Is Brady Hurt????

[RIpats88]

This, he is throwing the ball into traffic almost all day because there is no deep threat. Until that problem is resolved its not going to change.

Clutch Brady showed up yesterday and put our Patriots in what should have been a winning position but our D is just so bad that we still lost.

you gotta give the D some credit...we turned over the ball 4 times...we shouldnt have even been in a position to win the game

 

[Dessalines]

Hate to say it, but I think the body of evidence is growing to support this conclusion.

Yeah but in those "glorious old days", Brady did not get hit much, now he does. What I mean is, that Brady has never run away from pressure, but he steps up in the pocket to move away from it. Part of the plan for dealing with Brady is to bring pressure up the middle to disallow that step up. So, is the problem the Oline, or is it the coaches failure to come up with adjustments to what has become THE plan for dealing with the PATS offense? THe plan calls for clogging the middle of the field, double coverage on Welker meet the receivers at the line and bring pressure up the middle. We have the right players at the skill positions on offense,so there should be an answer to the plan. Remember, Coughlin came up with the plan for the 2007 Super Bowl and he executed it again yesterday. Where were the adjustments? Rex Ryan also executes his version of this plan, so we will see it again in New York this weekend. Will we see any adjustments? I sincerely hope so.

 

[JackBauer]

Waking up from an offensive slumber just in time for a last under 2 minute TD drive.

Well, yeah. He played like hot garbage for 3 quarters and turned the ball over three times.

That's the difference I see. The Brady who could move effortlessly in the pocket and buy that extra second versus the guy who, too often, disengages early, gets happy feet, doesn't set, and misses throws he ought to be making.

That's not to say he isn't elite, because he is. But there are some traits that seem to manifest themselves pretty consistently that worry me.

 

[Elijah T.]

Ok, so when Brady has two guys open and decides to force it to a player that has a defender draped on him, what's that?

You need to be more specific. When and what play?

I'll say definitely that there are times where Brady seems to be more deliberate with his throws than he was in the past.

The second interception for instance, he looked over at Welker, and then hitched left and let the ball go to Gronkowski before even looking over his shoulder. Had Brady turned before he released the ball he would've either put the ball higher or ignored the throw altogether- but he didn't.

I feel that Brady is hamstrung by an 'intermediate' offense. There's only so much you can do underneath when defenses don't respect your downfield options outside, nor do they have to play the run aggressively because they're isn't a dynamic runner to defend.

Yeah, Brady needs to do a better job looking over the field. I think it's a combination of reasons why Brady is forcing throws. One reason being that he rarely gets 'open' receivers, Brady always has to throw his receivers open.

 

[Paul_Newman]

I see dead people

You know its true. He's still a very good QB, but he's not in his prime years anymore. And he's definitely not hurt, that's beyond laughable to suggest that is why he's struggling.

Admit it Pat fans. I like Brady a lot too, he's been a great QB, probably the best in this era, but you're all in denial if you still think he's an elite QB. I'd love someone to tell me with a straight face he's in Aaron Rodgers' league. Heck, I think Drew Brees is even better than Tommy right now.

He's lost a lot on his throws, he's become very sporadic. Brady of old would NOT be missing some of those easy throws. He's not getting any better, his best years are far behind him.

And truthfully, he's become easily rattled.

It's time to start building this team around other parts, and not one guy. Get a better running game, and improve that pathetic defense.

No one stays at the top of their game forever. Time to stop denying it and just accept it.

Don't expect Brady to rebound next week. I expect another multiple pick game, and a very average performance. The Patriots should consider the future, because their window is closed.

Brady should have had 4 picks in the Giants game. He was awful, and only showed a tiny glimpse of his former self.

 

[sbpatfan]

This year Brady reminds me of last year's Peyton Manning. Seeing ghosts out there.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Well, yeah. He played like hot garbage for 3 quarters and turned the ball over three times.

That's the difference I see. The Brady who could move effortlessly in the pocket and buy that extra second versus the guy who, too often, disengages early, gets happy feet, doesn't set, and misses throws he ought to be making.

That's not to say he isn't elite, because he is. But there are some traits that seem to manifest themselves pretty consistently that worry me.

I really hate to say this, but even during his tremendous 2010 season, it is clear that Brady no longer has the same pocket presence. Since his knee injury, he does not drive himself into throws the same way if there is any traffic around him. I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing because he will have a longer career, but he has become much more like Peyton Manning since the injury, preferring to read the defenses pre-snap and having a strong distaste for pressure.

