Nate Solder says he blacked out during his touchdown against the Colts in the AFC Championship game.
The New England Patriots continued their wacky offensive line strategies during their AFC Championship win against the Indianapolis Colts.
During their divisional round matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, the Patriots used a four lineman formation while having running back Shane Vereen line up as a wide receiver, but was reported in as an ineligible receiver. Bill Belichick’s antics with his odd formations were heavily criticized by Ravens head coach John Harbaugh after the game.
The unique offensive line formations continued Sunday against the Colts in the AFC Championship game. The Patriots continuously added an extra lineman, usually rookie Cameron Fleming, on running plays. Fleming was on the field for 27 offensive snaps, helping the New England rushing attack gain 177 rushing yards.
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That wasn’t the only trick Belichick had up his sleeve concerning his offensive line though.
During a third-and-one situation, offensive lineman Nate Solder lined up at left tackle in a jumbo formation, as he usually does. There’s nothing unusual about this formation, all teams use it on short yardage situations and it usually signals a power run play to pick up the short yardage they need for a first down.
This time, a run play wasn’t in the playbook for the Patriots.
Tom Brady faked a hand-off to running back LeGarrette Blount and Nate Solder broke off from the line in a flat route. The Colts never picked up Solder, and Brady lofted a pass to the wide open lineman just inside the Colts’ 15-yard line. Solder made the catch and saw daylight in front of him as he turned for the end zone. He held on to the ball for dear life and the big man fought through a couple of defenders and fell into the end zone for the touchdown.
Nate Solder was a bit foggy on what exactly happened after scoring the touchdown, according to The Boston Globe.
“I had blinders on [after the catch]. I was just going straight ahead, I blacked out. I don’t remember half the play.”
When asked if he even realized that he had scored a touchdown, he said it finally hit him when he was joined in the end zone with his fellow lineman jumping all over him in celebration. You could see how excited that one of their own had finally got on the score sheet.
While it certainly has been awhile for Solder, he’s not foreign to being a pass-catcher. During his high school days and his early days of college at Colorado State, he played tight end before switching to offensive line.
I wouldn’t make this a regular play though, Belichick. You could see how terrified Solder was carrying that football.
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