I think Brady still plays at a very high level, and is relatively cost efficient compared to most other NFL quarterbacks (not under a rookie pact). His ability to break down plays and formations likely makes up for any falloff that he is experiencing physically.
Obviously, it's certainly possible. I also think it's possible that they can just be experiencing problems at the offensive line position just as well, though.
Of course, as you point out--why in the hell Marcus Cannon was moved to the L side is beyond me. That is the million dollar question for sure.
They could've just as easily thrown Kline in at LG and still had a line that had weaknesses, but were at least similar to the play of last season; especially when you take into account the fact that Vollmer came back this year.
I think I have some answers to why Cannon went to LG.
Cannon played LT for Solder in a few games at the end of last season. He did a pretty good job of it too. I believe it opened BBs eyes to some possibilities.
BB drafted big Bryan Stork and Big Cam Fleming to rebuild the aging interior OL. I think he intended Fleming to convert to and play RG/RT, where he had always played in college. Scouting reports talked of a G conversion or maybe of him being good enough for RT, but never the possibility of him having the feet or quickness for LT. So RG was the best target for Fleming.
Both Mankins and Connolly are 33, and would soon need replacing and Wendell is just too small, even if he is a tough SOB. I suspect that BB was undecided about replacing all three interior linemen in 2014, or keep Mankins another season to ease the disruption.
Then the Mankins trade opportunity appeared; and BB took it to get a 4th and a Hernandez clone in Tim Wright, the last missing piece on the Offense. Such trade opportunities don't last long, and BB either took it or lost it. it was also consistent with BBs philosophy of "Better a Year too soon, then a Year too late".
BB had retained every one of his incumbent starters in addition to the new mid round picks which is the prime draft location for interior line starters. Just so he could have insurance, if a newcomer proved a total bust. The least likely to bust was the vet Cannon, already acclimated to the Pats and the NFL. So he was the safest guy to convert on Mankins exit.
Plus BB knew he had to give Cannon a starting job or lose him in next season's FA. Why would Cannon agree to stay to be only a reserve swing tackle, when he could be a starter and earn more elsewhere? He was probably the third most talented Offensive lineman, behind Solder and Vollmer.
That was when BB recalled and recognized that Cannon could handle the Left side and would probably be the better pass blocker at LG, just like Mankins. Good pass rushers loop into the LGs world, just about as often as over the LT, now. Having two good pass blockers on Brady's blind side made sense, as well as to let the LT and LG help each other out. On Pulls the LG usually has a longer run, and Cannon's mobility would stand him in good stead.
I think these logical considerations led to Cannon going to LG.
We are seeing the Birthing pains, but an analysis says Brady is already on a sack rate slightly BETTER than last season, 38 versus last season's 40, over 3/16 of a season..
