Terrified of our WR situation

[RIpats88]

I think its clear after the AFC championship game Belichick decided something wasnt working with this offense which is why he blew it up...it doesnt matter having an ELITE offense in the regular season when it struggles to even put up a measly 21points come the playoffs

teams who have won the superbowl these last few years have done so not with Dink and Dunk offenses, but with outside WR's who are physical and can win those 50-50 plays..our offense had become too finesse I think

we'll still have the inside covered with amendola, hernandez, gronk.....but the additions of Jones and (hopefully) sanders will give us that vertical threat we've been looking for

 

[BradyToAmendola]

Re: And The Focus Shifts to Wide Receiver

He was put in the slot because of who was ahead of him. He can play outside.

Many Pitt fans say he is not physical which is why he would struggle on the outside. Tons of drops and mental lapses too. If he was unrestricted I would go for him but I feel like Donald Jones could do a just as well.

Just my opinion though, I probably have no idea what I'm talking about.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

I think its clear after the AFC championship game Belichick decided something wasnt working with this offense which is why he blew it up...it doesnt matter having an ELITE offense in the regular season when it struggles to even put up a measly 21points come the playoffs

teams who have won the superbowl these last few years have done so not with Dink and Dunk offenses, but with outside WR's who are physical and can win those 50-50 plays..our offense had become too finesse I think

we'll still have the inside covered with amendola, hernandez, gronk.....but the additions of Jones and (hopefully) sanders will give us that vertical threat we've been looking for

This, something wasn't clicking and I think now it will. I seriously see 07 reborn but we win the SB.

 

[NE_PATS_FAN_54]

Individually, I like all of E.Sanders, Amendola, and D.Jones. Lloyd it's up in the air whether he will return this season.

How many times in the past have we had WR's come in here, do absolutely nothing and then leave and be told it's "because they couldn't pick up the playbook" or "because they couldn't click with Brady".

Well, we're looking at a season where ALL of Bradys receivers might be new guys who are learning the playbook and never caught passes from him before. Far too much pressure is being put on Brady to make it happen. I don't think those guys are scrubs, but they aren't physically dominating talents.

Im' not sure how we can expect to run last years offense with so many new guys- new guys Brady isn't going o trust for a while to run the hurry up offense.

We are 5 days into free agency, so relax. There is still a lot to unfold here. Amendola knows the system from his time with McDaniels and neither of the other guys are going to be focal points of the offense (if Sanders even winds up here). The TE's, Amendola, and whoever they get to play outside (if Lloyd is let go) are going to be the focal points of this offense.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

This, something wasn't clicking and I think now it will. I seriously see 07 reborn but we win the SB.

Please be quiet edited.

I like reading about the latest incarnation of the team as much as anybody, but please, please, please let's nip this "07 reborn" crap in the bud. That was a special season, and it ain't coming back. The end of it was a special kind of let-down, the kind some of us old folks (who also follow baseball) remember fondly from the 70s and 80s Sox but on steroids. The end of that season was so mind-bogglingly bad that it makes you realize that yes, you can sour an achievement as monumental as an undefeated regular season.

Be all that as it may, the urge is obviously going to be strong to get "do-overs." You don't get do-overs in life. We'll probably never see 07 "reborn." Ever. Someone on here seems destined to say it every off-season, and I guess in the very unlikely case that one is ever right, they get bragging rights to be the clock that was stopped on that number at that time of day. But for everybody else, not only is it unlikely in the extreme, it's also banal to keep predicting it... and a little painful.

Whatever Vegas says... and most years Vegas says we win the SB... it's 32-1 odds against. Beating those odds is enough to hope for.

I like saying "Hey we have a pretty good shot at beating those odds, compared with all the other 32-1 against teams" every year. That's what a "dynasty" is, and that much more so in the cap/free agency era.

We're always in the mix. At this point, that's what the great looming flying elvis presence means... you will always have to deal with the Pats (for 12 years running now, give or take.) Not bad.

But whatever moves we make, we can't make enough of them to make an 07 redux even infinitesimally likely.

 

[IllegalContact]

Really....

Wasn't the Caldwell year still a great year to watch football?

 

[Brady2Moss]

Please be quiet edited.

I like reading about the latest incarnation of the team as much as anybody, but please, please, please let's nip this "07 reborn" crap in the bud. That was a special season, and it ain't coming back. The end of it was a special kind of let-down, the kind some of us old folks (who also follow baseball) remember fondly from the 70s and 80s Sox but on steroids. The end of that season was so mind-bogglingly bad that it makes you realize that yes, you can sour an achievement as monumental as an undefeated regular season.

