Dale and Mike Reiss Opening Segment

We are at Gillette Stadium and it is a patriots Friday and we are gonna talk football for the next four hours in fact nothing but football. For the next -- hours with all due respect the Dodgers in the Phillies -- the started the NLCS. Last night with all due respect to Pedro Martinez. Inexplicably in my opinion pitching game two of the NLCS tonight with -- all due respect of the Yankees in the angels. Commencing the ALCS later on tonight. It is a patriots Friday and it is time to talk a lot of football now Michael Holley is off today. But we did not necessarily bring Mike recent just so I wouldn't screw up the first name. Believe it or not Mike and I have worked in the past. I don't remember there was a little while ago but I have a lot of respect that refer to with work all the time on the air and it seemed logical that we're gonna talk patriots football on a Friday what I revenue with the Mike -- a welcome.

Now thanks -- and I'm glad we're talking football I have to tell you probably a one trick pony here if we were going to have ever going anything else I would be in trouble also up by. Certainly glad to be here and I was thinking as I was coming down I think it's been for five years since that since I've been on so sort of so many changes since then and in sort of a you know excited to be back and let's be honest the the the the gap between appearances wasn't necessarily. Our decision our mind but that's another story for another day it's -- and and think about everything that's changed over that time I mean one of the reasons we started going on together was blogging and you -- often referred to the blog I wrote and now. You know that that might have been one of the few blogs at the time when it started and now think about. Everything that's happened since that time I mean all the changes in the media it's just something that is been really interesting to me going forward.

Let's start a little more globally will get very specific as the day goes on Joe -- will join us one of my favorite people in the world former patriots offensive lineman. Now doing great work having beaten cancer now doing great work as the head of the Joe Andruzzi foundation. We'll talk football with -- as well obviously a Peter King will join us at 1202 was he always does. Add to. About 150 or thereabouts will will pick ten names at random from the contestants who bettered our fantasy football contest and pair them up -- one of our franchises. Dan Koppen and Logan Mankins will join us as the day goes on as well but let's talk more globally right now. And a patriots team that is three in two and seems to be casting about a little bit trying to find an identity. Any thoughts as to what now I've read Ron Borges -- peace with interest the -- this is Brady's fault but he's got some of the responsibility in my mind but I'm curious what you think.

Well I think I think he certainly have to take some of the enemy he's missing throws dale that he hasn't missed in the path and I think. Part of the expectation that that he would be back the way he was in 2007 is from the game plans we've seen I mean you don't go out in week two against the jets. And run that no huddle three receivers for all but one play. Put the game basically in his hands and then after that say well he's not back yet I mean there's an expectation there that's been set. Based on the way the team has attacked certain opponents and I think. That is obviously something that I've noticed that means Brady's not himself right now and that's part of this search for an identity.

Welcome back to point out. Tom Brady has thrown more passes than any quarterback in the NFL at this point in the season. And I think he's completed the second most passes in the NFL at this point in the season so. If the coaching staff had doubts about. -- back from his knee injury it's timing is is an issue it's as the psychological. Hurdle of coming back from major knee surgery. They don't think that's the concern -- well I think that.

