Someone explain to me why Matt Slater is not used more often at WR?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I can't recall seeing Slater in action at WR at all this year except for the very first game at Miami.

In that game On one particular play call,Slater had beaten his man soundly and hauled in a superb 46 yard catch but after this game he has not been used hardly at all in long yard situations.

I believe that this was the longest pass completion this year for Brady,I don't remember a longer pass completed this year from QB to the hands of the WR of this length to Gronkowski,Hernandez,Branch or Welker?

For a team that can use a player who can stretch the field and has speed to get by a cornerback,why is everyone talking about Taylor Price and no one talks about what Matt is obviously capable of?

Doesn't Belichick think this kid can be used much more often other than STs?

Just look at this film of that play and tell me that Slater is not a better choice over a washed up and dried Ocho and an often injured Price?

Also Slater made a big catch against the Giants in Preseason

 

[black&gold]

Agreed. With his tackling ability, I've wondered the same about him as a nickle corner, as well.

 

[juny]

especially with the way defensive pass interfernce is called, don't know why the pats don't take a few shots deep in a game.

 

[supafly]

I'm guessing that he likely doesn't know the routes and route options as well as most others.

That, and the fact that he has very limited chemistry and trust with Brady.

Another reason is much like #85, he wouldn't see the field very often anyway.

I attribute the MIA play to almost a bit of trickery / catching them offguard.

 

[PatsChamp88]

Better question for the coaches but seriously I wonder if Brady's elbow injury has effected the deep ball which would certainly effect Slater's use at receiver. Another thought is if Slater is inserted into the game teams know that he's going to be used to stretch the field though that certainly could open up something underneath if they really feel he's a legitimate threat if not than provided he could beat the coverage watch out!

 

[slam]

I can't recall seeing Slater in action at WR at all this year except for the very first game at Miami.

In that game On one particular play call,Slater had beaten his man soundly and hauled in a superb 46 yard catch but after this game he has not been used hardly at all in long yard situations.

I believe that this was the longest pass completion this year for Brady,I don't remember a longer pass completed this year from QB to the hands of the WR of this length to Gronkowski,Hernandez,Branch or Welker?

You don't remember the 99 yard TD vs. Miami or the 73 yarder against the Jets for Welker? Those were kind of memorable.

I'll forgive forgetting Ochocinco's 53 yarder against the Jets, as one might reasonably think that that might have been a hallucination.

Gronk's first TD last week was 52 yards, but that was more RAC than catch.

But, yes. Matthew Slater would be good to have in the mix, particularly in the three TE formation.

 

[The Brandon Five]

"Ball on the ground, ball on the ground. Looking like a fool with the ball on the ground. Hat turned sideways looking like a clown, looking like a fool with the ball on the ground".

[HD] "Pants On the Ground" on American Idol Season 9 Finale ft. Larry Platt and Willium Hung - YouTube

Maybe that fumble in the Dallas game made the team decide to limit his offensive participation?

Too bad, that kid can burn.

 

[The Brandon Five]

I'm guessing that he likely doesn't know the routes and route options as well as most others.

That, and the fact that he has very limited chemistry and trust with Brady.

Another reason is much like #85, he wouldn't see the field very often anyway.

I attribute the MIA play to almost a bit of trickery / catching them offguard.

I don't know, it seemed like the last year or so that Randy was here he was just running the 9 route. I think even Slater could handle that.

 

[patchick]

"Ball on the ground, ball on the ground. Looking like a fool with the ball on the ground. Hat turned sideways looking like a clown, looking like a fool with the ball on the ground".

Bingo. Between special teams and offense, Slater has 27 career touches...and 3 career fumbles.

 

[patsfan-1982]

because the pats offense does not have set plays they are more of a read and react offense, so if there are no real set deep ball plays for Matt Slater Price or Ocho why would you take one of your two best weapons ( Branch and Hernandez ) of the field for him

 

[Tunescribe]

Hands and route running. What else would it be?

 

[strngplyr]

You don't remember the 99 yard TD vs. Miami or the 73 yarder against the Jets for Welker? Those were kind of memorable.

I'll forgive forgetting Ochocinco's 53 yarder against the Jets, as one might reasonably think that that might have been a hallucination.

Gronk's first TD last week was 52 yards, but that was more RAC than catch.

But, yes. Matthew Slater would be good to have in the mix, particularly in the three TE formation.

The OP meant distance the ball traveled through the air, not the ending yardage result of the play.

edit: The only plays I can think of that were potentially longer were Brady missing Price deep against the Steelers and Ocho's blatant drop against the Bills. Other than those, I believe the 46 yarder is the longest through the air.

 

[The Boston Patriot]

because the pats offense does not have set plays they are more of a read and react offense, so if there are no real set deep ball plays for Matt Slater Price or Ocho why would you take one of your two best weapons ( Branch and Hernandez ) of the field for him

Branch isn't giving the offense that much. I certainly would sub him for Branch,
at the very least, intermittently.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Lots of speed but lacks body control.

 

[cstjohn17]

Because out of the 100+ plays the Patriots run he knows 1, and Ocho knows 2 (well kind of)

 

[BradyFixesEverything]

The guy has the worst ball skills I've ever seen. Whenever he has the ball in his hands, I'm praying for dear life that it doesn't end in a disaster. Even though he's usually the first guy down the field on special teams, it usually ends up with him missing the tackle. I still don't know how he's on the team. I was really happy that he caught that bomb in the first game, but then he dropped the next two passes thrown his way and remembered that even a broken clock is right twice a day.

 

[jays52]

Beyond the already mentioned fumblitis, it's also an issue of agility. He ran a 7.3 3-cone (for reference Brandon Spikes ran a 6.9) at his pro-day, and his on-field play reflects that. The positions that Slater plays on special teams are long speed positions that don't take much agility to play at a high level. Compare that to receiver which both in general and in this scheme requires a lot of agility. He simply doesn't have the physical makeup to play receiver in an effective manner at the NFL level.

 

[Jared]

Beyond the already mentioned fumblitis, it's also an issue of agility. He ran a 7.3 3-cone (for reference Brandon Spikes ran a 6.9) at his pro-day, and his on-field play reflects that. The positions that Slater plays on special teams are long speed positions that don't take much agility to play at a high level. Compare that to receiver which both in general and in this scheme requires a lot of agility. He simply doesn't have the physical makeup to play receiver in an effective manner at the NFL level.

I think this is a bigger issue than anything else. Slater is NOT built in the Welker/Branch/Edelman mold.

 

[patsfan-1982]

Branch isn't giving the offense that much. I certainly would sub him for Branch,
at the very least, intermittently.

Matt Slater is fast but everyone in the NFL is fast so if your not a good route runner your not going to get open, Branch is a good route runner so is Ocho but they are both way down there on Brady's target list so were do you think that puts Slater ? IMO there is no reason to play someone that Brady is not really going to throw the ball to

 

[The Brandon Five]

The guy has the worst ball skills I've ever seen. Whenever he has the ball in his hands, I'm praying for dear life that it doesn't end in a disaster. Even though he's usually the first guy down the field on special teams, it usually ends up with him missing the tackle. I still don't know how he's on the team. I was really happy that he caught that bomb in the first game, but then he dropped the next two passes thrown his way and remembered that even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Tackles: Slater on special teams - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Special teams
WR Matthew Slater -- 11 (10/1)
LB Tracy White -- 9 (7/2)
LB Jeff Tarpinian -- 8 (5/3)
CB Kyle Arrington -- 7 (4/3)
CB Antwuan Molden – 6 (4/2)
Three tied with 4