In their first meeting, the Wildcat ran wild. Miami's star running back and New England's head coach tackle the unorthodox formation. Plus, news and notes from Wednesday's practice.
The Patriots head into Sunday's game at Miami tied with the Dolphins for second place in a highly competitive AFC East. The winner of the contest will answer a few questions heading down the stretch toward the postseason. For all the other questions surrounding the Patriots we bring another wide-ranging edition of Ask PFW.
After seeing the Dolphins' Wildcat formation rip it to shreds in Week 3, New England is doing everything it can to prevent a repeat performance this weekend.
Joey Porter's running his mouth again. Read all about that and the other news and notes leading up to this weekend's Patriots-Dolphins game in today's Patriots.com News Blitz.
67 Dan Koppen C
Height: 6-2 Weight: 296 Year: 5 Yrs/Pat: 5 Acquired: D5-03(164th overall) School: Boston College Major: Management Born: Sep 12, 1979 Dubuque IA
Personal
Daniel Koppen was born the son of Kathleen and Michael Koppen on Sept. 12, 1979 in Dubuque, Iowa ... Attended Whitehall (Pa.) High ... Earned All-State, All-Area and All-East Penn Conference first-team honors as a senior offensive lineman/defensive end ... Captured Prep Star All-American accolades as a senior ... Big 33 selection in 1998 ... Had 10 sacks and scored eight touchdowns, carrying the ball on occasion ... Earned defensive MVP honors in the 1997 Kaylee Rotary Bowl ... Also played in the 1998 McDonald's Lehigh Valley all-star classic ... All-Conference second-team selection as a junior ... Served as team captain as a senior ... Versatile athlete who was also a two-year track and basketball letterman ... Majored in management at Boston College.
Career Transactions
Dan Koppen was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round (164th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft ... Placed on injured reserve (11/15/05).
Career Highlights
Career GP/GS: 57/56 (9/9)
Koppen started 46 consecutive games at center from Sept. 14, 2003 to Nov. 13, 2005. The streak included six playoff games as the Patriots won backto- back Super Bowl championships.
In 2004, Koppen started every game on an offensive line that paved the way for Corey Dillon to set the Patriots' single-season rushing record with 1,635 yards.
Koppen was an important part of an offensive line that allowed the team to average more than four yards per carry in 2004, the first time the team had achieved that feat in 19 seasons.
In 2004, Koppen was part of an offensive line that allowed just 26 sacks, the fewest by a Patriots squad in 10 years.
Koppen started all three games in the 2003 postseason as the offensive line did not allow a sack in the playoffs and the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVIII.
2006 Season
2006 (16/16/0/0): Buffalo (9/10): Returned to the lineup and started at center in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over the Bills ... Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 183 rushing yards on 41 carries (4.5 yard avg.) ... Recovered a Tom Brady fumble in Patriots' territory late in the first quarter. at N.Y. Jets (9/17): Started at center ... Part of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' rushers to gain 147 yards in the Patriots' 24-17 win over the N.Y. Jets. Denver (9/24): Started at center and was a member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack despite 55 pass attempts. at Cincinnati (10/1): Started at center in the Patriots' commanding 38-13 victory over the Bengals ... Member of an offensive front that opened holes for Patriots' ball carriers to gain 238 rushing yards on 41 carries, marking New England's highest team rushing total in 13 seasons ... Part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack for the second consecutive game. vs. Miami (10/8): Started at center ... Member of an offensive front that allowed just one sack on 29 pass attempts in the Patriots' 20-10 win over the Dolphins. at Buffalo (10/22): Started at center in the Patriots' 28-6 road victory over the Bills. at Minnesota (10/30): Started at center ... Was a member of an offensive front that gave Tom Brady enough time to throw for 372 yards and tie his career high with four touchdown tosses in the Patriots' commanding 31- 7 road win against the Vikings ... Helped to pave the way for a running game that averaged 5.7 yards per carry, gaining 85 yards on just 15 rushes. Indianapolis (11/5): Started at center and was a member of an offensive front that did not allow a sack on 35 pass attempts. vs. N.Y. Jets (11/12): Made the start at center and was a part of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 145 yards on just 26 carries (5.6 yard avg.). at Green Bay (11/19): Made the start at center ... Member of an offensive line that protected Tom Brady, allowing him to register a season-best 128.2 quarterback rating in the Patriots' 35-0 road victory over the Packers ... Pounced on a Tom Brady fumble in the fourth quarter. vs. Chicago (11/26): Started at center ... Part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack on 33 pass attempts in the Patriots' 17-13 victory over the Bears. vs. Detroit (12/3): Made the start at center in the Patriots' 28-21 comeback victory over the Lions ... Member of an offensive front that allowed Tom Brady to throw for 305 yards in the victory. at Miami (12/10): Started at center ... Part of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' runners to gain 123 rushing yards on 25 carries (4.9 avg.) ... Recovered a Tom Brady fumble in the third quarter. vs. Houston (12/17): Started at center ... Member of an offensive line that allowed just one sack on 27 pass attempts in the Patriots' commanding 40-7 victory over the Texans. at Jacksonville (12/24): Made the start at center ... Part of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' rushers to gain 117 yards on 30 carries (3.9 avg.) ... Member of an offensive front that allowed just one sack on 39 pass attempts in the Patriots' 24-21 divisionclinching win over the Jaguars. at Tennessee (12/31): Started at center ... Member of an offensive front that allowed Patriots' ball carriers to gain 171 rushing yards on just 31 carries (5.5 avg.) in the Patriots' 40-23 victory over the Titans.
