New England Patriots Tom Brady Targets New Receivers Without Moss

For the past several seasons the ability of Randy Moss to spread the field and draw double teams from the opponent opened up underneath routes and screens for Wes Welker. Now that Randy Moss has headed back to Minnesota, the New England Patriots will have to open up a new dynamic in the playbook. All is not lost for New England. The wide receiving corp beside Welker may be unheralded, but they are far from incompetent. This trade definitely did not take place without the approval of Tom Brady which leads me to believe he is confident in the targets that he will have for the next 12 games. Here is a snapshot of who will be running the routes on Sundays.

Wes Welker-

This is the guy you know. The NFL's reception leader from last year will become even more of a focus for opposing defenses. With Moss now gone, he will likely be the double- teamed receiver. Welker's production the rest of this season will directly be affected by whether or not one of New England's new primary receivers can handle stretching the field.

Brandon Tate-

This second-year man out of North Carolina had his first season in the NFL derailed by injuries. This season he has dazzled on special teams including Monday night when he ran a kickoff back 103 yards for a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 39 yards in that game. His speed is unquestionable, but his precision as a route runner is yet to be seen. The Patriots bye week comes at the perfect time giving Tate a full 10 days to run with the first-team offense in practice.

Julian Edelman-

Edelman filled in nicely for Welker during the playoff game against Baltimore. He also has more experience than any other wide-out other than Welker. He is primarily a slot guy but will have to improve his down-field game to see his targets. The Patriots brought him back from injury slowly. He should be fully healed by the time the Patriots take the field again.

Taylor Price-

Price is a rookie wide receiver the Patriots took in the third round this year. He is a fast guy and still needs work as a route runner. The learning curve for price just got a lot steeper with the departure of Moss. Price will have to mature quickly as he will be thrust onto the field. He has yet to see game action this season.

Matthew Slater-

Most of the game action Slater has seen has been on special teams. He will likely be competing with Taylor Price for playing time. He has been on the field in all four games but has yet to touch the ball on offense. Slater is the type of receiver that would be most effective as a third or fourth option for Tom Brady.

Aaron Hernandez-

Yes, I know, he is a tight end. However, his excellent pass catching ability and route running have made him a favorite target of Tom Brady this season. With the questions surrounding the Patriots receiving corp, Hernandez will definitely be lining up as a receiver several times a game and in multiple packages. Hernandez could be the biggest benefactor of the Moss trade.

The cupboard is not completely bare but it isn't too reassuring either. Of course we will now deal with trade rumors from every angle but I don't see anything happening. Vincent Jackson is out of the question and Steve Smith doesn't look available. I look for the Patriots to keep the locker room they currently have in tact. They have two picks in each of the first four rounds next season and I see them possibly making a move at that time. Besides, the receivers Brady was throwing to during the Super Bowl years didn't exactly strike fear in others. The season is not lost, it just has a new beginning for New England.