Interesting breakdown "knocking out the Miami game." You should at least knock out everybody else's worst game, or worst half, to do that comparison. Brady's performance has certainly changed for the better, no matter what you chalk up the offense's woes to.
I'd note that the passer rating is often criticized for rewarding "small ball," but that's stating the obvious... we all know this is not a "light em up" offense at this writing.
Even using these tricks - picking a metric whose weakness is that it de-emphasizes the long ball, and then knocking out one performer's worst game or half, but leaving in the worst half or worst game for other performers - we come up with T-8th. Think of the last time you had to "defend" Brady all the way "up" to T-8 in something.*
My take is that Brady's still our best option, and can "game manage" under far less than ideal circumstances. Ever the optimist, I think the problem is time to hit open receivers (hence the heavy reliance on Edelman compared with other receivers, using the strict definition of "receiver.") I am also impressed that he has not panicked his way into any interceptions.
As I said, I am an optimist. I think this line (not this line plus some guy who is not here) might get better. This is a function of the passage of time since a major adjustment. I suppose it's possible that they get worse and worse as the major impact fades into the past, but my money is on them getting better as a unit.
Regardless of what we think of the receivers (as measured by their Brady-consciousness) they will be better, not worse, if Brady gets more time.
(Of course it's also true that if the receivers were the three fastest off the ball in the league and had hands made of glue, the O-line would look much better.)
*okay, knocking out 2013. This "knocking out" crap is contagious.
