Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Brady Will Be Back




Last Thursday ( September 24th) Fox Sports.com writer Jason Whitlock published the following post in regards to Tom Brady. 
8. Tom Brady is never going to mentally get over his knee injury.
I hurt my right knee in 1988, tearing an ACL. I still dream about my college roommate getting blocked into my knee during spring practice.
Brady's fearlessness in the pocket is/was the asset that separated him from every other quarterback. Through two games this season, Brady looks ordinary in the pocket. He's not afraid. He's just cognizant of the fact that on any given Sunday someone else can do what Bernard Pollard did despite rule changes implemented to stop it.
Wes Welker's absence last week accentuated the problem. Welker is the guy Brady turns to when the pass-rush heat gets warm quick.
When this season is over, we might be looking for a new quarterback king. Drew Brees is the early favorite. Peyton Manning could also ascend to the throne. And don't count out Big Ben Roethlisberger, the new king of pocket toughness.
       Tom Brady may certianly never be the player he was in 2007's magical season, but to say he will never get over his injury is overly extreme. Whitlock's comparison of his own experience (with a similar injury) and Brady's is an invalid one. Brady clearly needs more time to mentally and physically recover from his devastating ACL and MCL injuries, but he will continue to get better each week. Brady is as mentally tough as any Quarterback in the NFL and this toughness will allow for him to eventually feel comfortable in the pocket again. I only agree with Whitlock about the fact that Tom Brady will not be the best Quarterback in the NFL this year.


        The return of Wes Welker will greatly increase Brady's improvement along with the emergence of a balance of offense. In this week's victory over Atlanta you saw a Patriot offense with a strong running game and an effective passing attack. New England's Quarterback still looked rusty at times missing throws (previously routinte to him) and even lost his cool in verbal and physical frustration. Brady is still on the mend, but he is certainly going to improve and be less hindered mentally and physically. Patriot fans need to be concerned with the same thing that Bill Bellichick is; the Baltimore Ravens. People need to spend less time doubting Brady and more time watching the games unfold. Tom Brady will mentally recover from his injury to lead the Patriots to 13wins and another AFC East title. 

        
   









3 comments:

Unknown said...

how can you evaluate what the PATs will do by looking solely at what happens with Brady? All thiss needs to be put in context with the ever changing improvements and deteriations of the other players AND the OTHER teams.

Mike G said...

I do this because when Brady is on top of his game the Patriot offense will be dominant. The defense also has played quite well even with Jerod Mayo out of action. Brady is the main component to that offense being explosive and he is the key to that team. Without him they would be average.

In 2007 the Patriots reached their peak performance too early in the season and faded down the stretch. This year they have struggled early, but they will reach full stride later in the season which is better.

Meg said...

Agreed. So much of any game is being mentally prepared and willing to have some fun!