Cris carter on the big show: Deion branch is ‘just a guy’

[RobertWeathers]

I don't think they need a guy like that to win, but lets be honest, Deon Branch is not striking fear into any defenses.

You just said it. We don't need a Grade-A WR to win a SB.

 

[Rob0729]

I agreed with Carter and thought the homers on the show really came off sounding kind of silly. The fact is that Branch does disapear in games, he isn't a run-blocker that you can count on to bury his guy.

Branch is a dynamic small receiver that can take advantage of mistakes by a DB, tries hard and understands the game. However, Branch does get hurt too much, he can be shut down by 1 guy and he isn't going to beat double teams.

Carter was talking about a receiver that teams must game plan for that can take over a game and a team can count on to make a play. Branch isn't that guy.

Do the Patriots need a guy like that? An Andre Johnson, a Fitzgerald, a Bowe, Nicks, or even dare I say a Moss? I don't think they need a guy like that to win, but lets be honest, Deon Branch is not striking fear into any defenses.

The Pats won three Super Bowls with guys like Branch, Troy Brown, David Givens, David Patten, etc. Troy Brown, in 2001, was the only Patriots receiver to get over 1,000 yards in a Super Bowl season (1,199). Brady brought this team about 1 minute away from the Super Bowl in 2006 with Reche Caldwell as his primary WR and a defense with some significant deficiencies.

Carter doesn't get it. Moss is no longer a dynamic WR. He is a decoy. His ability to be effect at that has diminished and probably would have here. The guy just doesn't have the fight for the ball he once had and that hurt the Pats in the first Jets game.

Personally, I think Branch is more valuable to the Pats today than Moss would be. Two years ago, I might have a different answer. It looks like Randy has hit the age wall fast and hard (although there were signs of him declining last year with a late season drop off and him not catching balls he would have caught with ease in 2007).

Yes, Branch doesn't strike fear in opposing defenses, but neither does Moss anymore. Even if he stayed, I think teams would have grown less and less concerned about Moss. The guy is having a horrible season and that started before he left here.

 

[Nunchucks]

The Pats won three Super Bowls with guys like Branch, Troy Brown, David Givens, David Patten, etc. Troy Brown, in 2001, was the only Patriots receiver to get over 1,000 yards in a Super Bowl season (1,199). Brady brought this team about 1 minute away from the Super Bowl in 2006 with Reche Caldwell as his primary WR and a defense with some significant deficiencies.

Way to completely miss my point.

 

[Rob0729]

Way to completely miss my point.

Sorry, it is early on a Saturday.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

.......but lets be honest, Deon Branch is not striking fear into any defenses.

The Deon/Brady combo strikes plenty of fear in defenses. Just ask the SB Carolina Panthers. "Just a guy" has rings and a SB MVP trophy. Cris Carter has what?

 

[Rob0729]

The Deon/Brady combo strikes plenty of fear in defenses. Just ask the SB Carolina Panthers. "Just a guy" has rings and a SB MVP trophy. Cris Carter has what?

I agree. Brady striking fear in opposing defense's hearts is more than enough. Actually a lack of a dominant WR can actually be more scary for defenses. Right now defenses don't know how Brady is going to exploit him. Take away Welker and Branch might kill you. Take away Branch and Gronkowski might get three TDs. Stop Gronk and Hernandez has a big game. Stop Hernandez and Woodhead picks you apart underneath.

Right now this offense is as efficient as any Patriots offense other than maybe 2007 and that included last year with Moss.

 

[BSR]

Way to completely miss my point.

In a way I think he added to your point. I agree with everything both of you said.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

I agree. Brady striking fear in opposing defense's hearts is more than enough. Actually a lack of a dominant WR can actually be more scary for defenses. Right now defenses don't know how Brady is going to exploit him. Take away Welker and Branch might kill you. Take away Branch and Gronkowski might get three TDs. Stop Gronk and Hernandez has a big game. Stop Hernandez and Woodhead picks you apart underneath.

Right now this offense is as efficient as any Patriots offense other than maybe 2007 and that included last year with Moss.

I agree and that's why a defense like the Jets has a really big problem.
The biggest weakness the Jets D has is that they're soft against the pass in the middle of the field. Every receiver/TE the Pats have with the exception of Brandon Tate excels in the middle. One of the benefits of not having Randy Moss is that Brady doesn't need to hang onto the ball waiting for him to get down field. Brady is getting rid of the ball much faster and that also hurts a blitzing D like the Jets.
I LOVE the Pats against the Jets on Monday night. It won't be that close a game.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Nah, that's not fair on Moss.

Randy's game is the deep ball. Stick him with a QB who can't throw the deep ball and you're just wasting your time. See Brooks, Aaron.

I think there is plenty of evidence that without Tom Brady that he is at best nothing more than just a guy.

Fortunately for Deion and the Pats they have Tom Brady at QB and he makes a healthy Deion an extremely productive player.

Carter is like the player turned mediot poster boy for arrogance and ignorance. He was on WEEI with Dale and Holley during the Moss trade and made a total professional ass of himself to the point Holley gave up on even attempting to engage him. I'm sure that is why he landed on the afternoon show...where Big O knows controversey drives ratings.

