Why are the PATS and BB so hesitant to get a deep threat? - Page 2 - New England Patriots Forums

letekro · 02-09-2012, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Sellers

Personally I'm sitting here shaking my head. The top three threads in this forum are all on the same identical subject: 'let's go out and get a deep threat'. On top of that every week for the last year and a half somebody starts a 'let's re-sign Randy Moss thread'.

Maybe it's the fantasy football mentality of being a football fan, or simply the focus of a sexy position (one that is involved in highlight reel plays and touchdowns), and is a position where stats can easily be found and repeated, but wide receiver is far down the list of priorities for this team. The Pats were 4th in the regular season in points scored in the regular season and 2nd in the post-season, but based on how much focus there is on WR you would think they were dead last in the league in scoring points but first in points allowed.

Before the Pats go using a lot of their very limited resources (i.e., cap space and/or early draft pick) on a deep threat they have other positions of need that are just crying for attention that need to be upgraded first, in either the long term, short term or both: in no particular order that would be cornerback, safety, outside linebacker, defensive end and center.

I guess that I am in the minority but perhaps the reason that the Patriots are "so hesitant to get a deep threat" is because there are several other much higher priorities.

You are happy with Deion Branch and Julian Edelman as outside receivers? That's not a priority to you?

midwestpatsfan · 02-09-2012, 04:48 PM

Maybe people are not communicating what they mean exactly when they say a deep threat. To me, that sounds like a guy with great speed but is limited to a small route tree, and in that case, count me out. I know resigning Welker is a priority, but I don't really see the need for a deep threat. I think we need to get some younger players in that can make plays. If that is a guy who runs a 7 yards slant and can take it the distance, I am for that. If that is a guy who can run a 15 yard in and catch the ball over the middle, in traffic, I am in, if that is a guy who runs precise routes with good hands and decent speed, I am in. They need playmakers, plain and simple. Someone who can ease the burden off and compliment Gronk, Hernandez, and Welker. Branch and ocho are not those guys. Underwood is not that guy. Edelman is not that guy but he has a place on this team.
Jackson, Tate, Price... all spread the field burner type receivers. Not one of them panned out because that really is not the offense the Patriots run. Moss is a hall of famer with special talent and by the end of that year when Moss started to get taken out of games, the offense struggled because he was the only option.

Wotan_the_Wanderer · 02-09-2012, 04:51 PM

I wouldn't say BB is hesitant in acquiring a deep threat. I think he probably understands the need to create spacing. As such, Bethel Johnson was a deep threat in his rookie year who turned out to a bust there after, Branch when he first entered had the speed to stretch defenses and Chad Jackson also had the speed to go vertical. Finding the talent that fit into the "system," however, has obviously turned out to be harder than we presume but it wasn't due to a lack of effort on the brass' part.

And while I think a deep threat is needed, I don't want the Pats offense to become overly reliant on the low percentage bombs. We saw that in '07 and while it was a blast in the regular season, the five to seven step drops Brady needed to let deep routes develop nearly got him killed in the SB. We need the deep threat in 2012 to be a more balanced attack.

celticboy04 · 02-09-2012, 04:56 PM

Greetings,
I know many people have differences of opinionon this, if a deep threat is needed or what not. One thing we can all agree on is the Patriots need an upgrade at second receiver over Deion Bracnh.

Celticboy04

Ron Sellers · 02-09-2012, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by letekro

You are happy with Deion Branch and Julian Edelman as outside receivers? That's not a priority to you?

Think of what the word priority means; it refers to what is of the higher or highest importance.

Upgrading almost every position on defense is, in my opinion, a higher priority than upgrading wide receiver.

It is not a case of our being happy or satisfied with the production from Branch and Edelman. It is just a case of being realistic in how much can be done to improve the team in one off-season, and what areas are most in need of improvement.

In a perfect world yes, I would like to upgrade every single position on the team - including wide receiver. The reality is that if the team goes out and signs Mike Wallace, for example, then they will end up losing both a first round draft pick as well as a great deal of cap space that it will take to extend him. Similarly if they sign Colston, Bowe, Jackson or any of the other names being thrown out there then that vastly limits the ability to sign a corner, safety, linebacker or lineman that could make a genuine difference to improving the defense that despite improvement of the course of the year, still is not of championship caliber.

