Newsflash - Our WR Still Aren't Good Enough

[Box_O_Rocks]

I was reviewing some player profiles from The Huddle Report and found this snippet by Drew Boylhart:

"I have one question that has nothing to do about Chad’s talent. Why is he coming out early? He was in a program and offense that could make him a top five player in the 2007 draft? I don’t know what the reason is, but If I were Urban Myers and I had a kid this talented, I would do everything in my power to hold on to him for one more year. This kid was in the perfect offense to show his talents to the world and he is passing it up! Not only that, his coach is not squawking like a duck being chased down the road by a mutt pissed because the duck was swimming in his water bowl. Personally, I have to wonder if this kid can handle the playbook at the next level."

http://www.thehuddlereport.com/ppSD/protected/archive/2006DRAFT/2006profiles/ChadJackson.htm

This could help to explain the lack of participation by a seemingly healthy (at least down the stretch) Chad Jackson. I think he was a developmental prospect all along. Urban Meyer clued BB in to the issues the Patriots were getting into and they were dealt with accordingly. He was never meant to be any type of replacement if Deion Branch didn't treturn this year.

If he matures this year they'll have a monster on their hands. They need to draft a more complete player like Rhema McKnight from ND and they'll be fine. He still may be available in Round 2. Paul Williams from Fresno State is likely to be in their plans as well. They're both big, productive, and come from JV schools so all the requisite homework will have been done diligently.

Hopefully next year I won't be left screaming "Why the EFF is EFFING Heath Evans split out wide with the EFFING season on the Line!".

That is my wish.

Chad Jackson's mom had health concerns, his decision was based on family finances.

(This isn't directed at you Bert, a general observation)
I get a kick out of all the people down on the kid after the all the hype through the summer and well into the fall. Perhaps it's my own experience with developing young high school graduates so they perform well under pressure when lives are on the line - this kid needed to be groomed. Training Camp might have been enough, except he got hurt, pushed too fast and got hurt again, then did it a third time. He's young, he's learning, and the proof is in how they began using him as a blocker in the game, then his new role on Special Teams (he got an assist on one KR tackle against Indy). He's being brought up within the system learning to do the little things right, after a couple false starts moving him too fast earlier when they were desperate for WR talent. Gaffney panning out was a blessing for Chad, it bought him the time he needed to learn things without being thrown in the fire.

The crop of WRs on the roster or likely to re-sign includes four 6' Florida boys and the shifty Bam Childress. Assuming Troy retires (a big if, but he was slowing a little with the early workload) that is the WR corps on the roster. I think Kelvin is the only one who might be challenged from outside, and I think he will come on faster after the off-season program.

If a WR is drafted, it's because he's considered the best player available - which would really surprise me when weighed against the other positions - WRs aren't going to be that critical for us as Jabar/Reche/Chad/Kelvin/Bam go through the off-season. I would rank WR low on the team shopping list as of today - there are a number of juniors declaring which have diluted the draft pool - I expect when it's said and done this will be a deep WR draft. A deep WR draft may mean some veteran WRs become available for trade or in Free Agency, and some good Practice Squad prospects will slip to the second day/UDFA rounds.

5 WRs is about all the roster will carry again, not with the depth desired at TE and RB. Mills may become a FB, but I see him as a hybrid WR/H-back when Woicik gets done working on his quickness in and out of cuts.

 

[RayClay]

Not true. I would be fine if we had one more WR a little better than Caldwell and kept the rest of the group as is.

Not really talking about you BFan.

I mean the Phantasy crowd.

 

[The Predator]

You could also quote some of his strengths....the last part is also just scott wright's opinion, it's not from our scouts.

I didn't quote his strengths or weaknesses. The injury is a fact that is tough to get over as well. granted it was in 02, but he is young to have that trouble. Could be some long term effects.

How would he be better than Bam?

 

[spacecrime]

I think that LB (both out and in) as well as every position in the secondary are all more important than bringing in a surefire upgrade over Gafney and Caldwell.

That doesn't mean I disagree with you. I think a true #1 is all that NE's WR corps is from being one of the best in the game. I just have higher priorities and in today's NFL you can't have it all.

Have to agree here. Caldwell, Gaffney and Jackson had nothing to do with those long drives the Colts had, even if he could have helped with the Pats 3-and-outs.

