Options at WR

[klinefan]

Well, I guess we'll run more 2RB/2TE sets, but can Edelmen work in a 2 WR set?

If we need 3, what are the options-o?

Isiah Stanbeck, but he hasn't played much.

The talented Mr. Aiken, who for some reason doesn't get much playing time. Some say he might be a little injured.

Butler was very talented in college, one scout said he might be a great WR.

We could look up Troy Brown's number.

Chad Jackson might have matured, if he's in halfway decent shape he might work. Great hands. I'm only half kidding.

Maroney or Faulk might be able to line up wide. Not sure if Faulk can run WR patterns rather than just out of the backfield patterns.

At least this will change the offense up a bit from the predictable "look for Moss and if he's not triple covered throw it to him, otherwise look for Welker".

Weather on Sunday is supposed to be cold, cold, but not too windy.

I'm still hopeful, haven't given up yet.

 

[jmt57]

Edelman replaces Welker. That's the only change with the slot position, other than there might be two or three fewer plays to Edelman, with one or two more run/passes to Faulk and one or two more passes to Watson or Baker.

Aiken and the other receiver position is a separate topic. If he can't go, I can't imagine bringing in a player off the street and expecting him to contribute in a couple days. If that's the case there will surely be fewer 3-WR sets with Stanbeck or Slater. But keep in mind Aiken is only out there for about half the team's offensive snaps anyways, and a gameplan against Baltimore was probably going to feature fewer 3-WR sets / more 2-TE and 2-RB sets anyways, even if Welker (and Aiken) didn't get hurt.

If Aiken is healthy, this is no time for a kneejerk replacement. The time for the coaching staff to asses his play and make a change is in the offseason, and not four days before a playoff game.

 

[captain stone]

Here's Adam Caplan's list of best avail. FA WRs:
Scout.com: Updated Best Available Free Agents-Offense

Basically it's the same group that's been on the street for the past couple of months. I would have at least brought in DJ Hackett, Matt Jones, Ronald Curry & Justin McCareins for a workout/physical/interview.

After the Galloway/Lewis experiments failed miserably, Bill should've done everything possible to acquire a competent, professional 3rd WR; instead, he settled for the pipedreams that are/were Aiken, Stanback, Slater & Tate. Thanks again, "genius"(snicker).

 

[italia44]

Matthew Slater will become the 3/4 WR............he's the only one who can stretch the field opposite Moss.

 

[jmt57]

Again, this is two or three different topics. The decision to sign Galloway, cut Galloway, sign Lewis, and cut Lewis are all moot points right now. The original poster wants to know what the options are for this weekend and the rest of the season.

In my opinion signing a free agent right now is not an option, nor is converting a player from another position such as Butler (despite his time at WR at UConn.)

Edelman takes Welker's place in the slot on Sunday, and no change at the #3 WR till next year.

Then after the last game of the season we can all second guess what should'a, could'a and would'a happened last offseason, as well as give our expert opinion as to what the Pats should do during the upcoming free agency period and draft.

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

Split Watson out wide maybe? He's got the speed to do it and has been in our offense for years. He's a matchup nightmare. Too big for CB's, too fast for Safeties and LB's. Use Baker as the TE since he's a better blocker anyway.

 

[SVN]

Split Watson out wide maybe? He's got the speed to do it and has been in our offense for years. He's a matchup nightmare. Too big for CB's, too fast for Safeties and LB's. Use Baker as the TE since he's a better blocker anyway.

i waiting to see if they pull out the TE screens which mcdaniels used quite will in 05-06 with graham and watson.not sure Bill O B has that much creativity in play calling.

 

[TheComeback]

I'd say we'll see more of Stanback and Aiken with Watson split out wide. Stanback is a solid #4 receiver with good size. Aiken has great speed but really questionable hands. Not sure what Watson's problem is. With his speed he should be able to get open more often than he appears to. Baker is also a solid tight end.

There's a big dropoff on the this roster after Moss. They should throw him some screens and use him on more short routes now... whatever they can do to get him the ball.

 

[DarrylS]

Felt all along that Watson and Baker have been underutilized, both are decent receivers the initial is fast.. integrate them into the O.. use Slater or any of the others to spread the field..

Kevin Faulk can catch a few balls also..

To move a D player to the O side this late in the season probably is not a great option, as most of this O is based on timing and it will take more than 3 practices to get him and #12 in sync.. the Troy Brown's of this world are few and far between.

 

[BritPat]

Here's Adam Caplan's list of best avail. FA WRs:
Scout.com: Updated Best Available Free Agents-Offense

Basically it's the same group that's been on the street for the past couple of months. I would have at least brought in DJ Hackett, Matt Jones, Ronald Curry & Justin McCareins for a workout/physical/interview.

So if all these guys are any good, why has no-one else even looked that them? There are teams out there in much worse states at WR than we are,, so why has no-one else looked them up?

Let's look at them individually...D J Hackett - injured. Bum. Matt Jones - junkie. Bum. Ronald Curry - are you serious? Justin McCareins - dumped by the Titans of all people. They who had only Justin Gage and Brandon Jones out wide. Oh, and the all-pro, Lavelle Hawkins.

Yeah, let's bring them in, work them out, sign them, and give them about 4 days to learn the system.

You're clueless.

After the Galloway/Lewis experiments failed miserably, Bill should've done everything possible to acquire a competent, professional 3rd WR; instead, he settled for the pipedreams that are/were Aiken, Stanback, Slater & Tate. Thanks again, "genius"(snicker).

