A solid offense

[mgteich]

Anything can happen, especially injuries. However, this group is ready to go, with few decisions to be made. We might attempt to upgrade Morris/Green-Ellis with a free agent.

OFFENSE (24)
QB (2) Brady, Hoyer
RB (4) Maroney, Taylor, Faulk, Morris/Green-Ellis
WR (6) Moss, Holt. Edelman, Tate, Price, Aiken/Slater
TE (3) Grankowski, Crumpler, Hernandez (also an h-back)
OL (9) Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Vollmer,
Kaczur, Connolly/Bussey, Orhnberger, LeVoir

 

[hammertime]

I can deal with this offense. We will definitely be pass heavy, but Brady has so many more options to get the ball too. I think that if we can survive the first six weeks ostensibly without Welker, this team will really hit its stride from 7 onward.

 

[Patspsycho]

We still don't have a proven deep threat to pull coverage off Moss.

 

[mgteich]

Holt isn't enough?

We still don't have a proven deep threat to pull coverage off Moss.

 

[Patspsycho]

Holt isn't enough?

Until we see what chemistry he has with Brady, there is going to be a question mark next to his name. The same is true for Price and Anderson.

I understand Brady points to Holt when he speaks of route running, but until that happens, it's something that looks good on paper right now.

 

[mgteich]

You can choose to discuss Holt, Price and Anderson as if they are on the same footing. It make no sense to me.

The reality is that the coaches, Brady, Moss and Holt will all jointly make sure that they are on the same page. That's their job, and they take it seriously. Brady, Moss and Holt are healthy HOFers and they have plenty of time. They'll get it right.

Christmas has come in April for Brady: Holt and now Grankowski, Hernandez, and Price.

Until we see what chemistry he has with Brady, there is going to be a question mark next to his name. The same is true for Price and Anderson.

I understand Brady points to Holt when he speaks of route running, but until that happens, it's something that looks good on paper right now.

 

[Matw]

I agree, our offensive personnel is much better this year around. The only thing I am concerned about at this point is Offensive Co-ordinator Bill O'brien. Our offense lacked creativity last season...

 

[mgteich]

My description of O'brien's performance wouldn't be as kind as yours.

I agree, our offensive personnel is much better this year around. The only thing I am concerned about at this point is Offensive Co-ordinator Bill O'brien. Our offense lacked creativity last season...

 

[Marqui]

We still don't have a proven deep threat to pull coverage off Moss.

Tate looked like that guy in his brief play last year.

 

[BelichickFan]

We still don't have a proven deep threat to pull coverage off Moss.

We don't have a proven WR, correct. I wouldn't characterize the need as a deep threat as Gaffney certainly wasn't and he eventually beat out the deep threat Stallworth. We do need another reliable WR, though, and we have no proven one. That said, with Holt, Patten, Tate and Price all competing for it and only one needed to fill that spot it seems highly unlikely this will be an issue by September.

 

[VJCPatriot]

My description of O'brien's performance wouldn't be as kind as yours.

Tell us how you really feel...

I think the receivers look better than last year and once Welker gets back, watch out!

RBs could have used an upgrade, but I see the value in waiting for a real stud 3 down feature back like Ingram next year.

Offensive line has a few more guys for Dante's school of 'coach em up!'
I'm wondering about Welch at OT, could he end up being any better than Kaczur? The Pats seemed to like him enough to give up two picks and move up for him.

Tight ends got completely overhauled and we've got some talented young guys to go with a tough veteran in Crumpler. This offense could be real fun to watch in 2010!

 

[Deus Irae]

We don't have a proven WR, correct. I wouldn't characterize the need as a deep threat as Gaffney certainly wasn't and he eventually beat out the deep threat Stallworth. We do need another reliable WR, though, and we have no proven one. That said, with Holt, Patten, Tate and Price all competing for it and only one needed to fill that spot it seems highly unlikely this will be an issue by September.

How does Holt not have "proven WR" status?

 

[patsfan-1982]

We still don't have a proven deep threat to pull coverage off Moss.

i think if brady throws to the TE's more that will bring the safety and LB's down and open up moss more then a speed WR will.




IMO they throw to moss deep way to much any ways they need to throw him some shorter routes to get the ball in he's hand about 7 or 8 times a game. not just 2 deep balls a game.

 

[ausbacker]

How does Holt not have "proven WR" status?

I scratched a hole in the side of my head trying to come to grips with Torry Holt not being a proven wide receiver.

 

[DarrylS]

Primarily, Brady has had a whole offseason to heal his knee..

Definitely an upgrade, particularly at TE, this year we have better TE's on paper and that should make a huge difference, particularly in the red zone.. remember the 2 yards we needed in the Indy game, probably would have been more appropo for pass to a TE than to a small RB..

WR is an upgrade as well Holt, Price and Tate are all upgrades on paper, and should provide for interesting camp competition..

RB about the same...

OL more depth and another year for the young'uns to have attended the Dante Scarnechia school of O Line..

But the better offense will be enhanced by better ST's, which seems to have been a focus for the Pats this draft.. better field position for the Pats, less so for their opponents..

Four of these draftees were team captains and are used to be team leaders, a definite trend for this team..

The D looks better on paper as well, so the O can be better...

 

[jsull87]

god i hope holt turns out better than galloway... sooooo disappointing

 

[ivanvamp]

god i hope holt turns out better than galloway...

In all seriousness, how can he not?

 

[smg93]

A huge part of Moss' job is to draw double coverage so that it in theory creates more holes for other WR's and TE's to catch the ball. Once Brady starts hitting those guys, the D will have to protect against them more and not double cover Moss all the time. You don't necessarily need two deep threats in one team. Most NFL teams don't even have one deep threat like Moss, much less two.

 

[capetide]

I think that the passing game will take care of itself and be fine assuming that there is a credible threat of a running game and more creative/effective play calling (didn't take a football genius to figure out when they were going to run the ball). Need more toughess in the O-line (hoping they will find a stud center). Too often runners were hit in the backfield or they were no holes to run through.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Hopefully they were serious about getting the TEs more involved. And with Crumpler and Gronk being solid blockers, plus Vollmer with a year of experience and hopefully Neal staying healthy, we may see more consistency in the running game. I'd like to see a lot more play action passing and less shotgun formations.

But I think personnel-wise, we now have all the pieces, so the offense's success will be determined more on O'Brien's growth as a play-caller more than anything else.