The top 10 hands from 2000 to 2009
The Moneymaker BluffThe Moneymaker Bluff
Happy new Year, everyone! Can you believe it's already 2010? another decade has come and gone. Wasn't it just yesterday we were worried about Y2K?
Back in 2000, poker was still in its infancy. Internet poker was just being introduced. Poker was very hard to follow on television. The World Series of Poker main event was the focal tournament of the year.
However, by 2003, an accountant from Tennessee, Chris Moneymaker, changed poker forever. With his fairy-tale victory over Sammy Farha, Moneymaker launched internet poker into the stratosphere, while millions witnessed his victory on ESPN via hole cameras. however, one thing that did not change throughout the decade is that the WSOP main event was still the tournament of the year.
Now that we've reached a new decade, let's take a trip down memory lane and look back at the top 10 hands of the 2000s from the WSOP main event. They are listed in chronological order.
Jesus' miracle 9 on the river (2000)
This remarkable hand was missed by most of the poker world, as it occurred before the television era was in full swing. The heads-up battle was between Chris Ferguson, the long-haired, cerebral player nicknamed "Jesus" and T.J. Cloutier, the most accomplished tournament player of his era. Although Ferguson had a huge chip lead entering heads-up action, Cloutier never gave up, battling back to almost even when the final hand occurred. Eventually, Cloutier put Ferguson to the ultimate test by pushing all-in with Ad-Qc. after going into the tank, Ferguson finally decided to gamble and called. however, he suddenly realized his As-9c was a 3:1 underdog. after the flop came Kc-4h-2h, the turn (Kh) brought some chop outs for Ferguson. Unbelievably, the 9h (a three outer) hit on the river, making Ferguson the 2000 WSOP main event champion. Ferguson raised his hands in triumph, while Cloutier had to settle for his second runner-up finish in the WSOP main event (he lost to bill Smith in 1985), denying him the one missing piece in his storied career.
"The Matador" fights off Tomko's pocket aces (2001)
The following year, another incredible hand was unseen by the general public with a similar pair of characters. The heads-up battle was once again between a relative unknown, Carlos Mortensen aka "The Matador," versus a member of the old guard and current Hall of Famer Dewey Tomko. Preflop, Mortensen raised holding Kc-Qc and Tomko called. With a flop of Jd-10c-3c, Mortensen had both a straight and flush draw. Eventually, the two players pushed all-in, as Tomko revealed his As-Ah. Although the turn (3d) did not help Mortensen, the river (9d) completed his straight. Mortensen captured the 2001 WSOP main event title, while Tomko was denied the WSOP main event bracelet for the second time in his career (also finishing second to Jack Straus in 1982).
Moneymaker versus Ivey (2003)
Before 2009, Phil Ivey had never made a WSOP final table, although he had come close three times (2002: 23rd place, '03: 10th, '05: 20th). No year was more agonizing than 2003, when he finished as the final-table bubble boy in this unforgettable hand. Sitting in early position, Moneymaker raised to $60,000, holding Ah-Qd. Ivey called with 9s-9h in late position. The dealer revealed a big flop for Moneymaker: Qs-Qh-6s. The turn swung the hand in Ivey's favor when the 9c hit the felt. after they ended up getting the chips all-in, it appeared Ivey would enter the final table as the chip leader and the clear favorite to win the 2003 WSOP main-event bracelet. Amazingly, Moneymaker would not be denied, as the dealer flipped over the As on the river. Moneymaker led the remaining players to the final table, while Ivey would have to wait until 2009 for his shot.
Moneymaker's bluff of the decade maybe the century (2003)
This hand changed poker forever. Moneymaker held a slight $4.6 million to $3.8 million lead over Sammy Farha entering this hand. Holding Ks-7h, Moneymaker raised and Farha called holding Qs-9h. after a checked flop of 9s-6s-2d, things got interesting quickly on the turn when the dealer revealed the 8s. Giving him an open-ended straight draw and a king-high flush draw, Moneymaker tried a semi-bluff on Farha by check-raising, but Farha would not back down and called. When the dealer flipped over the 3h on the river, Moneymaker missed all of his draws. Undaunted, he declared "I'm all-in." With top pair, Farha agonized over this decision, as Moneymaker held his breath, praying for a fold. Eventually, Farha mucked his hand as the soon-to-be champion exhaled in utter relief.