Basically what you're saying is - after Belichick tried and failed to bring in a competent, professional 3rd WR, players that couldn't grasp the system, or indeed catch the damn ball, he should have started experimenting with bums unable to make 31 other rosters?

Had he done that you'd have likely thrown yourself off the nearest bridge.

If you turned up at my house and offered to clean my windows I'd tell you to get lost. And you have the temerity to insult others?

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

I don't think there are realistic options beyond Aiken (if healthy), Stanbeck, and Slater, along with more touches in the passing game for some combo of Watson, Faulk, Morris, and Maroney.

When you think about it, that is a lot of looks that are available even if we are very short on WR, particularly if Aiken is hurt.

 

[Mack Herron]

I don't think there are realistic options beyond Aiken (if healthy), Stanbeck, and Slater, along with more touches in the passing game for some combo of Watson, Faulk, Morris, and Maroney.

When you think about it, that is a lot of looks that are available even if we are very short on WR, particularly if Aiken is hurt.

Only Faulk is a reliable target here. Passing third downs will be Edelman/Moss.

 

[JSn]

Watson has been great this year. Good percentages. It's just hard to get open when you're blocking

I think we'll see Watson split out wide occasionally and it would not surprise me to see Slater in there on 1st and ten as the #2 (as in second "non-slot" option). He's very quick and can certainly take a safety out of the play.

Stanback is a nice option as a short yardage receiver because he seems to read defenses well. It's just that if you see Welker open, why check on Stanback? That changes now.

There are actually a lot of great possibilities if we're interested in sticking with a controlled short-game, saving the deep ball for defensive mess-up's or special-design plays. If Moss wants catches, he's going to have to play over the middle and go back to school-ball with those nice 8-12 yard curls.

 

[ATippett56]

Isaiah Stanback - five career receptions

Isaiah Stanback

Matt Slater - zero career receptions

Matt Slater

Sam Aiken - forty seven career receptions

Sam Aiken

It's down to Moss, Edelman, and quite frankly a bunch of JAGS to put it kindly.

 

[The Dynasty]

There's a big dropoff on the this roster after Moss. They should throw him some screens and use him on more short routes now... whatever they can do to get him the ball.

That isnt Moss' style, he isnt a big YAC guy. You havent seen many screens to Moss because simply he just isnt that kind of receiver. Moss will be asked to run more routes over the middle, which I think he is uncomfortable doing but did it earlier in the year when Welker was out and had some success. I agree that he will need to do things that he hasnt been doing since Welker's return in order to get open and make catches.

 

[JMarr]

Matthew Slater will become the 3/4 WR............he's the only one who can stretch the field opposite Moss.

I agree. If Aiken's banged up we'll see Slater as the 2nd wideout more than Stanback, who poses no deap threat whatsoever. Look for a play-action go route to Slater early--if it works it throws the Raven's defensive gameplan completely out of whack.

 

[NEPatriot]

Synchronizing between TB and his WRs is the most important factor in the game. The reason TB throws a lot of balls to Moss and Welker is they know how to get TB's ball.

I don't think that other WRs get into the rhythm with TB. Until we can get this problem straightened out, our offense is going to be struggle.

 

[mgteich]

Please indicate the highest number of receptions for the #3 receiver in a game in 2009. Stanback is capable of that number. And just what is wrong with having a JAG from whom you hope to get some small contribution?

For example, do you think Ninkovich is any more than a JAG this year? What about Connolly?

There will always be a few JAG's on the roster, and even on the active roster. Hoping that Stanback can run a few patterns, and perhaps make a few catches is NOT an unreasonable expectation.

Isaiah Stanback - five career receptions

Isaiah Stanback

Matt Slater - zero career receptions

Matt Slater

Sam Aiken - forty seven career receptions

Sam Aiken

It's down to Moss, Edelman, and quite frankly a bunch of JAGS to put it kindly.

 

[BritPat]

Isaiah Stanback - five career receptions

Isaiah Stanback

Matt Slater - zero career receptions

Matt Slater

Sam Aiken - forty seven career receptions

Sam Aiken

It's down to Moss, Edelman, and quite frankly a bunch of JAGS to put it kindly.

As it was back in 2001, 2003 and 2004 when we lifted the Lombardi.

 

[BradyManny]

As it was back in 2001, 2003 and 2004 when we lifted the Lombardi.

2001, sure. But we used different personnel groups then we do now.

2003 & 2004 - we had one of the deepest groups at wide receiver I can think of in recent memory. There were no studs, but you had 4 legitimate above average NFL receivers (Branch, Givens, Brown, Patten), and add in Bethel who was a flawed receiver, but could contribute in ST and as a burner. We had the depth to overcome injuries in those two seasons, which we did, in fact, need to do as most of those guys missed several games.

The receiving group we have this season simply doesn't compare. The 2007 group was legitimately 4 deep, and is probably the best receiving corp we will ever see here, and of course, blows away 03&04. But I think I would take the 2003/4 group over this season's, even with Welker. We've seen that defenses can shut down your #1 and #2 options if need be, and if you don't have suitable #3 & 4 options, then it doesn't matter how good those 1&2 are.

The fact that Aiken was at practice today is big. He's not great, but he's a [healthy] body, and he has time in the system now. He's shown he can use his size to his advantage. It's too late to hope he becomes a better route-runner or more versatile receiver this late in the season, but he can be, and will have to be, an asset in the playoffs.