2006 Postseason (3/3/0/0): vs. N.Y. Jets (1/7): Started at center ... Member of an offensive front that allowed Patriots' rushers to gain 158 rushing yards on 38 carries (4.2 avg.) in the Patriots' 37-16 AFC Wild Card victory over the N.Y. Jets ... Part of an offensive line that allowed just one sack on 34 pass attempts. at San Diego (1/14): Made the start at center ... Part of an offensive line that allowed just two sacks despite 51 pass attempts in the Patriots' 24-21 AFC Divisional Playoff victory over the Chargers ... San Diego entered the game as the league leader in sacks. at Indianapolis (1/21): Made the start at center ... Member of an offensive line that allowed just one sack on 35 pass attempts.
2005 Season
2005 (9/9/0/0): Started the first nine games of the season at center before being placed on injured reserve (11/15) ... Had started 46 consecutive games at center, including the playoffs, before being placed on injured reserve.
Oakland (9/8): Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack on 38 pass attempts in the Patriots' 30-20 victory over the Raiders. at Carolina (9/18): Part of an offensive line that allowed Tom Brady to pass for 270 yards. at Pittsburgh (9/25): Part of an offensive line that provided enough protection to allow Tom Brady to pass for 372 yards in the Patriots' 23-20 victory over the Steelers. San Diego (10/2): Started at center. at Atlanta (10/9): Member of an offensive front that opened holes for Corey Dillon to rush for 106 yards on 23 carries in the Patriots' 31-28 win over the Falcons ... Provided enough pocket time for Tom Brady to throw for 350 yards and three touchdowns. at Denver (10/16): Part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack against the Broncos. Buffalo (10/30): Member of an offensive line that allowed New England rushers to gain 4.2-yards per carry in the Patriots' 21-16 victory over the Bills on Sunday Night Football. Indianapolis (11/7): Part of an offensive line that provided protection allowing Tom Brady to throw for 265 yards and three touchdowns. at Miami (11/13): Member of an offensive front that did not allow a sack in the second half of the Patriots' 23-16 road victory over the Dolphins.
2004 season
2004 (16/16, 3/3): Started all 16 regular season games and all three postseason games at center … Member of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' rushers to gain more than 200 rushing yards twice in 2004, 225 rushing yards against Cleveland (12/5) and 208 rushing yards against Buffalo (11/14), marking the first time in six years the team has exceeded 200 net yards rushing in a game. Indianapolis (9/9): Started at center and was a member of an offensive front that opened holes for New England rushers to average 4.8 yards per carry in the Patriots' 27-24 victory over the Colts. at Arizona (9/19): Started at center and was a part of an offensive line that opened holes for Corey Dillon to rush for 158 yards on 32 carries (4.9-yard avg.) in the Patriots' 23-12 victory over the Cardinals. at Buffalo (10/3): Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack on 30 pass attempts in the Patriots' 31-17 victory over the Bills. Miami (10/10): Part of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' rushers to gain 135 yards on the ground in New England's 24-10 victory over Miami. Seattle (10/17): Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to pick up 138 rushing yards in the Patriots' 30-20 victory over the Seahawks. N.Y. Jets (10/24): Part of an offensive line that allowed Corey Dillon to rush for 115 yards on 22 carries (5.2-yard avg.) in the Patriots' 13-7 win over the N.Y. Jets. at Pittsburgh (10/31): Started at center against the Steelers. at St. Louis (11/7): Member of an offensive line that opened holes for New England rushers to gain 147 yards on the ground in the Patriots' 40-22 road win against the Rams. Buffalo (11/14): Part of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' rushers to amass 208 rushing yards in New England's commanding 29-6 victory over the Bills. at Kansas City (11/22): Member of an offensive line that allowed Tom Brady to throw for 315 yards and Corey Dillon to rush for 98 yards in the Patriots' 27-19 Monday Night victory over the Chiefs. Baltimore (11/28): Part of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 144 yards on the ground in New England's 24-3 victory over the Ravens ... Member of an offensive front that allowed just one sack for two yards on 30 pass attempts against one of the league's stingiest pass rush defenses. at Cleveland (12/5): Member of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' ball carriers to amass 225 rushing yards in New England's 42-15 victory over the Browns ... Recovered a Tom Brady fumble that was caused after the signal caller was sacked in the first quarter. Cincinnati (12/12): Part of an offensive line that allowed just one sack on 26 pass attempts in the Patriots' AFC East clinching 35-28 victory over the Bengals. at Miami (12/20): Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 166 yards on 38 carries (4.4-yard avg.). at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Part of an offensive front that opened up holes for New England rushers to gain 114 yards on the ground ... Member of a line that allowed only one sack on 32 pass attempts in the Patriots' 23-7 victory over the Jets. San Francisco (1/2): Member of an offensive front that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 174 yards on the ground on just 28 carries (6.2-yard avg.) in the Patriots' 21-7 victory over the 49ers ... Part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack in the second half.
