Was Moss Left Out of Gameplan On Purpose?

[MRBLAZE]

I think so.

Even the commentators were curious if they were trying to set up a deep bomb to Moss later in the game. I personally think they had an excellent strategy and executed well, I thought guys were blocking really well and my heart almost stopped when I saw Brady throwing a block. Please be careful Tom.

I think, if Indy wins, that in a way that will be THE Super Bowl. That will be when every single little thing hidden in the playbook is fair game. No disrespect to Jags, I honestly felt that the game was pretty much in hand, we were so productive offensively even with Jacksonville going on some long time consuming drives. It was unfortunate missing a 35yd field goal.

I think we're going to see EVERYTHING next week if Indy wins, the absolute full force of our offense, I think we did everything needed to beat Jacksonville, but I think we'll have to do even more to defeat the Colts should it work out that way. I don't think anything will be 'saved' for the SB.

 

[Wildo7]

I think they anticipated that any decent coach knows that, as an underdog, they should focus on taking your best weapon out of the game. The Pats knew Moss would be the focus of the Jags D and responded with their gameplan accordingly. The gameplan can include attacking the weaknesses of a defense you know is going to put an extra man on someone at all times.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Moss is the most talented DECOY the NFL has ever seen.

and he gets paid very well too.......

 

[MRBLAZE]

Yeah that's a valid point. It will be very interesting to see next weeks gameplan, whether it's Indy/SD.

 

[MRBLAZE]

Moss is the most talented DECOY the NFL has ever seen.

and he gets paid very well too.......

I am glad he hit all of his incentives.

 

[SVN]

give credit to jax. they mixed some coverages as and controlled him. lets not read too much into it as in leaving moss out of the plan on purpose. this isnt preseason.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

Give props to Moss-he is a very, very good team player(alot more than people give him credit for).

Did you see the blocks he threw on run plays and screens? He had a very solid game in my book.

 

[pheenix11]

Give props to Moss-he is a very, very good team player(alot more than people give him credit for).

Did you see the blocks he threw on run plays and screens? He had a very solid game in my book.

Yes I saw a lot of nice blocks from all the receivers, hell even Brady had a nice block. Great team play.

 

[DaedalusX]

give credit to jax. they mixed some coverages as and controlled him. lets not read too much into it as in leaving moss out of the plan on purpose. this isnt preseason.

I'm of the opposite mind on this. I think Belichick has a very special game plan in mind for the Colts next week. One that's been a year in the making.

There were a lot of things tonight we haven't seen all season. Next week we're going to see some "all-time highlight reel" action. And Moss will definitely be involved.

 

[RayClay]

Yeah that's a valid point. It will be very interesting to see next weeks gameplan, whether it's Indy/SD.

Remember all the "why do they keep forcing it to Moss" stuff? That's why they kept doing it in meaningless situations (up by 3 tds).

They worked the RBs and Tight end stuff to perfection and established a great running game.

Now how do you defense the Pats?

They will go back to Moss and if you overplay they will kill you with a thousand papercuts.

Whoever the D is, it sucks to be them, that's all I can say.

 

[Fahrenhype]

Brady went with what the defense was giving him, and it worked 93% of the time.

 

[RayClay]

I'm of the opposite mind on this. I think Belichick has a very special game plan in mind for the Colts next week. One that's been a year in the making.

There were a lot of things tonight we haven't seen all season. Next week we're going to see some "all-time highlight reel" action. And Moss will definitely be involved.

I agree. Why bother setting teams up in pre season? the Pats got to work a certain package of plays that took what defenses give them.

They will have more different weapons ready to use than any team this side of the Montana 49ers. Teams cannot keep letting you march down the field and score without a single punt until late in the game.

They'll have to leave something open, then we've got them.

 

[ATippett56]

I think so.

I don't whatsoever. This was vintage Brady tonight, spreading the ball around. How is setting the playoff record for completion percentage a detriment to the Patriots offense? So whatever happened to the old adage, who is Tom Brady's favorite receiver?

 

[Joker]

yeah..it's just crazy...two weeks ago this board was inundated with "Brady going to Moss too much!!!!!!"...now it's the polar opposite...just like the game thread...mass freaking hysteria 24/7...never seen anything like this

 

[sanvara]

Was Moss Left Out of Gameplan On Purpose?
I think so.

No. The Pats would never take their best receiver out of their game plan. That would make no sense. The Jags defense took Moss away, so the Pats had to go to other players.

 

[DaedalusX]

yeah..it's just crazy...two weeks ago this board was inundated with "Brady going to Moss too much!!!!!!"...now it's the polar opposite...just like the game thread...mass freaking hysteria 24/7...never seen anything like this

No one in the NFL ever has.

 

[ClevTrev]

Remember all the "why do they keep forcing it to Moss" stuff? That's why they kept doing it in meaningless situations (up by 3 tds).

They worked the RBs and Tight end stuff to perfection and established a great running game.

Now how do you defense the Pats?

They will go back to Moss and if you overplay they will kill you with a thousand papercuts.

Whoever the D is, it sucks to be them, that's all I can say.

You nailed it, RC. Watching the tapes and seeing Brady uncharacteristically force the ball to Moss over the last several games caused teams to think they could force interceptions with double teams and tight coverage. This is exactly what was in play for the offensive strategy.

 

[DaedalusX]

No. The Pats would never take their best receiver out of their game plan. That would make no sense. The Jags defense took Moss away, so the Pats had to go to other players.

Just like the Pats would never go an entire game with only 2 called running plays? And would never ignore their #2/#3 receiver (Stallworth)?

The Jags secondary is not great. Moss can easily make grabs in double coverage and is still a threat in triple coverage. Brady intentionally avoided him most of the game.

He didn't just spread the ball, he blatantly ignored Moss. You know, kind of like he had blatantly ignored Stallworth until today.

 

[arrellbee]

This is kind of a funny thread.

If the Jaguars had single covered Moss, do you really think that the 'game plan' would have still been to not throw to Moss ?? ?? ?? Think about it - of course NOT.

Which part didn't you understand of the mantra that you, if you are any kind of a sports fan, have to have heard 100's and 100's of times from Brady and the Patriots - they take what the other team gives them. THAT is why Brady - and the Pats offense as a whole - is so hugely successful. What do you think the job of the Offensive Coordinator is ? He has a script that is prepared before the game and he just reads down it and calls the plays in order ? Of course NOT. The job of the 'game plan' and the practice preparation for the week is to have a set of plays that the team is rehearsed to use that give OPTIONS that can then be selected from as the game progresses. You really think that they had a game plan that didn't include plays and routes that would take advantage of the wide receiver who scored more TDs than any receiver in history ? Don't think SO. Not only that, but how many many times have you heard about the 'check-downs' that a QB goes through as he scans through the multiple receivers to see which one might be open ? And how huge a part of a QB ability is to be able to make those mulitple reads ? How many times have you heard it discussed that the Patriots game-plan to take away one top aspect of the opponent's game ? Obviously the Jaguars game plan, which they didn't depart from the whole game, was to take Moss out of the game. And so Brady, as the ultra-competent QB that he is, didn't force it to Moss. He checked-down to the other receivers and just happened to complete 26 of 28 passes by doing that. Thank you Randy Moss for taking a significant chunk of the Jags secondary out of the game and giving Brady and the other receivers the opportunity to be as productive as they were.

 

[sanvara]

Brady intentionally avoided him most of the game.

True. He avoided him because he was covered.