WES WELKER MAKES THE NEW YORK TIMES!

Happy Feet: How Wes Welker Makes the Patriots Go
By Chris Brown

With Tom Brady back, the Patriots hope to reclaim the title of best offense in the N.F.L. We all know recent history: By ‘07, Brady had evolved into one of the most efficient quarterbacks ever, exhibiting complete mastery over both the mental and physical aspects of playing quarterback: audibling plays and pass protections at the line to put his team in position to score; cycling through pass progressions to find the open guy; and rifling the ball between defenders or lofting it softly over them with equal skill.

And of course on the other end of those passes was Randy Moss, he of the large hands and freakish ability to outrun, outjump, outmuscle or outmaneuver any defender he deigned to humiliate. Brady had apparently pulled enough rank with Moss — or appealed enough to his self-interest — to get him to put in enough consistent effort to do the little things every play. With most receivers, that might mean a career year. With Moss, that enabled him to set the single-season mark for touchdown receptions with 23, breaking Jerry Rice’s record (though Rice had done it in a strike-shortened season). The Pats put on an awesome showcase en route to an undefeated season.

But things change, often suddenly.

Brady, Moss and Co. were defeated in dramatic fashion in the Super Bowl by the Giants because, among other reasons, the previously sturdy offensive line found itself unable to protect Brady. And then the previously indestructible Brady was injured just moments into the ‘08 season, and, probably as a direct result, Moss’s numbers sagged, and, though they won 11 games, the Pats missed the playoffs. Yet some things don’t change. Namely, Wes Welker continued to catch an incredible number of passes, with more receptions in ‘07 and ‘08 — 112 and 111 — than any other receiver in that two-year span.

Without Brady, arguably the game’s best player, the Matt Cassel-led Patriots offense merely dropped from off-the-charts amazing down to fifth in yards and eighth in scoring. Much of the explanation for why the Pats didn’t drop further, aside from some fast-maturing play from Cassel, was the dependable Welker’s ability to continually get open and keep the chains moving. It is not exaggeration to say that Welker has been integral to New England’s success. At no point over the last two years has the team had a truly imposing running game, and, while Moss has provided the necessary downfield fireworks, it is Welker that Brady looks to to keep drives alive and replenish the opportunities for Moss to get behind the opposing secondary.

Small steps. Welker, who stands a generous 5′9″ and weighs an equally generous 190 pounds, went undrafted out of college from Texas Tech. But after seeing the multipurpose damage he inflicted against them as a Miami Dolphin, the Patriots’ brass nabbed him, and an undefeated season and a Pro Bowl later, he is the key to making the rest of the Pats’ dynamic offense go.

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