Can the WR unit 'gel' in the postseason?

[lamafist]

The timing of the injuries to Amendola, Dobson and Thompkins was probably fortunate for the regular season, as they were never all hurt for the same games. The other side of the coin, however, is that they were only simultaneously healthy for a game or two (and in those games, with a healthy Gronkowski, the Pats weren't using many 3+ WR sets.)

I feel like a receiving corps of Edelman, Amendola, Dobson and Thompkins could have been a deceptively dangerous unit -- the kind where Brady's favorite receiver is the open one, and opposing teams don't have any one guy to key on.

Unfortunately, even if the Pats get all 4 healthy for the post-season -- and that's a big if, considering Dobson's ailing foot -- it might already be too late to get them all sufficiently integrated and on the same page with Brady for the passing game to reach its potential.

 

[Ivan]

Unit?


How about couple?



I doubt Dobson plays this week and Thompkins hasn't shown up in a while. At this point it is all on Amendola and Edelmen. Great as Brady is and as much as i like those 2 receivers their postseason hopes are counting heavily upon the run game, and they can go to the WR's when they need to make a play, but I seriously doubt we will see a 40 attempt game from Brady unless they get down significantly and have no choice.

Let's all hope that Thompkins re-emerges and Vereen can offset the deficit at WR to some degree. This team is as depleted as a play-off team can be, they can still get it done but the remaining players are going to have to play out of their minds for this to be a really good play-off run.

 

[captain stone]

Can the WR unit gel in the POs?

No.

I'd rather have the 2006 receivers (including TEs) than what we have now.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Colts: Vontae Davis, Darius Butler, Josh Gordy

Broncos: DRC, Chris Harris, Kayvon Webster/Champ Bailey (toast)

Chargers: Shareece Wright, Richard Marshall, Johnny Patrick

I think the WR unit will gel because the rest of the AFC CB trios are mediocre.

 

[Patjew]

Can the WR unit gel in the POs?

No.

I'd rather have the 2006 receivers (including TEs) than what we have now.

Including TEs, I tend to agree. But just WRs, I think this unit is better.

 

[hwc]

Gel? As in become good? No. That's not int he cards. The Pats passing game is what it is.

The Pats prospects in the post season depend on their ability to run the ball. If they can pound it, the passing game can be an effective complement.

I'm fine with that. Even the best all-pass-all-the-time offenses aren't necessarily the ticket in the post-season.

 

[jmt57]

While the wide receivers of the Patriots may not causing any opposing defensive coordinators to lose sleep, the same could be said of the Indianapolis secondary and pass defense as a whole. Just a few days ago Alex Smith completed 65% of his passes for 378 yards (8.2 yards per pass), four (should have been five) touchdowns and no interceptions. As a reminder, Smith ranked 17th in passing yards, 20th in completion percentage, and 29th in yards per pass attempt this year.

This was all accomplished despite being without KC's leader in receptions and receiving yards after the first possession, and without KC's number three leader in receptions and receiving yards for the second half. If Smith could do that with backups, I'm thinking the Patriot offense will be okay in the passing game this weekend.

 

[chasa]

I'm less worried about them Gelling, as i am about them being able to stay healthy for the 3 games we need them.

 

[signbabybrady]

Definitely more about health at this point than geling.

I think at this point the Geling between Brady and Thompkins and Brady and Dobson if he gets back on the field is what it is.

If these two can stay healthy at this point in the year Tom has gotten enough work in with them to be able gel with them and utilize them.

Also add into the Health category Vareen because at this point he is as important to the passing game as anyone other than Brady and Jules.

Give me a healthy Edelman, Vareen, Amendola, and Thompkins and I think we have enough weapons for Tom and they have gelled enough. Add in Dobson and all the better but we cant afford to lose anyone else (especially Jules and Vareen) but this is now true of pretty much every position at this point with the injury year we have had.

 

[RayClay]

Good question. Dobson isn't practicing and Thomkins gives a different look if he's in synch.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Yes, they can improve but probably not by that much.

