Reiss transcribes Brady's Sirius Interview

[MoLewisrocks]

Lots of good insight on his approach to the position and how the offense here works.

He also provides a link for those who prefer listening to reading.

Brady goes deep on Sirius - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[BradyManny]

Great stuff, all football, no filter.

It's obvious how much Brady loves having receivers that he can really trust will be on the same page. Lloyd's off to a great start. This year could be special.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

They need a viable running component (like Brady said capable of threatening more than 3 yards and an absolute given in short yardage) and they need that OL to gel hopefully with the guys they kind of planned on starting.

 

[12ClutchFactor]

They need a viable running component (like Brady said capable of threatening more than 3 yards and an absolute given in short yardage) and they need that OL to gel hopefully with the guys they kind of planned on starting.

I'm kind of thinking that Vollmer may not be someone to depend on having going forward. Back problems can linger for a long time and are a severe problem in a sport that requires such core strength and flexibility.

And no, I'm not a doctor.

 

[BradyManny]

They need a viable running component (like Brady said capable of threatening more than 3 yards and an absolute given in short yardage) and they need that OL to gel hopefully with the guys they kind of planned on starting.

Vollmer is the only real concern. Mankins' seems to be on track; and the Waters absence is overblown.

Vollmer could throw a wrench in things. But, even if he is absent - the reality is, I think the production of the OL has always exceeded its talent for two reasons: 1) Scar 2) Brady. You got a coach who can coach them up, and a QB who knows when to release the ball.

Obviously, this has caught up with us against the Giants at inopportune moments.

As for running back, I honestly think it hardly matters. If our RBs can be average, the offense will be fine. What production we've gotten from the run game of late has been a result of the deadly passing attack. It's a bonus if Ridley/Vereen amount to something more than average.

 

[12ClutchFactor]

Vollmer is the only real concern. Mankins' seems to be on track; and the Waters absence is overblown.

Vollmer could throw a wrench in things. But, even if he is absent - the reality is, I think the production of the OL has always exceeded its talent for two reasons: 1) Scar 2) Brady. You got a coach who can coach them up, and a QB who knows when to release the ball.

I'm still a little concerned about what the quality of play will be if Cannon has to become the full-time starter at right tackle.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Vollmer is the only real concern. Mankins' seems to be on track; and the Waters absence is overblown.

Vollmer could throw a wrench in things. But, even if he is absent - the reality is, I think the production of the OL has always exceeded its talent for two reasons: 1) Scar 2) Brady. You got a coach who can coach them up, and a QB who knows when to release the ball.

Obviously, this has caught up with us against the Giants at inopportune moments.

As for running back, I honestly think it hardly matters. If our RBs can be average, the offense will be fine. What production we've gotten from the run game of late has been a result of the deadly passing attack. It's a bonus if Ridley/Vereen amount to something more than average.

I think the running game (overall unit) has to be above average, not by a lot but enough of a concern to keep tough defenses honest and give Brady another outlet. I think that was what TFB himself was trying to indicate. Benny was safe, but he wasn't productive enough to give opposing defenses pause. They need to be just a little dangerous and able to make Defenders pay. Like Brady said, 3 yards won't cut it. They need to be able to regularly threaten to hit some explosive gains and flat out guarantee short yardage conversions. Otherwise they become just to easy to ignore and the focus remains on Brady (killing the head).

 

[Deus Irae]

Brady says what a lot of us were saying during the year:

Have you noticed opponents packing in with underneath coverages? You have so many underneath options. 4-under is never enough. Five might not be enough the way you set it up. Do you see some unusual underneath coverages?

“Yeah, and I think over the course of the season, a lot of teams were trying to pack it in tight, and make us throw the ball deep and up the sideline..."

 

[supafly]

Brady says what a lot of us were saying during the year:

Absolutely. I think that was a glaring weakness that just about everyone could see, and one that Belichick worked hard at addressing in the off-season.

Llyod obviously is the big key there, but having Gaffney back (and maybe even Stallworth) will help to offset that kind of a defensive look.

I think the offense should be a lot better balanced, with the assumed return to the screens (you recently put up a stat that showed the average being from about 55-80 in the past, whereas they only had 34 catches by RB's last year), the improvement of the running game, and the ability to open up and stretch the field with some actual WR's.

Edit: Interestingly enough, with all of the short area/middle area defensive groupings and schemes, Brady and Co. were still quite productive there. That has to say something about an almost sure thing that we will be a bit better on offense this year alone.

 

[Deus Irae]

Absolutely. I think that was a glaring weakness that just about everyone could see, and one that Belichick worked hard at addressing in the off-season...

C'mon, now, Supafly. We were getting hammered for pointing that stuff out. There's been a lot of revisionist history on this site about the past few years. Let's not add this to it.

 

[Joker]

Man, I've seen a lot of offensive sets in my lifetime but I look at THIS offensive 11 and the first thing I see is, Hernandez is going to MURDER teams this season...someone explain to me who is going to gameplan against him when he's moving all over the field, out of the backfield, split out, bunched in with Welker running crosses to clear and Gronk curl-ins to break off of....Herno is special, I hope everyone realizes this...sometimes I think the fans sort of take him for granted like he's "oh, yeah, that guy"...suppose this rookie running back CAN run the cracks and get wide too..Hernandez is going to explode if that is the case...I hardly ever gush like a fanboy but I've already seen what they have and I'm headed up tomorrow..I cannot wait to see more of this offensive unit practicing.

