More intriguing prospect into 2013 - Ballard, Demps or Bequette?

[IllegalContact]

We have no reason to believe Demps is worth anything either.

yes we do.....

although I disagree with the previous post.....ballard has already shown to be an effective TE, but just like Bequette, he is at a position that has talent and/or depth......bequette is going to have to work his way past others for even a decent opportunity.....

 

[patriot1136]

Most intriguing has to be Demps. Though he will only really be a punt returner/kick returner, he could turn out to be an X factor

 

[ay-yo]

Ill go with Ballard. He' the only one who has done something in the pro's. if he can return to form (a big if as his injury was severe) the 3 TE sets present some intriguing possibilities. Imagine the D packing the box only to motion Vereen and Hernandez out wide and forcing a thumper LB into coverage.

demps was a decent / good college player but nothing special and certainly has some durability concerns at his weight. Bequette looks like a guy who made the most of what he has but just doesn't have the required size / strength for the NFL

 

[BradyFTW!]

Demps by a mile, IMO. The other guys, in an ideal scenario, are backups at best who are only useful as injury replacements or to spell better players at the back end of a rotation. If Demps can become a dynamic kick returner, then he'll have instant value in a very big way. If he manages to take over punt returns too (far less likely - people sometimes underestimate how different the two roles are, I think), then all the better.

 

[DocHoliday]

More intriguing prospect into 2013 - Ballard,Demps or Bequette?

Demps by a mile, IMO. The other guys, in an ideal scenario, are backups at best who are only useful as injury replacements or to spell better players at the back end of a rotation. If Demps can become a dynamic kick returner, then he'll have instant value in a very big way. If he manages to take over punt returns too (far less likely - people sometimes underestimate how different the two roles are, I think), then all the better.

Yeah, regarding punts I think it's hard to improve on Edelman in that regard.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: More intriguing prospect into 2013 - Ballard,Demps or Bequette

My vote is all 3 if we have another tight end who can be a serious threat in the pass game and compliment Gronk allowing us to be more creative with Hernandez snaps thats a huge asset.
If Demps can be a electric returner a threat to go cj spiller like everytime he touched the ball.
If he can turn a 1 yd pass to 15 that be huge.

If Bequette plays with the motor and intensity he did in college yet hones his skills with his leverage and pass rush forte at worst we have someone who can push Ninko for snaps at best we have a poor man's Jared Allen.
All possible huge assets in my opinion.

*a homeless man's Jared Allen.

 

[JackBauer]

Demps, if only for the reason that our return game has been the nut low for what seems like forever now, and I'm intrigued at the possibility that might finally change.

 

[everlong]

For the upside Demps.

If Hernandez takes the next step to being a big WR and goes to the slot taking up Welker's reps should he not be retained I think we'll still see quite a bit of 2-TE sets with Gronk and Ballard. I can see Hernandez looking a bit more like Bolden in that role.

Considering Francis beat out Bequette it may be a make it or break it camp for him as the third round curse continues. I'm not sure I saw anything that makes me think wow with another off season in the system he'll make a jump.

I would add Armstead to the list. I'm really interested to see if he can come in and have Cameron Wake (different position but still) type of impact.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Yeah, regarding punts I think it's hard to improve on Edelman in that regard.

Edelman is definitely a good punt returner, but there are a couple of factors at work there:

1) The Pats may not re-sign him
2) Even if they do, he's injured very frequently, and I hate having Welker back there fielding punts when he is. Welker's 32- time to start thinking about limiting his hits, and PRs are a good place to start, since it's the one play where he's standing still and the other guys have a 30+ yard running start as they bear down on him. Not to mention that Welker might not be back either.
3) In an ideal world, it's great to have a punt returner with real breakaway speed who can make game-changing touchdown returns (see: Trindon Holliday, Jacoby Jones, Desean Jackson, etc.)

My guess is that Demps will be given a shot at returning punts in the preseason, much like Bolden was last year. From there, we'll see what happens. He can't be any worse than Bolden was at it, at least.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Didn't Bequette see the field in a few of the blowouts (1st Bills game, Rams game, Colts game)? If memory serves me well and it was him, he looked awful. Couldn't disengage from the lineman, was easily held at bay.

For so few snaps, the guy who showed flashes was Trevor Scott. He developed a reputation as a one-trick pony of speed off the edge and nothing else, but in that game 1 vs. Tennessee he lined up over the right guard and destroyed him while putting on heavy pressure.

