Reche Caldwell,Will he Start again next year?

[Patriots4Ever]

He has exceeded much of our expectations for this year,Has Career highs in everything except TD's.With Troy most likely retiring(Much to my dissapointment) after this year.That leaves Caldwell,Watson,Gaffney,Jackson.Thats about it as far as WR's.I would love to see him back in the starting lineup....

 

[BradyManny]

Caldwell has been great. He's far exceeded my expectations. Like I've said before, I think we we were all hoping he'd be the Givens replacement, and he is that and more. He's Brady's go to guy when he needs a big catch on 3rd down.

I think the crew of Caldwell - Jackson - Gaffney - Brown (if he continues to play) should essentially remain the same for next year. I don't see them needing to draft a wideout. They need to just stick with the guys they have, let them all develop & I think we'll have a great WR corps.

 

[BelichickFan]

Caldwell is fine as the #2 guy. Maybe a low level #2 but a legit #2. What we need is a #1 or, like The Twig, a high level #2 to go with Caldwell.

 

[Patriots4Ever]

I have a sneaky feeling that Troy will come back for one more year, as long as he is assured that he doesnt have to play DB.

NEM,I would LOVE to see that.Troy retiring will definately put me in a down mood.He is one of my all time fav players,NFL as a whole.He would definately be an asset.That's for sure.

 

[Robdude]

I think he will bounce around some. He will not be the #1 WR. He will be #2 but I bet he drops to #3 (and not start) at times when they try and work Chad in the line up. The only situations that will move him permenantly out of the starting position is:

A big WR signing in the off-season coupled with Jackson having tremendous growth.

Gaffney and Jackson both learning the offense and out performing Reche (not likely but I am starting to like Gaffney more and more)

 

[PatsDeb]

I voted too soon to tell. I think Reche is more suited to the role played by Troy Brown the last few years (prior to this one when he was forced back into starting duty); that is, kind of the forgotten third receiver who makes the clutch 10 yd catch when the other two (hopefully bigger and faster) receivers are covered. And the other team asks itself, where the heck did he come from?

 

[JoeSixPat]

By "start" I take it we mean #2 WR?

It's probably too soon to say - and not because of anything Caldwell hasn't done. He's proven he can fill the role of a #2 WR.

He's not perfect by any stretch, but given the needs at WR, the fact that a Free Agent or trade for a top tier WR (maybe a #1 WR) is likely on the radar screen, and the still unknown potential of Jackson as a #2 WR and/or Gaffney's increasing familiarity with the offense, he could be #2, #3 or even #4 at the lowest... but that would give us a DAMN good #4 WR.

 

[cstjohn17]

Caldwell has been great. He's far exceeded my expectations. Like I've said before, I think we we were all hoping he'd be the Givens replacement, and he is that and more. He's Brady's go to guy when he needs a big catch on 3rd down.

I think the crew of Caldwell - Jackson - Gaffney - Brown (if he continues to play) should essentially remain the same for next year. I don't see them needing to draft a wideout. They need to just stick with the guys they have, let them all develop & I think we'll have a great WR corps.

Great? You are an easy marker. He had 6 catches for 25 yards yesterday. Great is top ten, Caldwell is not even in the top 41.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/statistics?stat=rec&sort=yds&league=nfl&season=2&year=2006

He is an adequate replacement for Givens and could potentially be a very good #3 or an ok #2.

As a unit they are the worst in the NFL, if they come back with Caldwell - Jackson - Gaffney - Brown they will remain near the bottom. Jackson could develop into a nice #2 but they need someone who can be a #1 or a #1A. If Brown comes back and can be a #5 WR then that is fine, anything more than that is a clear indication of a poor WR unit.

 

[BradyManny]

How did the Pats receiving corps rank in 01 or 03? I bet not all that high b/c we, as we are now, relied on the RBs and the TEs for the passing game more than other teams do. The problem is the media has made such a huge deal of the Branch situation that we're so concerned with the wideouts stats, when we should just be concerned with Ws and Ls. So far, in our 4 Ls, you'd probably have just as good a chance of arguing that the OL, QB or RBs had as much or more to do with the loss then the WRs.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

We need 2 WR this offseason, but Reche and Jabar should be back next yr..

