The New England Patriots haven’t been the same caliber of team since Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay (and has since retired), but Bill Belichick still manages to show why he’s a Hall of Fame coach.
That was on display on Sunday night … even in a losing effort.
With just under four minutes to go in the third quarter, the Patriots had themselves a momentum-swinging play when Brenden Schooler came sprinting from out wide to block a Dolphins field goal attempt. Everything about that play was unique: from where Schooler lined up to his pinpoint timing ahead of the snap.
BRENDEN SCHOOLER CAME OUT OF NOWHERE TO BLOCK THE KICK! pic.twitter.com/ANYtdUzXXX
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) September 18, 2023
But that play was all about preparation in a way that few coaches would even think of. It came down to Dolphins punter (and holder) Jake Bailey who spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Patriots. Over the course of that time, Belichick must have noticed that Bailey had a deep exhale just before the snap on field goal tries.
That kind of familiarity with Bailey allowed Belichick to draw up the ideal play to time up the snap, and Schooler executed the play to perfection. ESPN’s Pat McAfee — a former NFL punter — noticed this tell from Bailey and broke down how the Patriots were able to pull off the blocked kick.
This was PERFECTION from Brenden Schooler..
DID YOU SEE THE TELL #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/N07YkarEtn
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 18, 2023
It was almost like an opposing baseball team seeing that a pitcher tipped his pitches. Those kinds of tells just make the game easier for an opponent. It’s also wild that Belichick didn’t correct that issue during Bailey’s time in New England. Belichick saw that other teams weren’t noticing it, so he decided to play the long game. And … it worked.
Fans were justifiably impressed with how Belichick used that knowledge to his advantage on Sunday.
This was how Twitter reacted
This is an amazing breakdown of Brenden Schooler’s blocked FG against the #Dolphins.
Former #Patriots Punter Jake Bailey always takes a deep exhale before the ball is snapped — Belichick and the coaching staff knew this and used it to their advantage.pic.twitter.com/x4YgRp8cTM
— Carlos (@LosTalksPats) September 18, 2023
Tremendous breakdown.
Something as small as a deep breath… from former Patriots holder Jake Bailey… appears to have given the Patriots the timing mechanism they needed to block a third quarter Dolphins kick. https://t.co/s88pjX7iEQ
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) September 18, 2023
Really good breakdown by McAfee, who knows the nuances of these things as a former NFL punter/holder.
Speculates that Schooler was keying on one small breath/head nod from ex-Patriot Jake Bailey. The timing could not have been better. https://t.co/fIx3fmjHX6
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) September 18, 2023
This is why the Patriots will be in every game and finish 8-9 https://t.co/GSqlOLbJA4
— Football (@BostonConnr) September 18, 2023
Belichick left it all out there like it was the Super Bowl https://t.co/8MZ8kDTa1K
— VBS (@VBSofficial_) September 18, 2023
Jake Bailey tipping his pitches.
Bill or whoever possibly knew while he was still a Patriot.And never told him!
JUST IN CASE they ever played AGAINST him to use it to their advantage!!
This ain’t checkers
This ain’t chessThey playing Zhou Dynasty GO out there 🤯 https://t.co/neMPa78doo
— Mason Sousa (@MasonSousa1) September 18, 2023
I love seeing these breakdowns showing just how much film breakdown can find tiny, otherwise insignificant player actions can turn into tells and potentially big plays on gameday. https://t.co/HZNeEArDtQ
— Mark (the other one) (@RockHawk) September 18, 2023
This is really freaking annoying. I hate Belicheck https://t.co/pwpYs3jSOR
— Zac (@zdillon517) September 18, 2023
I don’t wanna hear how BB isn’t the GOAT of HC. No one has this kind of attention to detail like he does. https://t.co/wyYvRIE41n
— Jordy "Best Bet" (@TheSportsManJC) September 18, 2023