One and done (2005)
On the very first hand of Day 1, Farha looked down at Ah-10d. Folded to him in late position, Farha raised to $200 with blinds $25/$50. Sitting in the big blind, actor Oliver Hudson reraised to $450 with 10s-10c. Farha called to see an incredible flop: Ad-Ac-10h. Unbelievably, both players flopped a full house. Unfortunately for Hudson, his was second-best and he was actually drawing dead! after both players checked the flop, Hudson eventually pushed all-in on the turn. after Farha insta-called, Hudson couldn't believe his eyes. As he walked away from the ESPN stage in complete disbelief and shock, Hudson muttered, "That's the way to get beat, I guess."
7-3 offsuit equals $7.5 million (2005)
After playing for 14 hours at the final table, the heads-up battle was short and sweet. Only six hands into heads-up play, with blinds $150,000/$300,000, antes $50,000, Steve Dannenmann raised to $700,000 holding Ad-3c. With a huge chip stack, Joe Hachem with 7c-3s took a chance and called. It was a great decision when the dealer flipped over 6h-5d-4d. after Hachem checked his flopped straight, Dannenmann bet $700,000. Hachem check-raised to $1.7 million and Dannenmann called. The dealer turned the As and the stage was set. this time, Hachem let out for $2 million, prompting Dannenmann to raise to $5 million. after some fun banter back and forth, Hachem declared that he was all-in. a few moments later, a weary Dannenmann called. having to only avoid a 7 for a chop, Hachem raised his arms in triumph when the 4c fell on the river, crowning the Australian as the 2005 WSOP champion.
Wasicka folds straight-flush draw three-handed (2006)
With the tournament down to its final three competitors, Jamie Gold had a huge chip lead ($64 million) on his two remaining competitors Paul Wasicka ($14 million) and Michael Binger ($11 million) before this memorable hand. after Gold limped on the button with 4s-3c, Wasicka completed with 8s-7s from the small blind. Binger tried to spoil the party by raising to $1.5 million, but both players called the raise to see a three-handed flop. what a flop it was for all three players: 10c-6s-5s. after Gold and Waiscka checked, Binger led out for $3.5 million. As Wasicka prepared for his next move, Gold shockingly pushed all-in. "This is sick!" Wasicka exhorted, holding a straight-flush draw. after serious contemplation, Wasicka ultimately folded. The turn made Wasicka look like a hero when the 7c fell, but the river Qs made the world question his decision.
One in 2.7 billion (2008)
During Day 1A, this hand seemed to start innocently enough. With blinds $150/$300, Motoyuki Mabuchi looked down at As-Ac in mid-position. after raising to $850, only the button, Justin Phillips, came along to see the flop, and what a flop it was for Mabuchi: Ah-Qd-9s. after both checked the flop, the dealer turned the 10d. With all the draws, Mabuchi bet $1,600 and Phillips called. On the river, the dealer revealed what seemed to be the bingo card for Mabuchi: the Ad. Quad aces! Mabuchi bet $2,500 to incite his opponent, but surprisingly, Phillips raised him to $8,500. Excitedly, Mabuchi shoved all-in. after he was snap-called, Phillips revealed his Kd-Jd for a royal flush. Stunned, Mabuchi flipped over his aces, as the entire table gasped in complete disbelief. Quad aces lost to a royal flush! ESPN reported that the odds of this scenario occurring is one in 2.7 billion hands.
Ladies let Hamrick down (2008)
In 2008, the concept of the November nine was introduced. Although some traditionalists were against this novel idea, there was no denying that the four-month delay created a buzz around the WSOP main event final table. Therefore, as the final 10 players assembled, no one wanted to be the ultimate bubble boy. after 90 tense minutes, the first all-in electrified the crowd. Initially, Peter Eastgate raised to $750,000, followed by Dean Hamrick's reraise to $2.1 million holding Qd-Qc. Craig Marquis four-bet by pushing all-in, and after Eastgate got out of the way, Hamrick decided to make the call. When Marquis revealed his As-Qh, he was over a 2:1 underdog with the possibility of going home in 10th place. Although the flop of Jh-7s-3h seemed innocuous for Hamrick, the 4h on the turn created tremendous drama as Marquis picked up a flush draw. With the entire crowd standing in anticipation, the dealer revealed the 5h on the river. this runner-runner flush saved Marquis' tournament, while slicing Hamrick's stack in half. Shortly thereafter, Hamrick was eliminated by Marquis, earning the dubious honor becoming of the first November nine bubble boy.