 

[spacecrime]

But our WR will never be good enough. We could have 5 all pros and there would be a million threads about the "must have" WR

Stats, stats, we need stats. Desparately.

 

[PaulNEPats]

I disagree. Count me as one of those who is fine with out wideouts of Caldwell, Gaffney, Jackson.

Our passing offense was not the problem this season - it was our rushing attack.

With 3 solid RBs, you have to think the OL is responsible. I say we use one of our draft picks in the 1st round on OL help, the rest of our first day picks will be defense.

When teams are putting 8 in the box to stop the run, I wouldn't blame the OL. Blame the fact that teams aren't respecting our WRs.

We need a go-to guy that Defenses have to respect w/double coverage.

 

[carolinatony]

I agree we need LB/DB help first but also another WR as well. There are 4 very good WR's and a couple of good WR's coming out as well and they are all Big. With FA's and other prospects I don't see that bad a group of WR's.
The bottom line is with do BB/ Belioli think? We seem to like TE's; maybe its time we grab another WR. Image Brady with great WR 's to throw to!

Calvin Johnson Georgia Tech 6-5 235 4.45
Dwayne Jarrett USC 6-5 210 4.60
Ted Ginn, Jr. Ohio St. 6-0 180 4.30
Sidney Rice South Carolina 6-4 202 4.45

Dwayne Bowe L.S.U. 6-3 217 4.55
Robert Meachem Tennessee 6-3 210 4.45

 

[The Predator]

I agree we need LB/DB help first but also another WR as well. There are 4 very good WR's and a couple of good WR's coming out as well and they are all Big. With FA's and other prospects I don't see that bad a group of WR's.
The bottom line is with do BB/ Belioli think? We seem to like TE's; maybe its time we grab another WR. Image Brady with great WR 's to throw to!

Calvin Johnson Georgia Tech 6-5 235 4.45
Dwayne Jarrett USC 6-5 210 4.60
Ted Ginn, Jr. Ohio St. 6-0 180 4.30
Sidney Rice South Carolina 6-4 202 4.45

Dwayne Bowe L.S.U. 6-3 217 4.55
Robert Meachem Tennessee 6-3 210 4.45

Do you honestly see BB spending a 1st rounder on 1 of these guys? Meachem may be 2nd round right now.

 

[BradyManny]

The run game was disappointing but I think the OL's sudden lack of ability to run block was directly related to them not feeling pressured by our mediocre WR.

I hear ya. But give CJ some time, he can be the guy to stretch the field. I just feel like all drafting a WR or signing a WR does is slow down CJ's progression and give Brady another guy to get accustomed to.

Caldwell & Gaffney have proven worthy - I'm OK with them taking a flyer on some guy to be a #3 in the case it takes Jackson most of the year or all of it to start turning into a force. Other than that, I think the short term advantages outweigh the long term negatives.

 

[BradyManny]

Chad Jackson's mom had health concerns, his decision was based on family finances.

(This isn't directed at you Bert, a general observation)
I get a kick out of all the people down on the kid after the all the hype through the summer and well into the fall. Perhaps it's my own experience with developing young high school graduates so they perform well under pressure when lives are on the line - this kid needed to be groomed. Training Camp might have been enough, except he got hurt, pushed too fast and got hurt again, then did it a third time. He's young, he's learning, and the proof is in how they began using him as a blocker in the game, then his new role on Special Teams (he got an assist on one KR tackle against Indy). He's being brought up within the system learning to do the little things right, after a couple false starts moving him too fast earlier when they were desperate for WR talent. Gaffney panning out was a blessing for Chad, it bought him the time he needed to learn things without being thrown in the fire.

Great post Box.

 

[Underoath]

With the cap we have this off-season, we could get everyone we need to reload for next year, there's no excuse.

 

[NEPatriot]

I think that LB (both out and in) as well as every position in the secondary are all more important than bringing in a surefire upgrade over Gafney and Caldwell.

That doesn't mean I disagree with you. I think a true #1 is all that NE's WR corps is from being one of the best in the game. I just have higher priorities and in today's NFL you can't have it all.

I agree with your thinking. While we all want to upgrade every aspect of our team, we need to prioritize and spend money and draft picts in those areas that are most in need.

 

[VJCPatriot]

If you're looking for receivers outside the first round a couple of underrated guys that could be available are Jason Hill and Steve Smith.

