The Myth of Wes Welker, Return Man

[patsox23]

Before you jump all over me, let me say this: I like Wes Welker. He's a nice little player. He may very well develop into Troy Brown 2.0. He's got the BB/Pioli stamp of approval, and that counts for a lot. I wasn't a big fan of what we gave up to get him, but that's a point for another day/thread.

THIS THREAD is meant to explode a myth I've noticed is being constantly peddled around here - that Wes Welker is, in addition to being the ideal slot WR, a great "playmaker" and a top return man, both on KO's and punts. It simply isn't true.

Does he have versatility? Sure. CAN he do those things - catch the ball, return kicks, return punts? Looks like it, yes. But is he REALLY good in the return game, is that ANOTHER way in which he marks a sure-fire improvement on the Patriots? No.

Wes Welker averaged a pedestrian 22+ yards per KR last season. Lots of stuff goes into that, including and especially the other S/Ters paving the way (or not) for him as he goes (22 measly yards) up the field. Maybe on the Pats he would've averaged the 28 yards-per-return that Maroney did. But here's the thing: HE DIDN'T. Know what else he didn't do? Average 10.6 yards-per-punt return, like Kevin Faulk did. Wes averaged 9.2 yards per PR last season. Again, poor S/T blocking may have played a role in that.

Welker may end up being a FANTASTIC returner for the Pats. I just think, to keep it real, people need to relax a bit about this guy. He's an UDFA hustler - we love those types. And we should. And maybe Welker will be "all he can be," and we'll love him even more. But people are peddling this nonsense about how awesome he is before he's actually every really DONE that on the field.

You want to go off on Adalius Thomas and guarantee/assume his potential impact? Go for it. That's based on something. But Wes Welker has never been what people here seem to think he IS. Except for one day, in one game against the Pats last year. If he matches that from game to game, terrific, give my best to Hanolulu. I'd just like to suggest we temper our enthusiasm, just a bit, in exchange for a dose of reality, while keeping a mug of hopeful on the side, where it belongs.

 

[hwc]

Welker also handled 89 punt and kick returns last year without coughing up the ball once.

Troy Brown was not a threat to break many punt returns in his latter years, but he also wasn't a threat to turn the ball over. There's value in that, too.

 

[zippo59]

I think Hobbs should be our kick returner, and Welker should do punts. I think Faulk is so valueable to this offense that if we have another option at PR we should use it.

If Jackson gets healthy I would throw him in there too.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

Wes Welker averaged 9.2 yards per PR last season. Kevin Faulk averaged 10.6.

Kevin Faulk averaged 6.7 yards a PR in '04. (Tim Dwight returned in 05). That jump from 6.7 to 10.6 wasn't because Faulk got quicker, it was because of youth injected into ST blocking.

Wes is good from the eyeball test, put him with our ST unit, and we can expect a injection of exciting. I'm not saying he will be taking them to the house, but the return game should be good.

 

[Ghost of Ben Dreith]

Before you jump all over me, let me say this: I like Wes Welker. He's a nice little player. He may very well develop into Troy Brown 2.0. He's got the BB/Pioli stamp of approval, and that counts for a lot. I wasn't a big fan of what we gave up to get him, but that's a point for another day/thread.

THIS THREAD is meant to explode a myth I've noticed is being constantly peddled around here - that Wes Welker is, in addition to being the ideal slot WR, a great "playmaker" and a top return man, both on KO's and punts. It simply isn't true.

Does he have versatility? Sure. CAN he do those things - catch the ball, return kicks, return punts? Looks like it, yes. But is he REALLY good in the return game, is that ANOTHER way in which he marks a sure-fire improvement on the Patriots? No.

Wes Welker averaged a pedestrian 22+ yards per KR last season. Lots of stuff goes into that, including and especially the other S/Ters paving the way (or not) for him as he goes (22 measly yards) up the field.

Wes Welker averaged 9.2 yards per PR last season. Kevin Faulk averaged 10.6. Again, poor S/T blocking may have played a role in that.

Welker may end up being a FANTASTIC returner for the Pats. I just think, to keep it real, we need to relax a bit about this guy. He's an UDFA hustler - we love those types. And we should. And maybe Welker will be "all that he can be," and we'll love him even more. But people are purporting this nonsense about how awesome he is before he's actually every really DONE that on the field.

You want to go off on Adalius Thomas and guarantee/assume his potential impact? Go for it. That's based on something. But Wes Welker has never been what people here seem to think he IS. Except for one day, in one game against the Pats last year. If he matches that from game to game, terrific. I'd just like to suggest we temper our enthusiasm, just a bit, in exchange for a dose of reality, while keeping a mug of hopeful on the side, where it belongs.

