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Positional Battles: Six or Seven Wide Receivers?
By: Damien Jarrett

Whilst I feel it’s still a little too early to be projecting my final 53, there are still some intriguing questions and battles surrounding certain positions. The position I am most stuck on right now, and certainly now most intrigued by, is how many receivers Bill Belichick decides to take through to opening day! Last year saw us take six; Moss, Welker, Edelman, Tate, Price, Slater…we all know Moss’ 2010 tenure didn’t last long in New England, and he was swiftly replaced by old Patriot favourite, Deion Branch! We still have that same six residing in Camp right now, with the new addition of Chad Ochocinco. So what do we do? Surrender another spot in favour of taking 7 WRs through? Or cut ties with one? Which one?...

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jmt57

In my opinion take Slater out of the equation - not because he won't make the roster, but because for all intents and purposes his position is ST, not WR. Slater's roster battle is against other players who are primarily special teamers, not wide receivers.

I know some will consider this blasphemy, but I don't consider Deion Branch to be a lock like Damien does, especially consider the Pats added Ochocinco. To me it would be a surprise - it's far more likely that he does make the roster than the probability of him not making the team - but I wouldn't go so far as to use the term lock. Something to consider: Branch is 32, has missed 16 games over the last four years, and only once in his career has he made it through a season without missing at least one game.

My prediction: one of those receivers gets injured and goes on IR, making the decision on whom to cut unnecessary.

D-Money

Yeah, leave Branch out and Tate inI am so sick od Tate, he wont even see the field this year and get a roster spot.Branch is productive.

Ivan

I see it as a special teams battle between tate and Slater and i think Slater wins out on ST production. I like Tate's upside and wish he could stick but if reports that he isn't getting it as a WR are accurate then i don't see how he wins the spot.

mgteich

I agree that an injury will likely decide the final position. IMHO, Welker, Ochocinco and Price are the locks. The vast majority of the wide receiver receptions will likely be by the first two of them, the tight ends and the running backs.

ASSUMPTIONS
1) Welker/Ocho 2011 will replace Welker/Branch/Moss 2010.
We might WANT the same number of catches as last year or fewer with more running.

2) The remaining 2 wide receiver receptions (2 per game; 34 total) will be spread among the other receivers. The number is so small because Brady used our TE's and RB's so well.
I think that we would like this situation to continue.

QUESTIONS
How would you like to allocate the TWO receptions per game, or perhaps this will DOUBLE to four per game?

How will you fit in roles for Price, Branch, Edelman and Tate? As was the case in 2010, I could see the #3 wide receiver with 1-3 catches per game, and the #4, #5 and #6 TOTALING less than one catch per game.

CONCLUSIONS

A) None of Branch, Edelman and Tate are locks. Each is very expendable.

B) If Price gets 1-2 receptions per game, the total for these three may be 1-2 catches per game or less.

C) A very live possibility is to keep the returners and to waive or trade Branch. After all Hernandez is really our #3 receiver, and Ochocinco is our #2.

sportsreport360

Originally I would have thought of Brandon Tate as untouchable, but with more kickoffs destined to be touch backs this season, he probably is expendable now. I think Price and Slater will struggle to make the team. Branch, Edelman, Ochocinco and Welker seem like locks, but I think Brady loves having bigger targets to throw to so the tight ends with become more apart of the offense this season until defenses adjust. Gronkowski and Hernandez both will continue to get better.

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MoLewisrocks

Part of the WR game is downfield blocking, which got Chad yanked by the Hoodie last evening. Zo was just commenting on that and the fact that Welker and Branch are not just Brady binkies because of chemistry, they are BB binky's because they will stick their nose in there as blockers. Branch is a roster lock.

MoLewisrocks

The reason you don't consider Branch a lock is because you're not looking at the whole picture or big picture. And on Bill's teams blocking is always part of the equation.

VJCPatriot

Tate is seriously in danger of losing his job.

Top 4: Ocho, Welker, Branch, Price.

The rest are battling for roster spots. I think Slater will make the team. Not only is he a ST ace but he has been making more plays in the receiving game in preseason. He also has speed that you can't teach. That leaves the last WR spot to a battle between Edelman and Tate. I'm leaning towards Edelman winning the spot right now.

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nnmnmmnn

I think it was in Reiss's blog, a comment on 85 being pulled from the game and what appeared to me to be 85 and Belichick arguing on the sideline. His speculation was that it was on the play that Woodhead broke a tackle in the middle of the field and picked up another 15 yards down the sideline.

I specifically remember this play, and seeing both Welker and 85 on the opposite side of the field from Woodhead. Welker was running full speed towards the action, while 85 was jogging. I probably wouldn't have noticed if it had just been one or the other, but they were both in the camera view, and the contrast was noticeable.