue in cheek. Your post, however, may be dead on. Those "in game adjustments" by the Pats, time and time again certainly don't look so spontaneous any more.

But the video camera would just be a little part of the adjustments. The team is still great at making adjustments at half time because of Adams even without the video camera. And any defensive adjustments never had anything to do with the spygate because offensive calls are made through headsets.

 

[Itchy Amos]

Very interesting read. I have always been struck by how good the Patriots were at both the in-game adjustment and finding players who perfectly fit their system. I wonder how many other teams have a football genius (complete with photographic memory) providing his insight to the head coach during games.

 

[Fantaholic]

I thought this was going to be about the video guy who has spent years illegally videoing the opposing team's defensive signals.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Interesting:

Or there's Rutgers statistics professor Harold Sackrowitz, who got a call from Adams a few years back. Adams wanted to talk about some research Sackrowitz had just completed, dealing with how teams try two-point conversions far too often. Adams sent the professor the Patriots' when-to-go-for-two chart, and asked Sackrowitz to tear it apart. Of the 32 NFL teams, the statistician told the New York Times, only the Patriots called.Here's another example: The academic paper of a Berkeley researcher, referenced in the same Times story, dealt with how teams punt on fourth down far too often. That paper ended up on Belichick's desk.

It was amazing to watch them this year go for 4th and 6 on the 45 without hesitation.

Very true, and I am not talking about 4th down conversions late in blowouts. I am talking about going for it on 4th at midfield when the game is tied in the 2nd quarter. The Patriots did that this year like it was nothing. Most teams would punt there. I am not saying teams should always go for it on 4th down, but the lack of a killer instinct is so obvious with teams sometimes. It is like they are afraid of losing so much, that they are afraid to take chances. The Patriots are not, and that killer instinct is a huge reason why they have been so good this year. On the flip side, think of the Chargers last punt in the AFC title game. 9 plus minutes to go, down 9, ball inside the NE 40, and you punt? I couldn't and still cannot believe they did that. Okay, they didn't know that the Pats would run the entire clock out from that point on, but you have to go for that there, to give your team a chance to win.

 

[Christo]

I thought the throw away paragraph about how Ernie Adams is the reason why the Pats stealing signals WAS significant is one of the more interesting aspects. Most people at the time were saying there was no reason they could make any use of the information in game, but having an intuitive genius with photgraphic memory breaking it down seems to make a lot of sense. Also helps explain why the Pats made such great in game adjustments.

 

[dgreen]

Interesting:

Or there's Rutgers statistics professor Harold Sackrowitz, who got a call from Adams a few years back. Adams wanted to talk about some research Sackrowitz had just completed, dealing with how teams try two-point conversions far too often. Adams sent the professor the Patriots' when-to-go-for-two chart, and asked Sackrowitz to tear it apart. Of the 32 NFL teams, the statistician told the New York Times, only the Patriots called.Here's another example: The academic paper of a Berkeley researcher, referenced in the same Times story, dealt with how teams punt on fourth down far too often. That paper ended up on Belichick's desk.

It was amazing to watch them this year go for 4th and 6 on the 45 without hesitation.

Very true, and I am not talking about 4th down conversions late in blowouts. I am talking about going for it on 4th at midfield when the game is tied in the 2nd quarter. The Patriots did that this year like it was nothing. Most teams would punt there. I am not saying teams should always go for it on 4th down, but the lack of a killer instinct is so obvious with teams sometimes. It is like they are afraid of losing so much, that they are afraid to take chances. The Patriots are not, and that killer instinct is a huge reason why they have been so good this year. On the flip side, think of the Chargers last punt in the AFC title game. 9 plus minutes to go, down 9, ball inside the NE 40, and you punt? I couldn't and still cannot believe they did that. Okay, they didn't know that the Pats would run the entire clock out from that point on, but you have to go for that there, to give your team a chance to win.

They were 15/21 on 4th down this year and, like you said, many of those weren't because they needed them to make a last-minute comeback.

 

[bryhamm]

Wow ... very interesting read.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

On the flip side, think of the Chargers last punt in the AFC title game. 9 plus minutes to go, down 9, ball inside the NE 40, and you punt? I couldn't and still cannot believe they did that. Okay, they didn't know that the Pats would run the entire clock out from that point on, but you have to go for that there, to give your team a chance to win.

Yes. It is frustrating to watch everyone else (definitely including Norv) make poor decisions so frequently in those situations while Belichick gets them right.

 

[Bossman]

I thought the throw away paragraph about how Ernie Adams is the reason why the Pats stealing signals WAS significant is one of the more interesting aspects. Most people at the time were saying there was no reason they could make any use of the information in game, but having an intuitive genius with photgraphic memory breaking it down seems to make a lot of sense. Also helps explain why the Pats made such great in game adjustments.

It seems you are contradicting yourself. If Ernie Adams has a "photographic memory" then why would the Patriots need to "video tape" the signals?

