ESPN First Take: "Is Brady on the decline?"

[RIpats88]

according to stats, brady has something like 2 seconds in the first 3 games between the snap and when he needs to get rid of the ball. generally, like brady said "Qb's make better decisions when they have more time" give brady more time and he will be JUST FINE.

now, watch him go out there monday and put on a clinic.

 

[Nunchucks]

I will reserve judgment on whether he is declining or not. Cannot tell when he has guys running free at him ever other time he drops back to pass.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Brady's always been fierce, intense, and downright angry at times on the field. His extreme level of competitiveness is what makes him great and always has. He's never been a passive, quiet, expressionless wallflower on the sidelines like Wilson is. Ever.

I never said anything about passive, quiet, expressionless wallflower.

I said he was poised and resilient. Which he no longer is. He gets down on himself when things aren't going his way now.

 

[patsinthesnow]

IMO, Brady is not the QB he was from 2007 to 2012*. I understand if that bothers some people, just how I see it.

That said, if the OL's fixed, he's still an elite QB and the best decision maker in the league. With this defense, he could close his career like Elway with back to back superbowls. The OL just really needs to get their act together.

*Brady's deep ball has deteriorated IMO. It's the only part of his game I see in the decline:

 

[Snake Eyes]

Your first sentence completely nullifies your second statement making it a fallacy.

How is it a fallacy? Protection and receivers are 2 different issues though they're both essential parts of the passing game.

 

[TBR]

People thinking Brady is on the decline are acting like he's thrown 6 INTs so far. It's ridiculous.

The fact he's thrown 0 INTs despite that awful offensive line (which means he HAS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME OF ANY QB IN THE LEAGUE TO MAKE A DECISION) - is actually quite remarkable.

 

[Bruins29]

How is it a fallacy? Protection and receivers are 2 different issues though they're both essential parts of the passing game.

A crap OL and a "terrified" QB as he put it would make any WR group ****

 

[patsfan-1982]

IMO, Brady is not the QB he was from 2007 to 2012*. I understand if that bothers some people, just how I see it.

That said, if the OL's fixed, he's still an elite QB and the best decision maker in the league. With this defense, he could close his career like Elway with back to back superbowls. The OL just really needs to get their act together.

*Brady's deep ball has deteriorated IMO. It's the only part of his game I see in the decline:

I agree he is not the same QB from 2007 but since 2012 he lost Hernandez Welker gronk for most of 2013 and Gronk so far this year is not the same player he was his #4 WR from 2012 is now his #1 and they traded away the best player on the OL one week before the season

 

[Brady6]

A crap OL and a "terrified" QB as he put it would make any WR group ****

If Julian Edelman a former who was drafted in the seventh round having never played WR in college can be productive with the terrified QB and **** OL, I cannot help but question how good the likes of LaFell, Dobson, Amendola, and Thompkins actually are.

Do not get me wrong the OL has been poor, but I think that has become a convenient excuse for the poor performance of the WRs outside of Edelman. Knowing that we have an OL that is struggling they should be working harder to get open faster and help Brady and the OL out a little bit.

 

[JayNM]

It's hard to judge since he had trouble that directly affected his game, of course we all know that. WR last year and OL this year (only the biggest problems in each season on offense)

It's quite appearent, however, that some throws have been misses by some wide margin.

I think we still need a solid support system so judgement can be made more efficiently. But, to my eyes, I've seen some decline yes. Still a great QB, undoubtely. But he's not playing like the GOAT.

 

[Brady6]

Take a look at this OL compared to the 2011 OL to start the season:

2011/2014
LT - Light/Solder
LG - Mankins/Cannon
OC - Koppen/Connolly
RG - Waters/Devey
RT - Vollmer/Vollmer
Backup OT - Solder/Fleming
Backup OC/OG - Connolly/Wendell
Backup OG - Thomas/Kline
Backup OC/OG - McDonald/Stork

If you have any questions about why Brady has been playing worse this should answer it.

 

[JMC00]

Take a look at this OL compared to the 2011 OL to start the season:

2011/2014
LT - Light/Solder
LG - Mankins/Cannon
OC - Koppen/Connolly
RG - Waters/Devey
RT - Vollmer/Vollmer
Backup OT - Solder/Fleming
Backup OC/OG - Connolly/Wendell
Backup OG - Thomas/Kline
Backup OC/OG - McDonald/Stork

If you have any questions about why Brady has been playing worse this should answer it.

Koppen played 1 game in 2011. Connolly was the Center for the majority of that year

 

[Bruins29]

If Julian Edelman a former who was drafted in the seventh round having never played WR in college can be productive with the terrified QB and **** OL, I cannot help but question how good the likes of LaFell, Dobson, Amendola, and Thompkins actually are.

