Comments on: What’s Luck Got To Do With It?

By: Rod Hoffman

Rod Hoffman — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:11:29 +0000

Dan,

Good read. Thanks.

Your ‘Disney Epiphany’ is the G-rated version of the older, even more depressing, ‘Vegas Epiphany’: The House Always Wins.

By: David Clemeno

David Clemeno — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:44:58 +0000

AFA blueprints go, don’t forget that an essential ingredient is to order up a howling windstorm for the day of the game. Rain, snow and/or cold are optional ingredients. Any brilliant football coach should be able to conjure up these things, and THEN those joyless, evil Patriots will get their comeuppance.

By: ben

ben — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:37:33 +0000

I think the one “blueprint” that was employed twice was Mangini’s. Jacksonville, better offensively, employed it this past weekend. Unfortunately, you need to execute perfectly against the Pats and they missed (defense allowing Maroney to break runs beyond 10 yards and plays like Northcutt’s on offense).

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 13:14:41 +0000

Excellent read, Dan. Thank you.

You know what has gotten me about the ‘blueprints’ is this: They all worked in the first 3 qtrs, especially defensively. In the 4th qtrs of the Colts, Ravens, Eagles, Jets and Giants games, the Pats pretty much dominated the other team, on both sides of the ball. In their closest game of them all, in Baltimore, the Ravens did not get a first down in the 4th qtr. (well, unless you count that hail mary completion at the end)

To me, the ‘blueprint’ is this: Hope you play great. Hope the Pats play like crap. Hope they turn it over. Hope they have a few drive-killing penalties. Hope they give up a special teams TD. Hope you score on defense.

Maybe Wade Phillips had it right about not gameplanning. It won’t help.