Probably part of it it is I think you know and they probably go back and say we're not perfect either as a coaching staff if we can go back and do things differently. We probably would have attacked the jets' media little differently in an even this last week against the Broncos about -- little -- slow to adjust to some of the things that that the Broncos were doing. -- defensively and offensively as well so. I don't think you know you you spare Brady accountability here and I think he's this hard on himself as anyone's though. I don't think it's wrong to say that that -- he's got to do better this team -- gonna get where it needs to go how much of the that. -- even this I'll use that -- the uneven it's of the patriots offensive attack. How much of it goes at the feet of the new offensive coordinator bill O'Brien I think part of it but I don't think it's what many people say it that -- the plate now because they think the thing to understand on the play Collins a lot of times Brady will go up to the line of scrimmage with 12 maybe even a third play and he'll pick the one based on what he -- defensively though. I think if you talk about that the change in offensive coordinator it's -- just. And breaks in the action when they go to the sideline and they're talking with -- each other is there that trust there. When you say okay what does the defense giving us Ray -- having the trust it. What the coach is seeing is the same thing you're seeing out there I go back to L 2005 when Josh McNeil replaced Charlie -- that year. He with the quarterbacks coach even though we know now he was calling the plays. In a -- are cooperating in -- early struggles as well it started to read into that year and that relationship grew over time. I have no doubt bill O'Brien is going to be a great offensive coordinator play caller but I think. Five teams in its only fair for him to be you know experiencing some growing pains as well expect otherwise I think is unrealistic. How much is Bill Belichick involved in the play calling here now. I may -- it's just memory fades as time moves forward I don't remember him as much. With that plate -- in his hand as I've seen him -- so far this year I fell in week three against the falcons I thought there was a little bit of a change there you remember after two weeks I think they had 101 drop backs and 43 Russia's very unbalanced and I thought at that time just sort of looking at the way their operation was on the sideline at -- to in the that Belichick took a more active role with the plea -- in his hands haven't seen it as much over the last couple weeks and you know sort think he always likes to oversee everything. I thought that one week he did get more involved and and they been more balanced since that time. Do they feel do you feel that with the injury to Fred Taylor that's anymore and stepped right into that spot. And and be the lead back yet seventy carries last week for 68 yards. Or are they still waiting. Why. Laurence Maroney to show that he's not the -- I've watched all the time -- Unbelievable story in the last week I think he only had nine snaps in the team dale and I and I feel the same way about -- as they do Joey Galloway. As disappointing as both. Performances from the with players have been to this point and and whether it's on the players or something else here. I think the patriots need both of them if they're gonna get where they need to go this year and I almost following -- place I think he does I don't I almost don't even think that it's that it's that I think you know. He's open make the play don't step out of the back -- and don't drop the ball to me. Yeah there's been a few where where may be hasn't made the right -- adjustment but I I actually believe that one's gonna turn around starting this week it may be an unfair thing you think he's gonna play that's what I do then you can -- I really believe that I mean. You can put Sam -- out there across from champ elite and I mean. The keys in Macon and play that three receiver set that it's sort of their base and the like why did Josh and more importantly Mike Nolan. Why did they used Champ Bailey and Sammy and anyway when Randy Moss and Wes Welker out there well they basically said champ you're gonna stay on that side of the field and so the patriots didn't allow them to have them -- they basically in line marks up on the opposite sides that why why should we give them that matchup so. To me that was sort of that that really showed me how that lack of a third receivers hurt the patriots they come out in the three receiver set. Sam -- across from Champ Bailey that's a win for the Broncos and right and on the other side of the field they'll you have moss who you can double cover so -- ago and Wes Welker in the middle of the field where and and I don't know if this was the second or third straight week. Where moss has missed practice for non football related whatever I don't know what it is some and it and -- and speculating. Is that pretty unusual veterans day that's all that to me that's -- it is and and like veterans talk about veterans day off but I don't see. Com while Tom Brady can't obviously you know. I don't see other I don't see -- Thomas. He's from Iraq you write a meeting sprinkles around a little bit like I think Stephen -- yesterday was limited may be that was something different and I think. You hear veterans talk about why they like to play rebel attack and that's one of the reasons why he knows when that -- to push him and when to pull back on animosity they put a lot on his plate. Because of the lack of that their receiver in my opinion it asked him to sort of be. The deep receivers. The short receiver at times intermediate receive retirement. We knew we had a back problem a couple of weeks ago so I think it's more just preserving them for the long how bad is the back in as it is -- over it now he's fine at the -- I think it was a one time thing why did we see so little from them on Sunday just got to work harder. To get on the ball to him in a you know they were two passes that breeding -- obviously the one in the end zone. And then the one it the first drive but and the start of the second half when emotion -- out of the backfield. Try to just changed things up and give them open to the brunt of the different look and operating miss that pass is well. So you know maybe he makes those two catches were looking at a three catch ninety yard effort and are we having this discussion but I do you think. They got to work harder again the -- you can't just. Allow a -- started to double cover him and say are it will take you know three catch a mosque got to do better than. I if it's hard for me on match and that even with a year away from the game with all the the offseason practices -- OTK's. All the mini camps passing camps training camp. That there's still a communication issue between Tom Brady Wes Welker. I just sorry I'm not -- that and then that and that's a good point I mean some wondered if Welker with covering for Brady you know on that third down the row. When you'd you'd you'd have the ball patriots had a -- say this is a situation this is the one that's defined. Brady's career fourth quarter drive and on the field and Welker does one thing in says you know I was wrong. Brady couldn't see what I saw at the spot throw need to be in that spot but it isn't every pattern wide receivers here. Exactly like that if you -- disputed that. If you see this you do that every pattern. Have involves exactly what Wes Welker did. You know what there's nobody there I go there and Tom Brady gets. 99 times out of the fair point -- I don't have an answer on that one name its one. Welker to be talking to and after the game I was when asking the questions specifically about that play. You sort of sometimes you try to read him look in their eyes and they telling you what what the true rise and it seem pretty genuine to me but. You could beyond something. Tight tight end and it's not that I necessarily expect the Tom Brady was going to be first ball will never seen the 2007. Tom Brady ever. And any comparison of this year's production to that year's production is completely totally unfair to him and everybody else was involved. We're not seeing even that 2006 Tom Brady we went back and compare the numbers through the first five games this year. And the first five games of 2006. It's similar and it's it's in the ballpark. Biggest biggest and accurate to me that's the biggest thing and he's completing. 61% of his passes and -- his accuracy is what in my opinion has made him great. For contrast Peyton Manning is completing 73%. This year which of these that's other world -- charts but but look at Brady's career. I mean his completion percentages. On you know go back to the the 2007 season he was at 69%. Just shot a 60% I mean. So to meet. There is a mechanical element here -- some you know getting comfortable again. With the gains speed his footwork that things that are assorted minutia of football. And them you know I think he's gonna get better I think he's gonna get better this year five games in I wouldn't -- and he panicked.