 

[Paul_Newman]

This year Brady reminds me of last year's Peyton Manning. Seeing ghosts out there.

He is the new Peyton Manning, and that's a bad thing. He throws up all over himself when the pressure is at its highest.

How sad, because Brady used to have ice water in his veins. Let's not forget how bad he's choked and has single handily cost the Pats their last two playoff performances.

Truth be told, it's not all Brady's fault. Belichick is only left with a team that's capable of riding on Brady's shoulders, which is ridiculous if they ever want to win a championship again.

 

[DaBruinz]

Yes.

Brady is hurt by no deep threat to challenge deep coverage, inconsistent protection, and a below average running game.

Joe Montana circa 1984 would look exactly the same.

Spoken like someone who doesn't know what he's talking about. Especially regarding the running game. The Problem with the running game is the Pats don't use it enough. If you looked at how they are running, they are running extremely well. And they don't use it enough to set up the play-actin. Using it 10 times does do that.

 

[Paul_Newman]

I don't see it.

He had pressure problems in that awful Feb game and he had them again today with identical results, despite having ZERO deep threat this time. Waking up from an offensive slumber just in time for a last under 2 minute TD drive.

In my view we ARE seeing Brady have a bit of a slump. Part statistical bad luck with tipped passes getting picked and partly Brady making poorer than typical decisions. I think that the 2nd is making some conclude that inherently he's handling pressure less well. Next Sunday night will add more observational evidence to be considered.

Those tip passes are all on Brady. He's supposed to have uncanny field vision, and is accurate enough to pinpoint the football where the ball can't get batted down.

Common, we're suppose to hold Brady to a higher regard, you can't start making excuses for him when he's not playing to that level.

You don't throw just 4 picks last year on accident. His accuracy is horrendous compared to last year. So is his field vision. I see quite a few plays where guys are WIDE OPEN, and Brady doesn't even bat an eye in their direction.

 

[Big-T]

He is the new Peyton Manning, and that's a bad thing. He throws up all over himself when the pressure is at its highest.

Did you miss the game winning drive against the Cowboys and what should have been the game winning drive yesterday then?

 

[RIpats88]

when your QB turns over the ball 3 times, its hard to win...this loss is on Brady IMO....look at it from this perspective...our offense is the SAME as last year..when we went 14-2...only difference is that brady had 4 interceptions in 16games vs. 10 in 8games so far.

brady just hasnt made good decisions. this team isnt built for a guy like Joe Flacco at the helm. its built for MVP future HOF Tom Brady..he's supposed to make the right read/throw and not turnover the ball

unfortunately he played more like flacco(and flacco actually put up enough points to beat the steelers) and less like the HOF QB that he actually is

the good news is that Tom brady is as frustrated as we are im sure. just seeing him devastated and pissed after throwing that interception showed it. he'll look at what he's doing wrong and adjust

 

[Paul_Newman]

Did you miss the game winning drive against the Cowboys and what should have been the game winning drive yesterday then?

Peyton Manning isn't capable of putting together winning drives?

Brady should have never put the team in that position. He blew the game. The defense played as well as they could have.

 

[IllegalContact]

I don't think he's hurt

I just think his maxi pads got bunched up between his legs and under his armpits.........and his arches are suffering from wearing Uggs

 

[Dutchmaster617]

Just because a ball in intercepted doesn't mean it was a bad throw or terrible decision. Tipped balls are most often on the OL for not keeping their man grounded or occupied or on receivers for not being aware of the situations they are in or not getting off a jam or drifting on a route or not fighting for a ball... Brady is making the same throws and decisions he made last year when he won the MVP. Actually he's making them against stiffer competition as Bill noted after the Pittsburgh and JETS games. It's just those around him aren't making the same kind of plays they were this time last season, except of course for good old Welker...

Mostly everyone has regressed, including Brady. He is not close to playing the same as last year. Again everyone but Arrington, Spikes, and Welker has regressed from last year. You can see it just by watching them play.

 

[Kontradiction]

The coverage dictated that Ocho break for the EZ...even Aikman said that was the mistake before we even saw Brady reaming a guy he could barely stand to make eye contact with on the sidelines.

