Andre Roberts: Pats Show Interest

[NePatriots]

Andre Robets Interview

Roberts confirms that the Patriots interviewed him at the Senior Bowl, and makes some combine predictions.

 

[WesWelker83]

Roberts from Citadel is my favorite sleeper WR. Last year I loved Collie because ESPN insider had him listed as their sleeper at WR. They said he was a sleeper because he ran a 4.55 but he produced in college, had great hands, and knew how to run routes and get open.

I see some of the same similarities in Roberts this year except better speed. ESPN has has Roberts listed with above avg seperation skills, above avg ball skills, exceptional run after catch, and above avg toughness. They also have him listed as avg vertical speed. I think this kid could be more like Pierre Garcon.

Roberts seems like the type of WR we won with during all those Super Bowl years (Branch, Givens, Patten, and Troy Brown). Hes short at 5-10, but quick with great hands, and toughness. I can see him catching bubble screens and going over the middle running intermediate routes all day long. I have no problem taking him late 2nd.

 

[NePatriots]

Roberts seems like the type of WR we won with during all those Super Bowl years (Branch, Givens, Patten, and Troy Brown). Hes short at 5-10, but quick with great hands, and toughness. I can see him catching bubble screens and going over the middle running intermediate routes all day long. I have no problem taking him late 2nd.

I'd say his upside is similar to Steve Smith (CAR). His separation skills are amazing, his routes only bettered by Damian Williams of USC. If he runs in the 4.4's (as he predicted), I can see him sneaking into the 2nd round.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Andre Roberts is my favorite WR in the draft. He has a long (almost ten minutes) highlight video on YouTube with some really sweet catches, great agility, nice routes, and wonderful feel for the game, and I kept thinking I was watching Deion Branch all over again. Love this kid. Golden Tate is probably the only receiver I'd take over him, but only because he has experience in Weis' system, and thus is more likely to contribute his rookie year. When you look at when they'll be drafted, however, Roberts is clearly the better value, and I'm all about bringing him into camp.

WR this year has some really intriguing possibilities. I'm not a big fan of most of the top-tier wideouts, but the mid-latter round receivers look really intriguing. I hope we can find a #2/3 guy this year, and I wouldn't be opposed to drafting at least two receivers, one in the first two/three rounds, and one somewhere in the fifth-seventh.

 

[NePatriots]

WR this year has some really intriguing possibilities. I'm not a big fan of most of the top-tier wideouts, but the mid-latter round receivers look really intriguing. I hope we can find a #2/3 guy this year, and I wouldn't be opposed to drafting at least two receivers, one in the first two/three rounds, and one somewhere in the fifth-seventh.

Would love to snag him in the 3rd round, but I'm sure BB won't be shy about reaching for him at #53 if he is high on the Patriots board.

 

[Seneschal2]

Roberts was the only sleeper on my list of four WRs. Now, after his impressive Senior Bowl week -- he's no longer an unknown. He's probably elevated himself into the round 2-3 range, and if the Pats are interested, he would be one of the three second-rounders. There's absolutely nothing to dislike about Roberts; from his character and work ethic -- to physical skills. He also adds some serious return skills, making him the frontrunner as the Pats primary PR and KR, which as we know -- is a serious area of need. In addition, his Combine numbers may confirm we we already believe -- that he's a serious Pats consideration at the WR position.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I think Roberts showed well in the senior bowl. However I really liked the kid fromTulane at the senior Bowl,Williams. Even though he had two ACL injuries, if he runs well,I like his ability to come back to the back.

 

[furley]

I thought fans were saying that the Patriots don't need to draft another slot wide receiver.

Wouldn't you take Shipley over Andre Roberts then?

 

[patsfan55]

Roberts was the only sleeper on my list of four WRs. Now, after his impressive Senior Bowl week -- he's no longer an unknown. He's probably elevated himself into the round 2-3 range, and if the Pats are interested, he would be one of the three second-rounders. There's absolutely nothing to dislike about Roberts; from his character and work ethic -- to physical skills. He also adds some serious return skills, making him the frontrunner as the Pats primary PR and KR, which as we know -- is a serious area of need. In addition, his Combine numbers may confirm we we already believe -- that he's a serious Pats consideration at the WR position.

This post reminds me of the 528650 posts I had about Greg Jennings just a few years ago...just saying

 

[WaterfallJumper]

I thought fans were saying that the Patriots don't need to draft another slot wide receiver.

Wouldn't you take Shipley over Andre Roberts then?

I'd take Roberts over Shipley in a heartbeat, and it's precisely because of the position issue: Shipley is simply not that great at beating the jam. He doesn't have the wiggle/strength at the line, nor the speed and jumps to play on the outside. I think he'll be a heck of a slot receiver, but that's about it. Welker Lite. Roberts, however, can consistently beat a jam, and has fantastic acceleration and agility. His route-running and savvy in space is incredible. I think he's a Deion Branch/Greg Jennings clone, and an instant #3 next year. Maybe that's overstating my case, but he really impresses me.

