Tomase: Pats will try to limit Moss' reps

[sebman2112]

Penned by the unmentionable reporter, via the Sporting News:

Another potential change -- even though he is one of the most gifted athletes in the league, it's unlikely that Moss will be able to sustain what he did last year, which was to play virtually every snap.

The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps to keep him fresher down the stretch, because he wore down noticeably in the face of more physical coverage last season.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=396897

 

[WhiZa]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

I'd rather him be limited in practice, and continue to play most of the reps in games. How are you going to take your play maker off the field because you want to keep him fresh?

 

[BradyManny]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

I think this is reasonable. It's not going to be the GFY tour again in 08. They just have to win the Super Bowl, perfection, utter domination, that's not going to be a concern in 08.

 

[killerrob]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

I think Moss will work in the offseason hard enough not to force them to give him plays off. He didn't know what to expect coming in, and from what I understand really worked hard last offseason. He had two down years before that, maybe last year was a tune up for him.

Here's to wishful thinking.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

Penned by the unmentionable reporter, via the Sporting News:


http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=396897

Some will notice none of his musings are sourced indicating they are just his uninformed opinion (since he has no inside team sources...LOL). This from the man who penned the enlightened piece last Sunday analyzing the Colts success as great first round drafters based on the number of pro bowl selections their first rounders have amassed in the last 12 years - more than half of which are accounted for by Manning and Harrison...

Amazing thing is guys like unmentionble get paid to write their drivel for publications like TSN.

 

[bradmahn]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

I don't believe for one second that Tomatohead has any connections left inside the organization, so it's hard for me to think this is anything other than speculation. That being said, I don't think it'd be a bad idea to have Moss limit some reps. Three players who were not viable options for the bulk (or all) of last season can really help with limiting the reps of Moss: Dave Thomas, Sammy Morris, and Chad Jackson. A healthy Laurence Maroney and more balanced offense could have the same effect as well.

From Rotoworld:

Patriots beat reporter John Tomase calls Jabar Gaffney an "entrenched starter" heading to the coming season.
Tomase says Chad Jackson and Kelley Washington will vie for fourth WR duties, with the loser possibly being inactive on game days. Washington likely has the edge due to his special teams value. Jackson should still get a long look in the preseason. He's much more physically gifted than Gaffney.

This further discredits Tomase to me. I find it hard to believe that they wont have a competition at the flanker spot at all and that the team is perfectly content with having Gaffney stay in that role. "The loser possibly being inactive" is also a pretty wishy-washy attempt at a "prediction" that is parsed so as to evade criticism... but not from me. It is improbable that they will only dress four receivers for games (Moss, Welker, Gaffney, and one of Washington or Jackson), especially so when you consider Washington has never caught a pass from Brady and Jackson caught but 13 balls in '06. With so few active WRs on game days you would be putting yourself in a very uncomfortable position if there ever were injuries to the top three, as well as limiting your ability for multi-receiver sets. Last year (if I'm not mistaken) they activated at least five every game.

This should probably be posted in the ongoing Chad Jackson thread, but it's simply intended to show that I think JT is a meathead.

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

In order to do that, a true #2 downfield threat will have to emerge. I don't want to start the Chad Jackson debate in another thread, but it has to be mentioned.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

I think this is reasonable. It's not going to be the GFY tour again in 08. They just have to win the Super Bowl, perfection, utter domination, that's not going to be a concern in 08.

Oh, I think it'll still be a GFY tour, but one predicated on just demoralizing teams, rather than running up the score. Personally, instead of setting a record for largest scoring margin ever, I'd like to see them set a record for largest TOP margin ever.

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

Oh, I think it'll still be a GFY tour, but one predicated on just demoralizing teams, rather than running up the score. Personally, instead of setting a record for largest scoring margin ever, I'd like to see them set a record for largest TOP margin ever.

Also keep in mind that a lot of teams are going to be pissed off at us for running up the score earlier in the year which will give them extra incentive to play us as hard as possible.

 

[FootballFanetic]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

Also keep in mind that a lot of teams are going to be pissed off at us for running up the score earlier in the year which will give them extra incentive to play us as hard as possible.

I think that's right--after the season you had last year, you are going to get everyone's best all 16 weeks (similar to last season's second half).

I also think it would be smart to rest Moss periodically, as he didn't look like the same player in Jan. and Feb. that he was the beginning of the year. Missing most of camp might have had something to do with it, but so might (a) teams catching on as to how best to cover him and (b) just wearing down over a long season--what is he now, 31 or so? That's not quite "gramps", but not quite a young buck in NFL terms, either.....

 

[Rob0729]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

In order to do that, a true #2 downfield threat will have to emerge. I don't want to start the Chad Jackson debate in another thread, but it has to be mentioned.

Although I don't know if I buy the report, but why would we need another true down the field threat? If the Pats cut his reps down to 70-80% of the snaps, that should be more than enough down field of a threat. We have gone years without a true legitimate down the field threat and won championships. I don't know why we need two now when we barely had one most years.