Deion was just a guy with Hasselback because that's all Favre's former backup or any receiver he played with ever was at best - just an erratic arm in some supposed genius HC's version of the west coast offense. Carter is a talent and stats matters guy. They never get IT - that football is a team sport and winning matters, because when they don't it's someone else's fault. Branch is football player for whom it's all about making the most of whatever talent you have via hard work and mental toughness and precise route running and honing instincts to read defenses post snap and finding the weak spot or blocking for the guy who does and helping your team win. Like that other JAG, Welker... The only stats they care about are team stats like W-L record and doing whatever they can to facilitate that. Same mentality their dink and dunk QB and scheme driven HC who could care less about yardage or how you score as long as you score more than the opposition SO YOU WIN.

Took Carter 7 years to have his breakout season in Minnesota, for what that was worth... I guess while injuries don't happen to gifted players personal screw ups are more the norm... Lost his senior year at OSU and cost his HC his job because he signed with some notorious scumbag agent. Then Buddy Ryan kicked his ass to the curb after three years of drug and alcohol induced underperformance... Deion had 2 rings and and was tied with Jerry Rice as a SB performer by the time he completed his first 3 years in the league. Who knows what else he might have amassed had he not also screwed up off the field in connecting with a scumbag agent who derailed his career by facilitating a trade to WR nowhere where everyone failed and he could blow out his ACL for nothing...

Alas poor Deion probably cries himself to sleep nights knowing he will never earn the respect or amass the empty individual stats and hollow pro bowl accolades of the likes of Carter, Moss, TO, Ocho at the skill position. Hopefully his post season memories and his rings and his SB MVP trophy and returning to a place where he's poised for more, not to mention the respect and admiration of his own HOF QB and the HC of the generation provide some consolation...

 

[Ring 6]

Depends on what you mean by JAG.
If you mean JAG STARTER, yeah thats pretty much what he is.
And there is nothing wrong with that. Branch has skills and he has weaknesses.
But, its just wide receiver. Of every position on the field WR is most overrated, and the impact of players at the position is also the most overrated.
WRs that put up big numbers on good teams win, WRs that put up big numbers on bad teams lose.
WR numbers, by and large, are a product of the opportunity they are given. If plays are called with them as the primary receiver, and the QB favors them, they get big numbers, if not, they don't.
Contrary to popular belief WRs do not catch passes because of extraordinary skills, they catch them because a play is designed for them to run a route that gets them open.
Any WR that can run a route properly that is put in position to be the #1 WR on his team and have plays called for him will catch a bunch of passes.
The difference between and average starting WR and a top WR is not nearly as big as people think.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Deion Branch in the Erhardt-Perkins system with Tom Brady is an EXTREMELY solid WR. Deion Branch in any other type of offensive system is a JAG.

... and it may be that covering a smaller quicker WR is the achilles heel of the Jets tall CBs

They designed their defense in response to Randy Moss - not Branch, Welker, Hernandez etc...

we shall see

 

[jmt57]

Looks like Branch is taking the high road in response to Carter's comment - not that I would have expected to get in a war of words with Carter.

It Is What It Is | Deion Branch on Cris Carter: ‘Whatever he said, that’s cool’

Branch offered his good-natured reply on Saturday in the Patriots locker room.

“Who me? I didn’t even hear it,” Branch said. “That’s cool. Whatever he said, that’s cool. I don’t know what happened and I really care less.”

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I'd say 95% of NFL receivers are considered "just a guy" to a potential HOF wide receiver like Cris Carter, just like I'm sure John Elway and Dan Marino watch some of today's QBs and think they're awful compared to themselves.

Moss has struggled in some systems, exploded in others, doesn't make him a JAG either. Deion has been very productive in our system, and nothing Carter says or thinks can change that simple fact. Twiggy won't be going to the hall of fame, but that doesn't mean he isn't one heck of a receiver for us. And it certainly doesn't mean Carter's opinion makes any sense.

 

[stcjones]

It Is What It Is Cris Carter on The Big Show: Deion Branch is ‘just a guy’

i think cprice on twitter puts it aptly

I don't think what he said is all that inaccurate.....Branch in Seattle was pretty average...he kind of disappearef out there......Branch in BB/TFB's system is an above average WR.....because they know how to best utilize his talents....look at woodhead....rexy was scratching his big fat @ss....wondering what to do with him....can't think outside the box...BB picks him up and makes him into a star!....(woody is extremely athletic....just needed the right coach to utilize his talents right...

 

[Bella*chick]

Looks like Branch is taking the high road in response to Carter's comment - not that I would have expected to get in a war of words with Carter.

It Is What It Is | Deion Branch on Cris Carter: ‘Whatever he said, that’s cool’

Good for you, Deion. The rest of us should take a page out of your book and stop listening to Cris Carter too.

 

[ScottieC]

It Is What It Is Cris Carter on The Big Show: Deion Branch is ‘just a guy’

i think cprice on twitter puts it aptly

Just a guy........................with two Super Bowl rings and an MVP Trophy in the case.

Jealous much Cris?

Yup, Just a guy. A hell of a guy at that.

 

[Deus Irae]

A whole lot of people here were saying the same thing about Branch before he was brought back. People can disagree with Carter all they want, but it's not as if his comments are wholly without merit.

 

[sbpatfan]

I would've just held my super bowl ring up and said, "Cris who?"

 

[mojocaster.com]

Carter was a great receiver. WAS. Now, he's just a guy.

 

[Anj]

Looks like Branch is taking the high road in response to Carter's comment - not that I would have expected to get in a war of words with Carter.

It Is What It Is | Deion Branch on Cris Carter: ‘Whatever he said, that’s cool’

and this is why i love deion branch