Trading Places: A Chat With PatriotsDaily.com
Our friend (so if you go over there, keep it that way! Be polite, say ‘thank you’ and take your shoes off in the house!!) Bruce Allen of the incomparable BSMW & PatriotsDaily.com was kind enough to ask us some questions about the Jets and offered some answers for his team for your reading. You can read my answers on their site, PatriotsDaily.com
TheJetsBlog: Brady took a little bit of time to get comfortable last week versus the Bills, but he came around in a big way by the end of the game. Do you feel like he’s back in his 2007 groove now or does he still need more time?
Bruce Allen of PatriotsDaily: Well, I think he’s still going to have some moments where he’s not entirely himself. He’s still working in new receivers, and if you noticed (and Brady himself pointed out on the radio this week) during the end of the game drives, his throws were all to Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Kevin Faulk and Benjamin Watson – all guys he’s very familiar with. During the game he hardly looked at Joey Galloway or Chris Baker (TRAITOR!!! -Ed.). He also missed some throws that he always makes, so the timing is still something he’s working on. He’s not all the way back just yet, it’s going take a few weeks, I think.
TJB: The Patriots passed the ball a lot — 53 times — last week against the Bills. Do you think this will be a normal occurrence for the Patriots?
PD: I don’t think so. There has been a lot of talk about trying to balance things out a little better. I think the high passing number was more a result of the Patriots being behind and needing to throw to catch up. They’ve got a new play-caller, QB coach Bill O’Brien, and we’re still trying to figure out what his patterns and tendencies might be. Don’t get me wrong, they’re going to pass a ton, I don’t think they’re going to split the pass/run in a 50/50 ratio or anything, but they will run more than you saw on Monday night.
TJB: How much does the injury of Jerod Mayo, a second year player and a star for the Pats play into the way Belichick will scheme his defense for the Jets this weekend?
PD: It’s huge, really. I was afraid before the season even started about something happening to Mayo, because it seems like a lot of the experimentation with the 4-3 in the preseason – and even the trade of Richard Seymour to an extent – were based on having Mayo in the middle, freed up to run all over the field and make plays. His replacement back there is second year player Gary Guyton, who was a nice surprise last year, but isn’t the athlete or player that Mayo is. The Patriots might need to make some pretty big adjustments in their overall scheme this weekend in order to compensate for Mayo’s absence.
TJB: The Patriots made a lot of veteran acquisitions this offseason, who has impressed you most so far?
PD: The cornerbacks Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden. Springs didn’t play too much in the preseason, but he and Bodden pretty much shut down T.O. and Lee Evans on Monday night. If they can provide similar coverage over the course of the season, the Patriots defense is automatically going to be a lot better than last season. Though the overall defense wasn’t great on Monday, I was encouraged by the play of the corners, and by the fact that they were better on third down. Last year they couldn’t stop anyone on third down…as the Jets and Dustin Keller discovered in Foxborough. On offense, Fred Taylor has proven to be a total pro, and he might have something left. He could be a key pickup if the team does want to commit more to the run.
TJB: If you were an opposing coach, what’s the one area on the Pats that you would relentlessly attack on offense and/or defense until they prove they can stop it?
PD: Without a doubt it is the pass protection. This offensive line has just let too many defenders get in on Brady. They scare the crap out of me. If I’m the Jets, I’m bringing the house. Every. Single. Time. They do that, and the reward is going to outweigh the risk of Brady getting the passes off in time. Just make sure you’ve got someone on Kevin Faulk.
Our thanks to Bruce and the rest of the staff at PatriotsDaily. Their site does tremendous work, and they’re a must read for us each and every day. Check in on them for a great “behind enemy lines” look at the Patriots.
13 Responses to Trading Places: A Chat With PatriotsDaily.com
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BubbyBrister/shovelpass says:
*Bassett*
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haha … no problem … it’s been a persistent reminder to me to keep perspective … at all times, especially when my man from http://giantsfootballblog.com Anthony DeRosa is chasing me across sixth avenue. :)
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vbsiena24 says:
Mayo is a great young player, but overrated vs the run. Although he was able to stop the Jets in the backfield last season many of his tackles vs other team’s RBs came 4-5 yards after the line of scrimmage.
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Old Rich says:
Looks like Brady’s doing his “Utah, two” impression.
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spentmiles says:
I don’t want to see Brady. But I do want to know that he is under there somewhere, beneath 360 pounds of Big Jenks!
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charleyjet says:
Mr. Brady, meet Mr. Scott.
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If I see that K Faulk catching 3rd down passes for 1st downs on Sunday I am going to kill myself. The Pats have been running that play since 2000 and we have never been able to stop it….
That play and Belichick’s scheme to confuse Sanchez are our biggest issues. He is known for having DB’s come off their WR’s to pick balls off. Sanchez had a problem with that againt Houston. Dont think Belichick didnt notice
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brian311 says:
exactly – sanchez should have thrown 3 INTs in the texans game. we dont need him to win this game, we just need him not to lose it for us.
we should run, run, run…and run some more until the pats prove they can stop it. lots of leon and TJ, plus screens to keller
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Bent says: “His replacement back there is second year player Gary Guyton, who was a nice surprise last year, but isn’t the athlete or player that Mayo is”
I found this comment interesting, because based on the combine (which I know isn’t the be all and end all), Guyton is every bit the athlete Mayo is and then some (he ran a 4.47 forty at 245 lbs!). However, if the guy from PD says he isn’t as athletic, then I trust his judgement and it changes the outlook of him starting.
“If I see that K Faulk catching 3rd down passes for 1st downs on Sunday I am going to kill myself. The Pats have been running that play since 2000 and we have never been able to stop it….”
Yep, because we can never seem to shed the blocks on the outside *coughholdingcough*…and this isn’t exactly a strength for one of our outside linebackers in particular.
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Doctor K says:
Very interesting read. Thanks to you Bassett I might have to check in on PatriotsDaily for more insight behind enemy lines. Very insightful and honest.
For predictions however, plan on seeing a lot of screens, dinks, dunks and dump-offs in a spread offense in order to beat the pass rush and blitz this Sunday.
As long as they have someone zoning in on the RB they should be OK. However if the CB’s cheat on trying to defend the screen, Brady will try to exploit this with quick passes downfield hoping for YAC, which is one of our strengths.
Basset – I forgot how hilarious your responce was to the Franchez selection in April. Thanks for the reminder!
Armaggeden, please!
LOL