Who Would You Like at WR next to Moss and Welker?

[mayoclinic]

Since we're still struggling to find a solid 3rd WR option to go along with Randy Moss and Wes Welker, I was thinking about what kind of player I would most like to have as a #2 WR. I'm excluding true elite #1 WRs for now (Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, and Calvin Johnson), but am otherwise disregarding cost and personal issues and just focusing on style of play.

Two types come to mind for me:

1. The big WR who can go over the middle, make the catch, and add some YAC, and possibly also go long. Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson, Anquan Bolden and Marques Colston fall into this group at the top of my list.

2. The quick, elusive WR who can get open and make things happen. DeSean Jackson would be my choice here (Lee Evans and Greg Jennings are also nice), and I am hoping that Brandon Tate can turn into that kind of guy.

Thoughts?

 

[maverick4]

You're throwing out big names, people we'd never get since it would require overpaying or mortgaging the future.

In terms of style of play, I'd like a guy who can break tackles and make huge plays after the catch, like Stallworth was. Moss and/or Welker will draw double teams, meaning if the #2 receiver can break a tackle, he'll get tons of yards.

Joey Galloway will be a big piece after mid-season.

He is coming back from an injury and lots of time off, himself. If so many can give Brady slack for being off on so many throws early on, I think Galloway should have some slack for also being rusty after injury and much time off.

 

[cavtroop]

Anyone that can understand the offense, and catch the damn ball. Edelman will do OK here, I think.

 

[JSn]

How that guy on the Vikes... Greg Lewis, is it?

 

[denverpatsfan]

I have no faith in Galloway. Staying flippin inbounds on a route has nothing to do with an injury or being in sync with Brady. It has everything to do with lack of concentration and effort. I hope I am wrong but that's what it looks like to me.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'm throwing out big names more as what "type" of player we would like to have, not as specific players that I ever think we'll get. It wasn't my intention at all to suggest that those specific players might be possibilities for the Pats.

A few months ago I started a thread on the draft board about who we might have taken with the #31 pick in the 2008 draft if the Commish hadn't taken it away, and I surprised myself with coming up with DeSean Jackson as one of my top possibilities. I think Jackson would be dynamic in the Pats offense along with Moss and Welker. It seems to me that Brandon Tate possesses some of the shifty elusiveness of a Jackson, and might potentially become that kind of a player for us.

This week we take on the Broncos and Brandon Marshall, who (personal issues aside) I think would be a fabulous complement to Moss and Welker. Very different kind of player from DeSean Jackson, but I could see that type of player being an incredible weapon along with Welker underneath and Moss all over the place. Again, more the type of player than that specific guy.

Galloway may be in our future, but at 37 he won't be in it for the long run, even if he improves significantly. We will need to develop a #2 WR. Tate may be that guy, but it's too early to tell. I was just curious what kind of guys other people think would be good complements to our current WRs. That's all.

 

[BelichickFan]

Brandon Tate will be perfect if he's healthy and "gets" the offense. Enough athleticism to get open against single coverage, enough quickness to make one guy miss but not a guy we have to spend a mint on to get.

 

[SVN]

i actually for once hope we can build WRs through the draft . since deion and givens left , we have mostly used FA only. Maybe this system requires ultra smart receivers ..i dont know...but i hope we can hit on some good draft choices.

 

[DarrylS]

I agree Tate will develop and Galloway will come around.. as of now do not have "Edwards envy"...

 

[mgteich]

Arguably, we have the best receivers we've ever had (except perhaps for 2007), and yet we are not satsified. People say that we had Stallworth and Gaffney in 2007 (the year that could be argued to have better receivers), but Stallworth contributed played the first part of the season and Gaffney in the second.

I compare with 2007 because (despite the stats), I think Moss and Welker will be even more valuable this year in games late in the season. Moss runs many more types of routes.

Watson is having a fine season. Baker is underutilized as a receiver as are the running backs.

======================

The answer to improving the passing game is NOT finding a 3rd wide receiver.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The answer to the passing game is for Brady to become sharper and sharper. As in 2007, when Gaffney stepped up late in the season, it would great to have another receiver step up. We have several possibilities for a surprise playoff receiver hero:
GALLOWAY
EDELMAN
TATE
NUNN
AIKEN

Perhaps part of the answer to improve production is to have FEWER receivers out in the pattern and more protection. We marvelled at the time Favre had. Put only Moss and Welker out in patterns, and perhaps a TE late, and we too can have maximum protection of Brady with a TE and running on the side he moves to.

