TJ Graham had never run that option route before this past Sunday

[DraftBoy]

Joe Busacglia quoting Stevie Johnson via Twitter.

Quoting the tweets:
"Stevie Johnson said that TJ Graham had never run the route he did on the #Bills final play vs. NE in either practice or a game."

"Stevie continued: "But in that situation I guess things was hurried up and we had people in positions where maybe they shouldn't have been."

"More from Stevie "I'm more experienced with that route, Donald is and Scott is more experienced with that route... "

"...So I think in that situation we should of had some more experience there."


https://twitter.com/JoeBuscaglia

I love this coaching staff

[Oaf]

Jones went out, unfortunately. Someone had to run that spot.

[DraftBoy]

Jones went out, unfortunately. Someone had to run that spot.

Well there was Stevie and Chandler available...

[imbondz]

Stevie Johnson has talked multiple times already about that play, saying 'New England has go to guys - Gronk, Welker, in those situations, we do too, myself, Freddy, CJ, Chandler...'

He's saying in a nice way the coaching staff are idiots for not having a play run w/ one of them.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Jones went out, unfortunately. Someone had to run that spot.
Fine, but Fitz should've known that and never thrown it to him.

[lmcshadow]

Jones went out, unfortunately. Someone had to run that spot.
Did Easley play?? he should know all the plays by now right

[OpIv37]

This is just an epic failure on so many levels. First it's on the coaches to make sure Graham is familiar with the route. Second, if he's not familiar with the route, they have two options: a) put in someone that is familiar or b) call a play that requires him to run a route that he DOES know. Third, Fitz should know better than to look in his direction and just throw the ball away. Pissing away a down is not a great option in that situation, but it would have been better than what ended up happening. At least we would have had time for one more chance. Fitz's advantage is supposed to be his Ivy League smarts- where were they on that play?

And, if we didn't piss away a time out in the 3rd after a first down in true Dick Jauron style, then MAYBE we could have called time out in that situation and fixed this ****ing mess.

The level of incompetence displayed by this team is just appalling. And every time I think it can't get any worse, somehow it does.

[kishoph]

Jones went out, unfortunately. Someone had to run that spot.

Jones was in on the last play.

[trapezeus]

i'm sure stevie's intention for these comments were in the right place, but he isn't helping. it's like the GOP candidates insistance to talk about rape. you'd have wished they'd just stop.

Stevie is either willingly selling the coaching staff down the river (which i doubt because he seems like he likes them) or the dysfunction is so grandoise in Billsland that they don't even see it. i watched this film on North Koreans and they don't even know how bad they got it. and that's essentially stevie.

[Typ0]

the players get fed up. This happens every season too. They know the coaching staff are losers and they get tired. I had this dream last night: The season is over and Chan is sitting at his desk evaluating statistics. He puts his head up and says (with a huge light bulb over it) "Maybe we should have ran CJ more".

[Lone Stranger]

Fine, but Fitz should've known that and never thrown it to him.

That's it in a nutshell.

[ServoBillieves]

The Patriots were spoon-fed with a win. It was so sad as well to watch the Steelers get handed their win. I have followed the NFL for my entire life, and this week just made me want to contact Mr. Goodell to see if his writers could set me up with a sitcom. If there is no bias in the game or scripts, then the NFL needs to stop hiring mentally handicapped referees or non-betters.

Take away the 82 yard drive for a touchdown, which OH WAIT had 69 yards worth of penalties, and that sad excuse for a team that the NFL bows to looks bad. Their defense is pathetic, their offense isn't even that good as proved by the myriad of pro-home calls. Say what you want, but this game was sent to Warner Bros. and they loved the script.

[DraftBoy]

The Patriots were spoon-fed with a win. It was so sad as well to watch the Steelers get handed their win. I have followed the NFL for my entire life, and this week just made me want to contact Mr. Goodell to see if his writers could set me up with a sitcom. If there is no bias in the game or scripts, then the NFL needs to stop hiring mentally handicapped referees or non-betters.

Take away the 82 yard drive for a touchdown, which OH WAIT had 69 yards worth of penalties, and that sad excuse for a team that the NFL bows to looks bad. Their defense is pathetic, their offense isn't even that good as proved by the myriad of pro-home calls. Say what you want, but this game was sent to Warner Bros. and they loved the script.

Are we really still stuck on this?

[kingJofNYC]

Here's a the All-22 shot of the last play.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A7mnvS1CQAEQix1.jpg:large

Not the best quality, safety on Steve's side moves away after Fitz releases the ball, so Steve wasn't wide open as some claim, would have been a tight throw.

