Branch, Gaffney or Stallworth???

[supafly]

Stallworth is a washed up WR that was not getting Seperation.

Gaffney has an injury,at least that is what I read.

So it's either Branch or no one added on the roster and they just use Edelman more.

Sadly, either they have to get a lot more creative with Edelman, or just use him on certain plays that may help to better utilize his talents--or maybe they are more likely one in the same.

I like him as a scrappy 'bottom of the roster' player, but I don't think that he can help the offense much in his current role as his knowledge of routes seems limited...or maybe it's just the fact that he is yet another short to slightly intermediate route runner.

I do think that he will make some pleasant contributions to the team this year, but I'm not sure if he's what they need as a WR3 right now. I would rather see him as a guy who has some specific plays designed for him a few times in a game.

Then again, maybe he finally steps up to the plate and proves himself in the current role/offense, but I certainly have my doubts.

As for Welker, signs are strongly pointing to a gradual return from injury, possibly the rumored concussion in the TB week.

 

[Sciz]

It doesn't get much more wrong than this, as today demonstrated quite convincingly.

They couldn't even go from 2 WRs to 3 WRs effectively. How were they supposed to go to 4 WRs?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Gaffney...if not...then Branch

Mo made a very good observation in regards to the offensive set...it seems McD wanted to implement a TE heavy offense...with the Ahern injury, he better be looking at the three wide packages like they showed last season because what the Pats are going to get from a Fells or Shiancoe sure doesn't pose the threat that a Gaffney/lLoyd/Welker set would.

Gaffney didn't look all that comfortable even before he got injured. Branch was fine throughout camp. They limited his touches for no reason other than to rig the competition. When he did get time late in camp he showed that. Branch is extremely valuable at this juncture because of his utility in the no huddle. The question would be will they use him? They had Lloyd running his routes today, apparently because they couldn't protect well enough to have him running deeper routes but also because he and Brady are not in synch. Someone would have to sit to feature Deion in 3WR sets, and they may still be too stubborn to sit Edleman. No way they are going to sit Lloyd even though he's not providing them with much early bang for their buck.

 

[Deus Irae]

They couldn't even go from 2 WRs to 3 WRs effectively. How were they supposed to go to 4 WRs?

That's a different issue. There's a dysfunction in that organization right now, and I don't know why. That doesn't change the need for a 4th active WR, though, especially for a team that goes 4 and 5 out in patterns and uses one or more of the receivers on special teams.

 

[Linda_The_Pats_Fan (She was NEM)]

It would not be unexpected if the Pats call Branch and he tells them to shove it.

 

[supafly]

It would not be unexpected if the Pats call Branch and he tells them to shove it.

Actually, that would be extremely and completely 'unexpected.'

Especially since he just said yesterday that he'd gladly love to come back.

There's always the whole "out of a job" thing too.

The problem is that I'm not totally convinced that the addition of Branch would even do that much right now, especially next week at Baltimore.

 

[ATippett56]

The problem is that I'm not totally convinced that the addition of Branch would even do that much right now, especially next week at Baltimore.

As opposed to placing Salas on the inactive list once again?

 

[supafly]

As opposed to placing Salas on the inactive list once again?

Well, I would hope that it wouldn't come down to only those 2 options, but I suppose that's what we're looking at right now.

I don't think we're seeing the 'stretch the field' option anymore than last year, and quite possibly, maybe not even 'as good' as last year right now.

While I certainly hope that they do add Branch, who knows if Belichick agrees, and if he does, that will likely just replace Edelman/Branch, which may not be enough in itself.

I usually don't get this pessimistic, maybe it's just an off day of frustration, or maybe I'm just not liking what I'm seeing so far and concerned about facing one game at home in the next month, and that's hosting Denver in primetime. I usually don't take losses this badly ever, something seems different to me.

 

[ATippett56]

I usually don't get this pessimistic, maybe it's just an off day of frustration, or maybe I'm just not liking what I'm seeing so far and concerned about facing one game at home in the next month, and that's hosting Denver in primetime. I usually don't take losses this badly ever, something seems different to me.

The Donald Thomas/Marcus Cannon combination at right guard/right tackle will drive any fan to the medicine cabinet in search of a bottle of Pepto Bismol.

 

[supafly]

The Donald Thomas/Marcus Cannon combination at right guard/right tackle will drive any fan to the medicine cabinet looking for a bottle of Pepto Bismol.

Maybe it really is just as simple as that. Maybe Llyod is not getting enough separation due to the frequent pass rush, and that is one of the main reasons why they don't seem to be any more of a stretch the field offense than last year.

Either way, I usually feel a lot more comfortable coming off a loss than tonight. I am sadly forseeing a 1-2 start with an early season schedule of back to back weeks of disheartening losses with an away game at Buffalo and then hosting Denver coming up.

