Key to the season-Passing Game

[RayClay]

One thing to look for as we head to the playoffs is the rhythm of the passing game.

If we see Brady look, look, look then pass or throw it away, that's our offense.

If he starts staring, or looking around like he's lost, we're in trouble.

Sure, guys can get open and he can find them, (Gabriel, Jackson early season), but that's not our offense and it breaks down into a mess after a while.

Some offenses have star receivers and QBs that look for them to get open. Our's doesn't. To change it would take at least a training camp.

I think in the Viking's game they sold out to the run so much, they didn't try to throw the rhythm off our game and receivers easily ran routes where and when they were supposed to.

The trick is running it against a team that knows us, (Jets, Miami).

That's when Tom needs all his options available and precise.

Thoughts?

 

[BlitzFritz]

Totally agree.
our running game is better than average but cannot take us there.
inconsistency has been passing game.

i do wonder tho if guys can really get open against top shelf defenses....?

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I think in the Viking's game they sold out to the run so much, they didn't try to throw the rhythm off our game and receivers easily ran routes where and when they were supposed to.

I'm not sure if they were trying to stop Brady from running, because the PAts were in a 5 wr set with no back. SO how is that trying to sell out to stop the run?

The trick is running it against a team that knows us, (Jets, Miami).

I think everyone has pointed that out that they start great with the run like in the Colts game and Jets game but then they get away from the run.



Thoughts?

I agree on needing the pass. That's pretty much why Troy Brown is back to wr full time. I believe they've come to the realization that the current wr were not doing what they were suppose to.

Also keep in mind Ben Watson has slowly disappeared each week prior to last weeks injury. it seemed for about 3 weeks he wasn't the featured part of the offense.

Now consider not having Watson. I just don't see the Patriots having a decent passing offense against good teams. I consider Jax and Tenn. teams playing good now. Sure the Pats will most likely have a good day passing today.

But I don't expect much for the rest of the season with the pass. We've all waited for it come together and get rhythem but it hasn't come. The only good game was the Vikings. Every other game had no rhythem.

We can blame it on the OC or wr's, but it doesn't look good.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Totally agree.
our running game is better than average but cannot take us there.
inconsistency has been passing game.

i do wonder tho if guys can really get open against top shelf defenses....?

I believe the running game to be average. If Maroney comes back they need to utilize him in many ways such as screens and short passes over the middle. The guy needs touches.

 

[RayClay]

Totally agree.
our running game is better than average but cannot take us there.
inconsistency has been passing game.

i do wonder tho if guys can really get open against top shelf defenses....?

It's designed to work in synchronization.

If everyone does their job precisely, the play forces the defense to choose, that is someone will be open.

No defender can be in two places at the same time.

Reche is doing well, but I hope Gaffney shows something. It definitely takes discipline and practice to get this system working.

 

[RayClay]

I agree on needing the pass. That's pretty much why Troy Brown is back to wr full time. I believe they've come to the realization that the current wr were not doing what they were suppose to.

Also keep in mind Ben Watson has slowly disappeared each week prior to last weeks injury. it seemed for about 3 weeks he wasn't the featured part of the offense.

Now consider not having Watson. I just don't see the Patriots having a decent passing offense against good teams. I consider Jax and Tenn. teams playing good now. Sure the Pats will most likely have a good day passing today.

But I don't expect much for the rest of the season with the pass. We've all waited for it come together and get rhythem but it hasn't come. The only good game was the Vikings. Every other game had no rhythem.

We can blame it on the OC or wr's, but it doesn't look good.

The Vikings were determined to stop the run after the cincinnati game where we went wild.

We didn't run at all, got into a rhythm and they didn't adjust.

When teams bump our receivers or really study what we're trying to do, they can disrupt our passing game unless we have receivers that know how to adjust within the system.

Only Troy does now, but Reche has worked hard.

Since we had so many new guys, Brady started looking for Jackson and Gabriel, because he knew they didn't have the system down yet and we needed to win games.

That's why Gabriel's gone and Graham's giving the needle to Jackson.

I'm guessing Gaffney's looked good in practice because Gabriel's gone and we don't hear anything about Gaffney which leads me to believe he's buying into the program.

Remember, Branch was under contract. We lose Givens and Reche is the #2 with 2 experienced receivers to work with.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

The Vikings were determined to stop the run after the cincinnati game where we went wild.

We didn't run at all, got into a rhythm and they didn't adjust.

Isn't this contradictory? If the Pats didn't even have a back in the backfield...how can thhey be determined to stop the run? The Vikings front four is basically built to stop the run and their front four couldn't get to Brady. The d-backs played off the wr's and gave up alot underneath. You are right they never adjusted.