 

[dgreen]

I thought the throw away paragraph about how Ernie Adams is the reason why the Pats stealing signals WAS significant is one of the more interesting aspects. Most people at the time were saying there was no reason they could make any use of the information in game, but having an intuitive genius with photgraphic memory breaking it down seems to make a lot of sense. Also helps explain why the Pats made such great in game adjustments.

It seems you are contradicting yourself. If Ernie Adams has a "photographic memory" then why would the Patriots need to "video tape" the signals?

Because he doesn't have bionic vision?

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Or there's Rutgers statistics professor Harold Sackrowitz, who got a call from Adams a few years back. Adams wanted to talk about some research Sackrowitz had just completed, dealing with how teams try two-point conversions far too often. Adams sent the professor the Patriots' when-to-go-for-two chart, and asked Sackrowitz to tear it apart. Of the 32 NFL teams, the statistician told the New York Times, only the Patriots called.

I hadn't seen that before:http://www.amstat.org/publications/chance/....sackrowitz.pdf

 

[Bossman]

I thought the throw away paragraph about how Ernie Adams is the reason why the Pats stealing signals WAS significant is one of the more interesting aspects. Most people at the time were saying there was no reason they could make any use of the information in game, but having an intuitive genius with photgraphic memory breaking it down seems to make a lot of sense. Also helps explain why the Pats made such great in game adjustments.

It seems you are contradicting yourself. If Ernie Adams has a "photographic memory" then why would the Patriots need to "video tape" the signals?

Because he doesn't have bionic vision?

um.... there's these new fangled gadgets called "binoculars". There all the rage with the under 80 crowd.

 

[dgreen]

I thought the throw away paragraph about how Ernie Adams is the reason why the Pats stealing signals WAS significant is one of the more interesting aspects. Most people at the time were saying there was no reason they could make any use of the information in game, but having an intuitive genius with photgraphic memory breaking it down seems to make a lot of sense. Also helps explain why the Pats made such great in game adjustments.

It seems you are contradicting yourself. If Ernie Adams has a "photographic memory" then why would the Patriots need to "video tape" the signals?

Because he doesn't have bionic vision?

um.... there's these new fangled gadgets called "binoculars". There all the rage with the under 80 crowd.

Right, because who doesn't want to sit there with binoculars on their eyes for 3 hours?Video's easier. Using video doesn't contradict that someone has photographic memory. It's just as easy way to give the person with photographic memory the information they need.

 

[BelichicksRevenge]

I thought the throw away paragraph about how Ernie Adams is the reason why the Pats stealing signals WAS significant is one of the more interesting aspects. Most people at the time were saying there was no reason they could make any use of the information in game, but having an intuitive genius with photgraphic memory breaking it down seems to make a lot of sense. Also helps explain why the Pats made such great in game adjustments.

It seems you are contradicting yourself. If Ernie Adams has a "photographic memory" then why would the Patriots need to "video tape" the signals?

Because he doesn't have bionic vision?

um.... there's these new fangled gadgets called "binoculars". There all the rage with the under 80 crowd.

Right, because who doesn't want to sit there with binoculars on their eyes for 3 hours?Video's easier. Using video doesn't contradict that someone has photographic memory. It's just as easy way to give the person with photographic memory the information they need.

How can you make half time adjustments with a video when you have to wait for halftime to even look at the video signals. I believe they used the video to try and steal signs but I don't realistically see how anyone could break down the video of an entire half at halftime. Its more likely they kept a library of signals and tried to use it the next time the teams met.

 

[Drifter]

I thought the throw away paragraph about how Ernie Adams is the reason why the Pats stealing signals WAS significant is one of the more interesting aspects. Most people at the time were saying there was no reason they could make any use of the information in game, but having an intuitive genius with photgraphic memory breaking it down seems to make a lot of sense. Also helps explain why the Pats made such great in game adjustments.

It seems you are contradicting yourself. If Ernie Adams has a "photographic memory" then why would the Patriots need to "video tape" the signals?

Because he doesn't have bionic vision?

um.... there's these new fangled gadgets called "binoculars". There all the rage with the under 80 crowd.

Right, because who doesn't want to sit there with binoculars on their eyes for 3 hours?Video's easier. Using video doesn't contradict that someone has photographic memory. It's just as easy way to give the person with photographic memory the information they need.

How can you make half time adjustments with a video when you have to wait for halftime to even look at the video signals. I believe they used the video to try and steal signs but I don't realistically see how anyone could break down the video of an entire half at halftime. Its more likely they kept a library of signals and tried to use it the next time the teams met.

That's been the argument. However, if you have a guy who is a genius who possesses photgraphic memory and is able to make instant intuitive analysis, it changes this whole argument. Ernie Adams seems to be this type of individualAs for why they need to videotape - the guy watches the game. A large part of their success with adjustments probably comes from what he sees in watching. If he was sitting with binoculars on a signal caller he would not be able to do that.

