What's the deal with Branch?

[DarrylStingley]

No catches.

No balls thrown to him.

Not on the field much.

Hamstring issues.

Have the Pats said anything about this? Is there any speculation out there?

Another zinger at Ocho, by the way. With Branch used so little, you'd think he'd be in there more. Then again, I think we know what Brady and Bill think of Ocho based on how little they've used him. Still, it never ceases to amaze me.

Back on track, what do people expect out of Branch when the Pats line up on January 14?

 

[PatsChamp88]

Groin issues hopefully some rest will help him, would like to see him help contribute in the playoffs.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Groin issues. Really gotta let it heal completely before playing. Believe me. SO easy to re-injure. Same with hammy. True for all speed and slash positions.

He'll be fine for the playoffs.

 

[PatriotFan77]

What bothers me more are the numerous times Brady and Branch aren't on the same page. I don't know exactly how many times but I'm going to throw out, ohhh maybe, a half dozen times I can think of when Branch ran the go and Brady threw the comeback or vice versa. And not in Week 1 and 2, I'm talking a couple of games ago. That is really frustrating to me.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

What bothers me more are the numerous times Brady and Branch aren't on the same page. I don't know exactly how many times but I'm going to throw out, ohhh maybe, a half dozen times I can think of when Branch ran the go and Brady threw the comeback or vice versa. And not in Week 1 and 2, I'm talking a couple of games ago. That is really frustrating to me.

Its happened with Welker a few times too, as long as the throws dont get picked off, with their system I guess you have to expect a little of that.

 

[PatriotFan77]

Its happened with Welker a few times too, as long as the throws dont get picked off, with their system I guess you have to expect a little of that.

True. Have seen plenty of that as well and I get even more frustrated when it's Welker.

 

[Seanzayyy]

I wouldn't mind seeing any WR get more involved, excluding Welker of course.

Besides Welker, no WR caught a pass yesterday. And looking at the season totals, besides Welker, Brady only threw to his receivers 26% of the time. Not shocking watching the terrific seasons Hernandez and Gronk are having. But I feel our offense could be even more dynamic if the other WRs got more involved.

I guess the other side of that is why change what's working? Our TE driven offense is amazing to watch, and I suppose that's where the bulk of our talent is.

 

[RodThePat]

This just highlights our dire need for a talented wide receiver. I know people here love to say "but we got Gronk, Welker and Hernandez, what more do you need?". But just as it happened in the playoff loss last year, the lack of a physically gifted receiver who can threaten from the outside might end up hurting us here in 2012. With Branch limited, Tiquan Underwood was the wide-receiver (key word here being 'wide') who got the most playing time on sunday. That's not good enough.

 

[Jared]

A WR running deep only needs to be thrown to once a game (see Ocho's fingertip miss) to force the defense to cover them. No one is going to let even the worst WR run down the field uncovered. Just being on the field opens up things for the guys underneath (TEs, Welker), even if you never throw up top.

 

[sly24]

I wouldn't mind seeing any WR get more involved, excluding Welker of course.

Besides Welker, no WR caught a pass yesterday. And looking at the season totals, besides Welker, Brady only threw to his receivers 26% of the time. Not shocking watching the terrific seasons Hernandez and Gronk are having. But I feel our offense could be even more dynamic if the other WRs got more involved.

I guess the other side of that is why change what's working? Our TE driven offense is amazing to watch, and I suppose that's where the bulk of our talent is.

I think Ocho is getting there. Brady overthrew him by not much yesterday on a deep throw and he was open. He is open a lot, actually. He's also being used in the red zone now but that might be due to Branch's injury.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Watching Alshon Jefferies of South Carolina right now, and I'm dreaming of him catching passes from Tom Brady.

 

[Bombdog]

Ocho did not catch any passes , but he did a great job blocking on a the screen and a few other plays. He is playing hard and being a team player I respect him for that.

 

[Mack Herron]

Welker is the only WR at the moment. Branch, Ocho, Edelman and Underwood all shutout yesterday right? Near connection with Ocho on the post, but they missed again. Plenty of snaps for the group. I don't think Brady is deliberately passing up big plays.

 

[Patjew]

I expect to see Branch with his usual clutch playoff catches this year.

 

[RIpats88]

Welker is the only WR at the moment. Branch, Ocho, Edelman and Underwood all shutout yesterday right? Near connection with Ocho on the post, but they missed again. Plenty of snaps for the group. I don't think Brady is deliberately passing up big plays.

Hernandez is a pretty good receiver at 900yards for us this year...while he may be listed as a tight end, he runs routes and is used like a wide receiver..

Branch is just a great fourth option receiver when defenses tighten up on the TE's/welker....I think he'll be fine in the playoffs.

weve got gronk at 1300yds, and Hernandez at 900yds....theres alot of "true" WR's who would love to have those #s

 

[Mack Herron]

Hernandez is a pretty good receiver at 900yards for us this year...while he may be listed as a tight end, he runs routes and is used like a wide receiver..

Branch is just a great fourth option receiver when defenses tighten up on the TE's/welker....I think he'll be fine in the playoffs.

weve got gronk at 1300yds, and Hernandez at 900yds....theres alot of "true" WR's who would love to have those #s

Gronk splits wide and both run downfield routes. But you will never see our WRs with a hand on the ground the way Hernandez and Gronk do. They play a different position. Of the guys who play WR, the only one catching any passes is Welker.

 

[jays52]

He has hit the proverbial wall. That simple, unfortunately.

 

[RIpats88]

Gronk splits wide and both run downfield routes. But you will never see our WRs with a hand on the ground the way Hernandez and Gronk do. They play a different position. Of the guys who play WR, the only one catching any passes is Welker.

True but my point is that we are getting to stuck on the position when talking about how the pats have no,elite recievers besides welker....while they might be tight ends both gronk and hernandez are 2 of the best recieving options in the nfl...although I'm of the opinion that hernandez is more of an oversized wr than a te

 

[Mack Herron]

True but my point is that we are getting to stuck on the position when talking about how the pats have no,elite recievers besides welker....while they might be tight ends both gronk and hernandez are 2 of the best recieving options in the nfl...although I'm of the opinion that hernandez is more of an oversized wr than a te

It is pretty obvious that the Patriots offense revolves around 87 and 81 who are both outstanding receivers (among other things). But they do not play WR. The primary role of our WRs not named Welker is downfield blocking. There will be new faces at the position next year.

 

[Pogodi]

No catches.

No balls thrown to him.

Not on the field much.

Hamstring issues.

Have the Pats said anything about this? Is there any speculation out there?

Another zinger at Ocho, by the way. With Branch used so little, you'd think he'd be in there more. Then again, I think we know what Brady and Bill think of Ocho based on how little they've used him. Still, it never ceases to amaze me.

Back on track, what do people expect out of Branch when the Pats line up on January 14?

His our fourth option right, and if the other three deliver, why nag? And when they are covered/bad day then Branch steps up. He's been living up to expectations overall.