CJ and TJ were the only two options, and like I said on Sunday, I still don't understand why they put a rookie in that situation. Element of surprise, more like element of stupidity.

[trapezeus]

Are we really still stuck on this?

of course. it was so obvious that it wasn't real. and no one is talking about this. it was clear as day. i have patriot friends in the office who are like, "those were ridiculous calls"

[don137]

I blame the coaching staff for not having the team ready. Sorry, but Graham has had the play book for how long and it's up to the coaching staff make sure they know it. If the players do not know it then don't call the play. It is very rare that you hear the excuses of running the wrong route as the reason good coached teams lose. They have their team ready.

[jlgarsh]

Shouldn't a team that's had the same offensive scheme, (with almost the same players) for the past 3 years know what their most successful plays are in that situation? That play should never have been called, especially if the rookie WR has never even practiced it!!! I also disklike the fact that Fitz threw to the endzone so quickly...They could still have had 1st and goal if they stuck to the sideline passing...

[DraftBoy]

of course. it was so obvious that it wasn't real. and no one is talking about this. it was clear as day. i have patriot friends in the office who are like, "those were ridiculous calls"

Yes but you're forgetting the obvious. The Bills did in fact commit penalties on those plays, it just should of been illegal contact or defensive holding instead of DPI.

[DraftBoy]

Here's a the All-22 shot of the last play.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A7mnvS1CQAEQix1.jpg:large

Not the best quality, safety on Steve's side moves away after Fitz releases the ball, so Steve wasn't wide open as some claim, would have been a tight throw.

CJ and TJ were the only two options, and like I said on Sunday, I still don't understand why they put a rookie in that situation. Element of surprise, more like element of stupidity.

Here's the thing though...assume TJ makes the cut, McCourty is still sitting right in the middle and will break on the ball. We assume the right cut equals success but that All-22 does not support that. The best route would of been a corner route since the CB was slow to drop in what appeared to be Quarters Coverage. That would be a throw towards the bottom corner to Graham.

[YardRat]

Losing the time outs really hurt, and were a factor (minor, but obviously in hindsight with SJ's tweets a factor nonetheless). Haven't had time to catch up on other threads yet, but does this finally cement the fact that Graham ran the wrong route?

[DraftBoy]

Losing the time outs really hurt, and were a factor (minor, but obviously in hindsight with SJ's tweets a factor nonetheless). Haven't had time to catch up on other threads yet, but does this finally cement the fact that Graham ran the wrong route?

Never much of a doubt, still a bad read on the QB. You gotta ID the DB squatting in the middle and come off that read. Even with a proper route Im not sure he could of completed that pass.

[YardRat]

Here's the thing though...assume TJ makes the cut, McCourty is still sitting right in the middle and will break on the ball. We assume the right cut equals success but that All-22 does not support that. The best route would of been a corner route since the CB was slow to drop in what appeared to be Quarters Coverage. That would be a throw towards the bottom corner to Graham.

Obviously the corner route isn't an option the way Gailey has it designed, and it's tough to argue with the design considering how 'money' it has been for the team in the past.

[DraftBoy]

Obviously the corner route isn't an option the way Gailey has it designed, and it's tough to argue with the design considering how 'money' it has been for the team in the past.

Not arguing design, arguing execution. We can all agree Graham runs the wrong route, but we can't all agree Fitz has to see the DB in the middle of the field?

[YardRat]

Never much of a doubt, still a bad read on the QB. You gotta ID the DB squatting in the middle and come off that read. Even with a proper route Im not sure he could of completed that pass.

That's why you throw it right at the DB...a lot tougher to defend when the wide receiver has inside position, between you and the ball. This pass has been completed a hundred times over Gailey's tenure, and the probability of it being successful again goes up immensely with the right route. It certainly wasn't the best pass, and the slight inaccuracy would've made it a more difficult catch than it shouldn't been, I'll grant that much.

[DraftBoy]

That's why you throw it right at the DB...a lot tougher to defend when the wide receiver has inside position, between you and the ball. This pass has been completed a hundred times over Gailey's tenure, and the probability of it being successful again goes up immensely with the right route. It certainly wasn't the best pass, and the slight inaccuracy would've made it a more difficult catch than it shouldn't been, I'll grant that much.

The DB is going to break on release, look at the All-22 pic there is little movement the DB has to make to get to the ball where as Graham had nearly 7 yards. I know the kid is fast, but he isn't that fast. I fully believe McCourty still easily undercuts that route.

