Patriots Sign Visanthe Shiancoe To One-Year Contract

[PatsFans.com Article]

Patriots Sign Visanthe Shiancoe To One-Year Contract
By: Derek Havens

The New England Patriots have added yet another tight end to their offense, signing veteran Visanthe Shiancoe to a one-year contract Tuesday afternoon. ...

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[Ivan]

I'm surprised, I thought he would go to Philly given their impending dynasty and the depth at TE in NE. I'm starting to wonder if the Patriots are going to carry 4 TE's on their roster. Given the number of TE's and FB's on the roster i think Time of Possession is going to be a much greater goal than it has been in recent years.

 

[Jimke]

I'm surprised, I thought he would go to Philly given their impending dynasty and the depth at TE in NE. I'm starting to wonder if the Patriots are going to carry 4 TE's on their roster. Given the number of TE's and FB's on the roster i think Time of Possession is going to be a much greater goal than it has been in recent years.

With an offense that now has as many weapons as New Orleans, why
go to a grind it out game?

 

[brdmaverick]

I'm surprised, I thought he would go to Philly given their impending dynasty and the depth at TE in NE. I'm starting to wonder if the Patriots are going to carry 4 TE's on their roster. Given the number of TE's and FB's on the roster i think Time of Possession is going to be a much greater goal than it has been in recent years.

Just out of curiosity, how many fullbacks do you think we'll carry?

Even if it's two, that would likely mean at least 5 RBs (if you include Ridley, Vereen, Woodhead).

If we keep 6 WRs as many have speculated, that would mean that 15 offensive positions are allocated to just RB/WR/TE.

I'm hoping that Shiancoe works out, but at the expense of Fells. I just don't see the Pats keeping four tight ends. Nor do I see them keeping more than 1 FB...but hey,I've been wrong plenty of times before.

 

[brdmaverick]

With an offense that now has as many weapons as New Orleans, why
go to a grind it out game?

I actually find that to be the beauty of the offense, it's flexible and can play both 'run and gun' and 'grind it out' offense.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Fells has to fight for his job

No way are they going with 4 TEs

 

[Ivan]

With an offense that now has as many weapons as New Orleans, why
go to a grind it out game?

I'm not saying they are going to grind it out, especially with the weapons they have. Belichick isn't going to pass on putting up 30 a game but I do think he wants to improve their ability to play a ball control game when necessary. Maybe it's smokescreen but he has certainly loaded up at TE and FB this offseason, and that implies more of a power offense than they have been using recently.

 

[patchick]

Surprising news, but very good indeed. This offense needs a bona fide NFL TE in the #3 role. If you NEED 3, then start camp with 4 -- especially given that 1 of the 4 is currently on PUP.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

I don't think we want to use Solder as much at tight end except perhaps in goal line, so we definitely need 3 TEs all of the time in a 2 TE offense, and a 4th on PUP or practice squad in case of late season injury.

So I am guessing Gronk, Aaron, Visanthe

PUP: Fells, Ballard (IR most likely at some point)

Practice Squad: Tyler Urban, if he earns it

I suppose a fullback and a blocking TE are somewhat redundant, so we will have to see if this hurts the chances of a pure fullback sticking on the 53.

 

[jmt57]

I don't think we want to use Solder as much at tight end except perhaps in goal line, so we definitely need 3 TEs all of the time in a 2 TE offense, and a 4th on PUP or practice squad in case of late season injury.

So I am guessing Gronk, Aaron, Visanthe

PUP: Fells, Ballard (IR most likely at some point)

Practice Squad: Tyler Urban, if he earns it

I suppose a fullback and a blocking TE are somewhat redundant, so we will have to see if this hurts the chances of a pure fullback sticking on the 53.

I know Solder played a fair amount of TE last year, but I hadn't even considered him playing any TE at all this year. I figured with Light retiring and adding Fells (or Shiancoe if he can't go) as a 3rd TE those days were over.

Cannon at LT (or Cannon at RT and Vollmer at LT) with Solder at TE? I suppose it's possible, but it seems like there may be preferable alternatives.

 

[Ivan]

Just out of curiosity, how many fullbacks do you think we'll carry?

Even if it's two, that would likely mean at least 5 RBs (if you include Ridley, Vereen, Woodhead).

If we keep 6 WRs as many have speculated, that would mean that 15 offensive positions are allocated to just RB/WR/TE.

I'm hoping that Shiancoe works out, but at the expense of Fells. I just don't see the Pats keeping four tight ends. Nor do I see them keeping more than 1 FB...but hey,I've been wrong plenty of times before.

1 at most, and it will likely come down to a decision between a 4th TE or 1 FB. Larsen seems most likely to me because of flexibility and familiarity with McDaniels.