Did Belichick really have a choice?

Author: Joe Pascucci

November 18, 2009

Joe Pascucci's E-Take is sponsored every Wednesday by Biotech Laser, who utilize a low intensity laser that stimulates the natural healing of tissue. www.biotech-laser.com.

Did Belichick really have a choice?

This week I’m thinking that Mike Kelly has to be thanking Bill Belichick for taking over, at least for the short term, the title of dumbest football coach on the planet. By now you’ve heard about Belichick’s 4th quarter gamble late in Sunday’s game between his Patriots and the Colts. It’s been written about, talked about, examined, debated and dissected since about a second after Tom Brady’s completion to Kevin Faulk came up a yard short. Peyton Manning and the Colts took over at the Patriots 29 yard line and a few plays later Reggie Wayne caught a one yard touchdown pass from Manning to tie the score and the extra point put the Colts ahead 35-34 with 13 seconds left in the game. A stunning defeat for the Patriots who were the better team for much of the game and enjoyed a 17 point lead in the 4th quarter till Manning caught fire.

Now I think I’m in the minority when I say I don’t blame Belichick for deciding to go for it instead of punting the ball away and hoping his defense could finally stop Manning from reaching the end zone, which they hadn’t in two of the last three times the Colts had the football. Maybe the defense would have risen to the occasion this time around. But you have to know your opposition and giving Peyton Manning the football with plenty of time on the clock is almost suicidal. So put me down with the fool hardy but I believe Belichick had no other choice.

But Jim Popp certainly did back in 2007 in the East Semi Final against the Bombers. Remember that game? Popp had taken over as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes after Don Matthews had left the team. The Alouettes were leading the Bombers by a point with time running down and the ball near midfield as I recall. It was 3rd down and one and instead of punting the ball away Popp decided to go for it. A first down would have won Montreal the game. But the Bomber defense stuffed the Als run play, and now with a short field to work with Kevin Glenn led the offense into field goal range.With no time left on the clock Troy Westwood connected from 20 yards out for the game winning field goal.

Similar circumstances to what took place in the Patriots and Colts game. But there was a world of difference in the decisions by Belichick and Popp to go for it. Kevin Glenn is not Peyton Manning and Glenn’s examples of rallying the Bombers to any type of 4th quarter victories were rare during his days here inWinnipeg. Popp should have know that.

Arjei had his day!

I have to say that I had a smile on my face when Arjei Franklin caught that touchdown pass in the Stampeders West Semi Final game against the Eskimos. I always felt that when Doug Berry was head coach Franklin was under utilized and treated as the token Canadian receiver. I can recall far too many instances where Franklin would be wide open on a play because opposing defensive backs knew the ball wouldn’t be thrown Franklin’s way. That was the case in last year’s East Semi Final in which the Bombers lost to the Eskimos. Franklin was uncovered on a number of plays but the ball was thrown to other receivers for short gains. So that’s why it was funny to see how wide open Franklin was on his touchdown reception against the Eskimos this past weekend.

Discrete Arniel shows his class.

It has been a rough start to the AHL season for the Moose because of call ups and injuries. They’re doing the best they can with the players they have and head coach Scott Arniel has done a wonderful job of not calling out the players he can put on the ice for their lack of offensive production. Behind closed doors or at practice is different but Arniel hasn’t used the media to lay blame. It’s an ethic that will serve him well when he gets behind the bench as an NHL head coach one day very soon.

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