patsox23

Before you jump all over me, let me say this: I like Wes Welker. He's a nice little player. He may very well develop into Troy Brown 2.0. He's got the BB/Pioli stamp of approval, and that counts for a lot. I wasn't a big fan of what we gave up to get him, but that's a point for another day/thread.

THIS THREAD is meant to explode a myth I've noticed is being constantly peddled around here - that Wes Welker is, in addition to being the ideal slot WR, a great "playmaker" and a top return man, both on KO's and punts. It simply isn't true.

Does he have versatility? Sure. CAN he do those things - catch the ball, return kicks, return punts? Looks like it, yes. But is he REALLY good in the return game, is that ANOTHER way in which he marks a sure-fire improvement on the Patriots? No.

Wes Welker averaged a pedestrian 22+ yards per KR last season. Lots of stuff goes into that, including and especially the other S/Ters paving the way (or not) for him as he goes (22 measly yards) up the field. Maybe on the Pats he would've averaged the 28 yards-per-return that Maroney did. But here's the thing: HE DIDN'T. Know what else he didn't do? Average 10.6 yards-per-punt return, like Kevin Faulk did. Wes averaged 9.2 yards per PR last season. Again, poor S/T blocking may have played a role in that.

Welker may end up being a FANTASTIC returner for the Pats. I just think, to keep it real, people need to relax a bit about this guy. He's an UDFA hustler - we love those types. And we should. And maybe Welker will be "all he can be," and we'll love him even more. But people are peddling this nonsense about how awesome he is before he's actually every really DONE that on the field.

You want to go off on Adalius Thomas and guarantee/assume his potential impact? Go for it. That's based on something. But Wes Welker has never been what people here seem to think he IS. Except for one day, in one game against the Pats last year. If he matches that from game to game, terrific, give my best to Hanolulu. I'd just like to suggest we temper our enthusiasm, just a bit, in exchange for a dose of reality, while keeping a mug of hopeful on the side, where it belongs.

hwc

Welker also handled 89 punt and kick returns last year without coughing up the ball once.

Troy Brown was not a threat to break many punt returns in his latter years, but he also wasn't a threat to turn the ball over. There's value in that, too.

zippo59

I think Hobbs should be our kick returner, and Welker should do punts. I think Faulk is so valueable to this offense that if we have another option at PR we should use it.

If Jackson gets healthy I would throw him in there too.

__________________
"What Tom Brady just did gives me goose bumps."-John Madden after final drive in SB 36


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Unofficial Kevin Faulk supporter.

PATRIOTS-80

Kevin Faulk averaged 6.7 yards a PR in '04. (Tim Dwight returned in 05). That jump from 6.7 to 10.6 wasn't because Faulk got quicker, it was because of youth injected into ST blocking.

Wes is good from the eyeball test, put him with our ST unit, and we can expect a injection of exciting. I'm not saying he will be taking them to the house, but the return game should be good.

__________________
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.

Ghost of Ben Dreith

Damn you....stop it....stop being logical and on point before my head explodes!

I do think he will fit in well here and more so than the yards, there are 2 reasons I would rather have Welker returning punts rather than Faulk. First, Faulk fill a more needed "regular" position than Welker, especially with the Stallworth and Washington signings. I would rather risk Welker. Second, I will feel more comfortable with Welker handling the ball than Faulk on ball security basis...at least until Welker proves me wrong.

PATRIOTS-80

The fact that Faulk returned a AVG of 4 yards more was indeed because of ST units. The Dolphin return units were suspect, thus BB most likely gives more credit to Wes for those 9.2 yards than he does to the 'fins exceptional blocking unit.

__________________
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.

patsox23

Interesting points. Thanks for weighing in. I especially take to the "protect Faulk" stuff and the Welker and ball-security angle. HOWEVER, that doesn't change the fact that many here seem to assume Welker IS something he has yet to actually be.

KontradictioN

All the things Troy Brown is.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


CREDIT - Sicilian

PATRIOTS-80

how about this thread on 01-31-07 before FA period?

Wes Walker -- worth a second round pick?

What happened?

__________________
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.

patsox23

So Welker IS Troy Brown now? See, that's seriously what I think a lot of people believe, and is a big part of why I started this thread. Is that what you really think? Can you please convince me?