Picked-up pieces after first-half review – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston

Those who have read our picked-up pieces entries before may recall the term “rub concept” in which two receivers work off of each other, typically near the goal line. In its simplest form, the outside receiver runs in, the slot receiver runs out and a natural pick is formed. We expect the Patriots to use this concept extensively this season, but not just near the goal line. With two gifted slot targets in Amendola and Edelman, it’ll be a staple of their underneath passing game, as was the case on a third and 5. The two were the inside receivers as part of a three-man bunch to Tom Brady’s right side, with Edelman running roughly five yards before turning inside, while Amendola ran up the field for a couple of strides, stuttered and broke out, catching a pass just two yards beyond the line of scrimmage. The direction of Edelman’s route gave Amendola enough space to work with to grab the first down and move the chains. Those two will be a tough task for middle-of-the-field pass defenders.