Our outlook at Wide receiver

[Banjo]

I would also love to draft another WR in the first or second. No matter how much we like Lloyd and Welker, you can't change the fact they're in their 30's. We need some new young blood.

 

[pa5471]

Draft Tommy Streeter in the 3rd. He's 6-5 and runs a 4.3. That is the type of receiver we need.

 

[Don Kipines]

The one thing the WR group really needs is speed.

Slater is the only guy in the group with home run speed, and by now we know, he's not going to be a contributor on offense. Right now they have four impressive pass-catchers in WW, Lloyd, Gronk and Hernandez, but none of them are speed mismatches. Even though Lloyd runs great deep routes, he doesn't scare DBs speedwise.

I don't think they need to spend a #1 on a guy like Hill. A first-rounder is a guy who you want to play more than 50% of your snaps, and I don't see that happening with Welker, Lloyd, and the TEs in the fold. But they could add to their offense significantly by bringing in a burner in the later rounds, maybe someone like Jarius Wright in the late 2nd or 3rd, or A.j. Jenkins, or Chris Givens.

Maybe it won't be a 4.30 guy like Hill, but 4.35 would still be something on this team -- especially if he can add to the return game. A Jacoby Ford type, in other words, someone to keep the safety back a few yards. We've been really missing that on offense.

 

[RIpats88]

lloyd might not have 4.30 speed, but theres some stat that he has had the 2nd most or something like that catches over 20yards the last 2 years..

so, he definitely provides a deep threat to the team

 

[Don Kipines]

lloyd might not have 4.30 speed, but theres some stat that he has had the 2nd most or something like that catches over 20yards the last 2 years..

so, he definitely provides a deep threat to the team

Sure, of course. But if you have a five-wide set and your fifth guy is Edelman, you can keep an extra defender inside the hashes to shadow Gronk/Welker etc., and leave a corner to deal with Edelman one on one. But if the guy out there is Jarius Wright or Tommy Streeter, you have to be a little more conservative.

 

[chicowalker]

Obviously it depends on what else happens in FA and who's available, but I'd much rather see our earlier picks focused on the defense and not be picking a WR until at least round 3-4. Our receiving corps isn't perfect, but Lloyd should add a lot. Let's strengthen the defense.

Even on offense, I'd probably prefer adding another promising young lineman as the first focal area in the draft.

 

[Ring 6]

Sure, of course. But if you have a five-wide set and your fifth guy is Edelman, you can keep an extra defender inside the hashes to shadow Gronk/Welker etc., and leave a corner to deal with Edelman one on one. But if the guy out there is Jarius Wright or Tommy Streeter, you have to be a little more conservative.

Are we really strategizing about the impact of the 5th best receiver in a 5 receiver set?

 

[ivanvamp]

We have 4 guys competing for 3 spots:

Edelman - I could see him not making the team. Sure he has versatility but we already have a jack of all trades in Slater and he's underwhelming as a WR.

Gonzalez - could be our new #3 could be cut in camp. Anybody here his contract numbers yet.

Ocho - could be our new #3 could be cut in camp. I like his personality and am pulling for the guy but not holding my breath.

Underwood - Competing w/ above for a roster spot

Branch - I don't think we bring him to camp. Either he signs elsewhere or stays a phone call away. He knows the offense and has a good connection with Brady already. Also gives us time to evaluate the above guys.

I don't see Underwood making the team. I think Ocho could still be gone. I see no reason (other than $$) to let Branch go. He's still very useful, has good rapport with Brady, and is a really good #3 WR in this offense. I would like to see them draft a young WR (not with a high pick, though...save that for defense) and then have that guy plus either Edelman or Gonzalez fill out the roster. So I see: Welker, Lloyd, Branch, Slater (ST as well), Edelman/Gonzalez, and the unnamed rookie. Goodbye Ocho, Underwood, and the loser of the Edelman/Gonzalez sweepstakes.

But who knows...

 

[Ron Sellers]

I don't like what I see when it comes to the return game.

I don't see the role of the kickoff returner as being as important as it used to be due to last year's rule changes regarding kickoffs. The Patriots did indeed rank very low in kick return average (29th at 21.43 yards). I thought much of that lower average was due to many kicks that were run out that the return man should have just taken a knee for a touchback; the Pats were in the top ten in number of kickoffs returned.

Even though they ranked so low, there was only a difference of 5.8 yards per return between them and the number one average return team, the 49ers. In addition the Pats average starting field position was 9th best in the league, at the 28.94 yard line.

I know Belichick has traditionally looked at kick return capabilities when drafting a receiver, but with the new rules I just it being as important as it used to be. As far as punt returns go the Pats were middle of the pack (16th at 10.34 yards).

 

[Don Kipines]

Are we really strategizing about the impact of the 5th best receiver in a 5 receiver set?

