Reiss's Mailbag: insights on the Panthers game, Moss, OC, others
 

Some pretty good insights and analysis:

The New England Patriots might have won this weekend, but the mailbag had plenty of question about Randy Moss - ESPN Boston

Re: Reiss's Mailbag: insights on the Panthers game, Moss, OC, others
 

Is something up with Randy Moss?

Why hasn't anyone started a thread on the subject?

Re: Reiss's Mailbag: insights on the Panthers game, Moss, OC, others
 

I think the biggest thing brushed on in Reiss' column is that 8 of 11 of Brady's INTs were thrown to Moss. Now I blame Brady for a lot of those INTs, if not most of them. I am not trying to point out that Moss has dogged it on all those plays, but it is important none the less.

I think one of the bigger problems with the offense this year has been that they are forcing far too many plays to Moss. If Brady and the coaching staff start to lose confidence in Moss, it could be a good thing. Why the offense came to life in the second half on Sunday was because Brady was starting to look to other receivers. O'Brien as a rookie signal caller might fall into the rookie trap of overrelying on his best weapon and that would be Moss. Sunday could have forced him out of that habit.

Re: Reiss's Mailbag: insights on the Panthers game, Moss, OC, others
 

maybe but i dont know if they are using moss as creatively either at least according to dilfer. when jmcd was here he used moss in reverses,slants and even WR screens. So far moss has been a target of deep balls only so its easier to neutralize him. just my opinion.

Re: Reiss's Mailbag: insights on the Panthers game, Moss, OC, others
 

Losing confidence and not using your best weapon is never a good thing. Also, the int's I have seen were basically bad reads/throws. Besides, you still have to take your shots down the field.

However, it maybe the offense was getting too predictable and trying something different worked.

Re: Reiss's Mailbag: insights on the Panthers game, Moss, OC, others
 

I disagree. If you are overrelying on your best weapon and making forced, ill advised throws to him; it is probably better to look elsewhere. I agree a lot of the INTs were bad reads or throws, but it was because of Brady's (which could be O'Brien's) overreliance on Moss.

You can still take shots down the field with Moss. It just means to you try it 2 or 3 times rather than 4 or 5.

Re: Reiss's Mailbag: insights on the Panthers game, Moss, OC, others
 

Good point, I agree I think it has become much easier for defenses to neutralize him and his talents, our lack of a viable #3 is adding to this, IMO.

I believe if we had a good #3 candidiate this would not be such a glaring issue, and it has been quite evident that just about all of Brady's INT have been looking for Randy--I have been asking if this was coincidental for a few weeks now.

I agree too that they have to do a better job at getting him involved in more touches in general. Any predictability of this offense starts with the involvement/schemes of Randy Moss, and must be corrected immediately, again due to the lack of a #3.

Re: Reiss's Mailbag: insights on the Panthers game, Moss, OC, others
 

I agree the playcalling is not as creative as when McDaniels was here, but that is only part of the problem.

Sunday was the first time in weeks where Watson was a receiving target. He had three receptions and 1 TD on Sunday. He had 3 receptions and no TDs the combined 5 weeks prior to Sunday. Kevin Faulk had more catches against Carolina (10) than Miami, New Orleans, and the Jets combined (8).

For the first time in the longest time, Brady was looking at other receivers more (despite the incredible amount of catches that Welker got). It woke up the offense in the second half.

Re: Reiss's Mailbag: insights on the Panthers game, Moss, OC, others
 

Hey, how about this startling theory: BB, Brady and Moss are fooling the NFL with this overfocus on Moss. Once playoffs begin, BB will open his playbook and Brady will focus on the other receivers and every team will be scrambling to cover our O??

:rolleyes:

Re: Reiss's Mailbag: insights on the Panthers game, Moss, OC, others
 

Semantics grasshopper

You should never "over rely" on anything. That's different than not using.

My guess is that we have to wait another year to see if Brady does come back to full form. If we has 2007 Brady, I have no doubt we would be undefeated.