Brady the "system quarterback"

"System QB." No one with an ounce of football knowledge actually takes the term seriously. Clearly, it's designed to be an insult. I've never heard or read any real football coach, player or announcer with an ounce of credibility refer to the term in a meaningful manner. Some think it's synonymous with game manager. It isn't. It's a term used by people to discredit QBs they don't like. It's nonsense and BS.

Snake Eyes said:

Anyone who claims TFB is a system QB should explain:

- exactly what system he runs

- exactly how the system works

- why isn't every other team replicating that system with mediocre QBs and winning multiple Superbowls?

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Yeah, that pretty much seals it for me too. If there was a system that could make a not-GOAT-candidate QB play like Tom Brady has for the past 15 years, we'd have seen some other guys replicate his success by now.

Last time I checked, Bill O'Brien, Josh McDaniels, and Charlie Weis weren't exactly churning out Tom Bradys in their head coaching tenures.

Snake Eyes said:

Anyone who claims TFB is a system QB should explain:

- exactly what system he runs

- exactly how the system works

- why isn't every other team replicating that system with mediocre QBs and winning multiple Superbowls?

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Exactly. After 15 years, no one else has been able to figure out the "system"? What a joke. I just can't understand why people can't give him the credit that guys like Montana, Elway, or even Manning received.

(Hint: it's that green-eyed monster rearing its ugly head.)

Which of the following modern greats are NOT "system QBs":

Bradshaw
Griese
Elway
Marino
Favre
Manning
Moon
Montana
Young
Brees
Rodgers
Aikman
Simms
Stabler
Staubach
Fouts

Canuck said:

Instead of 90%, I think it's closer to 100%. Now calling someone a system QB is considered a negative. The haters most often point to Cassell and the success he had as proof that Brady is just good because of the system. To them 11-5 would probably be a highly successful season. They don't realize that 11-5 for the Patriots is below average and not winning the division or making the playoffs was a disappoinment after going 18-1 the previous season. Belichick and the Patriots have a great system but it is Tom Brady that has driven the team to it's heights of excellence.

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To top it of, Matt Cassell had more yards and a higher QB rating the following year with the Chiefs--and he went to the Pro Bowl!!!!

It's a weak garbage way of trying to discredit a player without actually saying anything.

At this point (2016), if you run across anyone who says Brady is anything less than one of the all time greats, just laugh and keep walking because they really aren't worth a second of your time.

Snake Eyes said:

Anyone who claims TFB is a system QB should explain:

- exactly what system he runs

- exactly how the system works

- why isn't every other team replicating that system with mediocre QBs and winning multiple Superbowls?

Click to expand...

What gets me answering these questions is by system are they talking offense? Cuz tom has run and won with everything from your standard HB FB TE 2 WR set in 2001-2006 to the 4 WR spread 2007-2009 to the 2 TE set 2010 to present. His accuracy, decision making, leadership, and poise under fire works well in ANY system.

Snake Eyes said:

Anyone who claims TFB is a system QB should explain:

- exactly what system he runs

- exactly how the system works

- why isn't every other team replicating that system with mediocre QBs and winning multiple Superbowls?

Click to expand...

That's pretty much what I've said to those who suggest Brady is a system QB.... except I say it more like: well, then your team oughta fire your whole damn coaching staff who can't use the same system to elevate your lousy QB to God status.

Froob said:

This has to be the Brady statue pose (that will of course be taken down before the first game)

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I still remember this like it happened 5 mins ago. My then girlfriend laughed for a while when she saw it. She was more tickled by it than I was to be honest. Loved when he got up and made the first down gesture. Heck, I love it any time he does it.

I always laugh when people use the Matt Cassel argument that Brady is a system quarterback back in 08.

Did everybody forget that Cassel brought the Chiefs to the playoffs and a pro bowl berth the very next season?

Canuck said:

Instead of 90%, I think it's closer to 100%. Now calling someone a system QB is considered a negative. The haters most often point to Cassell and the success he had as proof that Brady is just good because of the system. To them 11-5 would probably be a highly successful season. They don't realize that 11-5 for the Patriots is below average and not winning the division or making the playoffs was a disappoinment after going 18-1 the previous season. Belichick and the Patriots have a great system but it is Tom Brady that has driven the team to it's heights of excellence.

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What they also failed to realize is that the 11-5 Cassell led team averaged about 11 pts less per game than that 16-0 Brady led team. That's the difference between the number 1 offense to the 25th offense for last year.

Nordberg said:

I always laugh when people use the Matt Cassel argument that Brady is a system quarterback back in 08.

Did everybody forget that Cassel brought the Chiefs to the playoffs and a pro bowl berth the very next season?

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It wasn't the next season. It was his second year with the Chiefs. In his first year with the Chiefs, the team went 4-12, and Cassel took such a beating that he never fully recovered from it, mentally, and always remained a bit too quick to start looking for/feeling the rush after that.

Deus Irae said:

It wasn't the next season. It was his second year with the Chiefs. In his first year with the Chiefs, the team went 4-12, and Cassel took such a beating that he never fully recovered from it, mentally, and always remained a bit too quick to start looking for/feeling the rush after that.

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My bad on the year

But he apparently recovered okay by the way he played the following year

It's the air pressure system, I think.

Nordberg said:

My bad on the year

But he apparently recovered okay by the way he played the following year

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No worries. I was just trying to undercut any Jets/Bills troll that might stop by.

bobbyraul said:

We don't need brady we should trade him cuz he will suck without us and we will get a lot cuz we got jimmy, it's all on Beli and his magic, I don't care what he does it works and that's all I care!!! we all knew that he was going gaff the FG and we would win!!!! we the best!!!!

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You use we allot, you must be French?

Brady isn't a system quarterback

He is a quarterback system

Brady is an incredibly disciplined quarterback. With his accuracy and zip, there's little question he could put up more "improvised" highlights and lasers into triple coverage. He doesn't, though, because the Patriots believe in a low turnover risk offense. I think a lot of NFL QBs are unable to check down or throw the ball away as often as Brady because they lack split second discipline, so Tom is always looking for the easy ones...not that he doesn't get his share of throwing guys open and pinpoint completions. The proof is in the numbers, though. Brady rarely ranks among the league leaders in completion percentage but always is at the top in interception percentage. He throws it away a lot more than most, and even some of his throways aren't obvious because inaccurate passes are sometimes intentional.

The Patriots often lead the league in points and fewest turnovers. Maybe Brady will change his style for the worse so that some Twitter users will acknowledge he would successful in other organizations. We can only hope for their adulation.

sb1 said:

Knowing Tom and his work ethic I really think he could have given the read option a viable try if he put his mind to it. Maybe not a great idea at 39 though.

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If he took those extra hits that a running QB takes, he might have gotten dinged up, and spent his career as a perennial "Probable" on the injury list.