Think Brady has found an early-season groove?
"Obviously, he's been making a lot of good throws and the receivers are doing a great job getting open," observed left tackle Matt Light, Brady's blindside protector. "I don't really ever worry about that. It's not his first rodeo."
True enough, although last year's rodeo had way too much bucking for Brady's liking.
Early last season, he talked about how it would take time for the passing game to develop, that players can't simply step on the field and expect to be productive. As the Patriots attempted to break in a new group of receivers in the first five games of 2006, Brady's completion percentages were a dismal 47.8, 51.7, 56.4, 57.7, and 55.2.
Now, by looking as sharp as he has through two games, Brady is proving himself wrong.
Much like last year, the Patriots have an almost completely revamped receiver corps. The difference, it seems, is in the talent level of those pass catchers, a group that includes Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donté Stallworth, Kelley Washington, and the lone holdover, Jabar Gaffney.
Brady said yesterday that his job essentially comes down to evaluating the field, picking the player he feels is most open, then making a good throw. He feels the receivers have done a nice job getting open in man-to-man coverage - tight end Benjamin Watson would be included in that group - while the offensive line has provided solid protection.
It's been a winning combination, with Brady the key piece.
"He's made good decisions and put the ball on the money," coach Bill Belichick said. "That's what a quarterback has to do."
Among NFL starting quarterbacks, only Brady, Houston's Matt Schaub (72), and Detroit's Jon Kitna (71) have completed more than 70 percent of their passes. Brady's 134.2 passer rating easily leads the league.
"I'm happy that we're completing at a high percentage and a high yards per attempt [9.76], because that's how you become efficient in the passing game," Brady said. "There haven't been a whole lot of third downs, which has been good."
In eight seasons with the Patriots, Brady has seen the passing game take on different forms.
