Blog entry: Some YouTube looks at the WR competition.

[Kontradiction]

Just posted this to my blog. Comes equipped with YouTube videos and analysis.

Some YouTube looks at the WR competition. - New England Patriots Forums - PatsFans.com Patriots Fan Messageboard

Well, it's the offseason and I'm bored. I figured I would start a thread where we can take extensive looks at the bodies who will be thrown into the hat as competition for the position that's lining up to be the most interesting thing to watch during TC and the preseason: wide receiver. We already know what we're going to get out of Moss, Welker (when healthy), Edelman, Aiken (praying he doesn't see the field as anything more than a WR5 when we go five wide), Holt, and Patten. It's time to take a look at guys like Tate, Price, and Hernandez. At the very least, one of these guys will be seeing EXTENSIVE reps in the starting line-up as the year goes on. First, let's take a look at the guy who appears to be the front-runner for the split-end position as of right now, Mr. Brandon Tate...

 

[jah]

So, who do you think is going to win the job? Seems very close and balanced, and I don't think BB would have a problem with any of these 3 seeing time at the position.

 

[Kontradiction]

So, who do you think is going to win the job? Seems very close and balanced, and I don't think BB would have a problem with any of these 3 seeing time at the position.

Hard to tell. As of right now, I would have to line it up like this: Holt-Edelman-Moss. However, if what Brady's been saying about Tate ends up being correct and he HAS made strides, we could see Tate lining up as the split end after the preseason is over with Holt being moved over into the slot. Right now, though, I'm just going with what I know. The guys I know I are Holt, Edelman, and (of course) Moss. That's just a wild guess though. It's pretty much why I said that the receiver battle is going to be the most interesting one to watch in training camp. We have a ridiculous amount of bodies at the position.

 

[jah]

I think/hope there will be a lot of rotation, but I always thought the priority/depth chart would be this:

Moss
Welker
Holt
Edelman
Tate
Price
Hernandez

although Hernandez would probably see more time than Tate and Price due to also being able to line up as a TE. I really want to see Price play this season, but there seem to be too many good players at the position. That's why I hope there will be heavy rotation among the last few WR spots.

 

[Kontradiction]

I think/hope there will be a lot of rotation, but I always thought the priority/depth chart would be this:

Moss
Welker
Holt
Edelman
Tate
Price
Hernandez

although Hernandez would probably see more time than Tate and Price due to also being able to line up as a TE. I really want to see Price play this season, but there seem to be too many good players at the position. That's why I hope there will be heavy rotation among the last few WR spots.

My post was assuming Welker starts the season on PUP. As for Price, the chance that he sees time is just as good as any of the other guys. And he may well see some reps barring injury, but I don't think he'll crack the starting line-up until 2011. Aside from Branch and Edelman, there really isn't too much of a history of WR's coming out and making an immediate impact under BB in their rookie seasons. Not saying it can't happen. I just don't expect it. I have been wrong before, though.

 

[AzPatsFan]

After watrching the videos, I feel sanguine about our KR and PR games now. i htink we have added a strategic weapon there.

From the videos it is obvious that Tate has the pure speed and acceleration for Kick Returning. He also possesses that "make the first man miss" elusiveness that all good Punt Returners must have. I can see why he has all the NCAA returning records. I only hope his return talent wil not prevent or delay his WR development.

As regards the WRs, I am also quite surprised that Price appears as refined as he is. I was under the impression that Ohio always ran the ball. I expected to see a talented athlete, but very raw WR. That is not what I saw.

Tate appears to be the downfield threat that the Pats had opposite Moss in 2007. And so does Price. Price also seems to have a more complete game as a WR at this point or maybe it was just the highlights chosen.

Whatever the case, the Pats WRs position is being rebuilt with youthful talent. Edelman, Tate and Price all seem to have more recieving talent than Aiken who gamely ended up as our number three, last season. So do Welker and Holt.

Hernandez can catch. Whether he can play TE is another question that I can't answer.

 

[Patspsycho]

Well written blog. What you wrote about Price hits the head of the nail. His willingness to cross the middle and sacrifice for peripheral catches are what makes him my binky. It is that innate toughness that we have been missing from the WR corp, other than Welker who absorbs way too much punishment.

Coming from an options program, he should shine in the spread, assuming they go with that- I believe the majority of our reps will be with the ace or posse personnel.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Brandon Tate - He had some ability but I'm afraid the injuries may slow him down.

Taylor Price - Like what I see from him. I will always compare him to Dez Bryant because the Pats and Cowboys swapped picks and both teams took a WR. We'll see who made the right choice.

Aaron Herandez - He'll lead the Pats TE's in receptions, yards and TD's. He will be what Dallas Clark is to the Colts. Lastly, I won't be shocked if the Pats try to get him involved early in games like the Pats did with Ben Watson in the '04 season opener against the Colts.

 

[Sicilian]

Taylor Price - Like what I see from him. I will always compare him to Dez Bryant because the Pats and Cowboys swapped picks and both teams took a WR. We'll see who made the right choice.

I see what you're saying here, but I think you'll need to weight your comparison a bit. Of course it's more likely that Bryant will put up the big numbers (due to scheme, place on the depth chart, and talent), but if Price can be a solid and productive WR, I think that should be enough given their draft positions.

 

[Kontradiction]

Brandon Tate - He had some ability but I'm afraid the injuries may slow him down.

Agreed. The status of the knee and how it affects his game are big question marks at this point.

Taylor Price - Like what I see from him. I will always compare him to Dez Bryant because the Pats and Cowboys swapped picks and both teams took a WR. We'll see who made the right choice.

You're setting yourself up for disappointment.

Aaron Herandez - He'll lead the Pats TE's in receptions, yards and TD's. He will be what Dallas Clark is to the Colts. Lastly, I won't be shocked if the Pats try to get him involved early in games like the Pats did with Ben Watson in the '04 season opener against the Colts.

I think Hernandez will make an impact this year as well. He's one of the guys that I thought could come in and see some significant snaps immediately given his versatility. He also doesn't have any major injury issues that guys like Tate and Gronk do.

 

[letekro]

Did we ever find out what happened to Tate in the TB game? At first, we suspected it was not an ACL tear, then there were rumors that it was. I remember Reiss making some contradictory statements about the severity of the injury.

 

[Kontradiction]

Did we ever find out what happened to Tate in the TB game? At first, we suspected it was not an ACL tear, then there were rumors that it was. I remember Reiss making some contradictory statements about the severity of the injury.

You have a better chance of finding out what actually happened in Roswell in 1947 than you do of finding out the truth about an injury that occurred to a New England Patriot.