WR usage

[Fencer]

If you look at Reiss on positional groupings and offensive skill player usage,

the positional groupings were:

2 WR/2 TE/1 RB – 22 of 66
3 WR/1 TE/1 RB – 21 of 66
1 WR/2 TE/1 FB/1 RB – 13 of 66
2 WR/1 TE/1 FB/1 RB – 7 of 66
3 TE/1 FB/1 RB – 3 of 66


and the WR utilization was:


Wes Welker – 50 of 6
Randy Moss – 44 of 66
Jabar Gaffney – 30 of 66
Sam Aiken – 10 of 66

I.e., Moss did NOT play every available snap, nor close to it.

Was this just a matter of him not playing in the one-WR sets, with that job going to Gaffney or Aiken?

 

[Bertil]

With ALL of Cassel's passes being under 15 yards, Moss was not as omnipresent as a downfield threat. The gameplan was obviously to run it down their throat, and when they passed it to look like they were going to run (more with sets and formations than play action), then pass underneath.

 

[JoeSixPat]

If you look at Reiss on positional groupings and offensive skill player usage,

the positional groupings were:

2 WR/2 TE/1 RB – 22 of 66
3 WR/1 TE/1 RB – 21 of 66
1 WR/2 TE/1 FB/1 RB – 13 of 66
2 WR/1 TE/1 FB/1 RB – 7 of 66
3 TE/1 FB/1 RB – 3 of 66


and the WR utilization was:


Wes Welker – 50 of 6
Randy Moss – 44 of 66
Jabar Gaffney – 30 of 66
Sam Aiken – 10 of 66

I.e., Moss did NOT play every available snap, nor close to it.

Was this just a matter of him not playing in the one-WR sets, with that job going to Gaffney or Aiken?

I think the Moss stat is mainly because of two things

#1 - Defenses know that the OL can't protect Cassell long enough, often enough to make Moss an every down deep threat. It's clear from the game stats that shorter passes are a better option for Cassell given protection issues alone.

#2 - Having Moss in on every play is a sure way to tire him out as he was by the end of last season (either that or he doesn't run full out every play and he gets criticized for "dogging it")

 

[captadamnj]

This was a clear shift to a run oriented attack for much of the nite and the WR usage reflects that.

 

[Watson's IQ]

I can't say for sure without seeing this broken down by half, but wouldn't it stand to reason that Randy also saw fewer snaps once they were up big?

I'd always expect Welker to be the most utilized, just because he is the go-to outlet receiver, and also seems to be the one with the most on-field rapport with Cassel so far (which I don't think surprises anyone).

I think they used Moss in this game about as well as they have all year, and they didn't really throw deep to him once, the one play I recall they attempted it Cassel got sacked for a big loss (naturally).

 

[ALP]

If you look at Reiss on positional groupings and offensive skill player usage,

the positional groupings were:

2 WR/2 TE/1 RB – 22 of 66
3 WR/1 TE/1 RB – 21 of 66
1 WR/2 TE/1 FB/1 RB – 13 of 66
2 WR/1 TE/1 FB/1 RB – 7 of 66
3 TE/1 FB/1 RB – 3 of 66


and the WR utilization was:


Wes Welker – 50 of 6
Randy Moss – 44 of 66
Jabar Gaffney – 30 of 66
Sam Aiken – 10 of 66

I.e., Moss did NOT play every available snap, nor close to it.

Was this just a matter of him not playing in the one-WR sets, with that job going to Gaffney or Aiken?

jabar was in for 30 plays?

what was he doing?

 

[Deus Irae]

jabar was in for 30 plays?

what was he doing?

Stopping short on comeback routes....

 

[mgteich]

Do we need a 3rd TE yet?

 

[Deus Irae]

Do we need a 3rd TE yet?

Will he know how to block?

 

[Kontradiction]

Will he know how to block?

Probably not.

 

[Deus Irae]

Probably not.

I'm not happy that the team let Graham get away. I hide it well, though.... <cough>

 

[CheerforTom]

jabar was in for 30 plays?

what was he doing?

It might just be me, but there don't seem to be many plays that slate Gaffney in as the primary receiver and Cassel isn't at the point where he's looking to third options too often yet.

To me, in terms of pure quarterback skill (all the protection/line stuff notwithstanding), the biggest difference between a Brady and a Cassel is the effectiveness of a guy like Gaffney.

 

[CheerforTom]

I'm not happy that the team let Graham get away. I hide it well, though.... <cough>

I'm surprised more people around here don't feel the same way about Kyle Brady. I know you personally aren't wild about him, but he was certainly better than the TEs we have right now in terms of protection.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

WR utilization was:

Wes Welker – 50 of 6
Randy Moss – 44 of 66
Jabar Gaffney – 30 of 66
Sam Aiken – 10 of 66

Having 8 and 1/3 Wes Welkers out there even for 6 snaps has to be unstoppable. A 1/3 Wes Welker probably wouldn't even be noticed by the defense and is still twice the WR as most.

 

[LA Pats Fan]

Randy's patterns are usually the deep rouites which requires him to do perhaps more running than anyone else.

He simply is just removed for a series of snaps to get some oxygen.

We alreadt have a 3rd TE his name is Mike Vrable - He even played it a few times

 

[Fencer]

Randy's patterns are usually the deep rouites which requires him to do perhaps more running than anyone else.

He simply is just removed for a series of snaps to get some oxygen.

Yes, but that didn't stop him from getting almost every snap last season, taking some plays off, perhaps wearing down over the course of the season, etc.

One more thought -- WR blocking was a big part of the game. That's another reason to:

A. Use guys other than Moss.
B. Rest whoever was getting snaps.