Why not? It's an easy fix to help boost the point total a little. The Pats really have three wide receivers with guaranteed spots on the roster -- Lloyd, Welker, and Slater. They have room on the roster for one or two developmental types, and they have plenty of draft picks. The team last year had no dynamic return threat and they were running out Edelman and Underwood outside the hashes in hurry-up situations in key games. You don't think they would have scored three or four more touchdowns last year if they'd had a legit deep threat to run out there instead of Julian Edelman?

The bottom of your WR group is the perfect place to stash a big, fast, raw kid who can make a couple of plays a year on special teams and on offense, and can also play on cover teams. Even a Bethel Johnson type would help this team a lot. And this draft is full of fast outside wideouts. That just seems like a better fit for your fifth receiver than slow guys like Edelman and Branch. Branch especially has no value if he's not catching a lot of balls on offense -- much better to give that spot to a young kid who can threaten outside and play on teams.

 

[SONS_OF_BELICHICK]

I do like the kid from Oregon as a late round/free agent ... Lavasier Tuinei. Tall and seem to get open and has good hands.....:rocker:

 

[JackBauer]

I also think Brandon Spikes is going to leave as soon as he can

1.) Based on what?

2.) Seems to me that drafting another ILB high to replace your young, stud LB that you just drafted in the 2nd round would be an eminently inefficient and imprudent use of resources.

 

[DW Toys]

Draft Tommy Streeter in the 3rd. He's 6-5 and runs a 4.3. That is the type of receiver we need.

Problem. Not a Mensa candidate. Ocho is smarter and could not get this stuff.
DW Toys

 

[Seneschal2]

I don't think they need to spend a #1 on a guy like Hill. A first-rounder is a guy who you want to play more than 50% of your snaps, and I don't see that happening with Welker, Lloyd, and the TEs in the fold.

Moss was one of the weekly snap leaders. When he wasn't the target, he was a decoy stretching the field. The rest of his snaps were spent half-heartedly blocking. It was important to have his stretch-the-field presence for every offensive series -- that's what keeps the D guessing.

Hill would immediately stretch the field w/ his 4.3 speed. He's the draft's best blocking receiver who would apply his blocking passion for the running and short passing game. His height and hops would help form a deadly trio of difficult-to-defend receivers in the RZ/EZ area.

If snaps is what you want from your first-rounder -- Hill ain't coming off the field.

Oh, I hear he doesn't run the route tree. Well, neither did Moss.

Oh, he has less than 50 career catches. Yes, we've all heard about his constraining offense and QB play.

FWIW, Ben Watson was a smart kid, good character, exhibited terrific workout numbers, yet only had 75 career receptions at Georgia. Didn't stop BB from selecting him at #32. He was suppose to create a size/speed mismatch vs the league's LBs and Safeties. At least that was the gameplan. I guess if Watson didn't pan out in the passing game, BB would have himself a second TE to pair with Graham. A gamble worth taking in round one? BB did. JMHO.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Problem. Not a Mensa candidate. Ocho is smarter and could not get this stuff.
DW Toys

Football smart, and in real time?

Gronk is not thought to be the sharpest tool in the shed but word is that he's a football savant.

Though I'm not a member of the organization I actually qualify to be a Mensa but if you start asking me detailed and rapid questions about what's happening in a play I'll be useless. I love how as soon as a play is over Gruden can explain all the different aspects about what's going on and how they're connected to one another.

Football intelligence is a different kind of intelligence.

 

[Avenger]

People seem to forget that Tiquan Underwood's 40 time was a 4.3, I'd rather keep him around than wasting a pick on a fast WR who doesn't offer anything more than Underwood does. We could also target a CB such as Brandon Boykin from Georgia that also has return experience. He could be had at the end of the second round.

 

[Sicilian]

Oh, he has less than 50 career catches. Yes, we've all heard about his constraining offense and QB play.

When I hear less than 50 career catches, I don't care about the outside factors. I'm sure that there was a very good reason that he didn't have more catches, but that doesn't change the fact that there is very little data on which to evaluate him in prospective NFL game conditions. If the Pats are spending a first round pick on a WR (rather than on a defensive player), there better be more than that to go on is all I'm saying.

 

[ATippett56]

Talk increases in New England that Ochocinco is on the way out | ProFootballTalk

 

[supafly]

With the current WR's:

Welker

Llyod

Edelman

Ochocinco

Underwood

Gonzalez

and the possibility of Branch (would make 7), I'm not as convinced that the NEP will take a developmental WR in the draft this yr; at least not with a high pick anyway like most of us have been assuming.

The possible cut of Ocho, the possible resigning of Branch, and the possible improvement over Underwood are the key variables that will go into determining that situation.

Otherwise, the most they'll likely keep is 6, and the high draft pick may be wasted. I guess it all comes down to the factors mentioned above, and whether or not they consider themselves as having enough positions addressed already to choose a draft pick that high.

Regardless, it may not be as cut and dry as most of us assumed that it was.