Dallas Clark Sighting

[Frezo]

Clark visited Foxboro last Tuesday.
Twitter

 

[TyronePoole]

Would be great if only to piss of Colts fans, he'd be a nice complement to Gronk and Hernandez too

 

[Jackson 2]

Would be great if only to piss of Colts fans, he'd be a nice complement to Gronk and Hernandez too

At this point, I'd rather have Fells.

 

[Sciz]

My guess is that it was a favor for his agent, who Belichick is apparently close with. Remember, the 49ers brought Brandon Lloyd in for a visit with absolutely no intention of signing him because they owed Condon a favor after screwing around with Alex Smith.

And if Hernandez gets hurt, then Clark would make sense as a long-term backup.

 

[mayoclinic]

At this point, I'd rather have Fells.

Totally different players.

Personally, I'd love to add Clark. He lines up in the slot a lot and could be a useful weapon. I'd be much more excited about Clark than I was about Joseph Addai.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Totally different players.

Personally, I'd love to add Clark. He lines up in the slot a lot and could be a useful weapon. I'd be much more excited about Clark than I was about Joseph Addai.

The key to any successful organization is to anticipate not react to things.

 

[patchick]

Totally different players.

Yep, and if he has anything left Clark could be a stopgap to plug into a Hernandez gameplan.

 

[mayoclinic]

The key to any successful organization is to anticipate not react to things.

Part of my signature. The other part also applies: overloading at a position is a way to create dominance. Try a 4 TE set with Gronk/Fells as in line TEs and Hernandez/Clark as "flex ends". Either one could move into the slot or line up out wide. Hernandez could move into the backfield. Very difficult combination to match up against.

 

[mayoclinic]

Yep, and if he has anything left Clark could be a stopgap to plug into a Hernandez gameplan.

He could also be another slot option. :bricks:

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Part of my signature. The other part also applies: overloading at a position is a way to create dominance. Try a 4 TE set with Gronk/Fells as in line TEs and Hernandez/Clark as "flex ends". Either one could move into the slot or line up out wide. Hernandez could move into the backfield. Very difficult combination to match up against.

Exactly

Considering the fact that a 2-3 score SB XLVI victory was naught due to a Gronk injury; it's fair to ask why wouldn't the Patriots bring Clark in for a pow wow.

"Great minds produce solutions......greater minds produce options"-patsfaninpittsburgh

 

[Jackson 2]

Totally different players.

Personally, I'd love to add Clark. He lines up in the slot a lot and could be a useful weapon. I'd be much more excited about Clark than I was about Joseph Addai.

I recognize they're totally different players and that's part of the reason why I'd rather have Fells. We have potential receivers, old and new, who can do what Clark does, not so much what Fells can do.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Clark visited Foxboro last Tuesday.
Twitter

Any word on whether Eric Alexander was still chasing him?

 

[patchick]

I recognize they're totally different players and that's part of the reason why I'd rather have Fells. We have potential receivers, old and new, who can do what Clark does, not so much what Fells can do.

I'm guessing that Mayo's point is it's not an "or" situation. Fells & Clark might both have TE next to their names, but if Clark stuck he would more likely bump the last WR or even RB off the 53 rather than Fells.

 

[patsderoer]

I recognize they're totally different players and that's part of the reason why I'd rather have Fells. We have potential receivers, old and new, who can do what Clark does, not so much what Fells can do.

If Clark still has it, he can do everything Fells can do, and then some.

 

[mayoclinic]

If Clark still has it, he can do everything Fells can do, and then some.

Umm, what about blocking?

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Totally different players.

Personally, I'd love to add Clark. He lines up in the slot a lot and could be a useful weapon. I'd be much more excited about Clark than I was about Joseph Addai.

They are different players, but never the less, they might be fighting for the same roster spot. The question would be whether you want insurance for Hernandez or a guy who can be used solely as a blocker. Because of the amazing depth at WR, I'd guess that Fells is more valuable right now... Hernandez is essentially a receiver who typically lines up on the inside, and you might be able to replace his production with a WR rather than another hybrid player like Clark.

Unfortunately, there is no replacement for Gronk, and I'm not talking about finding a once-in-a-generation talent. I'm talking about finding a guy who is strong at both blocking and pass catching. Plan B is, I think, the spread offense.

 

[mayoclinic]

Exactly

Considering the fact that a 2-3 score SB XLVI victory was naught due to a Gronk injury; it's fair to ask why wouldn't the Patriots bring Clark in for a pow wow.

"Great minds produce solutions......greater minds produce options"-patsfaninpittsburgh

Clark would be a relatively low cost low risk signing who could give the Pats a lot of versatility going into training camp. If he's truly done, then they haven't lost much. If he is able to still play, especially in a rotational role, then he would give them a lot of depth, flexibility and options.

As you say, a Gronk ankle injury may have cost us a Super Bowl. Aaron Hernandez has yet to play an injury free season. Clark would even be an excellent slot option if Welker got hurt. And he could be used situationally in combination with those guys to create mismatches.

The Pats' approach this off-season seems to have been to load up on depth and let the numbers and roles sort themselves out in training camp. In that spirit, signing Clark would make a lot of sense.

 

[TyronePoole]

if our offense is going to center around the two TEs it makes sense to have one that can step in and run some routes if need be

 

[patsderoer]

Umm, what about blocking?

What about blocking?

But, I Thought Dallas Clark Couldn't Block - Stampede Blue

According to Pro Football Focus, from 2008-2010, Clark was the fourth best pass blocking tight end in the NFL. In 224 pass plays that Clark blocked on, he allowed only 11 pressures. That, my friends, is impressive

Um, Fells was rated in the bottom 7 TE in pass blocking efficiency in 2010.

 

[patchick]

According to Pro Football Focus, from 2008-2010, Clark was the fourth best pass blocking tight end in the NFL. In 224 pass plays that Clark blocked on, he allowed only 11 pressures. That, my friends, is impressive

Um, Fells was rated in the bottom 7 TE in pass blocking efficiency in 2010.

Do you suppose it might be a factor that Peyton Manning was passing for Clark's team and a rookie for Fells'?