Brady: This year vs. last

[Truck]

So far, the only bad pass I've seen this year is the one behind Moss yesterday. All the other passes look crisp & on target.

Last year, in my opinion, Brady didnt look spectacular. There were alot of throws that were misplaced.

So the question is. Is Brady actually playing better this year? Or did Brady just not look great last year because his receivers weren't running the routes correctly? There were rumours that maybe his shoulder wasn't 100% last year. Do you guys think theres any truth in that?

 

[Mack Herron]

Re: Brady: This year vs last

Whenever Brady throws an incomplete pass someone screams that something's wrong with his shoulder. (When he throws a few completions, the shoulder is mysteriously better). The biggest difference between Brady this year and Brady last year is the targets he is throwing to. Or haven't you noticed Moss yet? Receivers like that (are there any other WRs like that?) give a QB confidence. The interesting question now is who will have a better QB rating at the end of the season, Brady or Manning? Don't bet against Tom Brady.

 

[Ring 6]

Re: Brady: This year vs last

So far, the only bad pass I've seen this year is the one behind Moss yesterday. All the other passes look crisp & on target.

Last year, in my opinion, Brady didnt look spectacular. There were alot of throws that were misplaced.

So the question is. Is Brady actually playing better this year? Or did Brady just not look great last year because his receivers weren't running the routes correctly? There were rumours that maybe his shoulder wasn't 100% last year. Do you guys think theres any truth in that?

I thinik he is the same player, but there is more than just one difference.
I don't think there is any doubt route running was part of it.
In addition to that, this year the receivers are actually OPEN. You cannot hit a guy in stride if he isn't open. Brady is very good at putting the ball in the spot he wants to. If the receiver isnt separating you have to put the ball where the DB cannot get to it, which does not necessarily look 'on target'.
On top of that, there are almost no throwaways. Some throwaways are easy to detect, others look bounced or grossly overthrown, but are really thrown away.
Finally, it seems that Brady is confident that the receivers will go get the ball. If you are throwing to Randy Moss you hit him in stride. If you doubt Reche Caldwell will fight for the pass in coverage, you throw it low and inside where he must go down to get it, but no one defender can get there.

One thing that is interesting is that Brady seems to be more accurate with different recievers. That is not likely him, but the receiver. He seems to miss Watson a lot or make Watson make a diving catch. That could be that Watson doesnt accelerate into the catch as he is supposed to. I find it hard to believe that he just doesnt throw as well when its Watson.
I think we are seeing the result of what Brady has always done, but now we are seeing how much more he can accomplish with good WRs.
IMO, Bradys play is the constant and the imporvement comes from who is on the other end of the passes.

 

[cubicle_6]

Brady isn't just completing passes, he's put most of them as perfect as can be.
A lot of it has had to do with Welker's and Moss' ability to get a good release out to the pattern.
Even in the instances with press coverage they have a better ability to get by without getting held up.
I think we'll see a more determined effort from defenses to limit the great releases they've been able to achieve.
But to this point the receivers have been spectacular and Brady has been even better.

 

[the taildragger]

he'll put up his best numbers barring injuries, but we're going to be running out the clock a lot in the final quarters....which 99% of the mainstream "analysis" will simply ignore.

His totals will be among the leaders, but his ratios could be off the chart (i.e. YpA, YpC, Comp.%, INTpA, TDpA)...people are going to see **** they've never seen before...our offensive efficiency could just be historically sick (red zone, points per drive, etc.)....

this is just a scary team.

It's pretty obvious why so many are desperately hoping to bring them down through rules violations/technicalities....the would be detractors will only get louder.

 

[Pats_Man1]

ITS NO COMPARISING BECAUSE TOMMY WILL HAVE A MONSTER/BEAST YEAR THIS SEASON!!!!!!!!:rocker: :rocker:

 

[emoney_33]

Re: Brady: This year vs last

I thinik he is the same player, but there is more than just one difference.
I don't think there is any doubt route running was part of it.
In addition to that, this year the receivers are actually OPEN. You cannot hit a guy in stride if he isn't open. Brady is very good at putting the ball in the spot he wants to. If the receiver isnt separating you have to put the ball where the DB cannot get to it, which does not necessarily look 'on target'.
On top of that, there are almost no throwaways. Some throwaways are easy to detect, others look bounced or grossly overthrown, but are really thrown away.
Finally, it seems that Brady is confident that the receivers will go get the ball. If you are throwing to Randy Moss you hit him in stride. If you doubt Reche Caldwell will fight for the pass in coverage, you throw it low and inside where he must go down to get it, but no one defender can get there.

One thing that is interesting is that Brady seems to be more accurate with different recievers. That is not likely him, but the receiver. He seems to miss Watson a lot or make Watson make a diving catch. That could be that Watson doesnt accelerate into the catch as he is supposed to. I find it hard to believe that he just doesnt throw as well when its Watson.
I think we are seeing the result of what Brady has always done, but now we are seeing how much more he can accomplish with good WRs.
IMO, Bradys play is the constant and the imporvement comes from who is on the other end of the passes.

Quoted for truth

The same exact pass to two different receivers can look perfect or horribly overthrown. With the talented receivers we now have, they are catching the balls Brady is throwing in places that the defender cannot get to. With other receivers, they cannot get to the ball either.

 

[sebman2112]

brady has looked a little more accurate at times so far than he did during the early parts of 2006. As already mentioned a lot of that likely has something to do with his confidence in the new WR's. Also, Moss has cought some balls I don't think any of the Patriots starting WR's from 2006 would have cought. That comeback were Moss had to dive and catch the ball while he was diving through the air comes to mind, as does the 51 yard bomb where he torched three Jets defenders. Also, Welker has awsome hands and rarely drops a pass. That will help make your QB more accurate trust me.

 

[Metaphors]

Re: Brady: This year vs last

One thing that is interesting is that Brady seems to be more accurate with different recievers. That is not likely him, but the receiver. He seems to miss Watson a lot or make Watson make a diving catch. That could be that Watson doesnt accelerate into the catch as he is supposed to. I find it hard to believe that he just doesnt throw as well when its Watson.

I've actually been trying to pay attention to Watson this year to see how much impact he would have with the new receivers. I have to say I think your instincts are correct. His routes don't seem sharp and he seems to "drift" quite a bit.

As you are likely hinting at, Brady's passes to to Moss are laser accurate...on the hands and right in stride. Moss' routes are crisp and (as you again point out) he accelerates to the ball, creating separation. And we all know Welker is a pain in the ***** to cover because of his route running.

If Watson can put improved hands/route running with his impressive speed and size...and if Chad Jackson and Dave Thomas can get/stay healthy...and if Moss stays beyond this year. Brings a tear to my eye...