Trading Places: A Chat With Patriots Daily
Our friend 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 today on their site, PatriotsDaily.com.
TheJetsBlog: Tom Brady was still finding his game when last the Jets saw him, what’s happened since that time?
Bruce Allen of PatriotsDaily: The biggest thing has been getting his timing and “feel” back on his passes, as well as his comfort in the pocket. His mechanics are a whole lot better right now. The offensive line has done a better job protecting him as well, so he’s had the time to make the passes he wants to.
TJB: Wes Welker was out for the game the last time the Jets and Patriots played. What does a healthy Welker mean for the Patriots gameplan?
PD: It’s huge, and is also a big part of the answer to your first question. In that first Jets/Patriots game, not having Welker as his dump-off outlet was huge. Welker in many ways, is what makes the Patriots offense really go. When he’s in there, opponents cannot devote as much of their top defensive resources to Randy Moss, and the field is more wide open. He and Brady have an amazing knack of knowing what the other is thinking, and acting accordingly. I think the absence of Welker in that first game was a huge factor in the Jets victory.
TJB: Although not there yet, this secondary looks to be getting better as the season goes on, what’s driving this progress for the Patriots?
PD: Young guys getting experience. Thought Jonathan Wilhite had a pretty rough night against Reggie Wayne on Sunday, he was in good position most of the night, and has made good progress in his second year. Darius Butler, the rookie from UConn, has come along nicely, showing some nice ability around the ball. Leigh Bodden had perhaps his best game of the season against the Colts. The bigbest impact though, has been at safety, where the two Brandons, Meriweather and McGowan, have both been impact playmakers, and rookie Pat Chung has shown ability as well.
TJB: A lot has been made of new LT Sebastian Vollmer. Is he better than Matt Light and if so, why?
PD: He’s not better yet. He’s been impressive, but Light has been good for a long time, and will likely get his spot back when he is ready to play. Vollmer has shown great strength, and good footwork and technique. He’s huge at six-foot-eight, and Belichick has said he has a frame that could easier take another 30-40 pounds. He did a terrific job against Dwight Freeney on Sunday night, and is a great prospect for the future.
TJB: There seems to be a love-hate relationship with Laurence Maroney among Pats fans, what’s the core issue for most fans with him?
PD: The biggest complaint people have about Maroney is that they don’t feel he hits the hole strong enough, that he always hesitates a split second too late, or “dances” in the backfield before hitting the lane he’s supposed to run through. His costly fumble near the goal line on Sunday night is the type of thing that drives fans mad. However, he occasionally displays his undeniable talents just enough to keep himself on the roster. He had a nice game against the Dolphins the previous week, which had him in the good graces of the fans, and then goes out and reverts to form against the Colts, even with his touchdown.
7 Responses to Trading Places: A Chat With Patriots Daily
-
EddieC says:
ice cream with the enemy, huh coach?
-
brian311 says:
wow – just checked out pats daily. what an terrible blog. they have like 3 posts a day. thanks for sending me over there – now i appreciate TJB even more!!
-
Old Rich says:
Is Chris Baker still alive?
-
I have no compunction in saying that PatsDaily is a great blog.
Where they go for depth of good writing, I go for volume of bad writing.
Looks like they’ve put the Q&A up …
http://www.patriotsdaily.com/2009/11/trading-places-rematch-with-thejetsblog/
-
Brian,
We’ll take your “volume of bad writing” anytime.
Maybe later today? Not up on PatsDaily yet (10:20am).