Think of it this way: for every action there is a reaction. Adding an elite wide receiver means the team is pretty much out of the running for adding an elite defender. Which of the two sides of the ball does the team need to improve on the most? The 4th-ranked offense, or the 15th-ranked defense?

***Brady_to_Moss*** · 02-09-2012, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Sellers

I guess that I am in the minority but perhaps the reason that the Patriots are "so hesitant to get a deep threat" is because there are several other much higher priorities.

Can you imagine how much better they would be with a deep threat? I don't know about you but i feel as if every time Brady threw a deep pass this year..it was INT or incomplete..no one could go up and get it

Snake Eyes · 02-09-2012, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NENGFAN

The only one we have ever had was Moss in 2007 and look what it did to Brady? He had a record year and we almost attained perfection. But that was a Moss we got for a 4th rounder and past his prime. Why can't the PATS ever get a legitimate WR/deep threat early in the draft or via trade? Brady would still be able to do wonders like in 2007 with a big time WR who can make plays to make it easy for the poor guy. We go back to get a washed up Branch and some amazing Tight Ends but that doesn't cut it. We need play maker WRs.

Remember when the Steelers won a few years back and Ben made that throw to Santonio and his unbelievable catch! We need someone like that. I do hope that BB understands this and gets a legit WR and not someone who is either washed up or a very late draft pick that could go either way.

TB is getting up there and we need a "NOW" mentality for the next few years to enable TB and the PATS to get atleast one if not more rings because after TB retires - not sure what's in store for us.....

I don't think it's that they don't want a deep threat, I think it'smore a matter if finding a receiver that can be a nice compliment to the offense who can go deep but who can also do all the other stuff they want. Moss was a deep threat but there was plenty of other stuff he wasn't effective at, they don't want to limit themselves like that again.

I'd love a WR like Greg Jennings that can do it all but the Pats havent found him yet.

SpaceOdyssey · 02-09-2012, 05:19 PM

I agree with Ron in the fact that we have bigger priorities in other positions. Personally, I hope that BB will attend to the defense by signing key FAs and drafting good prospects first. If this defense improves, it will take pressure off Tom to score every drive. For now, our offense is dangerous as it is, but of course it doesn't hurt to bring in a deep threat that can run precise routes. Having a deep threat will definitely relieve pressure off of Welker, Hernandez, and Gronk.

***Deus Irae*** · 02-09-2012, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Sellers

Think of what the word priority means; it refers to what is of the higher or highest importance.

Upgrading almost every position on defense is, in my opinion, a higher priority than upgrading wide receiver.

It is not a case of our being happy or satisfied with the production from Branch and Edelman. It is just a case of being realistic in how much can be done to improve the team in one off-season, and what areas are most in need of improvement.

In a perfect world yes, I would like to upgrade every single position on the team - including wide receiver. The reality is that if the team goes out and signs Mike Wallace, for example, then they will end up losing both a first round draft pick as well as a great deal of cap space that it will take to extend him. Similarly if they sign Colston, Bowe, Jackson or any of the other names being thrown out there then that vastly limits the ability to sign a corner, safety, linebacker or lineman that could make a genuine difference to improving the defense that despite improvement of the course of the year, still is not of championship caliber.

Think of it this way: for every action there is a reaction. Adding an elite wide receiver means the team is pretty much out of the running for adding an elite defender. Which of the two sides of the ball does the team need to improve on the most? The 4th-ranked offense, or the 15th-ranked defense?

How important is a downfield threat?

Ron Sellers · 02-09-2012, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brady_to_Moss

Can you imagine how much better they would be with a deep threat? I don't know about you but i feel as if every time Brady threw a deep pass this year..it was INT or incomplete..no one could go up and get it

I don't disagree. I just feel there are other areas on the defensive side of the ball that are of greater importance, in terms of adding top tier talent.