 

[supafly]

C'mon, now, Supafly. We were getting hammered for pointing that stuff out. There's been a lot of revisionist history on this site about the past few years. Let's not add this to it.

Forgive me, Deus. I am not sure if you are being sarcastic or not?

If we are talking about the lack of a potential downfield threat last year to help to not only produce, but also open up the middle/underneath routes than I would have to think that most of us agreed that was likely the offense's biggest weakness.

The failure of the Ochocinco experiment only added to that catastrophe.

As I said though, forgive me if you were being sarcastic.

 

[Deus Irae]

Man, I've seen a lot of offensive sets in my lifetime but I look at THIS offensive 11 and the first thing I see is, Hernandez is going to MURDER teams this season...someone explain to me who is going to gameplan against him when he's moving all over the field, out of the backfield, split out, bunched in with Welker running crosses to clear and Gronk curl-ins to break off of....Herno is special, I hope everyone realizes this...sometimes I think the fans sort of take him for granted like he's "oh, yeah, that guy"...suppose this rookie running back CAN run the cracks and get wide too..Hernandez is going to explode if that is the case...I hardly ever gush like a fanboy but I've already seen what they have and I'm headed up tomorrow..I cannot wait to see more of this offensive unit practicing.

If they had the true quality downfield burner, they'd have pretty much every receiving option you could ask for. Even without that, It's going to be very difficult to cover this receiving group. If the running game can show itself as a bit of a threat and keep the safeties honest, I don't know if there will be any way for a team to stop them with any measure of consistency, other than by getting to Brady or catching the Patriots on a bad day.

 

[supafly]

If they had the true quality downfield burner, they'd have pretty much every receiving option you could ask for. Even without that, It's going to be very difficult to cover this receiving group. If the running game can show itself as a bit of a threat and keep the safeties honest, I don't know if there will be any way for a team to stop them with any measure of consistency, other than by getting to Brady or catching the Patriots on a bad day.

All I am worried about are injuries to be honest with you. Other than that, I do not think that there are too many ways to slow this offense down.

Llyod will help the situation tremendously, even if his production isn't all that great. The addition of Gaffney, who we already know has good chemistry with Brady from before will also help in a very important way. I believe that Gaffney can be much better than Branch was in many aspects of the game.

Adding that kind of depth (or 'real' WR talent and competition) will improve the team's only real weakness from last year in my opinion.

The top 5 targets could be:

Welker
Hernandez
Gronkowski
Llyod
Gaffney

(with a backup WR like Branch/Stallworth to step in if/when needed)

Adding in a return to the screen game on some level, and a more effective rushing game will make this offense virtually unstoppable.

 

[Deus Irae]

Forgive me, Deus. I am not sure if you are being sarcastic or not?

If we are talking about the lack of a potential downfield threat last year to help to not only produce, but also open up the middle/underneath routes than I would have to think that most of us agreed that was likely the offense's biggest weakness.

The failure of the Ochocinco experiment only added to that catastrophe.

As I said though, forgive me if you were being sarcastic.

I wasn't being sarcastic at all. The screams about the middle-deep threat not being needed were much louder in 2010, I grant you, as I think the tide had shifted after the Jets loss and the trade for Chad Johnson, and maybe I'm remembering it as coming from a higher percentage of the board than it was because some of those who were denying the need were very adamant, but it was definitely going on.

 

[supafly]

I wasn't being sarcastic at all. The screams about the middle-deep threat not being needed were much louder in 2010, I grant you, as I think the tide had shifted after the Jets loss and the trade for Chad Johnson, and maybe I'm remembering it as coming from a higher percentage of the board than it was because some of those who were denying the need were very adamant, but it was definitely going on.

Okay, yes, going back to 2010 I definitely remember it that way too. You are right in stating that the NYJ playoff loss made it extremely glaring, particularly just the way that they were so confident and successful in defending Brady/Co. I think it can be hard to argue when they were whipping everyone's asses and securing #1 seeds, so that is likely the reason why some may not have initially been on board. After all, they came within a break or two of winning both the NY post-season games, but they likely would have done it easily with a viable downfield threat to at the very least, help to draw coverage.

I do remember there being more of a shift after the Jets loss and as the 2011 season progressed where the need became very extreme; especially as it was becoming realized that the Ocho experiement would not work out at all--although many (including myself) held out hope as long as we could.

One way or another though, I am grateful that Belichick addressed it, and that the chips fell in the right way with the Brandon Llyod situation. It should make for a much improved unit this season.

 

[Salva135]

Nothing to see here, folks. Just Brady being Brady. If he could keep this all up for another 3-5 years that would be just swell.

 

[Deus Irae]

...One way or another though, I am grateful that Belichick addressed it, and that the chips fell in the right way with the Brandon Llyod situation. It should make for a much improved unit this season.

From your lips to God's ears.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Differing opinions aren't always the seemingly irrational screams opponents choose to portray them to be. Most folks grasped that ideally this team needed to be better able to stretch the field, horizontally as well as vertically. Some felt Ocho would be capable of doing that, others not so much. Yet the way the 2011 season played out this team came within a missed opportunity or two not to mention a key injury or two away from winning another ring. That said, this season they seem to have made it a point to locate multiple WR's who are familiar with the offense who can run a variety of routes inside or outside of the numbers, as well as multiple potential viable third TE's options, which is a welcome change in the level of talent and depth at those positions and from a practical standpoint preferrable to spending a first round draft pick and double digit millions on a lone speedy WR who might be little more than a one trick pony.