Be all that as it may, the urge is obviously going to be strong to get "do-overs." You don't get do-overs in life. We'll probably never see 07 "reborn." Ever. Someone on here seems destined to say it every off-season, and I guess in the very unlikely case that one is ever right, they get bragging rights to be the clock that was stopped on that number at that time of day. But for everybody else, not only is it unlikely in the extreme, it's also banal to keep predicting it... and a little painful.

Whatever Vegas says... and most years Vegas says we win the SB... it's 32-1 odds against. Beating those odds is enough to hope for.

I like saying "Hey we have a pretty good shot at beating those odds, compared with all the other 32-1 against teams" every year. That's what a "dynasty" is, and that much more so in the cap/free agency era.

We're always in the mix. At this point, that's what the great looming flying elvis presence means... you will always have to deal with the Pats (for 12 years running now, give or take.) Not bad.

But whatever moves we make, we can't make enough of them to make an 07 redux even infinitesimally likely.

Screw 07, I want 03 and 04 reborn. Get a defense and pound teams while Rodgers and Manning put up arcade numbers and go he crying in January.

 

[Jimke]

Individually, I like all of E.Sanders, Amendola, and D.Jones. Lloyd it's up in the air whether he will return this season.

How many times in the past have we had WR's come in here, do absolutely nothing and then leave and be told it's "because they couldn't pick up the playbook" or "because they couldn't click with Brady".

Well, we're looking at a season where ALL of Bradys receivers might be new guys who are learning the playbook and never caught passes from him before. Far too much pressure is being put on Brady to make it happen. I don't think those guys are scrubs, but they aren't physically dominating talents.

Im' not sure how we can expect to run last years offense with so many new guys- new guys Brady isn't going o trust for a while to run the hurry up offense.

You're right! If Lloyd goes, Tom Brady has no receivers that he is familiar with. Shades of 2006.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Yeah... and that was all about enough offense, enough defense, enough depth. If you think back (always dangerous, because you don't recapture those teams either,) that was well before the "modern" game. In fact, much of the "modern" game came into being as a result of the Pats' success... e.g., the proclamation from on high that DBs are no longer allowed to cover receivers (a bit of an overstatement, but who will argue that Polian's special pleading for an anti-Patriotic "point of emphasis" was a big part of the pass-happy evolution of the league?)

Okay, you always try to get better in FA. Hell, the Antowain Smith to Corey Dillon upgrade is a perfect example. No argument. Nobody ever got better by saying "well this guy can't play but we love him to death." That was one area where BB was playing chess while other teams were often playing checkers from day one, being as ruthless as the game's development suggested.

And okay, you never go back to a dream season (or seasons), but if you're going to hope for going back to something, it really is smarter to go back to a super bowl season.

I'm just saying that all you can say is you like the moves so far or you don't. We know people are dumb if they say (and they will) "The Pats are done... Welker is gone." But it's just as dumb to paint a team as a shoe-in when they sign on some new talent.

Like the upgrade so far, overall. I think we're getting better this off-season, and I'm excited too.

But fercristssake it's March. What are we, JEST fans?

 

[Nehalem]

You're right! If Lloyd goes, Tom Brady has no receivers that he is familiar with. Shades of 2006.

More like shades of 2007.

When we went out and got Stallworth, Moss, and Welker in the offseason. That worked out pretty well.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Really....

Wasn't the Caldwell year still a great year to watch football?

I've said before and I'll say again, the bug-eyed glandular freak has a special place in my heart. Never before and never since did he rise to the level of near-adequacy he achieved in a Pats uni.

 

[mgteich]

The rules have changed much since 2004. Who have had the top defenses since then? Who has won the Super Bowl? 5 of the last 7 winners had nowhere near a top defense.

Both Rodgers and Peyton Manning have won SB's since then (and Brees).

Screw 07, I want 03 and 04 reborn. Get a defense and pound teams while Rodgers and Manning put up arcade numbers and go he crying in January.

 

[Joey007]

OP, do remember last year when everyone thought we were loaded at WR wth Welker, Lloyd, Edelman, Branch, Gaffney, Stallworth, and Gonzalez. Four of those guys wouldn't even make the gameday roster.

Big name WR's don't always equal out to high production.

 

[fnordcircle]

I think the comparisons to 2007 are quite apt as the team is obviously making some significant changes to its personnel.

