Originally Posted by Vern

He read the coverage. Part of the read is seeing the safety coming over the top, so the CB didn't have to break yet for him to see right off that it was a trap technique they were doing. Moss running right past the CB is another tell tale sign. No way speed alone lets you get by a guy who in 10 yards who is already 5 yards off to begin with.

What makes that play is that BOTH Moss and Brady read the coverage BEFORE the CB breaks - Moss to blaze past the safety and Brady to throw it as deep as possible. If you only make the read AFTER the break, then it's too late because either the pressure collapses the pocket and you can't step into the throw, or the safety has too much time to get over and get in the way.

This is what people mean when they say Brady is so good (and Moss is so smart) at dissecting a defense. It's the speed with which he reads it, not just THAT he knew what it was.

Originally Posted by Patriot Power

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Originally Posted by Vern

He read the coverage. Part of the read is seeing the safety coming over the top, so the CB didn't have to break yet for him to see right off that it was a trap technique they were doing. Moss running right past the CB is another tell tale sign. No way speed alone lets you get by a guy who in 10 yards who is already 5 yards off to begin with.

What makes that play is that BOTH Moss and Brady read the coverage BEFORE the CB breaks - Moss to blaze past the safety and Brady to throw it as deep as possible. If you only make the read AFTER the break, then it's too late because either the pressure collapses the pocket and you can't step into the throw, or the safety has too much time to get over and get in the way.

This is what people mean when they say Brady is so good (and Moss is so smart) at dissecting a defense. It's the speed with which he reads it, not just THAT he knew what it was.

Originally Posted by Vern

He read the coverage. Part of the read is seeing the safety coming over the top, so the CB didn't have to break yet for him to see right off that it was a trap technique they were doing. Moss running right past the CB is another tell tale sign. No way speed alone lets you get by a guy who in 10 yards who is already 5 yards off to begin with.

What makes that play is that BOTH Moss and Brady read the coverage BEFORE the CB breaks - Moss to blaze past the safety and Brady to throw it as deep as possible. If you only make the read AFTER the break, then it's too late because either the pressure collapses the pocket and you can't step into the throw, or the safety has too much time to get over and get in the way.

This is what people mean when they say Brady is so good (and Moss is so smart) at dissecting a defense. It's the speed with which he reads it, not just THAT he knew what it was.

Originally Posted by RayClay

Considering Welker was directly in the line of site and the cornerback only needed to be leaning the wrong way because it's Moss, I don't know how you could come to that conclusion just from watching a clip.

I'll trust the guys on the field.

Originally Posted by RayClay

The corner was never in a position to cover Moss. He could see it was a blown coverage immediately by looking at either of the corner or safety who were conveniently in the line of sight of his primary receiver.

A Christmas present.

Originally Posted by RayClay

Considering Welker was directly in the line of site and the cornerback only needed to be leaning the wrong way for Moss to be able to outplay him, because, well, we're talking about Randy Moss, I don't know how you could come to that conclusion just from watching a clip.

Originally Posted by upstater1

I really don't understand what you wrote. Leaning the wrong way because it's Moss? and yeah, I know Welker was in the line of site.

Originally Posted by upstater1

As Brady gets set to throw, the CB is still running with Moss, and the safety actually bites in as though he's going toward Welker. They tried to make it seem as though the safety was helping the nickel back on Welker. Actually, I think Butler was so far out of position not only because of Moss's speed but because their plan was to make it seem as though he was doubling Welker. You can clearly see that Butler is moving toward Welker BEFORE Brady sets to throw the ball (at the same time the CB is running stride for stride with Welker).

I'm convinced by what you all have written about Brady's pre-read, but in the video it's clear that Brady makes these decisions because he knows what they are going to do, rather than reacting to what they actually do. Neither the safety Butler moves toward Moss nor the CB peels away from him prior to Brady's throw.

Originally Posted by upstater1

As Brady gets set to throw, the CB is still running with Moss, and the safety actually bites in as though he's going toward Welker. They tried to make it seem as though the safety was helping the nickel back on Welker. Actually, I think Butler was so far out of position not only because of Moss's speed but because their plan was to make it seem as though he was doubling Welker. You can clearly see that Butler is moving toward Welker BEFORE Brady sets to throw the ball (at the same time the CB is running stride for stride with Welker).

I'm convinced by what you all have written about Brady's pre-read, but in the video it's clear that Brady makes these decisions because he knows what they are going to do, rather than reacting to what they actually do. Neither the safety Butler moves toward Moss nor the CB peels away from him prior to Brady's throw.

Originally Posted by shmessy

I have to disagree, here, Upstater.

Watch around 3:33 of that video. Both Welker and Moss are in the same line of sight. At that very moment, from the secondary camera angle, Brady is in the windup motion and you can see his eyes actually lock onto Welker. He's actually in the BEGINNING of his throwing motion when he CHANGES his shoulder angle towards Moss. I've replayed that one second 10 times this morning.

It's one incredible play, and there was some GREAT camera work and analysis by NFL.com on this.

What happens between 3:33 and 3:34 of that video is what separates Tom Brady from every other QB on the face of this earth.