2004 Postseason (3/3/0/0): Indianapolis (1/16): Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 210 yards on the ground on just 39 carries (5.4 avg.) in the Patriots' 20-3 victory over the Colts. at Pittsburgh (1/23): Part of an offensive line that allowed Patriots ball carriers to gain 126 yards against one of the stingiest run defenses in the league during New England's 41-27 AFC Championship victory over the Philadelphia (2/6): Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 112 yards on 28 carries in New England's 24-21 victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.
2003 Season
2003 (16/15, 3/3): Started the final 15 games of the season and all three postseason games at center … Was part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack in the playoffs … Part of an offensive line that started the same five players in each of the last 12 regular-season games, all Patriots victories. Philadelphia (9/14): Made his first career start at center. N.Y. Jets (9/21): Made his second consecutive start as part of an offensive line that opened holes for the team to rush for 147 yards. Washington (9/28): Started at center and helped pave the way for the Patriots’ second consecutive 100-yard rushing performance. Tennessee (10/5): Was a member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots rushers to gain 161 yards on 27 carries (6.0 avg.). N.Y. Giants (10/12): Member of an offensive line that helped Patriots rushers gain 129 yards on 31 carries (4.2 yard avg.) … It was the fifth time in six games that the Patriots had totaled more than 100 yards on the ground. Denver (11/3): Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack on 35 pass attempts … Supplied Tom Brady with time in the pocket, allowing him to throw for 350 passing yards. Houston (11/23): Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots rushers to gain 128 yards on the ground in the Patriots come-from-behind 23-20 overtime victory over the Texans. N.Y. Jets (12/20): Part of an offensive line that opened holes for Antowain Smith to rush for 121 yards on just 18 carries (6.7 avg.) … Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack on 25 pass attempts. Tennessee (1/10): Started at center in the Patriots 17-14 divisional playoff victory over the Titans … Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack in 41 pass attempts. Indianapolis (1/18): Started at center in the Patriots 24-14 AFC Championship victory over the Colts … Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack in 37 pass attempts. Carolina (2/1): Started at center and was a member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack in the Patriots’ 32-29 Super Bowl XXXVIII victory over the Panthers.
College
Koppen was a three-year starter at Boston College and the unquestioned leader of the offense ... A highly competitive player, he received winning grades for blocking consistency in every game he started. 2002 (Senior): All-American third-team selection by The NFL Draft Report ... All-Big East Conference second-team choice ... Finalist for the Rimington Award, given to the nation's premier center. 2001 (Junior): All-Big East Conference secondteam and All-Eastern College Athletic Conference first-team choice ... Started every game at center, earning Rimington Award Watch List accolades. 2000 (Sophomore): All-Big East Conference second- team selection ... Took over starting duties at center ... Part of an offensive line that gave up only six quarterback sacks. 1999 (Redshirt): Performed in every game with the second unit at center. 1998 (Freshman): Redshirted as a freshman.
Extra Points
Dan has been featured on two national television commercials. He appeared in a Visa commercial with Tom Brady and his fellow offensive linemates and was also featured on the NFL Network's 2005 Big Man Dance Challenge spot with Richard Seymour and Willie McGinest.
Dan's number 77 was retired by Whitehall (Pa.) High School during the Patriots' bye week in 2005.
Dan's friend and Boston College teammate quarterback Brian St. Pierre was drafted by Pittsburgh one pick ahead of Dan (163rd) in the 2003 NFL Draft.
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