 

[olschool]

Maroney. He is not a good back, but he's proven he can catch and run.

 

[mesoslo]

Since we're still struggling to find a solid 3rd WR option to go along with Randy Moss and Wes Welker, I was thinking about what kind of player I would most like to have as a #2 WR. I'm excluding true elite #1 WRs for now (Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, and Calvin Johnson), but am otherwise disregarding cost and personal issues and just focusing on style of play.

Two types come to mind for me:

1. The big WR who can go over the middle, make the catch, and add some YAC, and possibly also go long. Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson, Anquan Bolden and Marques Colston fall into this group at the top of my list.

2. The quick, elusive WR who can get open and make things happen. DeSean Jackson would be my choice here (Lee Evans and Greg Jennings are also nice), and I am hoping that Brandon Tate can turn into that kind of guy.

Thoughts?

The patriots need a big WR who can catch a lot of under neath stuff created by moss going deep and welker running quick slants.

Maybe like a larry figtzgerald, Regie Wayne?

 

[jfr0697]

Steve Largent

 

[mayoclinic]

Arguably, we have the best receivers we've ever had (except perhaps for 2007), and yet we are not satsified. People say that we had Stallworth and Gaffney in 2007 (the year that could be argued to have better receivers), but Stallworth contributed played the first part of the season and Gaffney in the second.

I compare with 2007 because (despite the stats), I think Moss and Welker will be even more valuable this year in games late in the season. Moss runs many more types of routes.

Watson is having a fine season. Baker is underutilized as a receiver as are the running backs.

======================

The answer to improving the passing game is NOT finding a 3rd wide receiver.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The answer to the passing game is for Brady to become sharper and sharper. As in 2007, when Gaffney stepped up late in the season, it would great to have another receiver step up. We have several possibilities for a surprise playoff receiver hero:
GALLOWAY
EDELMAN
TATE
NUNN
AIKEN

Perhaps part of the answer to improve production is to have FEWER receivers out in the pattern and more protection. We marvelled at the time Favre had. Put only Moss and Welker out in patterns, and perhaps a TE late, and we too can have maximum protection of Brady with a TE and running on the side he moves to.

Again, the intent of the OP was not a "dissatisfied with our WRs" or "who should be try to get". It was more of a "ideally, what type of WR would best complement Moss and Welker" question.

Yes, we have lots of people who can step up. And yes, we haven't seen TB take full advantage of all of the options that he currently has (Baker, for example). And yes, I am hopeful that Tate will develop into that guy for us.

But that doesn't mean we can't think about what type of player would most complement the pieces that we already have. That's all the post was intended to do.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

Anyone that can understand the offense, and catch the damn ball. Edelman will do OK here, I think.

I gotta go with Edelman for now. He is a slippery dude out there on the field to catch. I like him until proven otherwise.

We don't know much about him as a WR but so far so good.

 

[WelshPat]

As much of an idiot Chilldress is, i really do think the Pats were targeting Harvin with their 1st round pick.

 

[italia44]

I don't know if anyone has noticed,but the Pats have been running a very interesting formation.This is splitting Sammy Morris out wide as a flanker........this causes serious match-up problems for a defense that is doubling Moss and Welker.It forces the linebacker into man coverage on Morris.They used it against Buffalo and he was open long,but,Brady overthrew him.Another time,he was wide open in the flat...............He also becomes an excellent blocker on that slot-screen to Welker or Edelman.

They haven't used it much and may be using it just to get it on film,but,Morris has terrific hands and I'd love to see them use this more against Denver.

 

[willdeespats]

I have no faith in Galloway. Staying flippin inbounds on a route has nothing to do with an injury or being in sync with Brady. It has everything to do with lack of concentration and effort. I hope I am wrong but that's what it looks like to me.

I don't think he really comprehends what BB wants when he says "Do your job". Or its just a lack of motivation. Let's hope getting benched works to get him on track.

 

[willdeespats]

How that guy on the Vikes... Greg Lewis, is it?

He only seems to catch passes in the end zone, block downfield and play special teams. No wonder we cut him and kept Galloway!!

 

[Don_the_patfan]

Trade for Deon Branch. That'll resolve it, no adjustment period either as he's done it before with Brady.