Moon eclipses Kopp in clash of poker titans (2009)
It was the most talked-about hand of the 2009 WSOP main event leading up to the final table. With 12 players remaining, two players seemed destined to make the November nine: Billy Kopp and Darvin Moon. Kopp had shared the title of chip leader with Moon for most of the final day. however, the following hand would change the destiny of both players. With blinds $120,000/$240,000, antes $30,000, Kopp raised from under-the-gun to $600,000 with 5d-3d. after each player folded, Moon, sitting in the small blind, looked down at Qd-Jd and made the call. after the big blind folded, the dealer revealed an incredible flop: Kd-9d-2d. both players had flopped a flush. let the games begin! after Moon checked, Kopp bet $750,000 and Moon just called. On the turn, the dealer turned the 2h. once again, Moon checked and Kopp bet another $2 million. however, this time, Moon check-raised to $6 million. Remarkably, Kopp reraised all-in for about $20 million. Facing the most important decision of his tournament, Moon eventually made the call. after Kopp flipped over his smaller flush, he realized he was drawing dead. just like that, the onetime chip leader was gone in 12th place, and Darvin Moon ultimately became the chip leader heading into the November nine.
Since there were so many hands to choose from, here are some honorable mentions:
• Robert Varkonyi's favorite hand Q-10 beats Julian Gardner and makes Phil Hellmuth shave his head (2002)
• Chris Moneymaker's full house wins 2003 WSOP main event (2003)
• Jennifer Harman's full house loses to Corey Zeidman's straight flush (2005)
• Aaron Kanter cripples Greg Raymer in his bid for back-to-back titles (2005)
• Mike Matusow's kings almost cracked Scott Lazar's aces (2005)
• Scotty Nguyen bluffs off his entire stack to Philip Hilm, finishing in 11th place, just shy of the WSOP final table (2007)
• Lee Childs folds Queens to Jerry Yang's reraise while holding jacks (2007)
• Ivan Demidov (A-Q) bluffs Dennis Phillips (A-K) off hand (2008)
• Phil Ivey's A-K gets outflopped by Darvin Moon's A-Q (2009)
• Joe Cada's deuces crack Antoine Saout's queens, denying the Frenchman a chance to enter heads-up versus Darvin Moon (2009)
So which hand is the top hand of the decade? Envelope, please. And the winner is Moneymaker's bluff of the decade Maybe the century (2003)
As if there was any doubt "The Hand of the Decade" changed poker forever. Norman Chad even called it the "bluff of the century." Imagine how different the world of poker would be today if Farha had made the call and went on to win the 2003 WSOP main event. nevertheless, Moneymaker captured the 2003 WSOP main event bracelet and the imagination of all poker players around the world. In the end, this hand helped shape not only the 2000s, but poker forever.
Bernard Lee is the co-host of ESPN Inside Deal, a weekly poker columnist for the Boston Herald and author of "The Final Table, Volume I." He also hosts a weekly poker radio show, "The Bernard Lee Poker show," on Rounders Radio and in Boston on 1510 AM. The show can be heard from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and is repeated throughout the week. for questions or comments, e-mail him at BernardLeePoker@hotmail.com.
Richard Allen: David Beckham woos Italy and AC Milan – Europe
A year can be a very long time in the life of a globe-trotting football star. after a disappointing beginning to life in the United States, for many David Beckham's touchdown in Serie a last January on loan from LA Galaxy to AC Milan smacked of desperation.
David Beckham is in the spotlight again at AC Milan
Twelve months on, the England midfielder has bedded back in with the Rossoneri, answered his critics in the United States by helping the Galaxy to the play-off final and, with the World Cup approaching, cemented a place in Fabio Capello's England squad.