 

[NePatriots]

I'd take Roberts over Shipley in a heartbeat, and it's precisely because of the position issue: Shipley is simply not that great at beating the jam. He doesn't have the wiggle/strength at the line, nor the speed and jumps to play on the outside. I think he'll be a heck of a slot receiver, but that's about it. Welker Lite. Roberts, however, can consistently beat a jam, and has fantastic acceleration and agility. His route-running and savvy in space is incredible. I think he's a Deion Branch/Greg Jennings clone, and an instant #3 next year. Maybe that's overstating my case, but he really impresses me.

You're right - he is versatile enough to play the slot or play opposite Moss and let Julian and Wes play inside (when healthy).

 

[furley]

I'd take Roberts over Shipley in a heartbeat, and it's precisely because of the position issue: Shipley is simply not that great at beating the jam. He doesn't have the wiggle/strength at the line, nor the speed and jumps to play on the outside.

How about Mardy Gilyard?

 

[WaterfallJumper]

How about Mardy Gilyard?

I'm really torn when evaluating Gilyard. He's undeniably talented, but if you look at his bowl game against Florida, you'll see he has major problems with the jam. I don't think he plays on the outside in the NFL, at least not consistently, and I'd give him a year of development before expecting him to thrive in the face of physical play. On the other hand, he's a legitimate weapon from the slot and on special teams. I love his attitude and honesty, and he's a great kid who's worked hard to put himself in the position he's in now. Unfortunately, some team will draft him higher than I would, so we probably won't have a shot at him in the 3rd, where I currently rate him. I see too many other players in this draft who are far more complete receivers to grade him out any higher, though I do like him a lot.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I'm really torn when evaluating Gilyard. He's undeniably talented, but if you look at his bowl game against Florida, you'll see he has major problems with the jam. I don't think he plays on the outside in the NFL, at least not consistently, and I'd give him a year of development before expecting him to thrive in the face of physical play. On the other hand, he's a legitimate weapon from the slot and on special teams. I love his attitude and honesty, and he's a great kid who's worked hard to put himself in the position he's in now. Unfortunately, some team will draft him higher than I would, so we probably won't have a shot at him in the 3rd, where I currently rate him. I see too many other players in this draft who are far more complete receivers to grade him out any higher, though I do like him a lot.

Yes, Florida made it tough for him, on the other hand, they raped a team playing without their primary play caller. The thing about Gilyard's Senior Bowl practices that stood out was how well he did getting off the jam, which may mean he's been working on that aspect of his game - hard for us to know, but I'll bet the scouts know. Gilyard only had 41 yards receiving vs. FL, but Cincy's leading receiver had 46..and Gilyard had 207 yds on kick returns averaging 26 yds/KR, so it's not like he didn't contribute even when the Cincy offense was shut down.

 

[dryheat44]

Another small schooler to watch is Taylor Price, out of the fast-improving Ohio University. He's amazingly fast, and can make cuts at top speed. Big enough...about 6-0 and 200 with nice hands to boot.

 

[upstater1]

I think you're putting too much emphasis off one game. Cincy' interim coach blew it bigtime. He kept rolling Pike out to the right, and that limited the playing field.

Cincy had three big WR weapons last year in Gilyard, Woods and Binn, and that playcalling took two WRs out of the game and allowed Florida to clog up the one side of the field Pike was running to.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Yes, Florida made it tough for him, on the other hand, they raped a team playing without their primary play caller. The thing about Gilyard's Senior Bowl practices that stood out was how well he did getting off the jam, which may mean he's been working on that aspect of his game - hard for us to know, but I'll bet the scouts know. Gilyard only had 41 yards receiving vs. FL, but Cincy's leading receiver had 46..and Gilyard had 207 yds on kick returns averaging 26 yds/KR, so it's not like he didn't contribute even when the Cincy offense was shut down.

Fair enough. I wasn't able to watch the Senior Bowl practices, so I'll defer to you. If he's been working hard to disengage from the jam, then I'm all for him in the mid-to-late portion of the second round. He's a good player, and I like his hard work. I just had concerns about him from a few of his earlier games, that's all. If he always played like he did against Pittsburgh, then he'd be awesome for us.

 

[BionicPatriot]

I just found my new favorite binky/sleeper.

Thank you PatsFans Deion Branch II (healthier would be nice )

 

[NePatriots]

How about Mardy Gilyard?

Speak of the devil... I'm chatting with Mardy tomorrow night. Any questions for him?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Speak of the devil... I'm chatting with Mardy tomorrow night. Any questions for him?

Ask him if he identified any particular weakness after the Sugar Bowl loss and how much he's done to correct things? Another question is how much of the Cincinnati offense relied on option routes/reads between the QB and WRs seeing the same thing? Coach Belichick has noted some players practice well and play poorly and others practice poorly and play well, have he and his coaches ever noted tendencies either way for himself?