The Pats just traded a 4th to the Seahawks for Deion Branch. I guess they're going back to what worked in the past for their next run at the title. http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-..._/id/4684930/patriots-acquire-branch-in-trade
Saw this coming with the earlier rumblings...for a 4th lol...they seem to always fleece someone...Lots of picks for them next draft too btw.
I'm not sure giving Moss away for a 3rd then coughing up a 4th for Branch to replace him is fleecing anyone. I'd say they got fleeced actually.
they didnt fleece anybody, they got burnt, the guy is washed up...however he is under control for this and next year, knows the system...they like him alot....so they paid a bigger price for him....
Not sure they got fleeced, but I don't understand the move. Because of where the picks are, its almost trading Moss for Branch straight up... Branch hasn't done jack since being traded to the hawks. I never thought he was all THAT great to begin with, and now he's pretty much done. Strange move IMo.
I thought he was pretty good in Seattle. Only issue was injuries. I watched 5 games of the Seahawks last season and he played pretty well.
I think they just realized that building an entire offense around Moss wasn't in their best interests in the short or long term. Its hard to have Randy Moss on your team, because he really only runs 2-3 routes.
Not to mention he gives up easy and couldn't block a 6th grader. I've been saying for a few years that Moss is limited in what he can do, but on his very worst day, he's still 100x better than Branch imo
It's different than the Cincinnati Offense (Or WCO, whatever you want to call it). It's not about using the entire width of the field as the Cincinnati offense is, the run game is different and the Cincinnati offense is a pass first-run second offense. The Erdhart - Perkings offense was originally a run first but New England kind of flipped that. I also don't think that it is as dynamic as the Cincinnati offense.
Doesn't matter. If the defense doesn't get as good as it was back then the Pats won't go anywhere. And right now I think their defense is ranked around 28th in the league.
WCO is more timing. The QB throws the ball to a spot, and the WR is expected to be there. Its based on mismatches in the passing game. The Erhardt Perkins offense is simpler in the fact that it uses only a few core plays. But it does use different formations and motion to confuse the defense. You'll see more vertical routes, designed to vacate space underneath. Its really a scheme that just takes what the defense gives.
The Patriots traded RB Laurence Maroney for a 4th round pick and then traded a fourth round pick for Branch. So basically, it's Maroney-for-Branch, which is a win for the Patriots in my book.
It's all about the system I guess, Patriots have a great system. They know how to use all their players, who was Woodhead before the Pats got him? [from the Jets]. If the Patriots had the Jets or Dolphins players they'd probably be undefeated right now.[Except our Special Teams - nobody wants them except Carpenter/Fields] They took Jet/Dolphin scraps and made something with them. I still think they're the team to beat in our division. They lost to Jets, but on the road, and beat us.
Just like Josh McDaniels in Denver not worried about not having Marshall. Look what their WRs are doing. Brandon Lloyd looks like a Pro Bowler and Eddie Royal is playing back to form. Its the system. The Pats know how to get production out of medicore to slightly above average WRs.
The Pats got Moss for either a 4th or 5th and got what will probably be his best years. With no intent of resigning him next year and the Vikes lack of leverage the got the best end of that deal. The Pats got a 1st for Branch, give up a 4th to get him back and the guy has a very good day today. Hate em or not the Pats know how to make some very good deals for their franchise.
I think Lloyd is pretty damn good and even though I thought Orton sucked in Chicago, after watching him play yesterday it is apparent that he can pass the ball. If they had a decent running back they would be really hard to stop.
The spread offense? We could, but it wouldn't work with Henne. You need a more accurate QB. Penny would be great in it though. Would have to change the OL as well. You can't expect the guys we have to pass pro very well consistently without assistance. Aside from that, we also don't have coaches with much spread experience. So in conclusion, you'd essentially have to change most of the team just to duplicate the system.