Since we had so many new guys, Brady started looking for Jackson and Gabriel, because he knew they didn't have the system down yet and we needed to win games.

If you're stating he knew they didn't have th system down why would he look for them?

That's why Gabriel's gone and Graham's giving the needle to Jackson.

Remember, Branch was under contract. We lose Givens and Reche is the #2 with 2 experienced receivers to work with.

You are exactly right with Deion. I would bet the FO is regretting not having Deion here since week 10 and they'd have him for a playoff run. They could've traded him in the offseason. .

But the fact is they have lousy wideouts or bad plays are being called. Which is a major reason Troy went back to full time wideout

 

[RayClay]

But the fact is they have lousy wideouts or bad plays are being called. Which is a major reason Troy went back to full time wideout

1. No it's not contradictory. They game planned to stop the run with their powerful run defense and make us one dimensional. By passing right away, we went for their weakness and established a rhythm.

For the rest of the game, the run pass option was totally available to us. I meant their game plan for the week, not play action.

2. If you have a precise system and are forced into a situation where your people don't have time to learn it, you adjust. They've all played football.
Only Reche was even remotely familiar with the system, so they ran sandlot plays with Gabriel and Jackson. You have to win games somehowand they've compromised. I think they're back to training camp mode now for gaffney and Jackson.

3. They had the option to keep Branch around and he would have been better than anyone they could pick up. He had 4 years in the system is why, plus he was very good at it, as Troy was in his prime.

In reality, they did the best thing, because keeping an unhappy Branch around would have completely blown the morale of the team IMO.
I doubt they would have been 9-4 with that situation hanging over the team.

4. I've questioned the creativity of the OC. Reche has done well, IMO but you can't completely replace 2 WRs with 4 years experience in this system without giving them at least a full training camp. No one we could have picked up could do any better in the short term. You have to learn the system.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I dont believe we have "lousy" wideouts.
We need better usage of their abilities, including more of the inside passing game. It is obvious that the outside game is not working..whydo what isnt working?

As of this very minute here are the wideouts:

1. Reche- decent wide receiver, has come around this season after tough start.

2. Troy Brown- smart but old

3. Jabar- if he is decent then why was he on the street when the patriots called him?

4. Jackson is unproven- can't assess if he's good or bad- has been injured too much- could he not handle the patriots conditioning program?

5. Kevlin Kight- I'd be surprised to see him get one snap as a wr. in reality he's in there for special teams.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

...........................

NEM my dear friend, now that is desperation. Have you even seen what this guy has done as a wr?

Gabriel who tried to be a wr couldn't even grasp the offense.

I'd go with something more reliable like play BAM.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

That too, but, dont hold your breath, cause it makes too much sense.

I expect the offense to sputter today. Detroit gave them problems.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

I agree with Ray Clay about how the precision passing game is our game. For that reason, I believe come playoff time, the receivers in our passing game will involve the usual suspects (Kevin Faulk, Troy Brown, Ben Watson (both at TE and slot sometimes), Dan Graham and of course Reche Caldwell who seems to have really caught on to the system. Maroney and Dillon will carry the running game and hopefully we will get the screen game going. I think Jabar will be in the slot.

That could be why BB shored up the DBs, so that Troy Brown could be a full-time weapon in the passing game.

 

[RayClay]

As of this very minute here are the wideouts:

1. Reche- decent wide receiver, has come around this season after tough start.

2. Troy Brown- smart but old

3. Jabar- if he is decent then why was he on the street when the patriots called him?

4. Jackson is unproven- can't assess if he's good or bad- has been injured too much- could he not handle the patriots conditioning program?

5. Kevlin Kight- I'd be surprised to see him get one snap as a wr. in reality he's in there for special teams.

3. David Patten, Reche Caldwell? Pretty hard to pick up a free agent who's not available

Plus Gaffney's had 171 catches in 4 years.

 

[RayClay]

I agree with Ray Clay about how the precision passing game is our game. For that reason, I believe come playoff time, the receivers in our passing game will involve the usual suspects (Kevin Faulk, Troy Brown, Ben Watson (both at TE and slot sometimes), Dan Graham and of course Reche Caldwell who seems to have really caught on to the system. Maroney and Dillon will carry the running game and hopefully we will get the screen game going. I think Jabar will be in the slot.

That could be why BB shored up the DBs, so that Troy Brown could be a full-time weapon in the passing game.

Gaffney's the quick possession receiver we covet. Hopefully, he can be dependable with some good practices.

Kight's a Givens Clone physically. Stuck his nose in there on a good Dillon run.