NFL Films put in spectacular work with their “Do Your Job: Bill Belichick and the 2014 Patriots” special, which will premiere Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
The show highlights the role of Belichick and his assistant coaches in the Patriots’ Super Bowl XLIX championship run. It also keys in on the most memorable plays of the championship season, including the Patriots’ infamous ineligible-receiver formation, used in the divisional-round playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.
The show reveals that the Patriots gave the formations not-so clever names: “Baltimore” and “Raven.” “Baltimore” was the formation when running back Shane Vereen lined up in the slot ineligible, and “Raven” was used when tight end Michael Hoomanawanui lined up ineligible at offensive tackle.
The Patriots purposely waited to use the formation until the second half.
“So they didn’t have an opportunity at halftime to talk about it,” offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said.
Check out a trailer for “Do Your Job” below.
Here are other highlights to look forward to:
— Belichick long nixed double passes because a similar play — in which former wide receiver David Givens, not Tom Brady, threw the ball — resulted in an interception in 2003. However, Belichick came to McDaniels with the idea of letting wide receiver Julian Edelman throw the ball against the Ravens.
“I said like, ‘What do you think about the double pass? You know, Edelman can throw,’ ” Belichick said. “(McDaniels) gave me that look like, ‘You’re the one who said nobody other than Brady is going to throw for us.’ I said, ‘Yeah, yeah, it’s been a decade. Maybe let’s give Edelman a chance.’ ”
When Edelman was allowed to throw, he milked the opportunity.
“Of course, any time Edelman hit it, then he would come into the meeting after practice, have ice on his shoulder like a quarterback would,” Belichick said. “You know, ‘Coach, I gotta take care of my arm.’ ”
— The Patriots used an eligible, not an ineligible, formation in their Week 11 win over the Indianapolis Colts, using offensive lineman Cameron Fleming as a jumbo tight end. It worked so well that they figured they might as well do it again in the AFC Championship Game against the Colts.
“I don’t think it was the same general approach,” Patriots offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo said. “It was the same approach. Until they stopped it, we were going to use it.”
— Belichick on his “My Cousin Vinny” reference during a Deflategate press conference: “I’ve seen the movie 50 times, so she was the best. The all-time great expert witness. I wasn’t trying to be that.”
Also tune in to NFL Network on Tuesday at 10 p.m. to watch “America’s Game,” which focuses more on Patriots players, not coaches, in the Super Bowl XLIXÂ run.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
