Four Headed Monster

[captadamnj]

The decision to increase the corps of RB's this season seems to be coming up in spades. The off/pre season consensus was one of why with the big passing game, but with the injury to Brady, where would they be without it? Morris seemed to play the role that Jordan did a few weeks ago against the Jets, getting a lot of 2nd half carries against SF. Faulk is Faulk, and now the Pats showed opponents another wrinkle to dissect on film with the direct snap. (Is this is an example of die by the sword, live by the sword?) With the hard-nosed inside running of Morris and Jordan, I don't (never did, to tell the truth) view Maroney as the every down back, but now offering the change up style of running with the speedier off-tackle runs that defenses need to adjust for after getting pounded inside. As Cassel gets more time with the receivers, this running game will give him more time as defenses will have to tee off less against the Pats. You saw a bit of the '07 Pats yesterday as they were willing to take downfield shots on early downs from mid-field. Hopefully, running the ball more will also get the o-line playing a bit more aggressively on all downs, and will, of course, help the D. As the running game goes the rest of the year, so will the success of the Pats.

 

[Mogamedogz]

The decision to increase the corps of RB's this season seems to be coming up in spades. The off/pre season consensus was one of why with the big passing game, but with the injury to Brady, where would they be without it? Morris seemed to play the role that Jordan did a few weeks ago against the Jets, getting a lot of 2nd half carries against SF. Faulk is Faulk, and now the Pats showed opponents another wrinkle to dissect on film with the direct snap. (Is this is an example of die by the sword, live by the sword?) With the hard-nosed inside running of Morris and Jordan, I don't (never did, to tell the truth) view Maroney as the every down back, but now offering the change up style of running with the speedier off-tackle runs that defenses need to adjust for after getting pounded inside. As Cassel gets more time with the receivers, this running game will give him more time as defenses will have to tee off less against the Pats. You saw a bit of the '07 Pats yesterday as they were willing to take downfield shots on early downs from mid-field. Hopefully, running the ball more will also get the o-line playing a bit more aggressively on all downs, and will, of course, help the D. As the running game goes the rest of the year, so will the success of the Pats.

I did??

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Good points. Many here speculated that Morris would be cut by Sept 1st while others whined that BB's FA signing of Jordan was a waste. What ever could we do will all those RBs? BB wasn't prescient, but he did have the data that historically, this crew of RBs got injured and he was looking for redundancy in the run game.

Hopefully, Jordan (injury history of his own) will heal quickly and we can continue our RB by committee.

 

[captadamnj]

You saw a bit of the '07 Pats yesterday as they were willing to take downfield shots on early downs from mid-field.

I did??

The ball to Moss that resulted in an INT was a first down throw from mid-field. They also threw deep to Watson their first drive of the 2nd half. Also on first down IIRC. Thinking back to last season, any time they had the ball between the 40's on first down or 2nd and less than 5, you could almost expect the deep shot down field. Given that it is typically a lower % play, that play call says a lot about the confidence in your offense to be able to convert a first down after getting "behind" in downs (i.e. - not picking up 3-4 yards per down).

 

[Mogamedogz]

The ball to Moss that resulted in an INT was a first down throw from mid-field. They also threw deep to Watson their first drive of the 2nd half. Also on first down IIRC. Thinking back to last season, any time they had the ball between the 40's on first down or 2nd and less than 5, you could almost expect the deep shot down field. Given that it is typically a lower % play, that play call says a lot about the confidence in your offense to be able to convert a first down after getting "behind" in downs (i.e. - not picking up 3-4 yards per down).

They have been running plays like this for YEARS.

We have always had a burner on the roster that they would run those deep patterns with on first or second down to try and catch the D# off guard. It didn't just start happening in '07. Think David Patten, Bethel Johnson, Andre Davis...

I saw no sign of the '07 offense yesterday. That offense went down with Tommy in week 1.

 

[captadamnj]

They have been running plays like this for YEARS.

Point taken. Certainly not saying this year's offense is nor will be the '07 Pats without Brady. Point was that we saw the most aggressive play calling with Cassel behind center to date. That bodes well, IMO. And the effectiveness of the running game will only help the ability to remain aggressive.

 

[Mogamedogz]

Point taken. Certainly not saying this year's offense is nor will be the '07 Pats without Brady. Point was that we saw the most aggressive play calling with Cassel behind center to date. That bodes well, IMO. And the effectiveness of the running game will only help the ability to remain aggressive.

Absolutely. I can totally get on board with this.

I think I just get a little sensitive about the '07 comparisons (especially when the talking heads do it on the networks) because I get SO F’in depressed thinking about how explosive we should be right now. Just yesterday I was ranting to my wife about it during the game.