Levels Of Chemistry Relevance
August 3rd, 2020
(Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
James Jones spent eight seasons catching balls from Aaron Rodgers, so he’s got superior perspective when it comes to the realities of Tom Brady trying to mesh quickly with his pass catchers.
Every other blabbermouth NFL analyst has been talking about Brady needing to build chemistry with his weapons. But Jones told CBS Sports Radio that there’s nothing to worry about whatsoever in Tampa.
However, he said fans should not expect Brady to have any kind of elite chemistry with receivers.
“All you got to do is put it in their area and they can catch it,” Jones said of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. “Chemistry is really, you know, really out of the factor when it comes to those two guys.”
Joe stood up to applaud that take. It’s time to stop making everything so damned complicated all the time, even if it is interesting.
Jones said higher level chemistry between Brady and his pass catchers is something that only will be reserved for Rob Gronkowski because there simply isn’t time to get it done in 2020.
“We were at the point with Aaron Rodgers where we knew what he was thinking before the play even started,” Jones said. “And that’s going to take some time [for Brady]. You can talk and you can go out to practice, but until you’re in games and you’re doing your thing and guys are talking about it after games in meetings, and then going back on the football field in games and doing it, that’s how you build chemistry. … It’s going to take a couple of years [for the Bucs] to get on that kind of chemistry.”
The great thing is the Bucs have enough talent to weed out guys that don’t click with Brady. If he and Cam Brate don’t gel, that’s no problem. Brate lives on the bench. If Brady is out of sync with Evans but is meshing with Godwin, Gronkowski and LeSean McCoy, that’s ok. It’ll be a down year for Evans and the Bucs have enough firepower to overcome it.
August 3rd, 2020 at 11:53 am
Good take!
TB12 has the experience to meld with the receivers, giving them time to learn to meld with his play.
Just wait till all of them have the timing down.
Perfect Storm!
August 3rd, 2020 at 12:06 pm
GP – Perfect Storm. I like that. Likely true.
August 3rd, 2020 at 12:08 pm
Just searched, “How many different WR has Tom Brady played with?”
Answer: 77
That’s an average of 4 new WR a year. I’m pretty sure TB12 knows how to integrate with new WRs.
August 3rd, 2020 at 12:09 pm
Casual Observer
Thank you
Been inserting it for weeks, you’re the first to comment on it
August 3rd, 2020 at 12:13 pm
If Brate lives on the bench how has he managed to catch 27 touchdowns? Sometimes the things you say, Joe don’t make much sense.
August 3rd, 2020 at 12:16 pm
” It’s going to take a couple of years [for the Bucs] to get on that kind of chemistry.”
If that statement is true – we better consider drafting TB12’s replacement in April.
August 3rd, 2020 at 12:22 pm
Allow me Joe: @Hoops – I believe the Brate lives on the bench reference is only in the event that he and TB12 don’t gel. If necessary he can ride the pine because we still have Gronk, OJ et al.
August 3rd, 2020 at 1:08 pm
“Chemistry” is only critical when the defense has a play covered…the only edge left for the offense is that sixth sense that some players have with each other.
Can you say TB12 to Gronk? In time hard to imagine he won’t also develop “chemistry” with ME13 and CG14. “Chemistry”…aka..experience and TRUST!
We have so many targets that if the offense if running properly we shouldn’t need “chemistry”. Simple talent and experience will prevail. Brady inherited two receivers who helped JW get all those stats…they are both athletic and fiercely competitive when the ball is in the air. Do we think Brady will be as accurate as JW? Do we think Brady will be aware of which target to hit and which to avoid.
August 3rd, 2020 at 1:11 pm
deshaun and jaymiss never gelled imagine dat
August 3rd, 2020 at 1:18 pm
“Chemistry” with Brady is grossly overrated. The fella has had a revolving door of targets for nearly his entire career. Belicheck seems to have a unique ability to plug/play WRs who end up reaching Pro Bowl status and getting grossly overpaid in free agency while the Pats move on to the next. Certainly speed and playmaking ability helps, but the major factor is Brady processing the defense and executing the pass at great levels of efficiency/consistency.
August 3rd, 2020 at 1:37 pm
May take a few games but Brady and his receivers will make it work. Excited for the season.
August 3rd, 2020 at 2:11 pm
“77 WRs”! Thank you SlyPirate! Kind of puts that notion to bed, doesn’t it?!
August 3rd, 2020 at 3:48 pm
I mean him and Moss when he came on were pretty much plug and play
August 3rd, 2020 at 5:30 pm
There are two things the receivers will have to get used to with Brady. If they don’t run the route correctly, Brady has the clout to stop throwing them the ball. Jameis didn’t have that clout. Heck, he’d keep throwing to that guy.
The other thing is our receivers are 50/50 guys. Will Brady be willing to force passes to those guys and let them go up and get it? We truly won’t know until week 1.
August 3rd, 2020 at 7:49 pm
Consider this…Mike Evans, Pro-Bowl, a top WR in the NFL, huge numbers every year, team captain, Buc his whole six years. Meet Tom Brady…first year in Tampa, heckuve resume. Who’s the automatic leader/director/boss here. It’s Tom Brady, and it’s not even close. Evans and Godwin and others are Christmas presents to Brady, and he will know how to get the ball to him on Day 1. Unlike his Predecessor, wearing #3 (coincidental with # of TOs per game), he will be NO Ready, and ready for all others.