If Brady didn't have an interior oline made up of UFAs nobody else wants and had an ESTABLISHED standout WR with top size and or great speed capable of making big catches consistently you wouldn't notice a decline at all. Although Connolly is an OK center he along with Kline,Wendell,Devey are all unwanted around the NFL yet here they are the core interior oline of a Superbowl contender. Do you think maybe, just possibly that has something to do with Brady out of rhythm. Vollmer has declined but hopefully still serviceable. I liked Veldheer as a fa because of Vollmers collection of injuries. Oh also do out think its possible the league has caught up with the offense using hot reads to get their short average speed WRs open. If Brady and WRs must make the same read so that the wrs can find a hole in the defenses coverage mostly short range that maybe the defensive coaches can see their reads to. You don't think Brady at some point could use a good speedy or big WR that can just say ' we are running this route the WR is going to flat out best the coverage and if Brady throws the strike its a 20 yard gain and the WR will burn the defender by blowing by him or if a big WR snag the pass regardless of who is on his back and come away with the ball.
Is Aaron Rodgers declining, course not, but he lost a couple of weapons and another is about 30 yrs old. Also injuries on the Oline has caused patriot caliber olineman to start. Now against a great defense Rodgers struggles and he actually has mobility. Well with the patriot oline every defense looks elite. That's why I say start the most talented guys at guard and that being Cannon and Fleming and coach them up into the scheme. They have the size power talent to go one on one with most DTs. Connolly,Wendy wants to double team a DT on every play because I would bet over half the DTs in the NFL would blow them away one on one, especially Wendy. Connolly holds up good enough to be serviceable at center where going one on one is minimized. At guard, Connolly,devey,Kline, none of them can compete one on one and there aren't enough blockers to double team every DLineman. Many times a defender came in free while while Connolly and Wendy were double teaming somebody. That's why Cannon and Fleming need to start at guard with Stork and Connolly competing for center.
Even then If this team wants to compete Bill will have to pull off a significant trade and maybe give up a Round 2 and both #4s for a standout onlineman preferably who can play guard and tackle very well. Instead of Jemea Thomas and James white a true Tackle prospect is looking good right now like Seantrel Henderson and or Antonio Richardson or any of the other good tackle prospects. However I'm sure Bill won't want to part with a high and mid round pick to fix his oline. He is to concerned with who he will miss in the draft. Which BTW poor drafting is part of the problems at the line of scrimmage. An olineman or Lineman is looking really good in place of that garappollo pick right now. I just don't think you worry bout your backup qb when your interior oline is a bunch of UFAs. What so the backup can come in and get beat up to.
I think Dline can be fixed with formation and scheme. Activate Quarles and dump vellano. Easley should hopefully get better and maybe return to the 4-3. Even if they stay with 3-4 Wilfork quarles Easley and Siliga at Dline while jones moves to rush OLB sounds far more stout. But the oline needs an injection of talent and power whether starting Fleming at guard or pulling off a significant trade or maybe both. I don't see oline getting fixed with Wendy connolly devey Kline. At WR its important to get Dobson and Kenbrell more involved. They have the talent and chance to be up to date modern WRs. Kenbrell should pass Amendola and La Loser Lafell on the depth chart. When Dobson returns our starting lineup should be Dobson, Gronk, Kenbrell, Edelman and Vereen. My opinion they are the most talented playmakers.
Anybody who thinks the WR shouldn't have to make an adjustment is nuts. Like the WR should be able to run with his eyes closed and hold his hands up the QB should drop it in his hands. WRs always make adjustments whether slowing down or accelerating to catch up to the pass. Problem is the #1 and 2 WRs can't outrun coverage to a long throw. That's why I think both Kenbrell and Dobson should be ahead of Amendola and Loser Lafell.
Brady isn't declining, Grapp has a very good arm and look how much harder Brady throws. Like I said has Rodgers declined because he is missing some weapons was harassed by pressure of great defense. Problem is every defense looks elite with patriot oline. No QB has ever defeated intense pressure and being hit repeatedly when a team gets the pressure without blitzing which means dropping 7 back and doubling most of your playmakers while the qb has no time to throw
