Patriots reach an agreement with TE Daniel Fells

[ivanvamp]

Good move. The guy is a pretty good #2 TE and a spectacular #3 TE.

Very good run blocker. In 2011, here were his pass-catching stats:

33 targets, 21 receptions (63.6%), 313 yds, 14.9 ypc, 3 td

Compare those target/reception numbers to Gronk and Hernandez, keeping in mind who was throwing him the ball (these stats include postseason):

Fells: 31 tar, 21 rec, 63.6%, 14.9 ypc, 0.09 td/tar
Gronk: 147 tar, 107 rec, 72.8%, 14.8 ypc, 0.14 td/tar
Hernandez: 144 tar, 98 rec, 68.1%, 11.2 ypc, 0.06 td/tar

So given that he had the wildly inaccurate Tebow throwing to him, his reception rate is comparable to Gronk and Hernandez, and he has a better td per target rate than Gronk Hernandez (edit), and a better yards per reception number than either Gronk or Hernandez.

Long story short: not only is he a very good blocker, he's also a really nice receiver. What unbelievable TE depth. Holy smokes.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I do not like thee D Fells

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

I do not like thee D Fells

Are you speaking as an opposing D coordinator?

 

[NEGoldenAge]

Good move. The guy is a pretty good #2 TE and a spectacular #3 TE.

The offense is pretty much done other than depth filling. The rest of free agency and the draft will likely focus on defense.

If Light and Waters are not back next year, the offense is not done. There is also a strong possibliity of drafting a C early.

 

[JackBauer]

Good move. The guy is a pretty good #2 TE and a spectacular #3 TE.

The offense is pretty much done other than depth filling. The rest of free agency and the draft will likely focus on defense.

With one more WR added through the draft, I hope.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

Very good run blocker. In 2011, here were his pass-catching stats:

33 targets, 21 receptions (63.6%), 313 yds, 14.9 ypc, 3 td

Compare those target/reception numbers to Gronk and Hernandez, keeping in mind who was throwing him the ball (these stats include postseason):

Fells: 31 tar, 21 rec, 63.6%, 14.9 ypc, 0.09 td/tar
Gronk: 147 tar, 107 rec, 72.8%, 14.8 ypc, 0.14 td/tar
Hernandez: 144 tar, 98 rec, 68.1%, 11.2 ypc, 0.06 td/tar

So given that he had the wildly inaccurate Tebow throwing to him, his reception rate is comparable to Gronk and Hernandez, and he has a better td per target rate than Gronk, and a better yards per reception number than either Gronk or Hernandez.

Long story short: not only is he a very good blocker, he's also a really nice receiver. What unbelievable TE depth. Holy smokes.

Good stuff. I do think the TD/target stat vs. Gronk is more than a little misleading. Gronk caught 17 TDs. If his TD/target isn't amazing, that means he is kicking ass all over the rest of the field too.

Unleass I'm reading your post wrong, Gronks TD/target ratio is much higher than Fells. Maybe you meant Aaron...

 

[JackBauer]

If Light and Waters are not back next year, the offense is not done. There is also a strong possibliity of drafting a C early.

I wouldn't call it strong. I'd call it a possibility, given what they've got on the roster already.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

I wouldn't call it strong. I'd call it a possibility, given what they've got on the roster already.

Maybe you are right, I guess it depends on how the team views MacDonald. If they are not high on him but like one of the centers in the draft, I think they'll pounce on it. Conolly is a decent center and guard. He would make for excellent depth tho. Interior pressure is the most effective way to stop Brady.

That said, I do have a pipe dream that they'll sign Saturday.

 

[ivanvamp]

Good stuff. I do think the TD/target stat vs. Gronk is more than a little misleading. Gronk caught 17 TDs. If his TD/target isn't amazing, that means he is kicking ass all over the rest of the field too.

Unleass I'm reading your post wrong, Gronks TD/target ratio is much higher than Fells. Maybe you meant Aaron...

