They did this because the are good AND because no one else got open so we threw to them when they were covered and on a couple of occasions that proved to be problematic.
Bill obviously disagrees with you or Ocho wouldn't have collected $6M last season while being signed to a 3 year $12M deal. We need that $4M guy on the outside and ideally we need a developmental WR or two in the pipeline as depth and a long term replacement for Branch and any other veteran WR playing the position. What's that saying Bill is fond of, if you aren't getting better you're getting worse... This offense carried the defense to a superbowl but couldn't carry it to a ring because **** happens and it had no margin for error (or injury). Which is why they need a #3 TE too by whatever means.
I think we all agree that the lions share of the focus this offseason needs to be on defense, but that doesn't mean the offense can stand pat.
You may be on to something Cousin.
I am disappointed Ocho had a rough start. I think BB loves the kid and but I think Brandy not so much. That is the real issue. Not work ethic or stupidity. TB saw what happened to Palmer and it was like his screens were up, yet he and Moss worked well. What bothers me is the fact that Ocho had what..... 22 snaps in the SB and was targeted once. Was I the only Pats fan who ever saw him open? And saw him open during the season? He was, and TB won't chuck it to him. Yep he ran a few wrong routes. It wasn't playbook but it was option errors. I blame O'Brien and TB on Ochos lack of targets. When a documented 75% on the balls go to Welker and Gronk (and who can blame him for that with those results), TB has a tendency to ignore another perhaps open guy (see Moss). If TB won't throw to Ocho, Chad needs to find another home.
TB loves Branch....why? He is slow, has had wrong routes run this year and we have seen he and TB jost (imagine that!) but yet Brady gives him some throws. I will bet anything that if Ocho had the targets Branch had the results might have been more catches and more yards than Branch. Slow midget receivers in the NFL are not the way to go.
TB prefers Branch....O.K. Tom, Fair enough. We get it. He was a stud for you once but remember he walked out on you as well. BB, you actually need to dump both Ocho and Branch. Your QB won't throw to one that I feel is trying his ass off and perhasp will never be on the same page and the other is a shell of his self , both small and now painfully slow.
Mo, your 3rd TE is in fact a thought of value. If Coby Fleener can be had at #49 in round two, I say grab him. He has the skill level between Gronk and Hernandez. He can block a bit. He has the speed of a Colson and Jackson in 2012 (who would run 4.6 ish today) who we are all hoping for either to land here, and Fleener can work the field. He can split wide. Why do we need Colson or Jackson? I tell you who I would rather Draft Alshon Jefferey at #31 if at all possible and go with Reggie Wayne.
They say speed is the issue, yet 4.46 is slow for a 237 lb WR? Give me Jefferey over Blackmon. The Game****s really had no outstanding QB play either!
Look at this tape versus Barron and Kirkpatrick from the Tide!
The Tale of the Tape: Alshon Jeffery vs. Calvin Johnson | Bleacher Report
On Offense give me Fleener (great idea) and Jefferey in the Draft and pick up Wayne. I's say Lloyd too but not enough footballs and look what happened to Ocho because of that. Was he slow to pick the "O' up? Yes. Could he have helped or made more of it? Not if TB ignores him.
So you have Welker, Hernandez, Gronk, Fleener, Jefferey and Wayne to rotate. Think there is match-up problems?
Defense should be a focal point. I am always in favor or a reasonable FA even over Draft picks because they have done it. The percentages of success are higher than a pick. I do like some Draft choices this year. Get me Ingram and Vinny Curry as your two new front seven Defensive pieces rotating with Anderson and Carter and as far as FA pieces, Finnegan, because he is nasty and when Adrian Wilson needs to be CAP cut ($6.5M for Cards), grab him at Safety (rated second best cover Safety in the league). Wilson is tough and plays hurt too. He is 32 but a couple years left in his tank.
Are we too nice on the Defense? Spikes, Chung and Wilfork bring it but I can't think of someone else who has that "streak". We miss the Seymour, Rodney,Milloy, Bruschi, Willie M., Law "I will smash you" mentality.
Give me Wilson and Finnegan to add to Spikes, Chung and VW!.
My last choice won't cost too much. He is Mike Wrightish and yet an upgrade on Mike Wright and had 5.5 sacks for a mediocre Skins defense. He's only 28. An upgrade on Ellis and Warren and at 6'6" and 315 can play in or out. Adam Carriker. He was hurt after he was drafted in the first round by the Rams after a decent Rookie season. The Skins stole him for a draft day move a year back. Now he would be one of those BB patented FA value "steals".
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