Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzales.

[TruthSeeker]

and Edelman, that's 6 receivers, not counting possible draft choices too. Who do you think get's the axe ? I'm thinking Stallworth, even though he's still fast and knows the system get's the axe along with Gonzales. Unless they move Edelman to DB fulltime. What do you ladies and gents think ?

 

[TyronePoole]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

you forgot ochocinco

I think edelman gets cut

one of ocho, stallworth, gonzales makes the team

they draft a WR if one they value falls really far in which case they might cut branch too

basically i think edelman is gone and branch, ocho, stallworth, gonzales are battling it out

 

[conway]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

I like Ocho and maybe even Underwood over Gonzalez. And I dont think Branch is a sure thing. But I see Hernandez as a receiver, and envision the Pats only keeping Hernandez, Lloyd, Welker, and two or three others, with Edelman being the most likely to be kept.

 

[Mystery Pats Fan]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

and Edelman, that's 6 receivers, not counting possible draft choices too. Who do you think get's the axe ? I'm thinking Stallworth, even though he's still fast and knows the system get's the axe along with Gonzales. Unless they move Edelman to DB fulltime. What do you ladies and gents think ?

I think that both Stallworth and Gonzalez stay with Edelman more or less a special teamer and fill in at slot receiver.

Stallworth and Lloyd can stretch the field, and that was missing last season. Keeping both as field stretchers, and more, should aid in opening up some inside mid range routes, or mid range out patterns... for Gronk Hernandez and Welker.

With a couple of long range threats, opposing safeties will have to be very careful about giving assistance to the linebackers or nickle and dime corners, and that should aid the deep passing game.

 

[Sciz]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

No way. Counting all the guys listed at TE plus Solder when he was eligible, the Pats had an average of 1.9 TEs on the field per play last season. That was with Hernandez missing time, Solder not being able to play TE at times since he was replacing Vollmer (and sometimes Light), and no #3 TE except for a few games and 4.1% of the snaps from D-Gronk. With a true #3 TE this year (Fells), expect that number to be closer to 2 or maybe even a little above 2 if everyone stays healthy.

At RB, the Pats averaged about .9 RBs per play, so there were just over 10% of the plays where the Pats had no RB on the field. And with two pretty decent FBs added to the roster, there will likely be more snaps from RBs too, since we'll probably see more snaps with 2 RBs on the field.

So if we assume the snaps remain the same, then we're looking at an average of 2.2 WRs per play. If you want to think that the addition of a #3 TE and two FBs means they'll get more snaps, then we're probably looking at closer to 2 WRs per play. And you don't need 6 WRs to fill 2 or even 2.2 spots per play. You really only need something like 4 and a half. That's why we're going to see Welker and Lloyd as the top 2, Edelman as the "half" and Slater as the #6 that's not really a WR, and some combination of everybody else for the other two. As of right now, I'll guess Ochocinco and either Branch or a draft pick.

1. Welker
2. Lloyd
3. Ochocinco
4. Branch/draft pick
5. Edelman
"6." Slater

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

and Edelman, that's 6 receivers, not counting possible draft choices too. Who do you think get's the axe ? I'm thinking Stallworth, even though he's still fast and knows the system get's the axe along with Gonzales. Unless they move Edelman to DB fulltime. What do you ladies and gents think ?

Ok.. A few things..
Chad Johnson is NOT going to be cut. He just re-did his contract so he could stay and Belichick has NEVER cut a veteran in the same year that the player re-did his contract. And, no, Haynesworth doesn't count because the contract change was to facilitate the trade.

BRANCH is no gimmee by any stretch of the imagination. He all but disappeared at the end of the season and the play-offs.

Edelman isn't going anywhere. He was the Pats best return man last year. Both on kick returns and punt returns. And I wouldn't be surprised if he was moved to DB full-time.

Gonzalez, Branch, Stallworth, and Underwood are fighting for 2 spot . None of them play on special teams except maybe Underwood, but he clearly didn't wow last year since the Pats never used him there. Oh, and it might only be ONE spot considering that Slater is a WR/ST and he was just re-signed to a 3 year deal.

 

[Froob]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

Ok.. A few things..
Chad Johnson is NOT going to be cut. He just re-did his contract so he could stay and Belichick has NEVER cut a veteran in the same year that the player re-did his contract. And, no, Haynesworth doesn't count because the contract change was to facilitate the trade.

BRANCH is no gimmee by any stretch of the imagination. He all but disappeared at the end of the season and the play-offs.

Edelman isn't going anywhere. He was the Pats best return man last year. Both on kick returns and punt returns. And I wouldn't be surprised if he was moved to DB full-time.