[kingJofNYC]

Don't think he undercuts it, but TJ doesn't have the body to shield the safety/McCourty from breaking it up. If David Nelson is running that post, and I'm Fitz, I make the same decision because Nelson can body him up/shield the defender. TJ isn't going to do that. A guy like Vincent Jackson on that route, is going to go up and pluck it, but we don't have VJ or anyone like that. Big body receiver that can go up and high point the ball in traffic.

Really don't think it's a concept/play issue, misuse/wrong personnel if you ask me.

[Mr. Pink]

Even if TJ undercuts the route putting him in front of McCourty, he has no chance at catching the ball. No one mentions this, they just blame TJ for running the wrong route.

McCourty JUMPED to make the interception. It's not like it was gift wrapped into his chest.

TJ is 5'11" with a 33" vertical. McCourty is 5'10" with a 36" vertical. McCourty basically caught the ball at the top of his jump...so even if TJ undercuts him placing himself maybe at the goaline or 2 yards out as some of have suggested, he doesn't get to the ball.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/rf/image_r/Boston/2011-2020/2012/11/11/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Advance/Images/03467584.r.jpg

[Night Train]

Bills 3-6 for a reason.

[YardRat]

The DB is going to break on release, look at the All-22 pic there is little movement the DB has to make to get to the ball where as Graham had nearly 7 yards. I know the kid is fast, but he isn't that fast. I fully believe McCourty still easily undercuts that route.

Compare the All-22 to the other pic where Graham is already behind the defender and the ball is being picked. If TJ had enough time to get that deep, he certainly had enough time to front the DB.

[YardRat]

Even if TJ undercuts the route putting him in front of McCourty, he has no chance at catching the ball. No one mentions this, they just blame TJ for running the wrong route.

McCourty JUMPED to make the interception. It's not like it was gift wrapped into his chest.

TJ is 5'11" with a 33" vertical. McCourty is 5'10" with a 36" vertical. McCourty basically caught the ball at the top of his jump...so even if TJ undercuts him placing himself maybe at the goaline or 2 yards out as some of have suggested, he doesn't get to the ball.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/rf/image_r/Boston/2011-2020/2012/11/11/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Advance/Images/03467584.r.jpg

He would have had a chance, but as I stated previously the throw would've made the catch more difficult than it should have been.

[Mr. Pink]

He would have had a chance, but as I stated previously the throw would've made the catch more difficult than it should have been.

Maybe in moon gravity he would have. McCourty is about 2-3 yards deep in the end zone when he makes the interception. McCourty was on the goal line as TJ came out of his cut. To undercut McCourty and stay in front of him, unless McCourty gives the ground anyway, that's placing TJ at the 2 yard line. And no defensive back is gonna give ground to let a WR get position in front of him in the end zone on that play with the route run by TJ. You're talking a 5 or so yard difference on where people say TJ should have been to where McCourty caught it.

With the way Fitz threw the ball, TJ has no play on the ball even if he undercuts McCourty.

[Mahdi]

Stevie Johnson has talked multiple times already about that play, saying 'New England has go to guys - Gronk, Welker, in those situations, we do too, myself, Freddy, CJ, Chandler...'

He's saying in a nice way the coaching staff are idiots for not having a play run w/ one of them.

It was also said by Gailey that Graham wasn't the #1 option on that play. So its not like the play was designed to go to him in the crunch...

[DraftBoy]

Compare the All-22 to the other pic where Graham is already behind the defender and the ball is being picked. If TJ had enough time to get that deep, he certainly had enough time to front the DB.

And the DB would of had enough time to under cut that too. Both players will move, not just one.

[gebobs]

Yes but you're forgetting the obvious. The Bills did in fact commit penalties on those plays, it just should of been illegal contact or defensive holding instead of DPI.
Not on the one that was thrown out of the end zone.

[stuckincincy]

I blame the coaching staff for not having the team ready. Sorry, but Graham has had the play book for how long and it's up to the coaching staff make sure they know it. If the players do not know it then don't call the play. It is very rare that you hear the excuses of running the wrong route as the reason good coached teams lose. They have their team ready.

I'd add that Graham has been catching footballs for the better part of his young life. Getting off the ball, heading towards the middle and to the end zone is something he's familiar with. WRs run wrong routes in most games. I think Fitz forced the ball - he gets it - hero. He gets picked - goat.

[DraftBoy]

Not on the one that was thrown out of the end zone.

So we are really *****ing conspiracy about one friggin call?