kas

I've been wondering this for awhile. Welker needs to be protected by being off the line because he's tiny. Edelman has decent size (6'0, 190 lbs) - and should be even stronger after a full offseason to work out. He seems to be a natural at receiver and, IMO, I think the plan might be to have him take on the Gaffney role as a mid-range outisde receiver. He would have some technique to perfect in terms of beating the press but he picked up the finer points of the slot position so quickly I believe he could do it. This might explain the limited interest in pure outside guys while BB continues to look at more slot guys (Reed, McCluster, etc.).

What do you guys think?

patsinthesnow

He's publicly stated he is 5'10'', not his false measuure of 6'. Idk if that changes your opinion at all.

I think he is more suited for the slot.

Rob0729

Deion Branch is 5'9" and he rarely played the slot for the Pats. Steve Smith from the Panthers is alos 5'9" and was an elite receiver for a number of years playing outside. Just because you are under 6 feet doesn't mean you are relegated to the slot.

The reason Welker plays the slot is because he is quick, gets open quickly, fearless over the middle, tough to cover even by physical LBs who bump him on the line, and can make catchesover the middle while double and triple teamed. It isn't so much about his size although his size is the reason why he has some of these attributes.

Now the question is what skill sets does Edelman have? We have only really seen him in the slot so we do not know if he has the skill set to play outside and run some of the routes needed for that position while breaking away from faster CBs rather than slower LBs and safeties. I wouldn't be shocked if he played more outside especially if the Pats do add a Josh Reed or another player who is capable to play the slot.

spacecrime

I think it was his first year as a WR and it was remarkable that he made the transition so smoothly. Slot was probably easier to learn than deeper patterns and fit better with what he knew. Once he had the ball in his hands a couple yards beyond the LOS, his instincts took over and he did what he did as a scrambling QB.

He now has a whole off-season to learn teh intracacies of deep routes, posts and flys, outs and incuts, the timing of hooks, etc. If he can learn that position, he has the physical tools. As I undestand it, the primary means of elite WRs getting open is that they run all patterns exactly the same, so the DB doesn't know which way he will break. If Edelman can learn that, he surely can shine as a outside WR. I suspect we won't know until the season starts, but we can get a clue at training camp by looking at what routes he is running.

__________________
“When we look at the board, based on everything we want in a football player at that particular time, we evaluate them and take the player that fits best for our football team. That’s what we always do, and I think the last nine years we’ve put a pretty competitive team out there on the field every year. I think that’s how you do it – you get good football players. Sometimes they are not always at the No. 1 position, but I don’t think you pass up good football players to get the guys who aren’t as good just because they’re at a position that somebody feels you need.”
BB on his draft philosophy, April 2010

PATRIOTS-80

It is possible. Edelman is going to be an important guy in the offense. Remember last year the guy was new the WR position. But he had smarts and a heart. Remember that play in the playoff game on 4th down when he fought for the first down? It got called back by a penalty, but the guy has heart.

So in summary, with training camp and a whole year under his belt as WR, it is possible for him to learn to play outside. His strength will always be change of direction. If he plays outside, his style will be similar to Branch. What I find unlikely is that he will be a straight speed burner ala Moss.

__________________
According to Rodney Harrison, new wide-receiver Wes Welker was “a pain in the butt” to deal with when he was with the Dolphins. “We had to double-team him because no one could stick with him man-to-man,” Harrison said.

JMarr

So before Welker returns (hopefully in Nov.), who do you have playing in the slot if Edelman is lined up outside? Unless the Pats change the entire offense, you can't just stick anyone in that position. So the answer is "maybe, however he won't."

PATRIOTS-80

I wouldn't say that. BB brought in Josh Reed probably with the slot in mind. There are a few quick twitch acceleration smallish WRs that he could draft that would fill the slot.

__________________
According to Rodney Harrison, new wide-receiver Wes Welker was “a pain in the butt” to deal with when he was with the Dolphins. “We had to double-team him because no one could stick with him man-to-man,” Harrison said.

JMarr

For better or worse, Welker (and Edelman) have made the Pats' passing game evolve to pretty much center around the slot position. It would be nice if they could get away from relying on that position so much, but I agree with those who think that Edelman's skill set is perfect for slot receiver with the Pats' system.

mgteich

Maybe, but for now we need a slot receiver and Edelman is it.

When Welker comes back, Edelman will again be the backup slot receiver.

I'm sure Edelman will spend a lot of time in camp and in the preseason running lots of downfield routes. Then, we'll see what we have.

MoLewisrocks

Steve Smith (either one), Santana Moss, Percy Harvin, Derrick Mason, Hines Ward (according to his QB), Devery Henderson, DeSean Jackson... are all under 6'. They are also fast. As well as quick and often scrapy. Deion Branch and Troy Brown and David Patten were outside receivers who won rings here. Branch even bagged a SB MVP.