Do not get me wrong the OL has been poor, but I think that has become a convenient excuse for the poor performance of the WRs outside of Edelman. Knowing that we have an OL that is struggling they should be working harder to get open faster and help Brady and the OL out a little bit.

If you have read the forum and the many topics that discuss it, you will have your answer. Everyone wants to be negative and blame everyone. You cant have it both ways. If the OL is truly terrible, which is appears to be it makes it impossible for the QB to get past his 1st or second read. Hence TB never gets a chance to look, consider, throw too etc.. anyone but the guys he absolutely completely trusts.

Guys, its an under performing OL (and I am being kind here) You cant disagree and then turn around and say that the WR crew is complete garbage too. 3/4 of the new WRs have already proven that they get the system. If TB had time, and probably at this juncture confidence, plays would be made there.

 

[PATS16N0]

If you have read the forum and the many topics that discuss it, you will have your answer. Everyone wants to be negative and blame everyone. You cant have it both ways. If the OL is truly terrible, which is appears to be it makes it impossible for the QB to get past his 1st or second read. Hence TB never gets a chance to look, consider, throw too etc.. anyone but the guys he absolutely completely trusts.

Guys, its an under performing OL (and I am being kind here) You cant disagree and then turn around and say that the WR crew is complete garbage too. 3/4 of the new WRs have already proven that they get the system. If TB had time, and probably at this juncture confidence, plays would be made there.

I agree.
Edelman gets open earliest and often, and so that's who Brady is focused on because he knows he has no time.

Even Calvin Johnson would be wasted in this offense until this offensive line gets its **** together, or else we would be using the best WR in football to run quick five yard slants.

 

[IllegalContact]

I have a question......

Why wasn't there talk of Brady getting Old back in 2006? His numbers were pretty bad that year. Very comparable to last year and this year so far.

Now ask yourself what 2006, 2013, & 2014 have in common?

How about 2007 when Brady got real NFL players around him?

one minor difference......in 2006, he was 29......now he is 37
another one is that nobody was saying he was in decline in 2006

 

[1960Pats]

Everything is Hernandez fault

I blame Gisele.

 

[Brady6]

If you have read the forum and the many topics that discuss it, you will have your answer. Everyone wants to be negative and blame everyone. You cant have it both ways. If the OL is truly terrible, which is appears to be it makes it impossible for the QB to get past his 1st or second read. Hence TB never gets a chance to look, consider, throw too etc.. anyone but the guys he absolutely completely trusts.

Guys, its an under performing OL (and I am being kind here) You cant disagree and then turn around and say that the WR crew is complete garbage too. 3/4 of the new WRs have already proven that they get the system. If TB had time, and probably at this juncture confidence, plays would be made there.

I think the OL is the primary factor in the problems we have had offensively, but I think that the WRs need to play better as well. I think the team needs to come together like the 2010 offense did, it had major challenges and in season changes but Brady took a real leadership role and they ended up being a very good offense. I remember the Steelers game with Brady on the sidelines leading the OL and skill players that is what we need.

 

[Bruins29]

I think the OL is the primary factor in the problems we have had offensively, but I think that the WRs need to play better as well.

And so does TB.

 

[RecoveringCowboy]

I hope none of you believe anything on First Take - seriously.

Stephen A Smith was suspended for saying domestic violence victims were women asking for it.

Skip Bayless wrote God's Coach...he was not trying to remind people Landry was human - it was character assassination. Years later he makes the totally unsubstantiated remark Troy Aikman is gay - really professional.

If that's not enough > http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ngs-skip-bayless-and-steven-a-smith-have-said

 

[PATS16N0]

I hope none of you believe anything on First Take - seriously.

Stephen A Smith was suspended for saying domestic violence victims were women asking for it.

Skip Bayless wrote God's Coach...he was not trying to remind people Landry was human - it was character assassination. Years later he makes the totally unsubstantiated remark Troy Aikman is gay - really professional.

If that's not enough > http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ngs-skip-bayless-and-steven-a-smith-have-said

First Take is the most accurate and honest analysis on ESPN. Skip Bayless AND Steven A Smith were fighting for Tom Brady to get the league MVP last year for his production and come back wins with nobody receivers. They were lone voices in the wilderness.

Skip's Superbowl pick is New England annually, and this season he is joined by Steven A Smith.

They also both have Brady as the #2 of all time, and place Peyton around #6 because of his horrid post season performances. Where else are you going to hear that but Patsfans.com?