Similarly a talented passing team will also usually get yards even if the D knows what is coming (like our offense). However, the blocking IS affected by the play calling, it isn't bad in a vacuum. A defense that knows it's a pass doesn't have to worry about run gaps, a defense that knows it's a run will hit their gaps hard and not have to watch the QB. This puts additional pressure on the O-line. Play calling affects blocking.
This is incorrect. A defensive lineman reads the offensive lineman to determine whether its run or pass. You dont slow a DL down by taking the snap from under center then having the OL step back to pass block. That is why play action slow a DL, because the OL execute run block fakes.
The scenario as it stands for the Patriots is that they are extremely predictable to pass when in shotgun. The threat of a draw or screen is so rare (14%) that opposition doesn't even worry about it. If a team is entirely predictable to run/pass, it is a HUGE advantage to the defense. If you know it's a run in a 3-TE formation, they won't even waste effort worrying about the pass. If you know it's a pass in shotgun, you don't even have to stay in your gaps, you can just wreak havoc in open space which is hard for any O-lineman to block.
How do you know whether the opposition worries about the run? Where are you getting that only 14% are draws or screens. What stat source tells you how many of the passes were screens? Again you are totally wrong that DL abandon their run responsiblity based upon formation. It is based upon the actions of the OL, which would be the same.
The running backs and tight ends are not deficient on this team. We use shotgun because of a stubborn desire to use our best chess pieces over, and over, and over, and rely on the talent to out-execute. This team is so persistent on it, that it cannot manufacture a win if Welker is stopped.
How is it stubbrn to throw to the open receiver. The point you are missing is that Brady has always thrown to the open reciever. The fact that his best 2 options are far, far better than ever before, simply means they are open more. If Deion Branch could have gotten open as often as Moss he would have been thrown to as often. You spread the ball to your checkdowns AFTER your primary receivers fail to get open. You seem to want to not throw it to the open guy, but predetermine distribution and tell Brady who to throw to when the play is called whether they are open or not. I dont understand that.
You're right, and no shotgun-happy team has won this decade yet, so the innovation isn't legit, it's a fad at this point just like the Wildcat. The 2002 Bucs beat a Raiders team that was even more unbalanced/one-dimensional.
The Patriots won 18 games in 2007. The Colts won a SB. The Steelers won last year with a pass first offense. The brainturst that you are trashing here won 3 of them, again you are incorrect.