Gonzalez, Branch, Stallworth, and Underwood are fighting for 2 spot . None of them play on special teams except maybe Underwood, but he clearly didn't wow last year since the Pats never used him there. Oh, and it might only be ONE spot considering that Slater is a WR/ST and he was just re-signed to a 3 year deal.

Never say never, I'm a big fan of ocho but there's a good chance he gets cut. MUCH better chance Branch makes it than ocho. You say Branch disappeared at the end of the year? Ocho was nowhere to be found the ENTIRE season. And I'd be shocked if underwood made it over Branch.....and Gonzo probably goes on IR during preseason.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

I wouldn't rule out Wes Welker being traded.

If not, then one of them will get cut.

 

[lurker1965]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

Branch "retires" but is told to stay in shape because they'll call him if their are injuries.

Welker might get traded. Not a great chance of that, but a chance of that exists.

A late round draft pick makes it either as a kick returner or uses his practice squad eligibility.

Edelman makes it because he also returns punts. His being "Welker-lite" adds to Welker's possible trading.

 

[RayClay]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

I only count five receivers there. Is one of them invisible?

 

[Ring 6]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

Here is my way too early prediction.
First, they only keep 5, but this doesn't count special teamers who aren't really ever going to play WR like Slater or Edelman. Hernandez really might as well be considered part of the group, another reason only 5 are needed.
Welker is once again the focal point
Lloyd gets the 2nd most reps
Branch is #3
Gonzales is my surprise pick. I think he actually stays healthy, makes the team and ends up contributing, ultimately passing Branch on the depth chart
5th is a rookie

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

Stallworth gets cut and maybe one more but I am 80% positive Stallworth goes out like Holt,Galloway Ect:

That washed up POS Ocho will unfortunately be wearing a Pats uni again

 

[supafly]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

Stallworth gets cut and maybe one more but I am 80% positive Stallworth goes out like Holt,Galloway Ect:

That washed up POS Ocho will unfortunately be wearing a Pats uni again

We'll be talking about this until the end of August, and many will have differing opinions; but the one great thing about the situation is that competition and depth should be increased, which should be the achieved goal.

 

[TealSox]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

Too early to tell, but I imagine that (if still within the rules) Anthony Gonzalez will be put on IR and be recalled mid-way through the season. This could apply to Branch or Stallworth too....

Stashing them away till they have some good tape of the rest of the corp.

Welker and Lloyd will be locked in... I don't see Edelman going anywhere. While I don't see Ochocinco doing anything for this team, so why not cut the loss - despite the track regard.

I hope that Stallworth and Gonzalez can bring something new to this team and open up this offense even further, but I'm thinking it is a pipe dream.

 

[Arrington Planet]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

I'm not too worried about this, we sure can make our bets, but in the end, I'm sure whoever makes the roster will be able to contribute, and we'll have a much better WR core than last season. And whoever makes the roster will have my support, even if he's Chad Ochocinco .

Too early to tell, but I imagine that (if still within the rules) Anthony Gonzalez will be put on IR and be recalled mid-way through the season. This could apply to Branch or Stallworth too....

You mean the PUP?

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

As of right now, there is one more tight end, one less running back and a question about the numbers on the O-line. If the RB/TE situation stays the same, an extra WR can be kept without too much trauma, as it would involve only one player from one other grouping.

 

[Mystery Pats Fan]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

I wouldn't rule out Wes Welker being traded.

If not, then one of them will get cut.

I have that same feeling about Welker.

Also, we are not giving Underwood much of a chance, but I like him.

He has the great speed and the ability to run deep posts and get behind the safety. Big question, of course, can he hold onto the football.

He just might stick.

 

[supafly]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

You mean the PUP?

There is a widespread belief that the actual IR rules may change this year, allowing a player originally placed on IR to return later in the season.

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

I think one thing that muddies the waters is Slater. I know we dont count him much as a WR but how many STs only roles are there and we pretty much know he will be on the 53.

Welker & Lloyd are locks (While anything is possible I am not entertaining the trade talk)

I think Branch is almost a lock unless he completely drops off or multiple guys go off.

From there take your pick keep in mind KR and PR need to be filled sure it could come from another position but IMO Edelman leads the group of remaining for his PR skills but you still need a KR.

A rookie could really make this interesting.

to answer the question counting slater I think its a lock they carry 6 and possibly 7 though that would be tough.

 

[Arrington Planet]

Re: Do the Pats have room for 6 receivers ? Welker, Branch, LLoyd, Stallworth, Gonzal

There is a widespread belief that the actual IR rules may change this year, allowing a player originally placed on IR to return later in the season.

I didn't know that, thanks. But I don't think it would be legal placing someone on IR with a "fake" injury to have him just as a contingency plan... (If I understood well that's what TealSox suggested, if not, props to me and my null reading comprehension.)