LaFell is a huge loss; Pats front office makes rare mistake

[patsfan13]

Well this the opportunity for Dobson to create a significant role for himself. He has the opportunity now.

I wonder if Tompkins is brought in Brady really liked him.

This will be the highest scoring O in the NFL barring big injuries.

 

[eom]

Well this the opportunity for Dobson to create a significant role for himself. He has the opportunity now.

I wonder if Tompkins is brought in Brady really liked him.

This will be the highest scoring O in the NFL barring big injuries.

yeah, i'd like to point out that people raved about 2007 + the records, etc -- it was considered one of the best offenses in history.
last year, if you were to subtract out the first 4 weeks + add in the 3 playoff games, that offense was scoring right on pace with 2007.
think they added a little this year

 

[Hoodie]

I honestly think they'll be fine with what they have until LaFell returns.

Depth is certainly a concern, though. Just send some good thoughts Edelman's way.

and save some good thoughts for Amendola since in the past he's been made of glass.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

last time i check miguels numbers we were going to be about 80k over the cap. So oh mighty arm chair GM, where are you going to get the cash to add a starter caliber WR from?

Fair question. We certainly had plenty of money earlier in the offseason when there were some veteran recovers available.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

With LaFell out, Dobson needs to step up and show imrpovement, and Harper has to make an impressive debut

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Those idiots - how dare they let LaFell get injured and a player decide to retire.

They should have signed the nobody else that was available who can come in and start and contribute on a high level right away!

Come on, that is a straw man. The Patriots were lucky last year that LaFell stayed healthy, too. Fair to say, I think it's worth a roster spot for one other outside receiver, though last year I think they thought Dobson would contribute. If you read my post, I made it clear that an adequate outside receiver is a reasonable need, not necessarily someone who plays at a high level.

Look, you can criticize me all you want. The Patriots are scrambling to find a big bodied receiver right now, and they knew they wanted depth because they were in the bidding for several mid-tier veterans. It's not like there was a freak injury either..LaFell was questionable the whole time.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I think you're way off base, but it makes sense that somebody who doesn't acknowledge the Brandon Gibson signing would have that opinion. At the time he got hurt, people were starting to think that he might knock Dobson off the roster.

I certainly could be off base here. I had never thought of Gibson as a big, outside receiver. Again, perhaps I overlooked this.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Before everyone continues bashing the premise, the Patriots FO has clearly seen the need for more depth at the position all throughout the offseason but has continued to roll the dice and hope there will still be someone left, but this is a game of musical chairs where all the seats were taken when the music stopped.

The FA market was flooded with these guys. I don't believe Gibson is the outside receiver I am referring too but could be wrong. Tyms? Come on. Clearly the FO was not sold on these options because they were looking into guys throughout the offseason.

Problem is, they waited too long to pull the trigger and finally went with Wayne, and now it's too late to come up with plan B. As someone pointed out, they are cap strapped, plus there's virtually no one left on the market.

A lot of those guys who walked away, guys who weren't even premium, high-priced free agents, would have made a big difference. Not really trying to bash the FO, just saying they took a gamble and lost. It happens.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Every year ... @ 6 weeks to build the team and this year will be no different ...

Every year a few here want week 6 to come in week 1 ... that's not the way it works here.

 

[Deus Irae]

Every year ... @ 6 weeks to build the team and this year will be no different ...

Every year a few here want week 6 to come in week 1 ... that's not the way it works here.

So..... shut down the forum until week 6, then?

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Every year ... @ 6 weeks to build the team and this year will be no different ...

Every year a few here want week 6 to come in week 1 ... that's not the way it works here.

Did I indicate somewhere that the Pats are toast this year? I have all the confidence in the world they will be great as always. I am talking about weeks 1-6and also the possibility of LaFell being out longer. Sure, they'll adapt and others will step. I get it.

One move is not going to bury this team or get it over the hump...just repeating my offseason theme since February, that the Patriots really need an insurance policy for LaFell. I believe he was a major reason the offense performed well last year against very tough defenses.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

"Loss Sounds Death Knell for Patriots Dynasty"

Sep 30, 2014

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

@Ice_Ice_Brady I don't think your thread post deserves to be flagged with so many disagree ratings. It was a valid critique of a WR depth issue that concerns all of us.

