Spreading the ball around.....?

[PushnPencils]

I have a dilemna and I'm hoping the keen minds on here can assist me in engaging in some constructive discourse.

This may have been brought up before, but this issue really bugs the poop out of me.

I present to you, the Patriots version of "The Chicken and the Egg"

I don't believe the Pat's offense is based upon spreading the ball around. I believe that recent history has created a need to spread the ball around. When Branch and Givens were here, Brady would spread the ball around. But in the playoffs and SB for example, let's face it, the hot hands (Branch) got the ball exclusively.

Our receivers have never been compared to any greatest shows on turf or the second coming Swann/Stallworth. Brady's ability to extend his time in the pocket and eventually find an open man leads to this whole 11 different receiver dynamic. Even an average receiver gets open EVENTUALLY.

So now you've hit the mother-lode of receiving talent. With the possiblity of Stallworth, Welker and Watson being opened alot due to the attention Moss will garner. The ball will come to those 3 guys a lot more. More importantly, the potential of Moss returning to form and being able to haul in the ball regardless of the fact that Champ Bailey and his mom are covering him, I think that spreading the ball thing will go away.....SIMPLY BECAUSE CERTAIN PLAYERS WILL BE OPEN CONSISTANTLY.

Am I wrong?

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

SIMPLY BECAUSE CERTAIN PLAYERS WILL BE OPEN CONSISTANTLY.

Am I wrong?

You just defined "spreading the ball". Getting the ball to the open receiver and not trying to force it to Moss.

 

[PushnPencils]

You just defined "spreading the ball". Getting the ball to the open receiver and not trying to force it to Moss.

But my point is yor not going to have 7 to 11 guys with receptions each game anymore.

7 will be high and usually it will be 5 to 6 guys now getting the ball each game.

People have been saying that Moss, even if he's back to HOF form, won't be getting 80 to 100 receptions due to the fact that the Pat's "like to spread the ball around".

That to me is a bunch of hooey.

If Moss is wide open (or even just a little bit open) 10 times a game, the ball WILL come to him. Period.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Whether you are "wrong" depends on whether you are comparing the Patriots to themselves historically or to other NFL teams.

Obviously for a few seasons early in Brady's starting career, a guy like Troy Brown caught a ton of short passes. That happened for a number of reasons - but mainly because they didn't want a young Brady taking chances going deep, because they didn't have the greatest deep threats, and because our running game was centered around Antowain Smith.

So Troy Brown caught about 100 passes. That's an abberration given the makeup of the team at the time. Don't expect anyone to remotely approach that number.

That being said I don't think you're going to see 6 WRs all catching 35 passes each and see the ball spread quite that evenly. But while this team doesn't have (or need) a clear #1 & #2 WR because they are all role players, it wouldn't surprise me to see 4 WRs all catch in excess of 50 passes - and that's not even including Watson or Faulk in the equation - each of whom will see a lot of passes coming their way.

I would not be surprised to see Stallworth get lot of field time and see him running some mid-range routes. That's going to help him get his receptions up. But just because we have Stallworth and Moss don't expect to see a lot of long bombs.

They will use more than enought to deliver some deep strikes and TDs to keep defenses honest, but no matter how good your deep WRs are, a long pass is a high risk pass, and the Patriots don't like a high risk passing offense.

The bulk of the catches will be still be @10 yards per catch which likely means Welker, Watson, Faulk, and others will see the bulk of the catches IMO.

But if you are expecting a player to haul in 85 + like on some other teams, I think you'll have a very long wait.

 

[fair catch fryar]

I have a dilemna and I'm hoping the keen minds on here can assist me in engaging in some constructive discourse.

This may have been brought up before, but this issue really bugs the poop out of me.

I present to you, the Patriots version of "The Chicken and the Egg"

I don't believe the Pat's offense is based upon spreading the ball around. I believe that recent history has created a need to spread the ball around. When Branch and Givens were here, Brady would spread the ball around. But in the playoffs and SB for example, let's face it, the hot hands (Branch) got the ball exclusively.

Our receivers have never been compared to any greatest shows on turf or the second coming Swann/Stallworth. Brady's ability to extend his time in the pocket and eventually find an open man leads to this whole 11 different receiver dynamic. Even an average receiver gets open EVENTUALLY.

So now you've hit the mother-lode of receiving talent. With the possiblity of Stallworth, Welker and Watson being opened alot due to the attention Moss will garner. The ball will come to those 3 guys a lot more. More importantly, the potential of Moss returning to form and being able to haul in the ball regardless of the fact that Champ Bailey and his mom are covering him, I think that spreading the ball thing will go away.....SIMPLY BECAUSE CERTAIN PLAYERS WILL BE OPEN CONSISTANTLY.

Am I wrong?

Eerie! Just as I was typing a thread to predict how Brady will distribute the football this year, you posted this! It should be a very exciting season!

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

But my point is yor not going to have 7 to 11 guys with receptions each game anymore.

7 will be high and usually it will be 5 to 6 guys now getting the ball each game.

People have been saying that Moss, even if he's back to HOF form, won't be getting 80 to 100 receptions due to the fact that the Pat's "like to spread the ball around".

That to me is a bunch of hooey.

If Moss is wide open (or even just a little bit open) 10 times a game, the ball WILL come to him. Period.

I think we will. Moss and Stallworth will prevent the D from focusing in on any one receiver over a game. This will allow them to make their catches. This will also open up the underneath routes for Welker/Washington/Caldwell/Gafney/Brown (whomever is on the team). The TE's will be able to exploit the seams more, and Faulk LoMo out of the backfield will make some catches.

One of Brady's top skill is making his reads and progressions based on what the defense gives him. He recognizes holes in the secondary, and is willing to take what is given to him. This means if Gafney underneath for 10 is a higher percentage play than Moss for 30, Brady will take the 10. (This is a skill that Manning JUST figured out).

IMO, we will still see 7 - 9 players getting a catch during a game.

 

[Dragda]

If the team gels, it will be a nightmare for teams to match up with it defensively. What do you do when you are over-matched? Get physical. Expect a lot of Patriots injuries this year on offense.

 

[mgteich]

Let's look at the active receivers.
Moss, Stallworth, Welker,#4
Watson,Thomas,Brady
Maroney,Faulk,Morris,Evans

Depending on the opponenet and opportunities, I would expect 7-10 players to have receptions in a game.

Note that I do not include occasional receptions form the #5 or #6 receiver or a #4 TE (Mills anyone?).