A 0.14 TD/target rate *is* amazing. Here are some of the best TD/target ratios in recent memory (among starter-type players, not a Mike "catch 2 passes a year, both for TD" Vrabel type):

2007 Randy Moss: 159 targets, 23 td, 0.14
2007 Greg Jennings: 85 targets, 12 td, 0.14
2010 Dwayne Bowe: 132 targets, 15 td, 0.11
2011 Calvin Johnson: 173 targets, 18 td, 0.10
2011 Jordy Nelson: 103 targets, 15 td, 0.15
2011 Rob Gronkowski: 147 targets, 20 td, 0.14

So Gronk's 2011 season was right up there among the best in recent memory in terms of a td/target rate.

But he also was dominating all over the field. With him, it's not an either/or. It's a both/and.

And yes, I meant Fells had a better td/target rate than Hernandez. My bad. Corrected the original post. Thanks!

 

[NEGoldenAge]

A 0.14 TD/target rate *is* amazing. Here are some of the best TD/target ratios in recent memory (among starter-type players, not a Mike "catch 2 passes a year, both for TD" Vrabel type):

2007 Randy Moss: 159 targets, 23 td, 0.14
2007 Greg Jennings: 85 targets, 12 td, 0.14
2010 Dwayne Bowe: 132 targets, 15 td, 0.11
2011 Calvin Johnson: 173 targets, 18 td, 0.10
2011 Jordy Nelson: 103 targets, 15 td, 0.15
2011 Rob Gronkowski: 147 targets, 20 td, 0.14

So Gronk's 2011 season was right up there among the best in recent memory in terms of a td/target rate.

But he also was dominating all over the field. With him, it's not an either/or. It's a both/and.

And yes, I meant Fells had a better td/target rate than Hernandez. My bad. Corrected the original post. Thanks!

Nice post. That is a pretty amazing stat. He's the only TE on that list.

 

[fester]

Very good run blocker. In 2011, here were his pass-catching stats:

33 targets, 21 receptions (63.6%), 313 yds, 14.9 ypc, 3 td

Compare those target/reception numbers to Gronk and Hernandez, keeping in mind who was throwing him the ball (these stats include postseason):

Fells: 31 tar, 21 rec, 63.6%, 14.9 ypc, 0.09 td/tar
Gronk: 147 tar, 107 rec, 72.8%, 14.8 ypc, 0.14 td/tar
Hernandez: 144 tar, 98 rec, 68.1%, 11.2 ypc, 0.06 td/tar

So given that he had the wildly inaccurate Tebow throwing to him, his reception rate is comparable to Gronk and Hernandez, and he has a better td per target rate than Gronk Hernandez (edit), and a better yards per reception number than either Gronk or Hernandez.

Long story short: not only is he a very good blocker, he's also a really nice receiver. What unbelievable TE depth. Holy smokes.

If everything, or even most of the moves work out, it really is not fair to try and cover the Patriots offense....

 

[PatsSox363804]

Another solid move. Hopefully Waters looks at this offensive potential and decides there is no way he's retiring. If Waters comes back the offense is pretty much set except for a backup C. Let's see a DE and OLB or S in round one and get ready to make another run.

 

[bagwell368]

Very good move IMO.

The 25-40 times he'll be targeted he'll be open most of the time.

This also allows AH to shed most or all of his TE duties. He could stay healthier, be able to run faster, and might get targeted another 30-50 times, and help fill the WR positions we will have open.

So maybe our TE crew got weaker, but our overall blocking and receiving got better. What's not to like?

 

[ivanvamp]

Very good move IMO.

The 25-40 times he'll be targeted he'll be open most of the time.

This also allows AH to shed most or all of his TE duties. He could stay healthier, be able to run faster, and might get targeted another 30-50 times, and help fill the WR positions we will have open.

So maybe our TE crew got weaker, but our overall blocking and receiving got better. What's not to like?

Aaron Hernandez as a pure wide receiver won't be nearly as effective in the passing game as he is as a tight end. If you have the stomach to re-watch some of the Super Bowl, watch Hernandez' TD catch. He absolutely smokes Chase Blackburn with a great move....but it's because he's so much quicker than a LB. I don't know that he gets that kind of separation against a corner.

 

[Rob0729]

If Light and Waters are not back next year, the offense is not done. There is also a strong possibliity of drafting a C early.

All signs point to Waters coming back. If he doesn't, the Pats still have Marcus Cannon. If Light retires, they still have two starting centers. Which means odds are good that they won't draft a tackle or guard early.

