Moss: Pats offense can be scarier than '07

[jmt57]

Moss: Pats offense can be scarier than '07 - warning to boycotters: link is from espn

"The sky's the limit for this offense," Patriots receiver Randy Moss told me over the phone Monday afternoon. "I think that we could be a little bit better than two years ago."

"I'm very excited for us as an offense. I'm excited for us as a team. There's a lot of good things about Tom Brady coming back that excites the people, the fans, the coaches and the players around here.

"All we can hope is to come out with smoking guns."

"This year, it's going to be a little bit scarier because we do have two years up under our belts," said Moss, who caught an NFL record 23 touchdown passes in 2007. "This offense is complicated. To be point blank, they don't want dummies in this offense. You have to be somewhat intelligent to be able to go ahead and run this offense because one play you could be here; the next play you could be there. You have to be versatile to be able to change positions and be good."

The article also references quotes from Wes Welker made to Peter King in a recent column on si.com in regards to the complex offense - and feeling more comfortable with it now.

"I feel we've gotten better,'' Welker said. "Back in '07, Randy and I were in our first year here, and I don't know about Randy, but I was worried about where the hell I was supposed to line up a lot of that season.

"Now, with so many touches over the last two years, the offense is second nature to us. This is a complicated offense, and getting to know it takes time. But now I think we both know it well, and we're on the same page with Tom every snap. Our goal is to continue to get better. I hope we can. We've got some good new weapons here, and it'll be great for us to get on the field together to see what we can do.''

Can't we just fast forward past the next fifteen weeks?

 

[tanked_as_usual]

will need WR's 3 and 4 to step up

 

[ALP]

im not too concerned about galloway....and neither greg either....

if we need a #5 WR though, now im a little bit scared

 

[maverick4]

I think this 09 offense is better than the 07 offense. They won't score as many points, but they won't choke in the big game. The key additions are Fred Taylor and Chris Baker at RB and TE, which were weaknesses on the 07 team down the stretch.

 

[jbb9s]

I think this 09 offense is better than the 07 offense. They won't score as many points, but they won't choke in the big game. The key additions are Fred Taylor and Chris Baker at RB and TE, which were weaknesses on the 07 team down the stretch.

well although the RB and TE position may be an upgrade, its hard to say that the TE has much offensive impact with so many talented receivers. On the 07 team, the best package we had was when Kyle Brady basically became the 6th o-lineman. After all, with Moss and Welker (and back then Stallworth), there wasn't that many passes to go around (which is fine - Watson would have dropped them anyway).

But the difference in my opinion is that this year's Oline won't be as strong. Its basically the same cast of guys - all of them 2 years older - and with the exception of Mankins - who is now a stud and back then was a little green - the rest of the guys have lost a step (of course, Kazcur never had a step to begin with).

I think protection made all the difference (think Jax playoff game). We'll see but I can't imagine the 09 edition being anywhere as close to the 07 team as some others apparently predict.

 

[RobAllan]

well although the RB and TE position may be an upgrade, its hard to say that the TE has much offensive impact with so many talented receivers. On the 07 team, the best package we had was when Kyle Brady basically became the 6th o-lineman. After all, with Moss and Welker (and back then Stallworth), there wasn't that many passes to go around (which is fine - Watson would have dropped them anyway).

But the difference in my opinion is that this year's Oline won't be as strong. Its basically the same cast of guys - all of them 2 years older - and with the exception of Mankins - who is now a stud and back then was a little green - the rest of the guys have lost a step (of course, Kazcur never had a step to begin with).

I think protection made all the difference (think Jax playoff game). We'll see but I can't imagine the 09 edition being anywhere as close to the 07 team as some others apparently predict.

Don't forget that TEs block, too, though. (As do RBs sometimes.) And I do seem to recall us having issues in that department somewhat during a fairly big game a couple of years ago, to understate the situation.

If Welker and Moss are this excited, then I'm excited. These guys want to tear it up. Definitely two of my fav Pats of all time. Hope they can get a ring.

-Rob-

 

[PatsBoy12]

I just hope that all predictions or postulates aren't setting the expectations too high. I really don't care about records. And though I would like to see another run at 19-0, I just want the team to win another SB this decade.

I think this 09 offense is better than the 07 offense. They won't score as many points, but they won't choke in the big game. The key additions are Fred Taylor and Chris Baker at RB and TE, which were weaknesses on the 07 team down the stretch.

I seem to remember Maroney running quite well down the stretch and in the first two games of the playoffs. The SB was an aberration for the whole offense.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Of Course! Moss is only speaking the Truth.

Galloway, a much more accomplished number one Wide Receiver with the near best speed in the NFL, replaces a more lightly regarded Stallworth/Gaffney receiver pair, who played the other WR across from Moss. This team is stronger than the 2007 edition because the offensive line is more mature and deeper in depth. In 2007 O'Callaghan was lost early, and Hochstein was hurting late in the season . Finally in the Super Bowl we lost Stephen Neal too. It was too much, to overcome facing best Rush line in the NFC. This team is much deeper at RB, and can withstand the loss of Maroney and Smith duo, unlike the 2007 edition.

But even more fundamentally, this 2009 Defense is much faster, and much more skilled in the secondary, and at DL, and potentially at LB, than the 2007 edition. It will give the ball back to the Offense much more frequently.

The 2009 team is spelled J-U-G-G-E-R-N-A-U-T.