 

[Drifter]

Or there's Rutgers statistics professor Harold Sackrowitz, who got a call from Adams a few years back. Adams wanted to talk about some research Sackrowitz had just completed, dealing with how teams try two-point conversions far too often. Adams sent the professor the Patriots' when-to-go-for-two chart, and asked Sackrowitz to tear it apart. Of the 32 NFL teams, the statistician told the New York Times, only the Patriots called.

I hadn't seen that before:http://www.amstat.org/publications/chance/....sackrowitz.pdf

the Tuesday Morning Quarterback guy has talked about both papers for the last few years.

 

[cstu]

Interesting:

Or there's Rutgers statistics professor Harold Sackrowitz, who got a call from Adams a few years back. Adams wanted to talk about some research Sackrowitz had just completed, dealing with how teams try two-point conversions far too often. Adams sent the professor the Patriots' when-to-go-for-two chart, and asked Sackrowitz to tear it apart. Of the 32 NFL teams, the statistician told the New York Times, only the Patriots called.Here's another example: The academic paper of a Berkeley researcher, referenced in the same Times story, dealt with how teams punt on fourth down far too often. That paper ended up on Belichick's desk.

It was amazing to watch them this year go for 4th and 6 on the 45 without hesitation.

Very true, and I am not talking about 4th down conversions late in blowouts. I am talking about going for it on 4th at midfield when the game is tied in the 2nd quarter. The Patriots did that this year like it was nothing. Most teams would punt there. I am not saying teams should always go for it on 4th down, but the lack of a killer instinct is so obvious with teams sometimes. It is like they are afraid of losing so much, that they are afraid to take chances. The Patriots are not, and that killer instinct is a huge reason why they have been so good this year. On the flip side, think of the Chargers last punt in the AFC title game. 9 plus minutes to go, down 9, ball inside the NE 40, and you punt? I couldn't and still cannot believe they did that. Okay, they didn't know that the Pats would run the entire clock out from that point on, but you have to go for that there, to give your team a chance to win.

Don't mention this again...

 

[scott72]

Interesting:

Or there's Rutgers statistics professor Harold Sackrowitz, who got a call from Adams a few years back. Adams wanted to talk about some research Sackrowitz had just completed, dealing with how teams try two-point conversions far too often. Adams sent the professor the Patriots' when-to-go-for-two chart, and asked Sackrowitz to tear it apart. Of the 32 NFL teams, the statistician told the New York Times, only the Patriots called.Here's another example: The academic paper of a Berkeley researcher, referenced in the same Times story, dealt with how teams punt on fourth down far too often. That paper ended up on Belichick's desk.

It was amazing to watch them this year go for 4th and 6 on the 45 without hesitation.

Very true, and I am not talking about 4th down conversions late in blowouts. I am talking about going for it on 4th at midfield when the game is tied in the 2nd quarter. The Patriots did that this year like it was nothing. Most teams would punt there. I am not saying teams should always go for it on 4th down, but the lack of a killer instinct is so obvious with teams sometimes. It is like they are afraid of losing so much, that they are afraid to take chances. The Patriots are not, and that killer instinct is a huge reason why they have been so good this year.

I don't think it's a lack of the killer instinct. I think coaches are so afraid of job security that they often avoid thinking outside the box due to media scrutiny. How many coaches would get torn apart for going for it on 4th around midfield early in a tie game?

 

[scott72]

On the flip side, think of the Chargers last punt in the AFC title game. 9 plus minutes to go, down 9, ball inside the NE 40, and you punt? I couldn't and still cannot believe they did that. Okay, they didn't know that the Pats would run the entire clock out from that point on, but you have to go for that there, to give your team a chance to win.

Yes. It is frustrating to watch everyone else (definitely including Norv) make poor decisions so frequently in those situations while Belichick gets them right.

4th and 26 game. If Shermy goes for it on 4th and inches we go to the Superbowl. ( assuming they are able to fall forward for a couple inches). Instead we punt and lose.

 

[roadkill1292]

That was a great read. I thought I was pretty well informed about all things NFL, but I had no idea who Ernie Adams was or what he did.

 

[Ghost Rider]

On the flip side, think of the Chargers last punt in the AFC title game. 9 plus minutes to go, down 9, ball inside the NE 40, and you punt? I couldn't and still cannot believe they did that. Okay, they didn't know that the Pats would run the entire clock out from that point on, but you have to go for that there, to give your team a chance to win.

Yes. It is frustrating to watch everyone else (definitely including Norv) make poor decisions so frequently in those situations while Belichick gets them right.

4th and 26 game. If Shermy goes for it on 4th and inches we go to the Superbowl. ( assuming they are able to fall forward for a couple inches). Instead we punt and lose.

Teams now get to the Super Bowl by winning just a divisional round game? Interesting.