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/wr/jasonhill.html

Hill has some good characteristics, has good size at 6-1, runs good routes, but is coming off a disappointing senior season. He also reportedly has good reliable hands.

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/profile.php?pyid=15701

Steve Smith has been overshadowed by Jarrett at USC but the bottom line is this guy makes big plays when you need them. He only measures to 5'11" 195 lbs but the Pats have not been shy about drafting smaller receivers.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Rookies are rookies - and the free agent WRs aren't all that much to get excited about.

Who knows who is available via trade. Derrick Mason seemed frustrated in Baltimore it seemed.

While WR is A priority I'm not sure if its is the top priority. Once Gaffney and Caldwell got their routes and timing down halfway through the season they were adequate.

Adequate isn't really good enough for me - but as a team we were one play away from the Super Bowl even with the ragtag WR corps - so I don't want to go overboard in slamming the WRs as I did with Caldwell earlier in the season (though I consistently believed Gaffney was a good WR).

Still - a #1 WR who stretches the field takes pressure off Brady, keeps the Safties in the secondary, takes pressure and coverage off of Watson and opens the short receiving and running games.

In effect, a legitimate deep WR has an impact far beyond his catch and yardage total. We should try to remember that moving forward.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Adequate isn't really good enough for me - but as a team we were one play away from the Super Bowl even with the ragtag WR corps - so I don't want to go overboard in slamming the WRs as I did with Caldwell earlier in the season (though I consistently believed Gaffney was a good WR).

Still - a #1 WR who stretches the field takes pressure off Brady, keeps the Safties in the secondary, takes pressure and coverage off of Watson and opens the short receiving and running games.

In effect, a legitimate deep WR has an impact far beyond his catch and yardage total. We should try to remember that moving forward.

Very good point. New England's wide receivers performed adequately in 2006. But not well enough to pull safeties off the line who were stacking to stop our run game. A legit #1 wide receiver will affect the game in ways that the stat line does not reflect. Even a second tier #1 like Deion Branch who commands a double team - even if he can't beat that double team, that means that someone else is getting single coverage. That's gotta help Brady and everyone else on the offense.

 

[Triumph]

NE should bring in a proven FA WR. They have the cap money.

The draft is a crap shoot regarding WR's and then they take time to develop.

 

[The_Dragon]

I'd be happy with the wide receiver situation as is at the moment. The one concern I would have is that Indy still spent a lot of time with 8 people in the box against us and we struggled to counter it. From what I remember we didn't call a lot of deep passing plays that may have stretched out the defense - see the contrast on our D where we played not to give up the big play, allowing a lot intermediate plays as a result.

I'd expect that a full training camp for Brady and Gaffney, Caldwell, Jackson, Childress, Kight and hopefully Brown would sort a lot of this in terms of familiarity and recognising when to go deep. It won't take an awful lot more for our passing game to really improve and, in theory, this would lead to the running game also benefitting.

 

[MDPATSFAN]

NE should bring in a proven FA WR. They have the cap money.

The draft is a crap shoot regarding WR's and then they take time to develop.

Wes Walker of the dysfunkphins is a FA this year. He's a good, scrappy player.

 

[Triumph]

Wes Walker of the dysfunkphins is a FA this year. He's a good, scrappy player.

He would be perfect. A FA can step in and virtually play immediately assuming he can learn the offense. Derrick Mason or Javon Walker would have been sweet.

To me, Caldwell was a replacement for Givens since NE knew they would have to give the big money to Branch since Givens would be leaving.

 

[primetime]

Wes Walker of the dysfunkphins is a FA this year. He's a good, scrappy player.

Welker's a fine #2, and with Reche, Gaffney, CJ, and hopefully Troy would make a decent wide receiving corps. Welker is also explosive on returns too, and if Maroney is going to be the everydown back, he'd be a more than adequate replacement (and good in the anemic punt return game, a far cry from 5 yards and tackled Faulk).

I'd still like to see them get a true number 1 though. Randy Moss, maybe... though his attitude is too much. Jarrett doesn't impress me (I'm wary of PAC-10 and Big 10 players), but Calvin Johnson does. Unless the Patriots swing a huge deal (Asante and the firsts?) for a high pick, though, they'll get neither of them. Maybe a lesser #1 will be available for trade, such as Mason. An SI article mentioned Larry Fitz but I think that's a huge pipedream.