Wide Receiver Breakouts - New England Patriots Forums

Bostonian1962 · 06-21-2006, 05:21 AM

So some think (I know I do) that the Patriots WR corp is a bit weak. That prompts me to the following post.

Take a look at this list of WRs currently on the Patriots roster. Which one is going to exceed expectations and why?

Erik Davis
Michael McGrew
Rich Musinski
Matt Shelton
Zuriel Smith
John Stone

You'll note, this doesn't include those players expected to have the edge at making the team. These are the "other" wide receivers.

What do you know?

Remix 6 · 06-21-2006, 05:45 AM

um none? only 1 will make the team(John Stone) but he wontbe getting much action as a #6 WR behind Branch,Jackson,Caldwell,Brown,Childress and with our TEs and Maroney and Faulk catching out of backfield.

all i know is Stone impressed during the mini camp..he caught the ball well from what i heard in the mini camp wrap ups.

dhamz · 06-21-2006, 06:56 AM

Football expectations or shelf stocking expectations?

Seriously, none of those guys is anything other than camp fodder. A breakout camp and all they can hope for is a spot on the practice squad.

***BelichickFan*** · 06-21-2006, 07:53 AM

PS maybe, I imagine Childree will be the #5 guy and rarely seen on the field as a WR unless injuries hit.

Pats726 · 06-21-2006, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bostonian1962

Erik Davis
Michael McGrew
Rich Musinski
Matt Shelton
Zuriel Smith
John Stone

Let's see who we can remove from the list..Smith is a good return guy and may be a good receiver..but he is injured..knee I think..so he may be IRed or PUPed.... McGrew was on IR with a knee injury and missed the latter part of the mini camp..so..maybe a bit more injured....Shellton supposedly droped a ton of passes in rookie camp but is still hanging on..(Would be surprised to see him stick, even to TC) Musinski looked horrible last year in camp..but he might be better this year...Stone as well may stck to cmp. Davis is intriguing..a bit taller and a smooth receiver who has a knack for getting open.
The latter 3 may push a bit..but a breakout?? Possible...not probable...HOPING there is a surprise!!!

smg93 · 06-21-2006, 08:38 AM

Easy answer really would be which one of them can turn out to be a special teams demon? If any of those guys make it, my guess is it's less about how well they catch the ball and more about how well they do in ST.

5 Rings for Brady!! · 06-21-2006, 08:51 AM

Bam Childress will be the number #5 guy and see much more time than we expect due to:

Fragile Deion
Aging Troy Brown
Fragile Reche
Cornerback Troy Brown

JoeSixPat · 06-21-2006, 09:09 AM

If we're talking improving our WR depth, my focus is on a veteran WR who at the very least can be signed to particpate in camp, learn the system, provide additional competition for all our other question marks, and step in should there be an injury.

As much as I hope the young guys like Stone and the other no names can step up, I don't expect much, and if they make the team as a #6 WR it will be because they also show other special team skills.

I very much liked what I saw from Bam last year and expect him to be our #5 but one can't make those statements in mid-June.

Beyond that, some of these young WRs will be destined for the PS if they are lucky, as only the top 4 WRs see any real playing time anyway, barring injury.

***Tunescribe*** · 06-21-2006, 09:12 AM

Branch, Jackson, Caldwell. That's a reasonably potent top three if you ask me, especially when bolstered by pass-catching tight ends Watson and Graham, and reliable possession guy Troy Brown. Childress is a nifty #5 WR. I LIKE our receiving corps.

JoeSixPat · 06-21-2006, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tunescribe

Branch, Jackson, Caldwell. That's a reasonably potent top three if you ask me, especially when bolstered by pass-catching tight ends Watson and Graham, and reliable possession guy Troy Brown. Childress is a nifty #5 WR. I LIKE our receiving corps.

Don't confuse TEs with WRs - they are different positions for a reason, and although some WRs are 3rd down posession specialists, the reason we need WRs - and WR depth - is to stretch the field "i.e. the "wide" in wide receiver -
And while I like Branch, Jackson, Caldwell, Troy as our #1 and #2/#3 by committee, the reason we need depth is to be prepared in case one or more of them suffers an injury during the season.

And given Branch's injury history, that is a VERY real concern, so its just not good enough to say that one is confident in Branch, Jackson, Caldwell.

The question you should be asking is whether you are comfortable with Jackson or Caldwell as your #1 WR - and the answer to THAT I would expect is a big "NO"!