Patriots captain told Brenden Schooler he was going to block the field goal prior to the play
FOXBOROUGH, Mass – Matthew Slater knew that Brenden Schooler had it in him. As the New England Patriots called the play for the Miami Dolphins field goal attempt, Slater didn't have any advice for Schooler. Instead, he told him exactly what was about to happen. “When we called the play going on the field, he […]
FOXBOROUGH, Mass – Matthew Slater knew that Brenden Schooler had it in him.
As the New England Patriots called the play for the Miami Dolphins field goal attempt, Slater didn't have any advice for Schooler. Instead, he told him exactly what was about to happen.
“When we called the play going on the field, he said to me ‘you are going to go block this and just trust in what we practiced during the week,'” Schooler told the media after the game. "
Schooler blocked a 49-yard field goal attempt by Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders, but it wasn't a play that many had seen before. With a perfectly timed run, Schooler sprinted across the line of scrimmage and was able to block the kick, allowing Kyle Dugger to scoop it up.
"It was timed up well. He did a good job of timing the play, turning the corner there on [Christian] Wilkins and laying out for it. It was, as you said, a well-executed and well-timed out play," head coach Bill Belichick said on Monday morning. "It was a big play for us, changed the field position, turned the momentum around. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to capitalize on it, but it was still a really good play on Schooler’s part and well designed by the special teams coaches.
Along with Belichick, Schooler also gave credit to the special teams coaches who came up with such an original and effective play.
“I don’t think I would have come up with that play, so it’s a testament to our coaching staff because when they drew it up and told us what we were doing I thought to myself, ‘I trust them but I haven’t evert seen anything like this before,’ Schooler explained. "I mean it was awesome to see the new innovative plays that they come up with and then to go out there and execute it and make a play for your team.”
He gave a special shout out to special teams coaches Joe Judge, Cam Achord and Joe Houston.
And as he ran towards the ball, Schooler just knew that he had it.
“As soon as the ball was snapped and I felt myself in the momentum, carrying, I just knew I was going to get there and just wanted to make sure I got a hand on the ball or something where I could stop the ball and hopefully one of us picked it up and get the offense spark going,” Schooler said. "
An undrafted free agent, Schooler joined the Patriots in 2022 and was one of two undrafted rookies to make the team. He impressed during his first season, becoming a core part of the special teams unit.
And that was even more clear on Sunday night.
Featured Image via Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
