Commentary: Belichick proves his mastery over Cowher once again
FOXBORO, Mass. – Patriots coach Bill Belichick did it to Steelers Bill Cowher again. Outcoached him badly in the Patriots 30-14 win over the Steelers Monday night.
Known as the master of defense, Belichick proved it again in the strangest of ways. He showed the rest of the NFL how to keep Pittsburgh’s aggressive defense on its heals. Then, it was a matter of repeating what was working.
Pittsburgh did not adjust and they wake up this morning tied for last (and first) in the AFC North Division. In the process, the defending Super Bowl champions proved that their magical run through the playoff last season was no fluke.
Belichick’s scheme was beautifully simplistic, yet effective. He simply forced the Steelers to play most of the game in their dime defense, which brought six defensive backs and a combination of five linemen and linebackers onto the field.
Then, he tormented Pittsburgh’s aggressive approach by throwing quick and short. After a while, he let quarterback Tom Brady settle into the pocket and pick a receiver of his choice. In the first half alone, Brady hit eight different players with passes.
New England led only 10-7 at halftime, but the game was already won. Pittsburgh’s defense had turned soft. As for the offense, well …
Consider that Kordell Stewart served up his two interceptions before he got his first completion of the new season. Stewart would finish the game with three interceptions. The first went to Terrell Buckley, who had just re-signed with the Patriots over the weekend, and the other to former Steeler Mike Vrabel.
The Steelers let the Patriots capitalize on the second of those picks with three defensive penalties allowing New England to grab a 7-0 lead. There the Steelers were, right where they left off last season, trailing New England in the only NFL game being played at the time.
Would the Steelers bounce back and prove they deserve all of the AFC elite talk being heaped upon them? Did Cowher, after Stewart’s shaky start, have visions of Tommy Maddox dancing in his head?
Instead of replacing Stewart, he replaced Jerome Bettis with backfield of Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala and Amos Zereoue. Two first downs later, Bettis was back, but you had to wonder. Later in the first quarter, Bettis sat while Zereoue played. Bettis came back, but was as ineffective as the rest of the team.
As the game progressed, it became a chess match, one in which Belichick easily outwitted Cowher.
Not that the Steelers didn’t have their chances. They turned a first-and-goal from the Patriots’ 1-yard line into a missed 39-yard field goal attempt. The Patriots capitalized on their next possession with a 45-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal to make it 10-7 at the half.
The Steelers’ botched field goal was a perfect example of why the preseason is too long. Did it take them that long to screw up a perfect scoring opportunity? Although, in fairness, the first penalty was a shaky false start call against Wayne Gandy. Nonetheless, it was a blown opportunity to score.
It became magnified when Brady passed to Donald Hayes for a touchdown and New England’s lead grew to 17-7. The drive was a perfect example of how Belichick schemed against Pittsburgh’s aggressive defense.
Instead of trying to mix pass and run, Belichick went almost exclusively to the air, mostly on short drops and quick passes. Then, in the third quarter, he tested – and exploited – Pittsburgh’s secondary.
New England’s lead grew to 24-7 when Deshea Townsend made rookie Deion Branch look more like Cliff Branch. Brady’s third touchdown pass was the most obvious mistake of a totally botched night for Townsend.
Only with that comfortable lead did Belichick revert to his running game. By then, Antowain Smith was able to rip off a couple of big gains, keeping Pittsburgh’s tired defense on the field.
At that point, it didn’t matter which of Pittsburgh’s units was on the field.
The defense was tired and confused.
The offense was … well, just plain offensive.
The Steelers now have a short week to prepare for the home opener against Oakland. Think the Raiders were watching last night?
Sports editor Mike Ciarochi may be reached at mciarochi@heraldstandard.com.