NEPettyOfficer72
On the Game Day Roster
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2011
- Messages
- 478
- Reaction score
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I know about the great 2007 Offense and how Moss and Welker ruined defenses and etc. but consider the following.... And yes, people I guess will have to either excuse my optimism or get used to it because I've always been a very positive person in life. But check this out... Is it possible that we have the best offensive weapons that we've had during Bill Belicheck and Tom Brady's reign in Foxboro?
1) The offense of 2007 while nearly unstoppable, did not have a consistent running game and physical natured presence like it does now. Not just a consistent running game, but NE had one of the top running games in the NFL last season and now they've added a talented and physical runner in LeGarrett Blount and change of pace shifty veteran Leon Washington. Stevan Ridley looks to emerge as one of the top backs in the NFL if he hasn't already and Shane Vereen showcased his exceptional receiving skills and talent as a runner, more than capable of taking over for the departed Danny Woodhead. Compare everything I just said to Sammy Morris and Laurence Maroney lol...
2) Moss did everything but could NOT GO over the middle. Both Aaron Dobson and Mark Harrison are big, physical guys with a lot of strength and will go over the middle and absorb hits from these little defensive backs. Not only that but Josh Boyce, TJ Moe and Michael Jenkins aren't any softies either. All three of those guys are physical in every aspect as well. Welker was the only receiver we had that wasn't afraid of that, but we have at least 4 other guys now to fill the void in that aspect of toughness.
3) They had Ben Watson, who was very fast and did a lot of things from the Tightend position that year, but if both guys are healthy then we have two of the best Tightends in the NFL, and even 80% of them is better than most good tightends. Gronk and Hernandez can do any and everything on the field both deep and short. And Hernandez is just a fast as Watson was, but quicker and more elusive, and a better route runner with more playmaking and wide receiver ability. That's something we didn't have in 2007 that could've helped in the Superbowl.
4) It seems like I keep beating a dead horse when I say that Danny Amendola is better at this point in his career in every aspect of the game than Wes Welker was when he first came to NE in 2007. He like EVERYBODY ELSE in the NFL is prone to injury, I mean my God people, it happens but take this into consideration. If he stays healthy this year, then we have a bigger, faster, stronger, quicker, more agile, and better pass catching version of Wes Welker who can do all of the same things but do them even better. And get this, he adds a dimension to his game that Wes Welker didn't have and that's getting deep. Imagine if Welker could also do that back in 2007?
5) Speaking of getting deep, we now have at least 4 receivers in Danny Amendola, Josh Boyce, Aaron Dobson and Mark Harrison who can get deep and stretch the field if asked upon, not to mention our monster Tightends if they can stay healthy. Back in 2007, our only deep threats were Donte Stallworth and of course Randy Moss... realistically just Randy Moss. With that now, defenses have to give that respect, which of course will open things up over the middle of the field and underneath ever more.
6) The depth at the Tightend position is really stout and really good this year. Even if our guys don't remain healthy, we still have TE Jake Ballard, monster kid Zach Sudfield, under-rated Hooh-man (caught a few long crucial third down passes), Daniel Fells and I don't think I'm missing anybody else. A lot of good to solid options at that position.
7) We re-signed superstar OT Sebastian Vollmer, who at this point in his career as emerged as a top 5 at what he does. So you add him with Logan Mankins, who remains a top 5 Guard in this league and the rising star of Nate Solder and you have a very good offensive line, that excels in run blocking.
8) Wide Receiver Coaching extraordinaire Brian Daboll is back, the guy that worked with our receivers during the spread-the ball and Superbowl era of NE. Remember Deion Branch, Troy Brown, David Givens and David Patten? Yeah, that guy, he is back.
9) I really like Julian Edelman at the slot position if he can stay healthy, giving Danny Amendola and Josh Boyce more down field assignments. Not only that, but he is really explosive on smoke screens, reverses, and trick plays of that nature.
10) Tom Brady feels better than he ever has throwing the ball, and if its coming from his mouth than you have to believe its true.. Counts for something
Give me thoughts and feedback, Happy Memorial Day everyone!
1) The offense of 2007 while nearly unstoppable, did not have a consistent running game and physical natured presence like it does now. Not just a consistent running game, but NE had one of the top running games in the NFL last season and now they've added a talented and physical runner in LeGarrett Blount and change of pace shifty veteran Leon Washington. Stevan Ridley looks to emerge as one of the top backs in the NFL if he hasn't already and Shane Vereen showcased his exceptional receiving skills and talent as a runner, more than capable of taking over for the departed Danny Woodhead. Compare everything I just said to Sammy Morris and Laurence Maroney lol...
2) Moss did everything but could NOT GO over the middle. Both Aaron Dobson and Mark Harrison are big, physical guys with a lot of strength and will go over the middle and absorb hits from these little defensive backs. Not only that but Josh Boyce, TJ Moe and Michael Jenkins aren't any softies either. All three of those guys are physical in every aspect as well. Welker was the only receiver we had that wasn't afraid of that, but we have at least 4 other guys now to fill the void in that aspect of toughness.
3) They had Ben Watson, who was very fast and did a lot of things from the Tightend position that year, but if both guys are healthy then we have two of the best Tightends in the NFL, and even 80% of them is better than most good tightends. Gronk and Hernandez can do any and everything on the field both deep and short. And Hernandez is just a fast as Watson was, but quicker and more elusive, and a better route runner with more playmaking and wide receiver ability. That's something we didn't have in 2007 that could've helped in the Superbowl.
4) It seems like I keep beating a dead horse when I say that Danny Amendola is better at this point in his career in every aspect of the game than Wes Welker was when he first came to NE in 2007. He like EVERYBODY ELSE in the NFL is prone to injury, I mean my God people, it happens but take this into consideration. If he stays healthy this year, then we have a bigger, faster, stronger, quicker, more agile, and better pass catching version of Wes Welker who can do all of the same things but do them even better. And get this, he adds a dimension to his game that Wes Welker didn't have and that's getting deep. Imagine if Welker could also do that back in 2007?
5) Speaking of getting deep, we now have at least 4 receivers in Danny Amendola, Josh Boyce, Aaron Dobson and Mark Harrison who can get deep and stretch the field if asked upon, not to mention our monster Tightends if they can stay healthy. Back in 2007, our only deep threats were Donte Stallworth and of course Randy Moss... realistically just Randy Moss. With that now, defenses have to give that respect, which of course will open things up over the middle of the field and underneath ever more.
6) The depth at the Tightend position is really stout and really good this year. Even if our guys don't remain healthy, we still have TE Jake Ballard, monster kid Zach Sudfield, under-rated Hooh-man (caught a few long crucial third down passes), Daniel Fells and I don't think I'm missing anybody else. A lot of good to solid options at that position.
7) We re-signed superstar OT Sebastian Vollmer, who at this point in his career as emerged as a top 5 at what he does. So you add him with Logan Mankins, who remains a top 5 Guard in this league and the rising star of Nate Solder and you have a very good offensive line, that excels in run blocking.
8) Wide Receiver Coaching extraordinaire Brian Daboll is back, the guy that worked with our receivers during the spread-the ball and Superbowl era of NE. Remember Deion Branch, Troy Brown, David Givens and David Patten? Yeah, that guy, he is back.
9) I really like Julian Edelman at the slot position if he can stay healthy, giving Danny Amendola and Josh Boyce more down field assignments. Not only that, but he is really explosive on smoke screens, reverses, and trick plays of that nature.
10) Tom Brady feels better than he ever has throwing the ball, and if its coming from his mouth than you have to believe its true.. Counts for something
Give me thoughts and feedback, Happy Memorial Day everyone!