Will the Pats stand pat at wide receiver?

[PatsWickedPissah]

BB always tries to improve the team. Creating competition is one way. He'll add a WR should an FA be available at a relative "value" price, otherwise not. And that only after he's used up some cap space to address most important needs in his priority tree. So at this juncture the answer is unpredictable, even for BB.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

@ Brady to Moss you need a new user handle.

Hell no..this name is staying

 

[NSPF]

Chad Ochocino Says Playing for Patriots Would Make Him 'Happiest Player in the World' - New England Patriots - NESN.com

So tempting. If BB has any interest at all I don't think we would have problems getting him.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

if the patriots want to make a change at WR, they should sign sidney rice. he's only 25 yrs old and can become brady's number 1 target for the next 6-7 yrs. santana moss and randy moss are old at this point. of course, sidney is going to cost a lot of $.

 

[Snake Eyes]

They went 14 - 2 last year with the same WRs that they have now. Maybe they will be just fine for this year

Will it be enough to get past the Jets in the playoffs? That's really the only relevant question.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Will it be enough to get past the Jets in the playoffs? That's really the only relevant question.

i don't think it's wise to make personnel moves based on one opponent. the pats beat the jets last year in the second game, after all. if anything, aaron hernandez' injury was the reason why the pats offense couldn't do anything against the jets. he was big in the December game when the pats routed them. gronkowski didn't play well in the playoffs and crumpler was awful in the passing department, so the pats really weren't getting any tight end help that game. that left cromartie and revis to shut down welker and branch. when hernandez and gronkowski play well, the pats are almost impossible to stop on offense.

 

[Jared]

Both Tate and Price have shown flashes, but not consistency. If we had a full length camp, I would have expected a vet signing to push the two of them and Branch as well.

I would rather see cap space spent on Mankins and another solid DB.

 

[TheSolderKing]

Edelman has better numbers is the 3 cone and short shuttle drills, which would lead me to believe that he has better quickness than Welker, he also has better straight-line speed, he actually has better numbers all over the place.

Julian Edelman*|*Kent State,*WR*:*2009 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, Wes Welker , Julian Edelman, Randy Moss, 40 YARD DASH TIMES

What I think your eyes are interpreting as quickness are the better angles and shifts that Welker makes, which allows him to evade defenders. Knowing how and where to move can be just as if not more important than the ability to move.

I believe Edelman can gain a better understanding of field geometry with more playing time and dedicated practice with TFB, it's possible that he even surpasses Welker in terms of playmaking ability.

Regarding a big-time WR and our SB rings, I don't think that's a sound argument, keep in mind we had a lights out defense during those years and more experience in the skill positions. Many of our WRs and RBs are relatively young, and the O-line will have a green rookie in Solder, these moving parts are more likely to make mistakes and put our aging HoF QB in danger, having a Larry Fitzgerald/Andre Johnson on the field can make things a lot easier on your offense.

I'm not suggesting we grab a big-name WR because 'everyone knows you need a big name WR to win" but rather I'd like a WR whose ability creates a lot of impact on the team. A guy who can work the outside and deep zones would make things tougher on opposing defenses, a guy that can box out a DB and go up and make the grab would help out a lot, the deep ball is one of the weakest parts of TFB's game, a receiver that can compensate for that would definitely make a difference.

welker just looks quicker to me in the first 5-12 yards. Edelman I knew he was superior at straight line running. Welker does evade more tackles and finds better holes so you r right w/ that. I like them bot very much

 

[sbpatfan]

My guess is they just bring a couple of UDFA receivers for the hell of it, maybe some veteran JAG competition. I don't think they really need a big receiver like a lot of the media guys are claiming. They already have that in Gronkowski. The receiving core might not be the sexiest, but when you factor in the TEs and pass catchers at running back not many other teams stack up.

 

[Snake Eyes]

i don't think it's wise to make personnel moves based on one opponent. the pats beat the jets last year in the second game, after all. if anything, aaron hernandez' injury was the reason why the pats offense couldn't do anything against the jets. he was big in the December game when the pats routed them. gronkowski didn't play well in the playoffs and crumpler was awful in the passing department, so the pats really weren't getting any tight end help that game. that left cromartie and revis to shut down welker and branch. when hernandez and gronkowski play well, the pats are almost impossible to stop on offense.

If you're very likely to face that specific opponent on your way to a championship it's a wise move, the for Steve Young and the 49ers it was all about beating the Dallas Cowboys if they were to have any hope of a championship.

That being said, even if we discount a particular opponent we shouldnt discount a particular gameplan: do we have the ability to surpass that gameplan from other opponents?

I really want Fitzgerald and think he could take this offense to unreal levels, next offseason we have a legitimate shot at getting him, I wouldnt want to force things and go for Vincent Jackson, who is a bit too risky/pricey for my tastes but I might be persuaded to take a shot at a Malcolm Floyd for a year as a stop-gap with the potential to be more long term depending on how he does.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

If you're very likely to face that specific opponent on your way to a championship it's a wise move, the for Steve Young and the 49ers it was all about beating the Dallas Cowboys if they were to have any hope of a championship.

That being said, even if we discount a particular opponent we shouldnt discount a particular gameplan: do we have the ability to surpass that gameplan from other opponents?

I really want Fitzgerald and think he could take this offense to unreal levels, next offseason we have a legitimate shot at getting him, I wouldnt want to force things and go for Vincent Jackson, who is a bit too risky/pricey for my tastes but I might be persuaded to take a shot at a Malcolm Floyd for a year as a stop-gap with the potential to be more long term depending on how he does.

ok say we do get a sidney rice type receiver and that puts us over the Jets. Then what happens if the pats play the packers in the super bowl? our offense will be unstoppable against them, but their offense too will walk all over our defense. i would rather put the cap money into the defense.

