Deus Irae

In reading a few of the threads today, it seems clear that there's a diversity of thought about where the team is at right now. So I thought it was time for a few polls.

How would you rate the progress of the levels of the Offense? This one is tougher to break down with the 10 options limit, so I have to combine TEs with WRs, and QBs with RBs. Please note that doing so is not an attempt to manipulate the poll, but is a result of format limitations.

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- Marcus Aurelius

Mosi Moose

I think the running game has improved a great deal since Week 1.

mayoclinic

I think that the running game has improved significantly, with Maroney stepping up and running probably the best that he has since we drafted him. Hopefully the return of Fred Taylor will give the running game a further boost.

The OL is playing better with Light and Vollmer at tackles. The absence of Neal has hurt. I think that a line of Light-Mankins-Koppen-Neal-Vollmer will be a considerable upgrade over anything we have seen this season.

TB seems to have regressed some. I'm hoping it is due to being banged up.

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bigcountry75

Agreed and with Seabass in there instead of (I get my ass beat every play) Kazcur I believe that will help give a toughness to the running game and maybe open up more holes......Hopefully it will allow us to pound the ball in the playoffs to take the stress off of the receivers and brady....

SyN65

Receivers are playing the same.

O-line is playing better.

Backs are playing better.

klinefan

It's the play calling and design which is bad. Predictable, boring. As predictable as a fullback dive on 4th and 2 (which gets stuffed for a loss of one, mind you).

Simms had it right, when you have a formation from which you can do anything, run, pass, etc., the defense has a lack of information which hurts them. We meanwhile go 5 wide, whereas there's no chance brady even looks at 2 of them....or single back maroney in the backfield, gee, do you think it's going to be a run off tackle?

BradyManny

I've made my feelings on the offense pretty clear - I think the biggest issue right now has to be the #3 wide receiver position. Both TB and BB have said they were trying to go to other targets, implying - or BB might've even stated it - that they weren't open.

Sam Aiken is no David Patten or David Givens. A healthy Julian Edelman + Sam Aiken MIGHT do the job, but as long as Edelman has that cast on his arm, it'll be tough for him to contribute like he was earlier in the season.

It's a little much to ask a career special teamer and a 7th round rookie quarterback turned wideout to line up across Randy Moss and Wes Welker and try and be a comparable weapon.

Deus Irae

Interesting to note that, to this point, people are rating the backs and line as improved, and the receivers as staying the same even though the offense has clearly been struggling of late.

That would seem to indicate that people are either blaming it all on the O.C. and opponents, or are struggling with the issue of the backs and receivers not being broken down into subcategories.

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"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

BradyManny

Personally, I suppose I don't know enough the game of football to confidently say that my skepticism of Bill O'Brien is warranted. That said, I'm not sure how someone could say he's doing his job well when it does look like defenses are able to take out our top weapons, and our other guys can't get open. Maybe it is just the lack of talent at wideout beyond the top two guys.

PatsWickedPissah

Offensive problem areas
1. Brady fixated on 2 players at the expense of other options
2. Other receiving options (TE, 3rd, 4th WRs, but NOT Faulk) not playing well enough consistently to earn QB's trust
3. QB missing most long passes and throwing too often right into coverage
4. Moss inconsistent and in a funk
5. Piss poor play calling by OC
6. Stud ORG Neal missing games
7. Koppen and the guards leting Brady get rushed up the middle too often

EDIT: How could I forget the biggie? QB has several injuries...shoulder, ribs, finger, etc.

The Gooder Stuff:
1. Maroney running well
2. SeaBass is the real deal
3. Young-uns at WR look promising for the future

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