 

[eom]

what happened to the rest of the nfl catching on to our surprise trickery?

 

[Deus Irae]

what happened to the rest of the nfl catching on to our surprise trickery?

The rest of the NFL is catching up to the Patriots' offense

 

[AzPatsFan]

When you are one dimensional losing your running game to injury, as the Patriots did, they had trouble but only one team actually "caught up"...

 

[DynastyDriven]

Randy Moss: Patriots could be even better than '07 perfect season

Randy Moss: Patriots could be even better than '07 perfect season - The Huddle - USATODAY.com


The NFL-record 75 touchdowns the Patriots scored in 2007? They could just be a stepping stone to next season's production, according to Randy Moss.

The New England receiver told ESPN the Patriots could exceed the output of their 16-0 regular season with Tom Brady back under center this season.

"The sky's the limit for this offense," Moss told ESPN. "I think that we could be a little bit better than two years ago."

 

[Gumby]

Re: Randy Moss: Patriots could be even better than '07 perfect season

1. The lesson all the other teams learned from SB and Gm 1 of 08/09 season was 'tee off on Brady; that is only way to stop the Patriots O.'

2. scoring much more than they did in 2007 will require the Def to have an equally good year. If they don't get the ball back then it will just be a bunch of shootouts.

3. remember how much grief Patriots got for 'running up the score'

Conclusions:
I fully expect to see teams in full blitz mode vs patriots for at least first 4 games until they prove they can protect Brady and he is not nervous in pocket. We better hope the OL is ready in their blitz pickups.

And opponents will not be satisfied w/ punting on 4th and 2s. They will take more chances to score more points versus Patriots than they would with other teams. To some extent defensive game planning will go out the window. Much like the Doofins last year if a team is going to try something new and different they will wait til they play the Pats to unveil it.

The full bore criticism of pouring points on will come back again if they do and it will have some effect of slowing down the offense or seeing Brady on bench earlier (also if teams are blitzing all the time and we are in front - gotta protect the franchise)

All in all - I doubt we can expect to see an equalling of 2007 pt production. Especially if Fred Taylor and Maroney run as much as I expect them to. We will be running much more clock than in 2007.

 

[ScottieC]

Personally, I love the enthusiasm and all, but I kinda wish he would keep it to himself.

However, we all know Randy is not one for talking in the Media, he's been around for a while, Bill and Tom have BOTH said he's the smartest receiver they have ever worked with and now he feels so confident that he's talking about the offense even BEFORE training camp!?!?!?

Ok, the other 31 might be in BIG trouble this year.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Randy Moss: Patriots could be even better than '07 perfect season

I fully expect to see teams in full blitz mode vs patriots for at least first 4 games until they prove they can protect Brady and he is not nervous in pocket. We better hope the OL is ready in their blitz pickups.

Especially with the jetsters and the Ravens both on the schedule in the first four weeks.

 

[State]

Silence is the better part of discretion, here, Randy. Don't set your expectations so high in such a public fashion. Dumb.

I hope it works out this way, but I think Moss has lost a step. I know that's heresy here on the board, like a Catholic denying the Trinity. Moss does more pushing off to gain the separation he used to use his wheels for.

Look for more flags against him just for that, limiting his freakish production.

I'm not saying he'll go all Big Papi on us, perish the thought.

He is two years older, after all. Galloway is ancient but still freakishly fast. But I think prone to suffer nagging injury.

And Welker keeps getting the snide beaten out of him, but is very tough. I am continually surprised he's able to get up after some of those beatings.

One of those guys go down--or two, I mean these guys are susceptible to injury--and whom do we go to? Brady to Chris Baker works for me.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

Silence is the better part of discretion, here, Randy. Don't set your expectations so high in such a public fashion. Dumb.

I hope it works out this way, but I think Moss has lost a step. I know that's heresy here on the board, like a Catholic denying the Trinity. Moss does more pushing off to gain the separation he used to use his wheels for.

Look for more flags against him just for that, limiting his freakish production.

I'm not saying he'll go all Big Papi on us, perish the thought.

He is two years older, after all. Galloway is ancient but still freakishly fast. But I think prone to suffer nagging injury.

And Welker keeps getting the snide beaten out of him, but is very tough. I am continually surprised he's able to get up after some of those beatings.

One of those guys go down--or two, I mean these guys are susceptible to injury--and whom do we go to? Brady to Chris Baker works for me.

it's called optimism, boy and this is what you say in may.........as for losing a step, pushing off is something he has always done........they are not connected

 

[PatsBoy12]

Personally, I love the enthusiasm and all, but I kinda wish he would keep it to himself.

I totally agree. In fact, I wish all Patriot talk in the National media would cease. I know we're not exactly sneaking up on anyone, but I hate how nobody is talking about the Steelers. I'd rather all the focus be on them since they're the defending champs and everyone would ignore the Patriots.

I wish all the comparisons to the 2007 team would also cease. I mean, we all remember how that one ended. I know there are those who will point out various things (teams catching up, Giants blitz, lack of running game down the stretch, etc.), but it really needs to stop. Let's be excited that the roster looks good and deep and we're getting arguably the best QB back. Let's temper that enthusiasm, however, until at least the preseason IF we survive it without any significant injuries.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

The rest of the NFL is catching up to the Patriots' offense

Nice link

 

[BradyManny]

I think elite athletes aren't afraid to set high expectations b/c they don't fear failure like the rest of the populace...I have no problem with what Moss said. I like what Moss said.