All right let's let's turn our attention -- the other side of the football Michael did not like the Junior Seau assigning IB it. I liked it may be even more than what he may or may not bring on the football field because I don't know forty year old linebacker can bring on a football field. I think that he's here certainly to play football and they don't give honorary -- here he's certainly gonna be expected to contribute in some way on the field. But I get the feeling that at some point or another early on in this season. The patriots look to the defense that had lost Rodney Harrison Tedy Bruschi and Richard Seymour and Mike Vrabel. And said. We gotta have somebody. Who can who can lead this group and -- Thomas isn't there when it. And Vince is certainly doing his part but we need something whether it's an example whether it's not. A locker room presents whatever -- as we need somebody to grab these young players -- warrants and their young. And show -- the right way to go I think they're.

I definitely think that's part of it and being in that locker room over the last couple of days it was definitely a different atmosphere you could see the players were picked up a little bit Wes Welker. Said it was a morale booster Randy Moss is yelling down -- you know down the locker room to say out just excited to see and so he does. They'll bring up bring something to that locker room but Timmy got a focus more on the x.s and I was. And I really thought you know they're they're thin at linebacker Gary Guyton has played every play but one. And you know part of that's from the Jerod Mayo injury and I think. From the football perspective by the late Jerry guidance -- locked -- well do well I was a big question now coming into this year. So do you look at it and they they as a coaching staff they probably say okay if Mayo goes down again or if Guyton goes down who do we have. And they just don't have anyone there Eric Alexander would be your fourth linebacker and he's really a special teams guy so I think. Say -- just gives them flexibility to go into a game and say you know what we can play. A 34 defense if that's what we wanna do because we know that if a player gets injured in this game we feel more comfortable with Junior Seau being the next guy. And they feel that the the comfort with the defensive scheme in the calls offsets the fact that he's a forty year old linebacker. Who you know didn't have training camp -- a mini camp didn't have any thing. A -- put on his helmet on Wednesday knowledge of the system is huge in this case Derrick Brooks was another older linebacker that they were at least looking at. But the fact that he's never been in this system I mean. That's an easy choice to go to Junior -- flip it over on the other side the trade deadline for football is next Tuesday. And one of the reasons I just don't see many though you don't see you don't see but one of the reasons I think the patriots should at least make a call. Out to Seattle. And inquire about the possibility of a Deion Branch. Is because he knows the system if you're gonna bring someone in in the middle of the season. There have to be some knowledge of the system because you can't afford. 234. Weeks to get him up to speed most of the time would Seattle -- interest that if the call was made. You know I called out to some media people out there because they don't have any contacts right and the Seahawks organization in the feeling I had talking to the media people is that it would be tough for them to sort of acknowledge a mistake we paid -- first round pick for this guy. So would trade him back for what would probably be a mid round picks so we're we're not getting what we paid for we didn't get production out of right. And they had a run of injuries out there in Seattle so you trade a guy -- yet -- depth than and you sort of leave yourself vulnerable.

We have a lot of guest says the show goes on but we're gonna get to the calls right off the top 6177790850. Toll free 8885250850. If you've got a Verizon cell phone and hit pound WEEI it's free call for all of you guys savior your emails and -- we get back in the studio next week. A Mike -- from ESPN boston.com -- in the studio with us here at -- later on in the program we'll talk Logan Mankins and and -- when Peter King will join us. Joe Andrews he will join us. But we'll talk patriots football with UN will do it ninety seconds from now here on Sports Radio WE yeah.