What should the Patriots do with Watson - Page 3 - New England Patriots Forums

RayClay · 12-04-2006, 08:46 PM

I think Ken Walter should rub the balls before Brady uses them.

Seneschal2 · 12-04-2006, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeSixPat

Seems to me that pass catching TEs that are on teams with established #1 and #2 WRs benefit from having the defense key on other threats-

take a team like Dallas for example - where even with Drew Bledsoe taking the snaps for the majority of the season you've got TO and Glenn hauling in 70 and 50 passes thus far.

That keeps a lot of defensive pressure off of Witten.

In New England's passing game, who is keeping the pressure off of Watson?

Caldwell. Who else? Faulk's caught a lot of passes but that's for short yardage.

If I'm a DC I'm going to have a few guys keying on Watson at all times. I know the vast majority of the mid to deep balls are going to him and Caldwell.

In the best case scenario Watson's prevented from adding a lot of yards after the carry - in the worst case scenario Watson's got a few guys keying on him to make a bone rattling hit as soon as the ball touches his hands.

I give Watson a lot of credit for carrying so much of this offense this year. He's exceeding most everyone's predictions from the pre-season around here.

Picking up another legitimate WR in the offseason, or having Gabriel or Jackson come around would make a big difference in how DC's approach a game against the Patriots.

Congrats -- you nailed it.

PatsSteve1 · 12-04-2006, 09:48 PM

I don't understand why critizing Watson for fumbles and droped passes makes anyone think it means BB should cut him. There's nothing to get defensive about. The coaches need to stay on the kid about ball security and he needs to do whatever it takes to get better at it. Wasn't KiKi Barber a fumbler in his early years? There's been others too. But too many of his drops and fumbles have been drive killers and messed up scoring chances. You can't ignore that like it doesn't happen. Although K Faulk doesn't have a large number of fumbles over the years, many have not just been drive killers but in some instances game killers. Has that not happened either?

shirtsleeve · 12-04-2006, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unoriginal

Precisely. Our footballs lack loyalty. Their fumbling problems should not be tolerated. That is what we must do.

Absolutely. My thoughts exactly! Teach these unloyal, slippery, over-inflated pig bladders a lesson they will never forget!

Hok · 12-04-2006, 10:24 PM

It's probably nothing, but Watson appears to have switched the type of glove he wears. Here he is from Minnesota:

Here he is from Chicago:

Here he is from Detroit:

His two biggest ball security games have been the last two, and he appears to wearing the same glove in those two (albeit in different colors). Perhaps the glove from the Minnesota game has a tackier palm?

Captain Cliche · 12-04-2006, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remix 6

let Maroney teach him how to hold the ball..like he thought Faulk!

Yeah, I caught that one, too. A rookie is teaching a 5 year vet how to hold onto the ball???

DUHHHH....maybe he should listen to his coaches...

Michigan Dave · 12-04-2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hok

It's probably nothing, but Watson appears to have switched the type of glove he wears. Here he is from Minnesota:

His two biggest ball security games have been the last two, and he appears to wearing the same glove in those two (albeit in different colors). Perhaps the glove from the Minnesota game has a tackier palm?

I work for the NFL part-time, and one of my duties when I do work the games is to catch punts and passes from the players pre-game. Therefore, I get pretty much every glove the NFL puts out. There really isn't a difference in the amount of tack (or stick) on each glove that receivers wear. The only difference is between the line gloves and the receiving gloves. Obviously, linemen don't have that tack, it's replaced with extra padding. Where there may be a difference is in the snugness of the glove. If you notice the first glove, it has a traditional velcro strapping. Some players in the past would leave them unfastened, and roll the top over. The last 2 photos are of the newer gloves which are shorter, and have a thin "V" fastener. This doesn't allow for the glove to be tight, or to fold over. There is also a third glove made that doesn't have a velcro adjustment at all. One thing I noticed when using the different gloves is that I definitely preferred the old style. The newer gloves seemed almost like a flex-fit to me, and I wasn't as comfortable with the football. Now, the difference between my catching uncovered punts in pregame and Ben Watson being jacked after catching a pass by Chicago defenders is immense, and this is really not a valid excuse. But, it's interesting you noticed the difference, since I had that similar experience.

As for Watson, what to do? Well, keep throwing him the ball. You have to trust your best players. I think his fumbles are an anomaly and he'll work on ball security. I'm sure they can find something on film that can be corrected.

***edzo44*** · 12-04-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat_Nasty

3 fumbles in 3 games, coming after 1 fumble in 26 games, is not proof of a fumbling problem in the slightest. It could simply be random grouping. Sure, it is a potentially worrisome situation, and something to monitor over the next few games, but that's it.

If you want to take stats into account Watson's not the worst fumbler on the team. For 2005 and 2006 combined Watson's got 5 fumbles so far. Brady has 15. So whatever you want to do to Ben for his problem should be tripled for Brady? Maybe we should really be talking about Brady's problem and what to do with him because it's a much more worrisome situation from a guy who handles the ball a lot being so careless.

wcda · 12-04-2006, 11:22 PM

Perhaps the new field should be taken into consideration. During the Bears game it was mentioned that the Silicones or what ever that is used in the manufacturing has not worn off yet and the amounts of fumbles and bad pass might be caused by that.