Stretching LaFell (Passing Recap Part I)

[mascho]

Stretching LaFell
 
 
 

If you thought Tom Brady and the New England passing game could not improve upon their impressive display against the Bengals, you were mistaken. The signal caller turned in a nearly mistake-free effort in Buffalo, completing 27 of 37 passes for 361 yards and 4 touchdowns. Brady found 10 different receivers against the Bills, including touchdown tosses to Tim Wright, Brian Tyms, and two to Brandon LaFell. While many aspects of the Patriots’ passing game jumped out of the screen during review of the tape, two stood out above the rest: the growing importance of LaFell to the offense; and the success New England enjoyed with play-action passing.
 
Here, in Part 1 of our breakdown, we’ll examine the Brady-LaFell connection. In Part II, we look deeper at the play-action passing game.
 
I...I don't sleep much.

 

[soxfan121]

Copying from Tyms thread:
 

LaFell did have a 56-yard touchdown on a deep sideline route. He has 3 catches of 35+ yards already; no Pats receiver has had more than 3 such plays in a season since 2011. The Tyms play was more highlight-worthy, but LaFell is showing that he can burn defenses if they don't respect him.

 
 

One caveat on that SD, one of those 35+ catches was a 4 yard slant against KC that he broke the distance. But I do agree with your overall point. 

 
 

His ability to break tackles from CBs and turn that into huge gains is something a deep safety is going to have to worry about, too.

 
LaFell really has been a pleasant surprise. His blocking has been very good and he's clearly carved out a huge role in the offense.

 

[Gash Prex]

What this article demonstrates best is the importance of Gronkowski to the passing game and how frees up LaFell on just about each of those plays.  

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

The best part of what I see possibly developing in terms of LaFell is that it's still early and the rapport between Brandon and Brady will likely improve. We shall see if it continues on this trajectory or if it's just been a few uptick games, but I imagine he will continue to get this system in his bones, and that will help the fluidity of the offense. I also imagine #87 will continue to get his Gronk back as even more of the rust gets knocked off. Fingers crossed.

Another tremendous piece, btw. And very entertaining, as well.

 

[lambeau]

LaFell played 58/60 snaps last night, and has played almost 90% snaps the past four games--I'd say he's WR 2 for this year. He continues to break tackles, and his YAC/Rec of 10.0 yds, just ahead of Demaryius Thomas, nearly leads the league.
In fact, after no receptions the first two weeks, in their past five games he doesn't compare badly to  Thomas, who had 43% more targets (43 v. 30)--337 yards v. Thomas' 443; 17.7 Yds/Rec v. Thomas' 15.8.  Both caught 63%.

 

[Stitch01]

Have the Pats faced much man coverage the last few weeks?  Im fairly certain the Bengals played a lot of zone and it seemed like the Jets were in a fair amount of zone last night.  I would think attacking this Pats team man-to-man would be better all else equal.
 
I ask this here because I was curious how much separation LaFell is getting in man-to-man coverage and if that could explain some of the difference we've seen the last few weeks vs. the first few weeks.  He's pretty clearly the starting WR barring injury for better or worse.

 

[mascho]

The Jets did throw a lot of zone at them, probably due more to their injuries and inexperience in the secondary than anything else. Although they did do some things with man concepts. They doubled the slot guys a lot and on the Amendola TD, for example, while they were in Cover 4 they had man coverage on both Amendola and Edelman, who were both in slot positioning. 
 
The Bills threw a lot of man/Cover 1 at them, LaFell's second TD is one such example. I'd have to look back at my notes to see what the rough percentages were.

 

[Stitch01]

Thanks, I feel much better about LaFell if he's showing he can beat man coverage.