The Myth of Wes Welker, Return Man

[cubedoggy]

Yep, I saw that, too. The more I looked into Welker and read up on him, checked his stats, the less I liked the deal. So sue me for researching, realizing what many of you should now know, and waking up to reality.

backpedalbackpedalbackpedalbackpedalbackpedal...

muff.

 

[ClevTrev]

The only thing you need to know about this signing is that the coaches like it, the players like it, and Welker likes it. Rodney does not throw kudos around every day, but he was thrilled to have Welker on the Pats. That's good enough for me.

 

[patsox23]

How is it a backpedal to have NOT gone with just what I had passively known about Welker, heard people referring to him as a "gamebreaker" and an elite returner, looked into it and come to grips with what I see as the reality og who he IS? Because this thread was intended to be about who he IS, as opposed to what he MIGHT be. It is not meant to criticize him, but to temper the crazy a little. So much for that.

In any case, I sure hope you guys are right and I'm wrong.

 

[ClevTrev]

In any case, I sure hope you guys are right and I'm wrong.

You only need to know that BB/SP are right. Welker will have a role on this team that will make him very effective. I have full confidence in that.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

I can't believe I'm the only one who knows this.

Nerd......

 

[RayClay]

Nerd......

They all want to argue so much they keep blowing by it.

...........If there was just one piece of evidence to indicate if Welker was a breakaway return threat..................................



Where could we find this deciding piece of evidence???????

 

[Dragda]

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.

I think a few fans are going overboard with enthusiasm over the Welker signing. Some fans often see something that the rest of us don't or are imagining something that will never be. I've done it.

Welker: Solid pickup. Perhaps we overspent. He's not that great. Most of us realize that right? He's a slot receiver.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

They all want to argue so much they keep blowing by it.

...........If there was just one piece of evidence to indicate if Welker was a breakaway return threat..................................



Where could we find this deciding piece of evidence???????

I know about it ... in fact I remember telling NEM about it. BB knows about it.

 

[RayClay]

I know about it ... in fact I remember telling NEM about it. BB knows about it.

Wouldn't 8 TDs indicate breakaway PR ability?

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

Wouldn't 8 TDs indicate breakaway PR ability?

of course.............

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

you can't breakaway though if the ST don't block worth a damn though. You may make the 1st guy miss, and even the 2nd, but the 3rd guy will get you. But with a good unit, yeah.........

 

[cubedoggy]

How is it a backpedal to have NOT gone with just what I had passively known about Welker, heard people referring to him as a "gamebreaker" and an elite returner, looked into it and come to grips with what I see as the reality og who he IS?

Oh, I guess because you went from your position in the older thread to what amounts to a Borgesian, or, perhaps, Felgerian revision of Welker's performance now that he is on the team.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Look people are going to argue and ***** alot about the money we gave to him and the picks we gave up.

The picks sucked giving away because lets face it he wasn't worth a 2nd rounder.

BUT, that was the asking price for which they would have received him and the Patriots valued him highly enough to devote a high pick to a player who they believe can help in many aspects of the game.

Did anyone mention he can do kick returns and Field Goals if a kicker goes down in a game?

Weird but doable.

Welker doesn't have blazing speeds or highlight catching hands. But what he does have is a sure fire motor that gives you 110% no matter how long he is on that field. If you need two yards he'll get you 3. You need a first down, he'll get you more, you need that catch he will make it. He is more of a sure bet than any other receiver on this team and I'm willing to put money on it.

He wont lead the team or even be the central focus of the offense, but he will make more game changing plays that most of his teammates whether on offense or special teams.

He is a complete package that most of you just don't want to see that he is.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

Oh, I guess because you went from your position in the older thread to what amounts to a Borgesian, or, perhaps, Felgerian revision of Welker's performance now that he is on the team.

Welker is overrated and overpaid. Get with the script.

 

[cubedoggy]

Welker is overrated and overpaid. Get with the script.

I'm sorry.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

He is a complete package that most of you just don't want to see that he is.

This is Boston. The Red Sox 's new piticher, Dice-K gave up a run or two in preseason and he's a bust.

 

[Kontradiction]

How is it a backpedal to have NOT gone with just what I had passively known about Welker, heard people referring to him as a "gamebreaker" and an elite returner, looked into it and come to grips with what I see as the reality og who he IS? Because this thread was intended to be about who he IS, as opposed to what he MIGHT be. It is not meant to criticize him, but to temper the crazy a little. So much for that.

In any case, I sure hope you guys are right and I'm wrong.

I'm glad you realized that your argument basically imploded a couple of pages ago. Now we can put this to rest.

 

[Seneschal2]

Wouldn't 8 TDs indicate breakaway PR ability?

Some may argue, "Oh, but that was on the college level." Then you come back with, "But he returned 3 on the NFL level (SD and Miami). Sure, blocking is important -- but let's get real here. 11 return TDs with 3 different ST units. OUCH!"

 

[dhamz]

He holds the NCAA record for return yards and 8 punt returns for touchdowns.

Sounds like a possible game breaker to me. Texas Tech plays in the big 12 with Texas and Nebraska, among others.

8 punt return TDs!

I can't believe I'm the only one who knows this.

Does that mean Antonio Perkins is also a gamebreaker at return man for the Browns? He also had 8 punt return TDs in college - even had 3 in one game against UCLA. And he did it in the same conference as Welker in the same time period.

And if 8 return TDs in college makes you a game breaker, why doesn't Romeo use Perkins on returns? Becasue the NFL isn't the Big 12.

Welker is a solid return man. I'm still not sure why saying that is an insult.

 

[stcjones]

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.

You may take some heat here......but I agree with you completely. Alot of people are looking at Welker like a #1 WR threat....which to this point HE IS NOT........His receptions almost all came in the "dump off" or slot position...and he only recorded ONE TD all year at WR.........Now, do I think BB/Pioli can utilize him to produce even GREATER things, and play a wide variety of positions for us ala Troy? Most definitely. I have seen alot of what this kid brings to the table...especially in the "fire/true grit" perspective......He is an every down player with a great motor......He does not quit and doesn't give up........He has alot of potential given the right situation. I think people need to be realistic here.......and like you provide in your stats......he is no Hester at this point given last year's figures....I'm sure alot of that had to do with Miami's poor ST blocking as well......but I for one agree with almost everything you say here......good realistic post.....