With an offseason of continued development, I'd pin my DL depth on a guy like Scott over Bequette making the roster.

Regards,
Chris

 

[patsfan-1982]

Demps as a KR is the most intriguing to me

 

[DocHoliday]

More intriguing prospect into 2013 - Ballard,Demps or Bequette?

Didn't Bequette see the field in a few of the blowouts (1st Bills game, Rams game, Colts game)? If memory serves me well and it was him, he looked awful. Couldn't disengage from the lineman, was easily held at bay.

For so few snaps, the guy who showed flashes was Trevor Scott. He developed a reputation as a one-trick pony of speed off the edge and nothing else, but in that game 1 vs. Tennessee he lined up over the right guard and destroyed him while putting on heavy pressure.

With an offseason of continued development, I'd pin my DL depth on a guy like Scott over Bequette making the roster.

Regards,
Chris

At 28 I don't think Scott will be developing any further

 

[RI Patriots fan]

If Ballard is healthy come this season, I say Ballard in a cakewalk. Out of the 3, he is the only one who had done a thing in the NFL thus far and his 2011 season was a very good one.

Heck, Ballard has just as many sacks and tackles as Bequette and just as many return yards as Demps.

Ballard in a landslide....

 

[DaBruinz]

I think that Demps and Ballard will BOTH be intriguing. Demps for all the aforementioned reasons on special teams.

People want to poo poo on Ballard and say that he won't see the field cause he'll be the "3rd" TE. I honestly believe that we're going to see Hernandez lined up more as a WR than a TE and that the Pats will have Ballard out there as the 2nd TE in many sets. So, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pats go with Lloyd, Gronk, Hernandez, Ballard, and either a RB or another WR.

If they went with those 4 and Ridley, they could run or pass. Which would greatly set up the Play-action. The same could be said with putting Vereen out there with them. Vereen even more so because they could split Vereen out.

If they went with another WR, they could line Hernandez up in the backfield and let him run the ball as they have. Or they could go to a spread formation. Or do a WR screen with Ballard and Gronk in front of the WR.

The play combinations would be astounding.

That is, of course, IF Ballard is healthy.

 

[VJCPatriot]

3 players stand out to me as guys who were with the team last year but played little to none in 2012 due to injury or depth....these guys are Jeff Demps,Jake Ballard and Jake Bequette

Which one is most intriguing to you in regards to his talent at his position?

I chose Bequette as I see him helping our an anemic pass rush,I don't know if Demps or Ballard will even make the team.

Umm, did you forget about Armstead? I think that kid probably has a higher upside/better chance than Bequette.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Re: More intriguing prospect into 2013 - Ballard,Demps or Bequette?

At 28 I don't think Scott will be developing any further

He's 28? Yeesh, I thought he was a UDFA rook. Shows how much I pay attention during the offseason.

Regards,
Chris

 

[Rob0729]

Demps is the great unknown since he has never played in the NFL. So I will go with him.

Ballard is a starting quality TE. So I am excited about him, but I don't know if I am intrigued by him.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Umm, did you forget about Armstead? I think that kid probably has a higher upside/better chance than Bequette.

What part of 'was with the team last year' did you fail to comprehend?

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: More intriguing prospect into 2013 - Ballard,Demps or Bequette

In my mind, I don't see any reason why Demps can't be Tavon Austin. All we have to do is put 20 pounds on him and he'll be good to go.

He's never been used in that role before. Further, putting 20 pounds on him increases the possibility that he'll lose a good deal of his speed.

 

[BB4PRez]

Demps - his speed brings something the team does not have. I want to see McDaniels get creative with him. I also want to seem him lined out wide. The coaches need to teach him to beat a jam and he needs to be able to catch a deep ball. With his speed he should be able to get enough seperation that Brady can hit him on a few long balls even if he is not the big target that the team could use.

Ballard - I agree with others that I want to see him in a reserve role and I want to see both Gronk and Hernandez healthy. That said, Ballard would have helped both Pats teams that lost in the playofs. But, if Gronk is healthy, Ballard is a part timer and depth.

Bequette - A mild disappointment this year. Hopefully Bequette can be a contributor. I am much more intrigued to see if Chandler Jones grows into his lanky frame a little bit and also would like to see him stay healthy. Jones showed signs that he could be something special but he was not quite there as a rookie. Bequette could be a good player but does not have the same upside.