Damn you....stop it....stop being logical and on point before my head explodes!

I do think he will fit in well here and more so than the yards, there are 2 reasons I would rather have Welker returning punts rather than Faulk. First, Faulk fill a more needed "regular" position than Welker, especially with the Stallworth and Washington signings. I would rather risk Welker. Second, I will feel more comfortable with Welker handling the ball than Faulk on ball security basis...at least until Welker proves me wrong.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

Kevin Faulk averaged 6.7 yards a PR in '04. (Tim Dwight returned in 05). That jump from 6.7 to 10.6 wasn't because Faulk got quicker, it was because of youth injected into ST blocking.

Wes is good from the eyeball test, put him with our ST unit, and we can expect a injection of exciting. I'm not saying he will be taking them to the house, but the return game should be good.

The fact that Faulk returned a AVG of 4 yards more was indeed because of ST units. The Dolphin return units were suspect, thus BB most likely gives more credit to Wes for those 9.2 yards than he does to the 'fins exceptional blocking unit.

 

[patsox23]

Interesting points. Thanks for weighing in. I especially take to the "protect Faulk" stuff and the Welker and ball-security angle. HOWEVER, that doesn't change the fact that many here seem to assume Welker IS something he has yet to actually be.

 

[Kontradiction]

Before you jump all over me, let me say this: I like Wes Welker. He's a nice little player. He may very well develop into Troy Brown 2.0. He's got the BB/Pioli stamp of approval, and that counts for a lot. I wasn't a big fan of what we gave up to get him, but that's a point for another day/thread.

THIS THREAD is meant to explode a myth I've noticed is being constantly peddled around here - that Wes Welker is, in addition to being the ideal slot WR, a great "playmaker" and a top return man, both on KO's and punts. It simply isn't true.

Does he have versatility? Sure. CAN he do those things - catch the ball, return kicks, return punts? Looks like it, yes. But is he REALLY good in the return game, is that ANOTHER way in which he marks a sure-fire improvement on the Patriots? No.

Wes Welker averaged a pedestrian 22+ yards per KR last season. Lots of stuff goes into that, including and especially the other S/Ters paving the way (or not) for him as he goes (22 measly yards) up the field. Maybe on the Pats he would've averaged the 28 yards-per-return that Maroney did. But here's the thing: HE DIDN'T. Know what else he didn't do? Average 10.6 yards-per-punt return, like Kevin Faulk did. Wes averaged 9.2 yards per PR last season. Again, poor S/T blocking may have played a role in that.

Welker may end up being a FANTASTIC returner for the Pats. I just think, to keep it real, people need to relax a bit about this guy. He's an UDFA hustler - we love those types. And we should. And maybe Welker will be "all he can be," and we'll love him even more. But people are peddling this nonsense about how awesome he is before he's actually every really DONE that on the field.

You want to go off on Adalius Thomas and guarantee/assume his potential impact? Go for it. That's based on something. But Wes Welker has never been what people here seem to think he IS. Except for one day, in one game against the Pats last year. If he matches that from game to game, terrific, give my best to Hanolulu. I'd just like to suggest we temper our enthusiasm, just a bit, in exchange for a dose of reality, while keeping a mug of hopeful on the side, where it belongs.

All the things Troy Brown is.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

I wasn't a big fan of what we gave up to get him, but that's a point for another day/thread.

how about this thread on 01-31-07 before FA period?

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showpost.php?p=324531&postcount=2

What happened?

 

[patsox23]

So Welker IS Troy Brown now? See, that's seriously what I think a lot of people believe, and is a big part of why I started this thread. Is that what you really think? Can you please convince me?

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

Interesting points. Thanks for weighing in. I especially take to the "protect Faulk" stuff and the Welker and ball-security angle. HOWEVER, that doesn't change the fact that many here seem to assume Welker IS something he has yet to actually be.

Obviously, as you mentioned there's more to a PR avg than just the PR. Faulk dramatic improvement from 04 to 06 was because of blocking. With Don Davis retiring, the unit will get even younger.

 

[Kontradiction]

how about this thread on 01-31-07 before FA period?

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showpost.php?p=324531&postcount=2

What happened?

So Welker IS Troy Brown now? See, that's seriously what I think a lot of people believe, and is a big part of why I started this thread. Is that what you really think? Can you please convince me?