While 2009 was characterised by accusations in the Italian press of a Silvio Berlusconi-engineered marketing move and rumblings in the dressing room and terraces over the incorporation of another ageing player, Beckham's second coming in 2010 has been universally welcomed in Italy by media, players and fans.
The Becks Factor - previously in evidence for Manchester United when winning over the terrace boo-boys after his dismissal against Argentina in England's 1998 World Cup exit and when coming out of the Real Madrid cold to deliver Capello's 2007 team an unexpected Spanish title triumph - appears to be back on full power again.
Despite landing at Malpensa in a private jet and renting out the same luxury hotel suite for another five-month stint, Beckham has exuded a quiet, if diplomatic, modesty since his return at the start of the year. "I don't expect to start games - I just want to be part of the team. my experience with the club was so special for six months. I missed the team, the players, the fans ... it was one of the best six months of my career," the 34-year old explained to reporters at the Milanello training ground before reddening and, in a mix of Italian and Spanish, signing off with "Happy New Year, not just to Milan fans but to all Italians".
With Clarence Seedorf and Alexandre Pato out injured, Beckham was thrust into the starting line-up for Milan's first match back after the winter break on January 6, and 75 minutes later he trotted off with the applause of the San Siro ringing in his ears after an energetic display in a 5-2 thrashing of Genoa.
His second game, just a few days later, a much more difficult affair away to title rivals Juventus, ended in a group embrace and jig of joy with ecstatic team-mates. Playing on the right side of the front three in Leonardo's new 4-3-3 formation, Beckham put in another slick and typically mature performance that featured an 88th-minute cross for Ronaldinho's second and Milan's third and final unanswered goal against an old Lady made to look very sorry.
"A player of rare tactical intelligence." praised Gazzetta dello Sport, Italy's leading football daily. "He's already one of us again," added captain Massimo Ambrosini, who, nevertheless, had intervened to prevent Ronaldinho handing the ball to Beckham for the side's third penalty and fifth goal against Genoa and instead gave the ball to goal-shy striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
"David is absolutely open to anything," enthused Leonardo, who, despite being just a few years older and looking a good bit younger than a number of Milan performers, has replaced Carlo Ancelotti as coach this season and introduced a 4-3-3 formation that best complements his fellow Brazilian stars Ronaldinho and Pato.
"It's a miracle we got him," vice-president Adriano Galliani, Berlusconi's man at the Milan helm, was eager to reveal to La Domenica Sportiva, a post-match TV programme, on Sunday. "He earns very little from us. He came to Milan for all different reasons than money."
The win in Turin - their first since they last won the title six years ago - leaves Milan firmly in second spot in Serie a, eight points behind their city rivals Inter with a game in hand and with the Derby Della Madonnina coming up on January 24. Two games into Beckham's second stint, suddenly all the talk in Milan is about the Scudetto.
"We are in a healthy position. We're showing enthusiasm, desire, respect and mental strength. Our dressing room's united, including those who are playing less," added Leonardo, who is increasingly being described in Italy's media as Serie A's own version of Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola.
"It will be tough but we can win the title," added Beckham. "We are in a great position and we need to continue because Inter are going to keep winning games and they are the team to catch."
Although Beckham returns to a club with a new coach and without Paolo Maldini (retired) and Kaka (left for Real Madrid), Milan appear a more balanced side this season, compensated by the return from injury of centre-half Alessandro Nesta and striker Marco Borriello.
Ronaldinho has also impressed in recent games
Former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho appears to be enjoying his football again, while Milan Lab appears to have worked wonders on the energy levels of the 30-something midfield quartet of Ambrosini, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Seedorf. Dida looks confident again between the sticks and Pato, despite a woeful opening to the season, is destined to be the jewel in the red-and-black crown.
When all are fit, Beckham, whose contract with Milan still remains something of a mystery, may well find it tough to break into the first XI. But like many coaches before him, including England manager Capello, Leonardo will also be loath to leave out a player who has already been a champion in England and Spain.
And if a possible Scudetto and the World Cup in South Africa were not motivation enough for Beckham to go the extra mile this season, Milan's opponents in the last 16 of the Champions League next month happen to be his first and foremost club, Manchester United.