 

[Sivy]

ok say we do get a sidney rice type receiver and that puts us over the Jets. Then what happens if the pats play the packers in the super bowl? our offense will be unstoppable against them, but their offense too will walk all over our defense. i would rather put the cap money into the defense.

Maybe they dont need one player to "beat the jets" maybe they just had a bad game that day..didnt they beat the jets like 500 to -5 last season?

 

[Snake Eyes]

ok say we do get a sidney rice type receiver and that puts us over the Jets. Then what happens if the pats play the packers in the super bowl? our offense will be unstoppable against them, but their offense too will walk all over our defense. i would rather put the cap money into the defense.

That's a possibility, what specific players did you have in mind for what positions? Suppose we take Kiwi, Cullen Jenkins, Marcus Spears, Manny Lawson, etc, how much more effective will they make us at what cost?

Also, keep in mind I'm not considering Rice, I had Malcolm Floyd or Roy Williams in mind depending on the price tag and contract restrictions. Fitzgerald is my hope for next year.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

ok say we do get a sidney rice type receiver and that puts us over the Jets. Then what happens if the pats play the packers in the super bowl? our offense will be unstoppable against them, but their offense too will walk all over our defense. i would rather put the cap money into the defense.

I don't know why, but the Pats tend to play very conservative Ds against "green" QBs. I imagine they would have played Rodgers rather differently (no clue if the results would have differed. . . .).

 

[Frick]

This is a good receiving group with the potential to be very good. Just because we have a few dollars to spend, doesn't mean we have to. The scoring is not our problem and I believe Taylor Price and Tate, once they get comfortable, can stretch the field as much as we want to. If you're looking for a tall receiver, try Gronk. We have to stop the other team from scoring.

We can still improve both sides of the ball using UDFAs. What if we can find a starting Guard? Neither Wendell or Ohrenberger can beat out Connolly. We might be able to find replacements for them (an upgrade). According to Draft Breakdown, Brandon Bair was rated ahead of Alan Bailey from Miami as a 5 technique DE. Dunay Williams was rated in the top 5 Safeties, but because of an injury he wasn't drafted. Joe Lefeged from Rutgers runs a 4.40 and is a Kick Returner.

If for $10K we want to take a flyer, bring in Keith Darbut from Baldwin Wallace. 6'4", 230 and almost identical stats to Von Miller. He could be an upgrade to the special teams.

 

[italia44]

This is a good receiving group with the potential to be very good. Just because we have a few dollars to spend, doesn't mean we have to. The scoring is not our problem and I believe Taylor Price and Tate, once they get comfortable, can stretch the field as much as we want to. If you're looking for a tall receiver, try Gronk. We have to stop the other team from scoring.

We can still improve both sides of the ball using UDFAs. What if we can find a starting Guard? Neither Wendell or Ohrenberger can beat out Connolly. We might be able to find replacements for them (an upgrade). According to Draft Breakdown, Brandon Bair was rated ahead of Alan Bailey from Miami as a 5 technique DE. Dunay Williams was rated in the top 5 Safeties, but because of an injury he wasn't drafted. Joe Lefeged from Rutgers runs a 4.40 and is a Kick Returner.

If for $10K we want to take a flyer, bring in Keith Darbut from Baldwin Wallace. 6'4", 230 and almost identical stats to Von Miller. He could be an upgrade to the special teams.

Nice job,rook.......FA WR's are a distraction.What makes TFB and the Pat's offense unique is "small" ball,with Welker/Edelman and those terrific young TE's.Let's season and perfect,what we have now and let other,less well-managed teams,chase after the alchemist's fools gold.

 

[ausbacker]

Looks like bringing Deion Branch back to the Patriots when he did has a two pronged affect for the Patriots at WR. Imagine filling that unit without Welker and Brady, both of whom understand the offence, route running and Tom Brady.

I'd love to bring in Sidney Rice. I'd be equally happy with someone from left field like Santana Moss, Mike Sims-Walker (as discussed earlier this week) or a Malcolm Floyd. That would be a nice compliment to the best collection of tight ends in the NFL and a rejuvenated RB corps.

 

[jmt57]

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the Patriots' passing game based on receivers reading the defensive alignment, and then running a route based on what they see - as opposed to simply running a route?

I get the feeling that with the Patriots offense there is such a high need for the receivers and quarterback to be on the same page that without a full offseason to integrate, get the timing down and get on the same page that the likelihood of bringing in a free agent wide receiver is minimal. For example, remember when BB acquired - and then cut - first Greg Lewis and then Joey Galloway? Fans and media were all clamoring for the Pats to sign another WR, but at that point it was too late to get the system and the timing down.

Frankly I would be surprised if the Pats went after a free agent wide receiver that was anything more than camp fodder.

 

[ausbacker]

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the Patriots' passing game based on receivers reading the defensive alignment, and then running a route based on what they see - as opposed to simply running a route?

I get the feeling that with the Patriots offense there is such a high need for the receivers and quarterback to be on the same page that without a full offseason to integrate, get the timing down and get on the same page that the likelihood of bringing in a free agent wide receiver is minimal. For example, remember when BB acquired - and then cut - first Greg Lewis and then Joey Galloway? Fans and media were all clamoring for the Pats to sign another WR, but at that point it was too late to get the system and the timing down.

Frankly I would be surprised if the Pats went after a free agent wide receiver that was anything more than camp fodder.

Which is precisely why bringing Deion Branch back was an excellent move.

 

[BaltimorePatsFan]

Brandon Tate has yet to prove himself as a viable #3 and I'm also concerned about Branch's age and injury history. Plus personally I'd feel much better if the Pats had at least one physically dominating wide receiver.