 

[Tunescribe]

Either Thompkins or Dobson helps keep defenses honest re., the long ball and red zone. I'm thinking Thompkins will be most ready to step up for the playoffs. I like the combination of Collie, Amendola, Edelman and Thompkins/Dobson combined with the running game and Vereen on third down. Moving the ball shouldn't be an issue; I'm more concerned about the Pats' defense going forward.

 

[signbabybrady]

Either Thompkins or Dobson helps keep defenses honest re., the long ball and red zone. I'm thinking Thompkins will be most ready to step up for the playoffs. I like the combination of Collie, Amendola, Edelman and Thompkins/Dobson combined with the running game and Vereen on third down. Moving the ball shouldn't be an issue; I'm more concerned about the Pats' defense going forward.

Again I think this comes down to health. They have learned how to play without Vince, kelly and Mayo now and while it isnt what we were seeing in the first month it is much improved and with Siliga it has been able to stop the run better. This will obviously be hurt by losing Spikes but next man up.

More importantly to the defense now is Ninko, Chandler and the DBs and I think if the DBs can stay healthy they give the ability to match up well vs anyone and shut down the other teams best receiving options.

 

[stcjones]

Wait....we have a TE now????!!!! WHEN did this happen?! )

Can the WR unit gel in the POs?

No.

I'd rather have the 2006 receivers (including TEs) than what we have now.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Either Thompkins or Dobson helps keep defenses honest re., the long ball and red zone. I'm thinking Thompkins will be most ready to step up for the playoffs. I like the combination of Collie, Amendola, Edelman and Thompkins/Dobson combined with the running game and Vereen on third down. Moving the ball shouldn't be an issue; I'm more concerned about the Pats' defense going forward.

The defense with talib, dennard and mccourty 100% won't be an issue IMO. We can figure out ways to stop the run. The WR are really the only question make IMO. I want to see some Hooman catches though, I think he can be a threat in the pass game.

Hopefully AD & KT come ready to play.

 

[stcjones]

Our rook WR are made of glass.....Boyce is done.....Dobson and Thompkins will either be out or limited.....Indy will take Edelman out of the game....leaving Collie and Amendola to make it happen. Don't think we are going to be that successful through the air. This is going to come down to passes to RB in the backfield and flat....and THE RUNNING game. Not going to be easy for here on out. I think we can knock off Indy in a close game....think that is where the fairy tale will end Dorothy.....

 

[Deus Irae]

Gel'n without the felon

 

[Tunescribe]

Our rook WR are made of glass.....Boyce is done.....Dobson and Thompkins will either be out or limited.....Indy will take Edelman out of the game....leaving Collie and Amendola to make it happen. Don't think we are going to be that successful through the air. This is going to come down to passes to RB in the backfield and flat....and THE RUNNING game. Not going to be easy for here on out. I think we can knock off Indy in a close game....think that is where the fairy tale will end Dorothy.....

Try to get outside for a bit of sunshine tomorrow.

 

[chasa]

Our rook WR are made of glass.....Boyce is done.....Dobson and Thompkins will either be out or limited.....Indy will take Edelman out of the game....leaving Collie and Amendola to make it happen. Don't think we are going to be that successful through the air. This is going to come down to passes to RB in the backfield and flat....and THE RUNNING game. Not going to be easy for here on out. I think we can knock off Indy in a close game....think that is where the fairy tale will end Dorothy.....

i guess we will just have to survive off our 9th ranked running game

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Our rook WR are made of glass.....Boyce is done.....Dobson and Thompkins will either be out or limited.....Indy will take Edelman out of the game....leaving Collie and Amendola to make it happen. Don't think we are going to be that successful through the air. This is going to come down to passes to RB in the backfield and flat....and THE RUNNING game. Not going to be easy for here on out. I think we can knock off Indy in a close game....think that is where the fairy tale will end Dorothy.....

Hahaha, thanks for the laugh on the glass remark