 

[DB15]

I this caldwell will still be a number 1 bar any big signings or anything of that sorts. if not number one than a sure fire number 2

 

[friggs]

Maybe I am wrong, but I am taking this question to mean will he start game #1 next year, not start every game. With that in mind, I think that barring an injury in training camp or the rest of this season there is no way he doesn't start game one next year. At this point he is our #1 WR, like it or not. So two people would have to step up in training camp for him to sit. Maybe by the end of next year that will have happened, but I don't think it will happen by game one.

 

[PromisedLand]

Caldwell is fine as the #2 guy. Maybe a low level #2 but a legit #2. What we need is a #1 or, like The Twig, a high level #2 to go with Caldwell.

Bingo. No, not Bingo Brown as the #1. Bingo, you're right.

 

[PaulNEPats]

Long-term I can see Caldwell in a David Givens type role. I think it would be crazy if this team didn't give brady a surefire #1 next season. Chad Jackson going from nonfactor to "the man" by next year is too much to ask. This team needs to focus on this position in the offseason, as with several other areas.

 

[JoeSixPat]

How did the Pats receiving corps rank in 01 or 03? I bet not all that high b/c we, as we are now, relied on the RBs and the TEs for the passing game more than other teams do. The problem is the media has made such a huge deal of the Branch situation that we're so concerned with the wideouts stats, when we should just be concerned with Ws and Ls. So far, in our 4 Ls, you'd probably have just as good a chance of arguing that the OL, QB or RBs had as much or more to do with the loss then the WRs.

The problem with stats is that one can't just "rank the receiving corps" based on yards.

With the Patriots offense - and the WRs specifically, it was always about making the tough catch at the toughest times - against all odds, to give the team the yardage it absolutely had to have to win the game.

It was an air of confidence that the guys on the field would make things happen - and wouldn't drop a pass or tip a ball at the wrong time.

It was the ability to flip the switch and play at a higher level when the team truly needed the receivers to shine.

That's the main difference that I've seen between this and previous years of the Brady era - there's not one stat that can prove or disprove we need that element in our game - but in our guts we all know that's the case as of now.... and that's what I hope we can get back before the playoffs start.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I'd expect Caldwell to be our #2 because we should have upgraded our receiving corps in 2007 whether it be by free agency or whatever. Caldwell and Brady have developed some trust together so let's look forward to some more good things. He has effectively replaced Givens production. Now we just need to replace Branch.

 

[Kdo5]

Problably. He has been technically playing as the #1 WR in the Depth Chart all season. I mean if we dont pay for a good WR in free agency I doubt it will change. Jackson has a great oppurtunity to be a starter next year. All the bust threads are crap. When he gets more chances to shine, I know he'll be a starter on the Pats. Brown shouldnt be a starter Gaffney shouldnt either. That really only leaves one person...

 

[satz]

The way i see it .Reche and Gaffney are going to end up as 2 good WR who are going to be solid and then we will run C.J /? as the faster option with Troy in rotation with reche and gaffney.

We do not put alot of emphasis on WR #1 alot and prefer good #2 guys.

 

[Rob0729]

I think Caldwell will be our #1 or #2 WR barring some weird availability of WRs. There won't be much out there in free agency unless players get cut. Some of those players who get cut could be for the wrong reasons like T.O., Plaxico Burress, etc. The RFAs will probably get first round tender offers since most teams will be flushed with cash. The UFAs are limited to Mike Furrey, Drew Bennett, and Kevin Curtis as well as a few others. Any rookie would take time to develop. I am not sure we will get a surefire #1 WR this year nevermind two starters who could unseat Caldwell.

Personally, I think if Caldwell had someone else lining up opposite him that teams feared, he would be an outstanding #2 or a decent #1 WR. Right now, teams are putting their best CBs on him and double teaming him a lot because they don't have to worry about the other WRs. Even Branch had trouble dealing with double teams when Givens went down. Take some pressure off of him and he could develop even more.

 

[drewdagreat]

He just couldn't stay healthy in SD