Have Gaffney and Caldwell been the best playoff duo this year?

[Fixit]

That is absolutely mind-blowing.

 

[wdkantro2]

Hey, coming into the league they were both supposed to be good. It just took awhile, lol.

 

[Kdo5]

Yup. Gaffney leads all in receptions, Caldwell second in receptions.

Caldwell is just a #3 reciever at best and who the heck is Gaffney. Dayum we have some bad recievers.

 

[Fixit]

Brady's just...gross. Seriously. No one else could do what he's done with a receiving corps of castoffs.

I suppose the organization itself is great motivation to bust your ass and realize your potential, too.

 

[Brownfan80]

Considering the WRs we're talking about, you'd have to say that regardless of what people will say about that WR duo, they've got to admit that Tom Brady has done the best job of any QB out there this season, particularly in the playoffs. And yes, I know he threw three picks at SD, but come on. Gaffney and Caldwell? Tell me any other QB would do as much with that duo.

 

[Kdo5]

Brady's just...gross. Seriously. No one else could do what he's done with a receiving corps of castoffs.

I suppose the organization itself is great motivation to bust your ass and realize your potential, too.

Yeah it is amazing. Nobody really doubted Brady's ability to work well with lesser known recievers but the media certainly felt our recievers would drag us to "#2 in the AFC East". And we are know 14-4, and going into the AFC Title game thanks partly to strong performances by Gaffney and Caldwell.

 

[wdkantro2]

Why do you guys think Brady is so good? He didn't even make the pro bowl!



[end sarcasm]

 

[Kdo5]

Considering the WRs we're talking about, you'd have to say that regardless of what people will say about that WR duo, they've got to admit that Tom Brady has done the best job of any QB out there this season, particularly in the playoffs. And yes, I know he threw three picks at SD, but come on. Gaffney and Caldwell? Tell me any other QB would do as much with that duo.

I'm intrigued at whether Peyton could do that with such recievers rather than Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Peyton is a great QB so there is a good chance he could still do decently with them but his stats would be a big drop, no doubt. Brady has done great with them.

 

[Brownfan80]

I'm intrigued at whether Peyton could do that with such recievers rather than Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Peyton is a great QB so there is a good chance he could still do decently with them but his stats would be a big drop, no doubt. Brady has done great with them.

When you watch the Colts it's really amazing how often his WRs/TEs/HBs are WIDE OPEN. I really do wonder how Peyton would do with a bunch of targets who didn't get instant seperation and maintain it through their routes.

When you watch the Pats WRs, their version of 'open' is normally a yard or two of seperation at the most. The Colts WRs routinely catch the ball without a defender within five yards.

This is more my memories of the games I saw last year than the few I saw this year, but it's still probably true at least to some degree.

I sometimes wish Tom had such open targets to hit.

But he does okay with the targets he's got to work with.

 

[zippo59]

I'm intrigued at whether Peyton could do that with such recievers rather than Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Peyton is a great QB so there is a good chance he could still do decently with them but his stats would be a big drop, no doubt. Brady has done great with them.

What's amazing is not only how well he has performed but also how he has handled it. For most star QB's if you took away his two best receivers and replaced them with cast offs he would throw a fit. Brady hasn't done this, at least not in the media.

 

[wdkantro2]

When you watch the Colts it's really amazing how often his WRs/TEs/HBs are WIDE OPEN. I really do wonder how Peyton would do with a bunch of targets who didn't get instant seperation and maintain it through their routes.

When you watch the Pats WRs, their version of 'open' is normally a yard or two of seperation at the most. The Colts WRs routinely catch the ball without a defender within five yards.

This is more my memories of the games I saw last year than the few I saw this year, but it's still probably true at least to some degree.

I sometimes wish Tom had such open targets to hit.

But he does okay with the targets he's got to work with.

I've noticed that as well, and to take it a step further, how many times does Manning hit a reciever when he is STOPPED. The Reggie Wayne comeback is pretty much the only route Wayne ever runs, and he is at a complete stop when he catches the ball, with no one near him. Not trying to take anything away from Manning, but I think hitting a "bust" reciever over the middle who is covered pretty well is a lot harder than hitting a stopped, wide open pro bowler.

 

[Brownfan80]

I've noticed that as well, and to take it a step further, how many times does Manning hit a reciever when he is STOPPED. The Reggie Wayne comeback is pretty much the only route Wayne ever runs, and he is at a complete stop when he catches the ball, with no one near him. Not trying to take anything away from Manning, but I think hitting a "bust" reciever over the middle who is covered pretty well is a lot harder than hitting a stopped, wide open pro bowler.