"I think I almost cried," said the player on hearing the draw and a return to old Trafford. But even if it does all end in tears, the next six months look set to add up to another valuable chapter in the adventures of David Beckham.
Richard Allen: David Beckham woos Italy and AC Milan - Europe
It Is What It Is » Bill Belichick Q&A, 1/1
Thanks to the Patriots' PR staff, here's the complete transcript of Bill Belichick's Q&A with the media today at Gillette Stadium:
Q: happy New Year.
BB: you too. wish [you] the best for the New Year. It's pretty cool watching Bobby Orr skate out on the ice there at Fenway. Watching Bobby on skates and Bobby Clarke. it makes you realize what a special sports town this is.
Q: Were you a hockey fan?
BB: I saw a lot of Orr. I went to school at Andover and then at Wesleyan. it was kind of right half New York half Boston, so it was a good rivalry there between the Knicks and the Celtics, and the Rangers and Bruins. He was tremendous, he is tremendous. it was great to see him on skates there.
Q: have you met him?
BB: Oh yeah. I've spent a lot of time with Bobby, good golfer.
Q: Who wins?
BB: Bobby's tough. He's tough.
Q: What is your relationship like with Terry Francona and Doc Rivers?
BB: They're great. I really enjoy all of them. they have been very helpful and gracious to us. Doc came over and talked to our team at the beginning of the year. [He] did a tremendous job. the experiences he's had as a player and a coach and going from a player to a coach and being in this town. it was great. it was outstanding. And Terry, I've been down at spring training with him a couple times, and over in Fenway. He's great and all the players, they're great.
Q: how much can you share notes on team building?
BB: Yeah, team building and just competition. It's good. you share it. It's a different sport, but it's still competition. It's coaching great players, playing against other teams, other great teams with other great players. I could spend all day with those guys. They're terrific. And some of the great sports figures here, Hondo [John Havlicek], Bobby Orr and guys like that. And we have all of our Patriots here. I get to sit with Gino Cappelletti every week, so it's pretty special.
Q: There was an AFL special on the other day and it had a quote from you about Lamar Hunt and how Lamar Hunt would call you before or after every Super Bowl and say, ‘AFL'. It's 50 years in now and you're heading into the playoffs. Does the AFL resonate with you?
BB: Yeah, the thing about the AFL was we had Baltimore and the Redskins and in Annapolis, you got both games, so that was pretty good. And then when the AFL game came on, that was always the 4 o'clock game it seemed like. it was always Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego, Houston and it was sort of a West Coast league. it was always the second game there with Paul Christman and Curt Gowdy. they were kind of the voice of the AFL. those were some exciting games. they really were – a lot of scoring. A lot of players, some players, that you hadn't really heard of, smaller school guys, but they were good players as we saw when the leagues merged.
Q: are you an AFL guy now?
BB: I think it's all NFL now. I was definitely NFL. the Baltimore Colts, that was my team. All the great Colt players. Every kid went out there and one kid was Johnny Unitas and the other was Raymond Berry, whoever's throwing, whoever's catching. Lenny Moore, they had a great defense, too. it was fun when I worked for the Colts, in 1975, to see all those guys come back – except for big Daddy [Eugene Lipscomb], he of course passed away, but Art Donovan, Ordell Bracey, Gino [Marchetti]. in fact, I had a great night with Art Donovan this summer. Down in Baltimore with Coach [Dave] Pietramala from Johns Hopkins. Yeah, we all knocked out some crabs. it was great. Art, he's the ultimate throwback. He's not an AFL guy, but he's the ultimate throwback football player. He's a little short guy, he's 5-11.
Q: is he small?
BB: He's thick, but he's not a tall guy, no, not like big Daddy, Gino Marchetti and Ordell Bracey and those guys. They're almost 6-4, 6-5, 6-6. He was kind of the nose guard.
Q: can you imagine how much money he would make if it was 30 years later and the media was then what it is now?
BB: Oh man, yeah. He's had a commercial and advertised with just about everything that gets advertised. I would say I'm an NFL guy, but AFC.
Q: can you talk about the moves yesterday with signing Ryan Wendell and releasing Titus Adams?
BB: Ryan's done a good job for us and we just felt like it would be good to get him up on the roster.