I know the Pats sent guys like Branch, Patten, and Givens on deep routes, but none of those guys are what I would consider a true down the field threat.

 

[reflexblue]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

I refuse to read anything by TomASSe.

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

Although I don't know if I buy the report, but why would we need another true down the field threat? If the Pats cut his reps down to 70-80% of the snaps, that should be more than enough down field of a threat. We have gone years without a true legitimate down the field threat and won championships. I don't know why we need two now when we barely had one most years.

I know the Pats sent guys like Branch, Patten, and Givens on deep routes, but none of those guys are what I would consider a true down the field threat.

Because teams were starting to key in on Moss being our only downfield threat last year which, added with a long season, decreased his ability to stretch the field. Two downfield threats are always better than one are they not?

And we won without downfield threats because our defense played lights out. They did a good job last year but they are not getting any younger.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Why are we giving this idiot Tomase air time out here? Let's see if a reputable source provides this information on Moss' reps before we respond.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

Because teams were starting to key in on Moss being our only downfield threat last year which, added with a long season, decreased his ability to stretch the field. Two downfield threats are always better than one are they not?

And we won without downfield threats because our defense played lights out. They did a good job last year but they are not getting any younger.

I still think we don't need to rely on the down the field threat to win. Wes Welker did break the Patriots record for receptions. We still got 31 points against Jacksonville without Moss really contributing and Brady throwing mostly short passes and breaking the completion record. Against Miami the second time, we got 400 yards and scored 28 points with Moss not getting over 50 yards and his longest catch being 16 yards.

I still think that teams didn't get all that keyed into Moss being the only down the field threat as people think except for the Eagles and Ravens game and maybe the playoffs. And keying in on Moss is what killed both the Chargers and Jags because the Pats ate them apart with the running game and shorter passing game.

Other than the first month and the playoffs, you really don't see a drop off in Moss' performance from week 5 to 17. He had a few "bad" games in October and he had a few "bad" games in December and also had some great games in both those months. One of the bad December games can be blamed on a Noreaster.

Personally, I want to see a more balanced offense this upcoming season rather than an offense that stretches the field a lot. I think the entire team (including the defense) got overreliant on the offense scoring a ton of points that the defense got caught sleeping at times like the first half of the Colts and Cowboys games. The only reason I would really need another WR who could stretch the field on a regular basis is if Moss went down. Otherwise it is a luxary that we don't neccessarily need in my eyes.

If we can get another deep threat, great. If we don't, as long as Moss stays healthy, I am not all that worried. Because doubling Moss will allow Brady to surgically march down the field with Welker, Gaffney, Faulk, Maroney, etc. The great thing about having Brady is that he can beat you in so many ways.

 

[fgssand]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

I think that's right--after the season you had last year, you are going to get everyone's best all 16 weeks (similar to last season's second half).

I also think it would be smart to rest Moss periodically, as he didn't look like the same player in Jan. and Feb. that he was the beginning of the year. Missing most of camp might have had something to do with it, but so might (a) teams catching on as to how best to cover him and (b) just wearing down over a long season--what is he now, 31 or so? That's not quite "gramps", but not quite a young buck in NFL terms, either.....

Not to worry - young Chad Jackson will pick up the slack.....

 

[unoriginal]

This is one bad misprint! "Moss" was supposed to be "Tomase" and "reps" was supposed to be "articles."

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

I don't believe for one second that Tomatohead has any connections left inside the organization, so it's hard for me to think this is anything other than speculation. That being said, I don't think it'd be a bad idea to have Moss limit some reps. Three players who were not viable options for the bulk (or all) of last season can really help with limiting the reps of Moss: Dave Thomas, Sammy Morris, and Chad Jackson. A healthy Laurence Maroney and more balanced offense could have the same effect as well.

From Rotoworld:


This further discredits Tomase to me. I find it hard to believe that they wont have a competition at the flanker spot at all and that the team is perfectly content with having Gaffney stay in that role. "The loser possibly being inactive" is also a pretty wishy-washy attempt at a "prediction" that is parsed so as to evade criticism... but not from me. It is improbable that they will only dress four receivers for games (Moss, Welker, Gaffney, and one of Washington or Jackson), especially so when you consider Washington has never caught a pass from Brady and Jackson caught but 13 balls in '06. With so few active WRs on game days you would be putting yourself in a very uncomfortable position if there ever were injuries to the top three, as well as limiting your ability for multi-receiver sets. Last year (if I'm not mistaken) they activated at least five every game.

This should probably be posted in the ongoing Chad Jackson thread, but it's simply intended to show that I think JT is a meathead.

Ya he makes it sound like he has sources. Nothing more than his best guess.

 

[flasox27]

You really think he has any sources in Foxboro. I think this another story he pulled out of his butt or maybe Walsh has an inside sourcxe he can use..

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: "The Pats will try to limit Moss' reps"

This from the man who penned the enlightened piece last Sunday analyzing the Colts success as great first round drafters

That article was another kick to the groin of Pats fans - why would we want the main Patriots article of the week (Sunday in an offseason) to be about the Colts ?

Hey tomASSe - you know - f*ck you.