Your argument is untenable in the face of both the Jacksonville and San Diego games (Coverage on Moss is not the reason Brady got picked trying to pass to Watson, for example). Furthermore, the notion that it was all Moss and Welker is wrong. Gaffney and Stallworth combined for 82 receptions. Faulk had 62 catches, Morris had 6 and Maroney had 4, meaning the RB position had 72 catches. Watson had 36 and Kyle Brady had 9, giving the top 2 tight ends 45 catches.
I didn't realize Faulk and Maroney and Gaffney were all deep threats.
Thanks for setting me straight on my "untenable" argument.
Do you just not read other people's posts and just prefer to be argumentative?
In the entire 2007 regular season, Brady completed just 4 passes to Stallworth that were more than 20 yards.
Just 4. After 16 regular season games it became clear to DCs that McDaniels wasn't going to use Stallworth as a deep threat to keep the pressure off of Moss.
Compare that to 2006 where Stallworth saw twice that many catches in that category - and his 11-20 yard catches all averaged 20 yards as well (and had a 19 ypc average overall) - effectively quadrupling his 20+ yard output as compared with how McDaniels utilized him.
Compare that to McDaniel's utilization of Moss who had 6 catches that were MORE THAN 40 YARDS! (I'm a bit surprised Moss didn't have even MORE 20+ yard catches but I actually would give McDaniels credit for not SOLELY using Moss as a deep threat, as that would have also been a strategic mistake).
So assuming you've actually read this before responding, who, besides Moss, do you think was the Patriots alternative deep threat to Moss?
Welker? Faulk? Maroney? Gaffney?
You threw out a lot of names and pass catches but for some reason go out of your way to ignore my point about how the lack of an alternative deep threat to Moss had a negative impact.
So on my "untenable" point that with Moss so well covered McDaniels should have exploited Stallworth as a deep threat alternative (which would have in turn likely freed up Moss more) who do you cite as the alternative Deep threat to Moss?
Basically it comes down to this if you're a DC going up against the Patriots:
Take out Moss and you eliminate the Deep Game. Take out the Deep Game and you shorten the field. Yes Welker will catch 10 passes for 100 yards - and you're happy to let him, compared to the alternative of having to cover both Moss and/or Stallworth burn you deep.
DC's might scratch their heads wondering why McDaniels never utilized Stallworth in the deep game, but I'm sure they weren't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
One thing is certain - unlike 2006 no one can say we didn't have alternatives as a deep threat. We had Moss who was always double teamed, and Stallworth, who averaged 19 ypc in the 2006 season. McDaniels just chose not to use Stallworth as a deep threat to take pressure off Moss and for that I fault him - as doing so would have made a great season for Moss even MORE of a success.