This could get better or worse, but it's largely dependent on whether his reveivers and his OL can get their schit together consistently. He's making tougher throws against better competition in tighter coverage this season. His OL is allowing more pressure (a recurring theme) which is allowing tighter coverage which is flumoxcing the majority of his receivers. And we aren't getting enough yardage on the ground, due in part to uninspired run blocking and in part to the committee system faltering behind one dinged up member of the rotation after another.

The O-Line is doing a fine job protecting Brady. The reason Brady is taking more hits is because opposing defenses are playing tight man coverage on our receivers, and our receivers (save for Welker) are having a tough time getting open consistently which means that Brady is having to hold the ball longer. Watch the games, if you have them recorded. Most of Brady's sacks since the Jets game have been coverage sacks. It's essentially the exact same as the divisional round last season. Taylor Price or Chad Ochocinco (as unlikely as it is, as it appears that nine weeks in, Chad still can't learn the offense) coming on as legitimate deep threats would greatly help Brady and Welker.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

when your QB turns over the ball 3 times, its hard to win...this loss is on Brady IMO....look at it from this perspective...our offense is the SAME as last year..when we went 14-2...only difference is that brady had 4 interceptions in 16games vs. 10 in 8games so far.

brady just hasnt made good decisions. this team isnt built for a guy like Joe Flacco at the helm. its built for MVP future HOF Tom Brady..he's supposed to make the right read/throw and not turnover the ball

unfortunately he played more like flacco(and flacco actually put up enough points to beat the steelers) and less like the HOF QB that he actually is

the good news is that Tom brady is as frustrated as we are im sure. just seeing him devastated and pissed after throwing that interception showed it. he'll look at what he's doing wrong and adjust

If I need my defense to be better than 10 points surrendered (all off turnovers) with 57 minutes played; I don't need to pay a franchise QB $18 million.

If Flacco can put up 23 points against the Steelers without the benefit of an 8 yard TD from an INT; is $18 million to much for a QB?

At some point, the realization will hit patsfans.com that we may very well be at the point where a new chapter will need to begin.

It's too bad that we have spent years lamenting all the excuses granted to Manning and do the exact same thing.

 

[IllegalContact]

Mostly everyone has regressed, including Brady. He is not close to playing the same as last year. Again everyone but Arrington, Spikes, and Welker has regressed from last year. You can see it just by watching them play.

personally, I think the roster and the coach has regressed. It was moronic to think that you're going to have success changing up your defensive scheme during an abbreviated training camp.......the defense was on the right tracks before it got blow up in August......after the fiasco this year, how does the team even start to fix the defense.......you you need secondary help? yup ...... do you need LB help? yup ....... do you need DL help???? yup

so we are going from being young and inexperienced and needing an OLB upgrade, to a bunch of injury prone nobodies who are both slow and soft

 

[Kontradiction]

Mostly everyone has regressed, including Brady. He is not close to playing the same as last year. Again everyone but Arrington, Spikes, and Welker has regressed from last year. You can see it just by watching them play.

Although it appears that Brady's skills may be in decline because of the interceptions and the bad decisions, I wouldn't say they've regressed that badly just yet. Outside of Welker, our receivers are pretty mediocre. Ocho's an idiot that can't learn an offense in ten weeks, apparently. Deion has completely disappeared and it is possible that he's lost a step, Taylor Price is not getting that much playing time for whatever reason, and Matthew Slater is useless unless he's running the 9-route. If the opposing defense takes away our tight ends and limits Welker, our offense is either slowed or stopped. Combine that with a defense that leans too heavily on zone coverage with a huge problem at the safety position in key moments throughout the game, and you get a team that's two games over .500 a week away from a HUGE divisional showdown that could decide who gets a bye and who plays on Wild Card weekend.

 

[Fencer]

I don't see it.

He had pressure problems in that awful Feb game and he had them again today with identical results, despite having ZERO deep threat this time. Waking up from an offensive slumber just in time for a last under 2 minute TD drive.

In my view we ARE seeing Brady have a bit of a slump. Part statistical bad luck with tipped passes getting picked and partly Brady making poorer than typical decisions. I think that the 2nd is making some conclude that inherently he's handling pressure less well. Next Sunday night will add more observational evidence to be considered.

Combination of many factors.

E.g., OchoCinco completely blew that route for the potential TD. But there were other plays, including Chad ones, where the problem seemed to be Brady not making the most accurate of throws.