As for there being a strong possibility of the Pats drafting a center early, I think there is a strong possibility they won't. I don't think the Pats put that much stock in a center to spend a high pick on one. I still think they like Connolly and Koppen was a fifth rounder.

 

[BelichickFan]

Hernandez isn't moving to WR. Fells is the 3rd TE who will play some and be a good backup should disaster strike. Remember who we had to put in when Gronk got hurt last year - that would be no-one.

Has anyone watched Fells' blocking ? I know PFF is a mediocre (at best) source but they're saying he's a terrible blocker, I was wondering if anyone knows for sure this isn't true or is just assuming it based on his size.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

A miscalculation last season was that you can run a 2 TE offense with just 2 TE's on the roster. And while they tried to carry 3 the third they had to settle for was apparently not clearly worth a roter spot. This one should be, which will further squeeze some of the fringe of the roster spots elsewhere this season including at WR. Reiss says while the deal isn't signed or official the parameters have been agreed to and it's a 3 year $2-3M deal (he makes more than Gronknandez) with the top end being incentives. He will also represent insurance when they start negotiating with Gronknandez probably around Thanksgiving. Just in case neither take the early cheese.

I get the sense that Bill feels the D is sufficiently experienced/battle tested after last season that he can bring in more young talent less expensively via the draft. Offense is pretty well set beyond developmental talent (C, WR) with the possible exception of RB. And if Benny doesn't return I wouldn't be surprised to see a veteran RB added later in the process.

 

[patfanken]

Bostonherald.com: The 28-year-old UC Davis product may be to the Patriots what veteran Alge Crumpler was in 2009, a blocker and pass-catcher.

Thank goodness for that insight from the Herald.

typic.al example of Herald crap. Hernandez and Gronk will be entering there 3rd season, they are LONG past the need for a "mentor".

Hernandez isn't a "pancake blocker" but he isn't nearly as weak as it as the Herald is trying to make it out. And Gronk could be the best blocking TE in the league. WTF are they talking about.

Make no mistake, Daniel Fells is a JAG. A much need JAG, but a JAG nevertheless. He will play a role and lit will likely mean we don't have to draft a TE in the first 4 rounds. (so ends my Coby Fleener, outside the box, draft pick. ) This was just another very nice bottom half of the roster FA signing. Move along....nothing to s.ee here.

BTW-I don't don't want to seem about ready to go into panic mode, but there is that small problem of replacing those 20 sacks (half our total), on our not so good defense, We don't have and endless supply of money (not that this "small" detail seems to stop all the speculations), and the Pats have now signed SEVEN FA's I know none broke the bank, but there CAN'T be much left, unless we start to make "jet-like" restructures.

Seriously, just when it seemed like we were making progress in creating some consistent QB pressure on QB's at the end of the season, I don't understand why would would purposely take a BIG step back.

So far we've add a starter and depth to the Offense and merely 3 roll players and camp fodder to the defense. A defense that has now has ONLY Rob Ninkovitch as an outside pass threat. And don't talk to me about the draft. Rookies RARELY have great impacts in their first year.

 

[JackBauer]

Maybe you are right, I guess it depends on how the team views MacDonald. If they are not high on him but like one of the centers in the draft, I think they'll pounce on it. Conolly is a decent center and guard. He would make for excellent depth tho. Interior pressure is the most effective way to stop Brady.

That said, I do have a pipe dream that they'll sign Saturday.

From Bedard:

The Patriots feel very good about Nick McDonald - they think they stole one from the Packers - and Ryan Wendell, plus they’ll likely add one interior lineman in the draft.

There?s a catch with Welker, Patriots - Page 4 - Boston.com

I wouldn't be surprised if the Patriots take an OG/OC, but I'd be surprised if it happens early.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Hernandez isn't moving to WR. Fells is the 3rd TE who will play some and be a good backup should disaster strike. Remember who we had to put in when Gronk got hurt last year - that would be no-one.

Has anyone watched Fells' blocking ? I know PFF is a mediocre (at best) source but they're saying he's a terrible blocker, I was wondering if anyone knows for sure this isn't true or is just assuming it based on his size.

There are reports he is a better pass than run blocker. That works. If he were a supurb all around TE we couldn't afford him as our #3.