During the latter phases of the 2019 season, there was a lot of discussion about Tom Brady and his demeanor. And about whether his skills had eroded at all.
Having gone to the Miami debacle in Foxboro, where I could get a good look at the entire field as contrasted with what the TV cameras show us, it was my observation that the biggest problem with the offense was that Brady's receivers and TE were not getting much, if any, separation. Whether that was down to speed, quickness or route running is beyond my data base. All I know is that I did not see many open guys.
Now Brady may have been dour because of Belichick or any number of other things. And he might not have been dour at all. But when I watched that game, my biggest takeaway was that the QB had reason to be annoyed. He rarely had anyone to throw to who was not a RB. And the D seemed to be aware of that too and seemed to be paying a lot of attention to the backs as possible targets.
So naturally I thought that BB would restock the WR position, as he did going into the 2007 season and at other times when the receivers were insufficient.
I expected Bill to take a receiver or two in the draft. It was billed as a draft that was deep in that area. He did not. Then I thought he might pick up a threat in free agency. Byrd might be that; but he looks more like Dorsett, at least on paper.
And other than Byrd, and renewed hope in Gunner to be something he was not in 2019, the Pats really stood firm at the position. We're left hoping that Julian is less banged up than last season, at age 34 and without whatever special connection he had with Tom Brady, and that one year of experience will make Harry more of a threat.
And then we have the two rookie TEs, each of whom seems interesting on paper, and neither of which has made a massive impression on the reporters who cover the team, which may not mean anything at all.
Now there are other issues, of course. The Pats are relying on rookie LBs to play a much bigger role on defense than BB teams have in the past. Hightower and Chung are not here. There's no kicker at the moment. And of course we don't exactly know what we have in Cam Newton. His health has been an issue for a while and the Pats' offense is probably quite different than what he's used to, though Josh is smart enough to tailor it for QB1.
But if I have a number one concern heading into this season, it's the ability of the WRs and the TEs to get open and make plays for the QB and the offense. I have way less concern about the RBs, but even there I don't know how well Newton will use them.
Do others see the receivers other than the RBs as a major potential problem? Or a minor one? Or not one at all? For me, this is very disconcerting and I'd be interested in how other folks here view it.
[Edited it to add the bolded and previously missing "one" above.]
Having gone to the Miami debacle in Foxboro, where I could get a good look at the entire field as contrasted with what the TV cameras show us, it was my observation that the biggest problem with the offense was that Brady's receivers and TE were not getting much, if any, separation. Whether that was down to speed, quickness or route running is beyond my data base. All I know is that I did not see many open guys.
Now Brady may have been dour because of Belichick or any number of other things. And he might not have been dour at all. But when I watched that game, my biggest takeaway was that the QB had reason to be annoyed. He rarely had anyone to throw to who was not a RB. And the D seemed to be aware of that too and seemed to be paying a lot of attention to the backs as possible targets.
So naturally I thought that BB would restock the WR position, as he did going into the 2007 season and at other times when the receivers were insufficient.
I expected Bill to take a receiver or two in the draft. It was billed as a draft that was deep in that area. He did not. Then I thought he might pick up a threat in free agency. Byrd might be that; but he looks more like Dorsett, at least on paper.
And other than Byrd, and renewed hope in Gunner to be something he was not in 2019, the Pats really stood firm at the position. We're left hoping that Julian is less banged up than last season, at age 34 and without whatever special connection he had with Tom Brady, and that one year of experience will make Harry more of a threat.
And then we have the two rookie TEs, each of whom seems interesting on paper, and neither of which has made a massive impression on the reporters who cover the team, which may not mean anything at all.
Now there are other issues, of course. The Pats are relying on rookie LBs to play a much bigger role on defense than BB teams have in the past. Hightower and Chung are not here. There's no kicker at the moment. And of course we don't exactly know what we have in Cam Newton. His health has been an issue for a while and the Pats' offense is probably quite different than what he's used to, though Josh is smart enough to tailor it for QB1.
But if I have a number one concern heading into this season, it's the ability of the WRs and the TEs to get open and make plays for the QB and the offense. I have way less concern about the RBs, but even there I don't know how well Newton will use them.
Do others see the receivers other than the RBs as a major potential problem? Or a minor one? Or not one at all? For me, this is very disconcerting and I'd be interested in how other folks here view it.
[Edited it to add the bolded and previously missing "one" above.]
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