Palm Beach Pats Fan

I don't think there are realistic options beyond Aiken (if healthy), Stanbeck, and Slater, along with more touches in the passing game for some combo of Watson, Faulk, Morris, and Maroney.

When you think about it, that is a lot of looks that are available even if we are very short on WR, particularly if Aiken is hurt.

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Mack Herron

Only Faulk is a reliable target here. Passing third downs will be Edelman/Moss.

JSn

Watson has been great this year. Good percentages. It's just hard to get open when you're blocking

I think we'll see Watson split out wide occasionally and it would not surprise me to see Slater in there on 1st and ten as the #2 (as in second "non-slot" option). He's very quick and can certainly take a safety out of the play.

Stanback is a nice option as a short yardage receiver because he seems to read defenses well. It's just that if you see Welker open, why check on Stanback? That changes now.

There are actually a lot of great possibilities if we're interested in sticking with a controlled short-game, saving the deep ball for defensive mess-up's or special-design plays. If Moss wants catches, he's going to have to play over the middle and go back to school-ball with those nice 8-12 yard curls.

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ATippett56

Isaiah Stanback - five career receptions

Isaiah Stanback

Matt Slater - zero career receptions

Matt Slater

Sam Aiken - forty seven career receptions

Sam Aiken

It's down to Moss, Edelman, and quite frankly a bunch of JAGS to put it kindly.

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The Dynasty

That isnt Moss' style, he isnt a big YAC guy. You havent seen many screens to Moss because simply he just isnt that kind of receiver. Moss will be asked to run more routes over the middle, which I think he is uncomfortable doing but did it earlier in the year when Welker was out and had some success. I agree that he will need to do things that he hasnt been doing since Welker's return in order to get open and make catches.

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"It is what it is" -Bill Belichick

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JMarr

I agree. If Aiken's banged up we'll see Slater as the 2nd wideout more than Stanback, who poses no deap threat whatsoever. Look for a play-action go route to Slater early--if it works it throws the Raven's defensive gameplan completely out of whack.

NEPatriot

Synchronizing between TB and his WRs is the most important factor in the game. The reason TB throws a lot of balls to Moss and Welker is they know how to get TB's ball.

I don't think that other WRs get into the rhythm with TB. Until we can get this problem straightened out, our offense is going to be struggle.

mgteich

Please indicate the highest number of receptions for the #3 receiver in a game in 2009. Stanback is capable of that number. And just what is wrong with having a JAG from whom you hope to get some small contribution?

For example, do you think Ninkovich is any more than a JAG this year? What about Connolly?

There will always be a few JAG's on the roster, and even on the active roster. Hoping that Stanback can run a few patterns, and perhaps make a few catches is NOT an unreasonable expectation.

BritPat

As it was back in 2001, 2003 and 2004 when we lifted the Lombardi.

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Creator of the Pats must draft Jason Verrett in 2014 no matter the cost fanclub.

BradyManny

2001, sure. But we used different personnel groups then we do now.

2003 & 2004 - we had one of the deepest groups at wide receiver I can think of in recent memory. There were no studs, but you had 4 legitimate above average NFL receivers (Branch, Givens, Brown, Patten), and add in Bethel who was a flawed receiver, but could contribute in ST and as a burner. We had the depth to overcome injuries in those two seasons, which we did, in fact, need to do as most of those guys missed several games.

The receiving group we have this season simply doesn't compare. The 2007 group was legitimately 4 deep, and is probably the best receiving corp we will ever see here, and of course, blows away 03&04. But I think I would take the 2003/4 group over this season's, even with Welker. We've seen that defenses can shut down your #1 and #2 options if need be, and if you don't have suitable #3 & 4 options, then it doesn't matter how good those 1&2 are.

The fact that Aiken was at practice today is big. He's not great, but he's a [healthy] body, and he has time in the system now. He's shown he can use his size to his advantage. It's too late to hope he becomes a better route-runner or more versatile receiver this late in the season, but he can be, and will have to be, an asset in the playoffs.