This was a great piece. It confirms that the Patriots are well coached. The 3rd and 17 required Brady and Edelman to be on the same page. Edelman ran his route outside and then inside to gain separation because of the zone coverage deployed by the Jets. Brady knew it, Edelman knew it and Brady knew Edelman would take his route outside and then wait for the safety to turn his hips, then bust inside. When you see the throw from behind the offensive line, it looks like Brady is throwing to no one and then Edelman slides in to make the catch. Incredible.
First of all this is a tremendous piece that unfortunately will probably not get the attention and praise it deserves. With the insights that it shows, I could spend an hour going on about it, but for brevity's sake, here is just one point.
One of the reasons this offense operates so well and seems to be successful regardless of who is in there are the subtleties that are shown and there are so many.
1 Brady being able to change the formation moving Gronk up on the LOS and moving the split receiver off. This is something they might not have been able to do if they were playing away from Gillettte.
2. Edelman widening his route to the numbers, to get the S to turn his hips, then creating separation from him, but also having room to find space inside the LB.
3. Brady being able to assume Edelman will make that adjustment and "throwing him open"
Here is what people don't seem to understand. That play was at least 3 years in the making, or rather the knowledge and experience necessary for both parties to have developed the trust in each other and understanding of the offense, to make it.
It is important because it points out WHY even very good receivers find it so hard to come in here and have a significant impact on the offense. There is so much they have to read and process while going full speed. It is almost impossible to do unless you get to the point where you are making those reads almost on an unconscious level.....and that takes TIME.
I believe that not all the receivers on this roster have reached this point and part of Brady's greatness is knowing who to expect it from. Unfortunately the fans and mediots expect instant results from everyone. Likely if that that was the Edelman from his first 3 or 4 years, that completion wouldn't have happened, because that level subtlety in reading that D at full speed wouldn't be there.
I want to see more from this guy. His analysis of the winning drive at the superbowl is also worth reading. Just hit the "brady can still beat you" link.