It won't be quite the same as I think Gronk and Hernandez will still be 2 of our top 3 targets in the receiving game.

Personally if they sign Sanders and bring back one of Lloyd or Edelman I think I'd prefer they spend the rest of their money on defense with the possible exception of Vollmer if he's affordable.

 

[JMarr]

You're right! If Lloyd goes, Tom Brady has no receivers that he is familiar with. Shades of 2006.

Not sure if you're being sarcastic, and it's still [very] early, but I'm hoping they are not basically finished at WR and might just roll with what they've got so far if Sanders doesn't sign. There aren't any good FA WRs left out there, so they'll need to make a trade if they want a legit wideout who is physical and go up and get the ball. That's what Tom Brady needs more than anything else, and if they don't get a guy like that then yes, it's like 2006 in a lot of ways.

If reports that the Pats were prepared to sign both Welker and Amendola are true, and based on McDaniels' use of Edelman to start last season, then it sounds like they are not moving in a different direction and want to run and even more complex offense that features two tight ends and multiple slot-type receiver looks. If they sign Edelperson, then we'll know. We'll also know that McDaniels thinks he's a genius and that his scheme can overcome having a surplus of smurf WRs. And it wouldn't surprise me at all, given his hubris. This is, after all, the offensive genius who moved up to draft Tim Tebow in the first round.

 

[lapatsfan]

Everyone needs to chill out! We are months away from the start of the season. We still have the remainder of FA, the draft and possible trades. So yeah, relax and enjoy your weekend.




Besides, Randy Moss is available!

 

[tonyto3690]

"Terrified"???? It is a game, put it in perspective.

It's a non literal expression. I think it's you who needs to put it in perspective.

I mean unless you legitimately think I stir and can't sleep at night because of it.

It's called training camp. When Branch screwed us we still had guys starting from scratch with lots of catches. Not ideal, obviously.

The problem isn't putting up big numbers early, it's having a versatile offense that can adjust against tougher defensive play. We aren't evn done with FA, or started the draft.

We'll have a camp full of receivers to compete and maybe get some play out of someone who isn't even on the radar.

It's March. Don't be terrified, you'll get an ulcer.

Yes, because training camp did wonders for CJ85 and Galloway.

You're justifying and trying to paint this in a perfect light. MULTIPLE times in the past we've had guys who should have done at least OKAY here completely flame out because Brady didn't trust them and would refuse to throw to them. It's because the system has become unmanageably complex that new guys almost can never get it, and the few that do take at least a year to "really" get it.

You refer to 2006 and that season guys getting "lots of catches" as if that means we made it okay that season even with a bunch of new guys. NO WE FREAKING LOST OUT ON ANOTHER LOMBARDI BECAUSE BRADY HAD NO ONE HE COULD THROW IT TO.

We do NOT have an elite defense anymore to carry the team.
We do NOT have a running game that can win against teams base heavy sets.

If Brady does not light it up and drop 30 on the other team we are completely sunk.
Telling Brady "we're going to get you all brand new receivers and you're just going to have to make it work, and carry our team the entire season" is such a mind numbingly stupid thing to do. They got some toys for him that may or may not pan out. Unless serious changes are made to our playbook to simplify it, I really am not optimistic at all considering NO ONE ELSE HAS EVER DONE WHAT YOU ARE EXPECTING ALL OF THEM TO ACCOMPLISH.

What they are geuninely trying to do now is offer depth at the position.

Bringing these players on now does that for the first time since 2008.

Yes, exactly like all that depth we got in last years offseason when we signed those 6 WRs and ended up cutting all of them.

Terrified ?? really if we add Sanders to our current group we are alot FASTER than the last two years. Donald Jones/Sanders are legit Speed threats on outside. I think the Pats did their homework on Jones he could be a pleasant surprise.

This worked great with Galloway, didn't it? Speed is not the only thing that matters.

OP, do remember last year when everyone thought we were loaded at WR wth Welker, Lloyd, Edelman, Branch, Gaffney, Stallworth, and Gonzalez. Four of those guys wouldn't even make the gameday roster.

Big name WR's don't always equal out to high production.

That is exactly my point.

 

[mgteich]

One answer is to keep Lloyd, Edelman and Branch and see where we are in camp and the preseason.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

"Terrified"???? It is a game, put it in perspective.

Really? You didn't know what he meant by saying that? Take a chill pill and go relax

 

[Reckedtrek]

really?

Get a grip. It's the middle of March!