I happen to agree with your view on the Reggie Wayne fiasco. The signing of Wayne shows how desperate Belichick was to add to the depth chart.

After the Pats failed to sign free agents Percy Harvin and Stevie Johnson in March, they didn't really have much of a back up plan in terms of FA signings. And they didn't bother getting a WR in this year's draft either. Their most promising free agent signing, Brandon Gibson, suffered a season-ending injury in the fourth quarter of a preseason game that quite frankly, he shouldn't have been in.

So now, with just one week to go before the season begins, we're in a somewhat precarious position.

But I trust the coaches to figure out what the team needs. They've managed to overcome far far worse (remember 2013?)

This is not a bad thread despite what people say. A zillion good WRs have come out the last 2 years. Many of us who follow the draft were begging the Patriots to prioritize the position.

Jordan Richards may be that rare safety so hard to find.

But if you look at those draft threads, I promise you there are a lot of people who badly wanted guys like Tyler Lockett or Sammie Coates who went in the 3rd round.

I'd love to have either of them right now over Richards.

I'm glad someone pointed out this. We didn't draft one single WR this year, despite the many standouts.

Not saying it was a bad move....but it might've given us an additional option to work with.

 

[JMC00]

The Patriots are scrambling to find a big bodied receiver right now,

Because nesn said so?

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Whatever Dobson gives the team is a bonus. I will not count on him. He has not earned it.

Robert, you should've heard Josh McDaniels yesterday in his press conference. When asked about how the coaches felt about Dobson coming into this year, he didn't exactly give a ringing endorsement

Q: Do you think Aaron Dobson has done enough in the preseason to secure a spot on the roster?

JM: I think our receiver position, it's a competitive situation. I think we had a lot of guys that had opportunities and came in and did some good things with them. Certainly, he's a guy who made some plays for us and went out and tried to do the best he could with his chances. I think ultimately those decisions are going to be made here in the next few days, and Coach [Bill Belichick] will make those final choices as to who will and won't be on the roster.

I think the coaches are gonna do what they can to get the most out of Dobson this season, but it doesn't sound as though they are thrilled about his reliability and effectiveness. I doubt they will lean too heavily on him.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

@Ice_Ice_Brady Have you considered that Cadet might be lined up as a Wide Receiver? That could certainly make a difference

 

[JMC00]

. The signing of Wayne shows how desperate Belichick was to add to the depth chart.

If LaFell, Gibson and Tyms were all 100% healthy Wayne would have never stepped foot in Foxboro. Yet apparently according to some in this thread BB was supposed to foresee the future and know Gibson and Tyms would be put on IR and LaFell would go on PUP to start the season and draft Tyler Lockett or Sammie Coates, both who have shown just as much as Chris Harper has in the nfl.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

@Ice_Ice_Brady Have you considered that Cadet might be lined up as a Wide Receiver? That could certainly make a difference

Interesting idea...I hadn't realized he is 6'1" until you mentioned this. I'm sure the Pats will come up with some great schemes as they usually do to mask deficiencies. Just hope they don't run into situations where defenses force guys like Cadet - in a foreign role - to make a play when the game is on the line.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

If LaFell, Gibson and Tyms were all 100% healthy Wayne would have never stepped foot in Foxboro. Yet apparently according to some in this thread BB was supposed to foresee the future and know Gibson and Tyms would be put on IR and LaFell would go on PUP to start the season and draft Tyler Lockett or Sammie Coates, both who have shown just as much as Chris Harper has in the nfl.

Tyms? I can maybe buy Gibson, but you really think Tyms would be starting week one if he were healthy? 5 receptions last year. I think it's clear he is not the answer.

 

[rochrist]

Two consecutive years of drafts deep in the WR position, and Bill chooses a grand total of…Tiny Gallon.

Un-feckin-believable.

And the OP is correct: LaFell's loss is huge. Safeties will be able to clog the field and leave precious little room for Gronk, Edelman & Amendola to operate.

Did they cut Scott Chandler?