Although from here on out I will temper my frustration a bit. It certainly is not good for the forum or the fanbase in general (not that I necessarily said anything that negative on any level).

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Maybe it really is just as simple as that. Maybe Llyod is not getting enough separation due to the frequent pass rush, and that is one of the main reasons why they don't seem to be any more of a stretch the field offense than last year.

Either way, I usually feel a lot more comfortable coming off a loss than tonight. I am sadly forseeing a 1-2 start with an early season schedule of back to back weeks of disheartening losses with an away game at Buffalo and then hosting Denver coming up.

Although from here on out I will temper my frustration a bit. It certainly is not good for the forum or the fanbase in general (not that I necessarily said anything that negative on any level).

Lloyd isn't a burner. And he doesn't get great seperation. He makes his bones when he makes circus catches in tight coverage. To really stretch the field takes a combination of speed at the WR position and pass protection that we don't have. Lloyd was mostly going to stretch the field horizontally, maybe occasionally vertically, but he and Brady remain a work in progress which to some extent is exacerbating the problem. Although absent a 2 TE capacity it wouldn't if Branch were on the other side with Welker and Gronk sharing the middle and a presence in the running game. But the old saying it all starts and ends in the trenches is true, and our trenches aren't impressive on offense.

I wonder if Welker's lack of snaps and Branch being cut didn't in some way emanate from Josh wanting to control Brady's target selection. Force him to focus on Lloyd and the TE's. And if that is the case, shame on him.

 

[p8ryts]

It may be foolish to say this in only week 2 and after only one loss...but unless some moves are made to talent up the bottom portion of nothing but emergency players who may never play and not get vets resigned who can help out immediately may add more strength to those people that believe the SB loser jinx theory.

you're right its foolish

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I don't care which one as long as someone is brought in. The personnel moves are very questionable. Hilliard and Oompa Loompa need to go, this is eerily similar to last year when Antuan Molden was kept around for some strange reason and he killed us on a play in the Super Bowl.

Yesterday is what happens when you keep useless players around and leave one position ridiculously thin

 

[JJDChE]

My guess is we're just going to use Edelman more, maybe sprinkle in some Salas. I doubt we bring anyone in.

 

[12ClutchFactor]

I don't care which one as long as someone is brought in. The personnel moves are very questionable. Hilliard and Oompa Loompa need to go, this is eerily similar to last year when Antuan Molden was kept around for some strange reason and he killed us on a play in the Super Bowl.

Yesterday is what happens when you keep useless players around and leave one position ridiculously thin

The problem is Belichick has made a habit, in recent years, of outsmarting himself while managing (or mismanaging) the roster.

 

[DocHoliday]

Lloyd isn't a burner. And he doesn't get great seperation. He makes his bones when he makes circus catches in tight coverage. To really stretch the field takes a combination of speed at the WR position and pass protection that we don't have. Lloyd was mostly going to stretch the field horizontally, maybe occasionally vertically, but he and Brady remain a work in progress which to some extent is exacerbating the problem. Although absent a 2 TE capacity it wouldn't if Branch were on the other side with Welker and Gronk sharing the middle and a presence in the running game. But the old saying it all starts and ends in the trenches is true, and our trenches aren't impressive on offense.

I wonder if Welker's lack of snaps and Branch being cut didn't in some way emanate from Josh wanting to control Brady's target selection. Force him to focus on Lloyd and the TE's. And if that is the case, shame on him.

It may be better for Tom in the long run. One of TB's biggest failures lately is spreading the ball around.

He's incredibly picky with his trust and borderline refuses to develop chemistry with other players by doing so. By taking out Welker you force him to work with Edelman, someone who he rarely throws at when he's been on the field in previous years.

Look what we got! Edelman in the 2 minute drill and Brady's passing to a running back not named Faulk or Woodhead.

 

[JJDChE]

I don't care which one as long as someone is brought in. The personnel moves are very questionable. Hilliard and Oompa Loompa need to go, this is eerily similar to last year when Antuan Molden was kept around for some strange reason and he killed us on a play in the Super Bowl.

Yesterday is what happens when you keep useless players around and leave one position ridiculously thin

So you were hoping we'd have a starting quality player sitting on the bench ready to jump on the field if something went wrong?

 

[in 12 we trust]

I would think Branch would get the call.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

So you were hoping we'd have a starting quality player sitting on the bench ready to jump on the field if something went wrong?

I wouldn't say Branch or gaffney are starting quality, I just know I'm far more comfortable with them coming being a reliable target in case a better weapon like AH goes down. One injury should not cripple an offense.

 

[JJDChE]

I wouldn't say Branch or gaffney are starting quality, I just know I'm far more comfortable with them coming being a reliable target in case a better weapon like AH goes down. One injury should not cripple an offense.

I don't think either one would have made a difference.