They do run alot of comeback routes and go routes to keep those DBs off the comebacks.

Also, their OC really seems to know how to attack each defense he sees, finding a spot to put one of those 'wide open standing there recievers' no matter where on the field it needs to be.

You see Manning hit Addai that way alot if the D is taking away the deep stuff. Addai will run into the short area of the middle of the field, stop, turn around and stand there. Make the 3-7 yard catch, and then turn it into a 10-15 yarder with YAC.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I think Gaffney and Caldwell have performed admirably and you guys should stop disrespecting them. I know they don't have pro bowl credentials but they have really stepped up. Of course Brady is a big factor in how well they are playing but they've still got to make the catches.

I think this offense will be even better next year when Brady develops even better timing with his wideouts in a full minicamp and Jackson becomes more involved in the offense. Although I'd still like to see one more WR added to the mix. We don't know when Troy is going to hang em up.

 

[Fixit]

I think Gaffney and Caldwell have performed admirably and you guys should stop disrespecting them. I know they don't have pro bowl credentials but they have really stepped up. Of course Brady is a big factor in how well they are playing but they've still got to make the catches.

I think this offense will be even better next year when Brady develops even better timing with his wideouts in a full minicamp and Jackson becomes more involved in the offense. Although I'd still like to see one more WR added to the mix. We don't know when Troy is going to hang em up.

I don't think anyone's disrespecting them, my friend. In fact, everyone seems to be very impressed by the two. Caldwell made me a big fan of his this year with his hard work.

 

[Brownfan80]

I don't think anyone's disrespecting them, my friend. In fact, everyone seems to be very impressed by the two. Caldwell made me a big fan of his this year with his hard work.

Correct, I'm very impressed with them. I think they're playing well. But I think we all know that it's Tom that's gotten them to that level. IE I don't think they'd be playing this way for any other team in the playoffs, if they were in the same situation as this team has faced with another team around them.

In fact, I'm not sure that hypothetical 'other team' would even MAKE the playoffs.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Then why does everyone call them castoffs and make them out to be inferior receivers?
Gaffney's playoff performances so far have been unprecedented for a Pats receiver. And Caldwell has been a big factor too.

I think they deserve props, not ridicule for their work so far.
Just because the media thinks our receivers are worthless doesn't mean we should buy into the hype.

 

[arrellbee]

Wouldn't you just LOVE to be a fly on the wall to hear how Dungy and Meeks are trying to figure out how to defend against the Patriots. If they put Sanders down in the box, they have the best WR tandem in the playoffs to handle with 3 DBs. If they drop Sanders, their leaky run defense has to deal with Dillon and Maroney staying fresh by trading off and running the ball down their throats. I'd say they have a severe case of indigestion right now.

 

[Brownfan80]

Then why does everyone call them castoffs and make them out to be inferior receivers?

Gaffney's playoff performances so far have been unprecedented for a Pats receiver. And Caldwell has been a big factor too.

I think they deserve props, not ridicule for their work so far.

I'm not sure that anyone is making them out to be inferior... but they're getting called castoffs...
Because they WERE castoffs. They were sent packing by their old teams. It's not disrespect, it's what HAPPENED.

Gaffney especially, he was picked up at mid-season. All 31 other teams had plenty of shots at him, and passed. Week after week after week.

That's not a knock on them, it's simply their situation.

The only perceived knock would be the statement that Tom Brady is what is making them so good... But that's not a knock either. Chad Jackson isn't doing well and Tom is his QB too.

Gabriel didn't last here, and Tom was his QB.

These two guys are obviously meshing into the unit. They're performing at a very high level. But it's also undeniable that Tom is the one that has gotten them to that level.

Gaffney has been in the offense just over half the season.

Caldwell is in his first year in the system.

Caldwell has already posted his best year as a pro in his first season here. After having Drew Brees throwing him balls.

Givens, Patten, and Branch all aren't what they were under Tom yet under other QBs, yet Caldwell is already the best WR he's ever been after one year under Tom.

Tom has the magic. He has that Jordanesque thing where he makes the guys around him into better players.

 

[wdkantro2]

Brownfan80- Just pointing out something about Caldwell. He was hurt basically all of last year and was #4 on their depth chart. The year before, he started well but got hurt. The year before that, Drew Brees sucked! He is great now, but doesn't everyone remember how god awful he was before 2004? Hell, Doug Flutie played instead of him a lot between 2001 and 2003.
Not that Caldwell never had a chance in SD, but during the rare times that he was healthy, he didn't get much help from anyone around him.

 

[notex]

a few plays have stuck out to me about caldwell...one in paticular was obviously that 49 yarder... he absolutely smoked the DB and made a good catch