Wide Receiver - Should We Wait For Vets? - New England Patriots Forums

***mgteich*** · 04-25-2011, 12:01 PM

I'm of the opinion that we shouldn't draft a wide receiver in the first four rounds. Our roster is "full". We have 2 vets plus 3 youngsters that we hope will develop for the future.

I can see carrying a 6th receiver (at the expense of another position), but only if this player is a vet. I see no reason to add another youngster. If we were to add a youngster, I would expect that one of our youngsters would be cut. I don't think that it is yet time to give up on any of the three.

In 2010, we carried 5 wide receivers, plus a STer who was listed as a receiver. We have three receiving TE's. We really have no need for a 6th wide receiver, especially a draftee.

Taking WR's (or anyone) in Rounds 5-7 is fine, but that is much different. Players drafted in the first four rounds ALWAYS make the 53 man squad (or the IR). Drafting early is an implicit commitment of resources.

***Sciz*** · 04-25-2011, 12:04 PM

I say don't even bother getting a vet. Unless the lockout ends soon, that vet will be behind all of the returners as far as learning the playbook. And there's no point in taking valuable snaps away from the younger guys.

townes · 04-25-2011, 12:08 PM

They really need 2 WR's who can reliably stretch the field. Hopefully Taylor Price can fill one of those roles and I think they can fill the other in free agency. I wouldn't prioritize WR in the draft but would take one if a prospect they really like is on the board where they rate him.

MaineMan · 04-25-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by townes

They really need 2 WR's who can reliably stretch the field. Hopefully Taylor Price can fill one of those roles and I think they can fill the other in free agency. I wouldn't prioritize WR in the draft but would take one if a prospect they really like is on the board where they rate him.

When you say "stretch the field", I assume you mean "vertically," IOW, work the deep patterns. Even considering that the deep ball hasn't been Brady's strong suit the past couple years, I'd agree that we need more than one guy who can do that. Tate, although he's primarily a KR, seems reliable enough for one of those positions - 18.3 YPC on a 48% catch rate is comparable to most veteran deep guys. Price is really an unknown to everyone but the coaches.

But what we also need (IMHO) is someone who can stretch the field horizontally. We appear to have a surplus of guys who are excellent at working the short/intermediate zones between the numbers, but only one who's been fairly reliable working the short/intermediate sideline - Branch - and he's not young and also perhaps a bit fragile. Price COULD be the guy who steps into Branch's cleats (again, only the coaches would know) and Hernandez COULD expand his route repertoire.

If both those things seem likely to happen (in the view of the coaches), maybe we're not looking for WR at all (FA vet or draftee), although, typically, I think we'd see some form of camp competition from a late-round pick or a 2nd-tier (possibly older) FA vet, even in that case.

If, OTOH, neither Price nor Hernandez in the coaches' view) seems likely to step up as a sideline guy, maybe we're looking for a sideline/deep threat combo (e.g., Hankerson) or just a solid sideline possession guy later (e.g., Austin Pettis).

crowell33 · 04-25-2011, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgteich

I'm of the opinion that we shouldn't draft a wide receiver in the first four rounds. Our roster is "full". We have 2 vets plus 3 youngsters that we hope will develop for the future.

I can see carrying a 6th receiver (at the expense of another position), but only if this player is a vet. I see no reason to add another youngster. If we were to add a youngster, I would expect that one of our youngsters would be cut. I don't think that it is yet time to give up on any of the three.

In 2010, we carried 5 wide receivers, plus a STer who was listed as a receiver. We have three receiving TE's. We really have no need for a 6th wide receiver, especially a draftee.

Taking WR's (or anyone) in Rounds 5-7 is fine, but that is much different. Players drafted in the first four rounds ALWAYS make the 53 man squad (or the IR). Drafting early is an implicit commitment of resources.

I agree with you 100 percent.

Patriot Missile · 04-25-2011, 01:23 PM

The only WR I like in the first 3 rounds is Hankerson. Julio and AJ are out of reach. Just seems rock solid in every phase of the game and a good fit here. There are a ton of guys I like in the 4th and on so we could probably wait.

I say we bring in Terrel Owens and see what he has left in the tank? JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!

We could probably bring in a guy like Devin Aromashadu, Danny Amendola, Laurent Robinson type to help out.

Ochmed Jones · 04-25-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgteich

I'm of the opinion that we shouldn't draft a wide receiver in the first four rounds. Our roster is "full". We have 2 vets plus 3 youngsters that we hope will develop for the future.

I can see carrying a 6th receiver (at the expense of another position), but only if this player is a vet. I see no reason to add another youngster. If we were to add a youngster, I would expect that one of our youngsters would be cut. I don't think that it is yet time to give up on any of the three.

In 2010, we carried 5 wide receivers, plus a STer who was listed as a receiver. We have three receiving TE's. We really have no need for a 6th wide receiver, especially a draftee.

Taking WR's (or anyone) in Rounds 5-7 is fine, but that is much different. Players drafted in the first four rounds ALWAYS make the 53 man squad (or the IR). Drafting early is an implicit commitment of resources.

How many of our current WR's play ST? Edelman and Tate? The vet would need to play ST probably.

Ochmed Jones · 04-25-2011, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaineMan

When you say "stretch the field", I assume you mean "vertically," IOW, work the deep patterns. Even considering that the deep ball hasn't been Brady's strong suit the past couple years, I'd agree that we need more than one guy who can do that. Tate, although he's primarily a KR, seems reliable enough for one of those positions - 18.3 YPC on a 48% catch rate is comparable to most veteran deep guys. Price is really an unknown to everyone but the coaches.

But what we also need (IMHO) is someone who can stretch the field horizontally. We appear to have a surplus of guys who are excellent at working the short/intermediate zones between the numbers, but only one who's been fairly reliable working the short/intermediate sideline - Branch - and he's not young and also perhaps a bit fragile. Price COULD be the guy who steps into Branch's cleats (again, only the coaches would know) and Hernandez COULD expand his route repertoire.

If both those things seem likely to happen (in the view of the coaches), maybe we're not looking for WR at all (FA vet or draftee), although, typically, I think we'd see some form of camp competition from a late-round pick or a 2nd-tier (possibly older) FA vet, even in that case.

If, OTOH, neither Price nor Hernandez in the coaches' view) seems likely to step up as a sideline guy, maybe we're looking for a sideline/deep threat combo (e.g., Hankerson) or just a solid sideline possession guy later (e.g., Austin Pettis).

So in summary;

a.) the Patriots offense does not run a lot of vertical WR routes because we do not have the athletes to run them or

b.) the Patriots offense does not run a lot of vertical WR routes because BB prefers to have large fast TE's clear the deep seams instead while letting the WR's create mismatches underneath?

MaineMan · 04-25-2011, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ochmed Jones

So in summary;

a.) the Patriots offense does not run a lot of vertical WR routes because we do not have the athletes to run them or

b.) the Patriots offense does not run a lot of vertical WR routes because BB prefers to have large fast TE's clear the deep seams instead while letting the WR's create mismatches underneath?

Maybe a bit of both. Plus the fact that Brady's deep ball hasn't been as consistent (so far) since his injury.

PATRIOTSFANINPA · 04-25-2011, 01:51 PM

Look for a long bomb threat WR in FA at a decent value and draft Jerrel Jernigan in the mid rounds for another slot threat and we are set at the position.

Thats what having two good looking TEs can give you as in terms of advantage.

I would not write off Tate yet,either.