Please quote the exact post where I said that Welker is Troy Brown. I merely compared the two in their similarities. To elaborate: work ethic, the willingness to get the tough yards over the middle, and be stuck wherever he can help his team (Brown at cornerback, Welker at place kicker in '04). Wes Welker is not Troy Brown. He is here to take over for Troy when he retires. So yeah, I'd appreciate it if you didn't try to shove words in my mouth. Thanks.

 

[dhamz]

I also don't see the need to exaggerate Welker in the return game. He's just not a game breaker on returns.

Welker is a very good slot WR who is also a solid KR and PR who doesn't fumble. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

 

[hwc]

So Welker IS Troy Brown now? See, that's seriously what I think a lot of people believe, and is a big part of why I started this thread. Is that what you really think? Can you please convince me?

I think Welker assumes the offensive and special teams roles that Brown has played on the team for the last several years. Possession slot receiver. Return game.

I'm sure he brings a different skill set to the game than Brown does and it's rather pointless to compare the two since Brown is 37 years old and Welker is 25 years old.

I think Welker's skill set will make him a valuable productive player for the Patriots. As Rodney Harrison said, "Wes Welker is a pain in the butt." The Parcells/Belichick coaching tree specializes in "pain in the butt" offensive players.

 

[TeamPats]

While I do feel comfrtoable with Hobbs returning kicks, there is no way we can afford to allow Maroney to return kickoffs anymore as he is far too valuable as our feature back. So I think Welker and Hobbs would be a very good tandem, and also the least spoken of quality of Welker's is his non-return special teams aka as he lines up as a gunner.

 

[Oswlek]

I think that I overrated Welker's KO return abilities, but he is a top PR man. I don't care what the numbers say. Welker has tremendous quickness and agility. He will make some moves that make your jaw drop in the open field.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

So, we're a team that was just a play away from the super bowl last year, and we just had one of the more eventful two off-season weeks that I can ever remember, and what's here today? Wes is likely an overrated returner and Maroney is not proven!

Classic! You'd never guess that most of us are also Red Sox fans, would you?

 

[wdkantro2]

Stats can only take you so far. Have any of you doubters ever actually watched Welker play? He has more straight ahead explosiveness than probably any other return man in the league.
Faulk averaged 10+ per PR, but if you watched him, you would know that he had MANY zero yard returns and also a lot of 15+ yard returns. Welker can pretty much guarantee yardage on punt returns, as well as guaranteeing posession of the ball.

 

[Pat_the_Patriot]

Look... I understand your logic... and can appreciate what you're saying re: the mug of hope on the side... but I DO think that Welker is diff.

Outside of Thomas (for obv. reasons), I am MOST excited by the Welker pickup... if you were going to "mold" a Patriots player 4 years into his career...that guy IS Welker... he shows up to play, he plays hurt, he puts the team first, he doesn't give the ball up, and he isn't afraid to go over the middle.

That being said... I'm not saying that he is the next Troy Brown... what I'm saying, what most (I think) are saying is that he is LIKE Troy Brown. Let me put it another way, if you took all of Vrabel's intangibles and packaged them in a slot receiver you'd have Welker... is Welker the next Vrabel... no.... is he the next "role player" to play beyond his talent for BB and the brain trust at the Razor? YES... or at least I think so. He is a special player... not because of his skill or his attributes, but because of his total and complete WILL to play (well and hard).

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.... and some of us will be right and some of us will be wrong. But, I'll tell you this.... Welker is tough, good, PATRIOT receiver....he plays faster than he is.... he plays bigger than he is... he plays BETTER than he is.

I think he'll be one of our top screen receivers, I think he'll catch it over the middle and I think that TB will be throwing him the ball an awful lot (maybe just because he doesn't drop the ball, he doesn't fumble, and if he's not going to catch the ball... NO ONE is going to catch the ball).

Is he Troy Brown...no way, it would be an insult to Troy to say that.... Brown has given us (Pats fans) WAYYYYYYYY too much for us to say that... but is he a Troy Brown type of player...there is NO DOUBT in my mind. I'd give up a second rounder for a guy like Welker any day of the week.

I hope that answers your question... at least from my viewpoint!

BTW: I think that the Welker signing will end up doing more for the Pats than the Stallworth signing, long term.... I could be wrong, but I think that I'm right.

 

[Gon_Trevil]

Welker also handled 89 punt and kick returns last year without coughing up the ball once.

Troy Brown was not a threat to break many punt returns in his latter years, but he also wasn't a threat to turn the ball over. There's value in that, too.

Except for that one time in the Denver playoff game...


Disclaimer: I love Troy