PatsFans.com Article

Patriots Sign Visanthe Shiancoe To One-Year Contract
By: Derek Havens

The New England Patriots have added yet another tight end to their offense, signing veteran Visanthe Shiancoe to a one-year contract Tuesday afternoon. ...

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Ivan

I'm surprised, I thought he would go to Philly given their impending dynasty and the depth at TE in NE. I'm starting to wonder if the Patriots are going to carry 4 TE's on their roster. Given the number of TE's and FB's on the roster i think Time of Possession is going to be a much greater goal than it has been in recent years.

Jimke

With an offense that now has as many weapons as New Orleans, why
go to a grind it out game?

brdmaverick

Just out of curiosity, how many fullbacks do you think we'll carry?

Even if it's two, that would likely mean at least 5 RBs (if you include Ridley, Vereen, Woodhead).

If we keep 6 WRs as many have speculated, that would mean that 15 offensive positions are allocated to just RB/WR/TE.

I'm hoping that Shiancoe works out, but at the expense of Fells. I just don't see the Pats keeping four tight ends. Nor do I see them keeping more than 1 FB...but hey,I've been wrong plenty of times before.

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brdmaverick

I actually find that to be the beauty of the offense, it's flexible and can play both 'run and gun' and 'grind it out' offense.

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PATRIOTSFANINPA

Fells has to fight for his job

No way are they going with 4 TEs

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Ivan

I'm not saying they are going to grind it out, especially with the weapons they have. Belichick isn't going to pass on putting up 30 a game but I do think he wants to improve their ability to play a ball control game when necessary. Maybe it's smokescreen but he has certainly loaded up at TE and FB this offseason, and that implies more of a power offense than they have been using recently.

patchick

Surprising news, but very good indeed. This offense needs a bona fide NFL TE in the #3 role. If you NEED 3, then start camp with 4 -- especially given that 1 of the 4 is currently on PUP.

Palm Beach Pats Fan

I don't think we want to use Solder as much at tight end except perhaps in goal line, so we definitely need 3 TEs all of the time in a 2 TE offense, and a 4th on PUP or practice squad in case of late season injury.

So I am guessing Gronk, Aaron, Visanthe

PUP: Fells, Ballard (IR most likely at some point)

Practice Squad: Tyler Urban, if he earns it

I suppose a fullback and a blocking TE are somewhat redundant, so we will have to see if this hurts the chances of a pure fullback sticking on the 53.

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jmt57

I know Solder played a fair amount of TE last year, but I hadn't even considered him playing any TE at all this year. I figured with Light retiring and adding Fells (or Shiancoe if he can't go) as a 3rd TE those days were over.

Cannon at LT (or Cannon at RT and Vollmer at LT) with Solder at TE? I suppose it's possible, but it seems like there may be preferable alternatives.