Q: And Titus?
BB: We'll see what happens here today with Titus.
Q: could he be back?
BB: Sure, yes.
Q: can he be resigned to the practice squad?
BB: yes.
Q: Do you know what you're offensive line is going to look like this week?
BB: That's a good question. I think we'll probably see a couple different combinations in there this game. I think we have guys that have played, a couple guys like hopefully Nick [Kaczur] will be able to play this week. We'll see. I'd definitely like to get him back in there some if he can play, and Dan [Connolly] and Stephen [Neal]. those guys, they've all played. They've played well, you know, Mark [LeVoir]. We'll see how it goes, but I think we can play some different combinations of people. We've done that inside a little bit with Dan and Steve.
Q: is it the kind of thing where you put a couple of different combinations in there to them out for the playoffs?
BB: We'll worry about next week, next week. I don't even know who we're talking about. Right now, I just want to make sure the guys that we feel like need to get some playing time, need to get some snaps, get them, like Nick. Hopefully he can get some. He hasn't played here in a couple weeks. it was good to get Steve Neal back out, but Dan's done a good job in there.
Q: Kyle Arrington has 17 special teams tackles and he's only played in seven games. is that speed, is it want to because that seems like a great production?
BB: Yeah, Kyle's been very productive for us. He's certainly got good speed. He's very strong for his size and plays strong. He plays with good leverage and good balance. for the guys he matches up with he has good strength for them. He's a very instinctive guy. He has a good nose for the ball. A lot of times you see the runner and three or four blockers or defenders in a little bit of a maze there and some guys have the ability to sift through there and get the runner and other guys get caught in the wash. sometimes they don't even get blocked, but they just can't quite seem to sift through it, but he definitely seems to have a good knack for that on kickoff coverage. He's done a good job. I thought he and Matt Slater have done a good job for us as our gunners on the punt team. it was a nice play Kyle made last week and Matt was kind of right behind him on that. If Kyle hadn't made it Matt looked like he was going to be right there, he was two steps away. Kyle's done a real nice job for us in those areas.
Q: is there a moment that stands out when you first saw a defensive package, like the one you guys have used the last couple weeks with the five linebackers and six defensive backs, standing guys up at the line?
BB: I think we used it a couple times with the Giants. in fact, we did one game with the Giants was all the linebackers got on the kickoff team and it was all eight of them, expect for the safeties. they were the kickoff team. it was a pretty good team – Harry [Carson], Lawrence [Taylor], Pepper [Johnson], all those guys, Carl Banks, Andy Headon. Some of those guys were on it anyway. I think we did a little bit of that with the Giants. we had a lot of two defensive linemen, with Lawrence and Carl outside and Pepper and Harry or Andy Headon were the inside guys. Then I think we got to a couple times where we just had one defensive lineman and we were in an odd front. There was a couple situations, where if I remember correctly, we didn't have any lineman on the field.
Q: Do you remember why you decided to do it?
BB: Not that the defensive lineman — I'm not saying they can't run — but it gives you a little more speed and more athleticism. And all those linebackers are potential rushers and potential droppers. I always remember my first year when I came in the league, Coach [Ted] Marchibroda would take like our second secondary with the quarterback and he would have me call coverages and we'd break the huddle and the secondary would rotate to the coverage, whatever it was and the quarterback would see the rotation and as soon as he saw it he would call it out, ‘Cover Four'. As soon as Burt Jones would take one or two steps out of his drop it would be Cover Four or three C, and try to get it out as quickly as he could based on what the strength of the formation was, but there was only seven guys and the other four guys never dropped, so now you can play the same coverages with blitzers and different combinations, so it's seven guys of the 11, but it's not always the same seven and that's made it difficult for quarterbacks. And compared to back then when you almost never saw that happen, now that's pretty commonplace with the 3-4 defense and the two defensive linemen that a lot of teams use, most 3-4 teams use. it puts nine guys in coverage, sometimes 10. There're potentially 11 guys that the quarterback has to read. you start thinking about, well the coverage drops off so you can drop the ball off the underneath zones and all that, but that's not always true because those guys that you think are rushing aren't always rushing and sometimes they drop off with those backs, too. It's tough on a quarterback.
