Reiss's Mailbag: insights on the Panthers game, Moss, OC, others

[Patspsycho]

Some pretty good insights and analysis:

The New England Patriots might have won this weekend, but the mailbag had plenty of question about Randy Moss - ESPN Boston

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Some pretty good insights and analysis:

The New England Patriots might have won this weekend, but the mailbag had plenty of question about Randy Moss - ESPN Boston

Is something up with Randy Moss?

Why hasn't anyone started a thread on the subject?

 

[Rob0729]

I think the biggest thing brushed on in Reiss' column is that 8 of 11 of Brady's INTs were thrown to Moss. Now I blame Brady for a lot of those INTs, if not most of them. I am not trying to point out that Moss has dogged it on all those plays, but it is important none the less.

I think one of the bigger problems with the offense this year has been that they are forcing far too many plays to Moss. If Brady and the coaching staff start to lose confidence in Moss, it could be a good thing. Why the offense came to life in the second half on Sunday was because Brady was starting to look to other receivers. O'Brien as a rookie signal caller might fall into the rookie trap of overrelying on his best weapon and that would be Moss. Sunday could have forced him out of that habit.

 

[SVN]

I think the biggest thing brushed on in Reiss' column is that 8 of 11 of Brady's INTs were thrown to Moss. Now I blame Brady for a lot of those INTs, if not most of them. I am not trying to point out that Moss has dogged it on all those plays, but it is important none the less.

I think one of the bigger problems with the offense this year has been that they are forcing far too many plays to Moss. If Brady and the coaching staff start to lose confidence in Moss, it could be a good thing. Why the offense came to life in the second half on Sunday was because Brady was starting to look to other receivers. O'Brien as a rookie signal caller might fall into the rookie trap of overrelying on his best weapon and that would be Moss. Sunday could have forced him out of that habit.

maybe but i dont know if they are using moss as creatively either at least according to dilfer. when jmcd was here he used moss in reverses,slants and even WR screens. So far moss has been a target of deep balls only so its easier to neutralize him. just my opinion.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

I think the biggest thing brushed on in Reiss' column is that 8 of 11 of Brady's INTs were thrown to Moss. Now I blame Brady for a lot of those INTs, if not most of them. I am not trying to point out that Moss has dogged it on all those plays, but it is important none the less.

I think one of the bigger problems with the offense this year has been that they are forcing far too many plays to Moss. If Brady and the coaching staff start to lose confidence in Moss, it could be a good thing. Why the offense came to life in the second half on Sunday was because Brady was starting to look to other receivers. O'Brien as a rookie signal caller might fall into the rookie trap of overrelying on his best weapon and that would be Moss. Sunday could have forced him out of that habit.

Losing confidence and not using your best weapon is never a good thing. Also, the int's I have seen were basically bad reads/throws. Besides, you still have to take your shots down the field.

However, it maybe the offense was getting too predictable and trying something different worked.

 

[Rob0729]

Losing confidence and not using your best weapon is never a good thing. Also, the int's I have seen were basically bad reads/throws. Besides, you still have to take your shots down the field.

However, it maybe the offense was getting too predictable and trying something different worked.

I disagree. If you are overrelying on your best weapon and making forced, ill advised throws to him; it is probably better to look elsewhere. I agree a lot of the INTs were bad reads or throws, but it was because of Brady's (which could be O'Brien's) overreliance on Moss.

You can still take shots down the field with Moss. It just means to you try it 2 or 3 times rather than 4 or 5.

 

[supafly]

maybe but i dont know if they are using moss as creatively either at least according to dilfer. when jmcd was here he used moss in reverses,slants and even WR screens. So far moss has been a target of deep balls only so its easier to neutralize him. just my opinion.

Good point, I agree I think it has become much easier for defenses to neutralize him and his talents, our lack of a viable #3 is adding to this, IMO.

I believe if we had a good #3 candidiate this would not be such a glaring issue, and it has been quite evident that just about all of Brady's INT have been looking for Randy--I have been asking if this was coincidental for a few weeks now.

I agree too that they have to do a better job at getting him involved in more touches in general. Any predictability of this offense starts with the involvement/schemes of Randy Moss, and must be corrected immediately, again due to the lack of a #3.

 

[Rob0729]

maybe but i dont know if they are using moss as creatively either at least according to dilfer. when jmcd was here he used moss in reverses,slants and even WR screens. So far moss has been a target of deep balls only so its easier to neutralize him. just my opinion.

I agree the playcalling is not as creative as when McDaniels was here, but that is only part of the problem.

Sunday was the first time in weeks where Watson was a receiving target. He had three receptions and 1 TD on Sunday. He had 3 receptions and no TDs the combined 5 weeks prior to Sunday. Kevin Faulk had more catches against Carolina (10) than Miami, New Orleans, and the Jets combined (8).

For the first time in the longest time, Brady was looking at other receivers more (despite the incredible amount of catches that Welker got). It woke up the offense in the second half.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Hey, how about this startling theory: BB, Brady and Moss are fooling the NFL with this overfocus on Moss. Once playoffs begin, BB will open his playbook and Brady will focus on the other receivers and every team will be scrambling to cover our O??

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

I disagree. If you are overrelying on your best weapon and making forced, ill advised throws to him; it is probably better to look elsewhere. I agree a lot of the INTs were bad reads or throws, but it was because of Brady's (which could be O'Brien's) overreliance on Moss.

You can still take shots down the field with Moss. It just means to you try it 2 or 3 times rather than 4 or 5.

Semantics grasshopper

You should never "over rely" on anything. That's different than not using.

My guess is that we have to wait another year to see if Brady does come back to full form. If we has 2007 Brady, I have no doubt we would be undefeated.

 

[supafly]

I disagree. If you are overrelying on your best weapon and making forced, ill advised throws to him; it is probably better to look elsewhere. I agree a lot of the INTs were bad reads or throws, but it was because of Brady's (which could be O'Brien's) overreliance on Moss.

You can still take shots down the field with Moss. It just means to you try it 2 or 3 times rather than 4 or 5.

Yeah, I'd agree with your statement here too. If Moss can be used productivly as a decoy to some extent, then I'd hope they do that. His importance is valued still, to move coverages and safeties accordingly.

Unless they found him an immediate way to get more touches, via screens, shorter routes, reverses--whatever, I'd take as much advantage as I possibly could while trying to take fewer shots if the defense has neutralized him.

I think the 96 yd drive last week was great, and I believe Moss helped the offense out too, even though he wasn't targeted. If they aren't going to try to involve him more (which I expect them to) then I'd be all about more drives like last weeks'.

 

[Rob0729]

Semantics grasshopper

You should never "over rely" on anything. That's different than not using.

My guess is that we have to wait another year to see if Brady does come back to full form. If we has 2007 Brady, I have no doubt we would be undefeated.

I don't blame Brady for all the losses. I can't see the 2007 Brady being much better than in the Colts loss. The Pats did score 34 points. I can't see the 2007 Brady overcoming the defense in the Saints loss.

I think saying that Brady is off his game is the reason the Patriots are losing is factually incorrect. I don't think people give McDaniels enough credit for 2007 either. I think he played a huge part in the 2007 offense.