Q: is that something that's decided for the play?
BB: Yeah, there's some kind of a system. There is some type of a system. Since they can all sort of do the same thing it's easy enough for two guys to switch responsibilities. I'm covering and you're rushing and alright, you rush and I'll cover. And that happens sometimes at the line of scrimmage.
Q: is it a balance? you obviously want to be clear on your responsibilities?
BB: Right, exactly. when we're confused it's no good. we don't want that. we want to know what we're doing and be able to change up and give them some different looks. But when it becomes confusing to us and there're too many options, we can do one of 19 things and there's 10 third-down plays in the game. we really don't want to be there. A lot of times those guys can tell, you can't tell from the sideline or you can't tell from film, but when you get out there on the field, they can tell who's going to block them. And Lawrence Taylor was really good at that. He knew who was going to block him and who was assigned to him. And a lot of times he would take the coverage from somebody else and also to draw the block because he knew, like I said, a tackle was going to come and get him. He would start across. He would draw the tackle to him. He would take coverage on the back and that would allow somebody else to get a matchup or hit a gap somewhere else. Again, a lot of times, some of those adjustments take place on the field and a good experienced player can do that. Junior [Seau] does a good job at that. for example, a lot times when he's out there he can pick things up like that, and sometimes change it right on the spot almost because he can see what's happening.
Q: Would Randy Moss be an offensive version of what you experience with Lawrence Taylor in some ways?
BB: Right, the coverages that Randy sees are relative to the protections that Lawrence saw. Yeah, and a lot of that is not always something you can plan for. you go into the game and talk to Taylor about the way they're going to block it and he'd come off after the first series and say, ‘Coach, they're not blocking it. Like what we said they were going to do, they're not doing that, here's what they're doing. this guy's looking at me, that guy's looking at me and this guy is looking here,' and he was usually right. And Randy can do that, too. He can say, ‘This guy's watching me from over there. He looks like he's got that, but they're trying to disguise it. He's really looking at it.' Yeah, sometimes you get that. I mean those guys that have experience that have seen all that, they know when they're getting something and it might not be something you prepared for.
Q: on the defense with the five linebackers and six defensive backs, was that something you would probably have done anyway?
BB: I don't know. it just kind of worked out that way for the Buffalo game and then we had it in and we ran it a few times last week. I don't know. If things had been different, I don't know.
Q: But now you have it?
BB: Well, again, we don't really have anything different. we just have a different combination of people doing it. It's not like 11 guys have to learn a new assignment. One or two guys are replacing somebody else.
Q: Do you have to be in certain down and distance situations to run that personnel out there?
BB: I think that's something you have to be aware of, although that came up a couple times last week. we expected it. we thought Jacksonville, which they're a good sub run team anyway — sub being third down or their passing people in there and then run the ball. they do a good job of that and we expected they would try that because we had already shown it a couple times. Until really that last drive, that last draw play, I think they ran it three or four times against that group and we handled it pretty well. Being on the other side of it, the Jets did that a couple years ago, too, where it wasn't all linebackers they would walk some guys around. It's easy to say they have the smaller guys out there and we'll just ... But you've got to find them and you have to have some new blocking rules because you don't have the traditional odd or even calls and things like that. You're trying to get five or six guys to all block their five or six guys, sometimes there's a lot of stuff to sort out. If you can catch the right blocking scheme against the right look you could probably hit a petty big play and if you don't you could probably get hit in the backfield, which, like I said, happened a couple times last week. But we definitely have to be aware of it. There's no question about it.
Q: so even if it's the idea of making things look chaotic, discipline might be even more important when you're running that type of thing?
BB: Again, if you keep different combinations in there, you've got guys on one side or guys in the middle, guys on the line, guys off the line, different levels. it just creates, sometimes, a timing of the running game could be a problem or the timing of the pickup could be a little bit of a problem, too. the easiest thing is when they're all on the line and they all come at once. Then it's pretty easy, not easy, but it's relatively clean to be able to sort that out, but sometimes when they're on different levels and one guy gets there before the other guy does and there's some type of cross action, depending on what the blocking combination is it can be difficult.
Pat White knocked out after hit | Curtis and Kyle Show
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