Wes Welker - A Deion Branch clone?

[PATRIOT64]

From what I have seen in highlights at times of Wes Welker,it almost looks like a mirror image of how Branch played here in New England,Crisp routes,not afraid to head into traffic,a good set of hands and a good communication with the quarterback and both have similar blocking skills downfield.

Its looks like we may have finally landed the next Deion here in New England this year-and for the next several years as it looks now.

If he is what I think he is,He may be the best receiver of all of these guys this year..Yes that includes Stallworth and Moss.

 

[solman]

From what I have seen in highlights at times of Wes Welker,it almost looks like a mirror image of how Branch played here in New England,Crisp routes,not afraid to head into traffic,a good set of hands and a good communication with the quarterback and both have similar blocking skills downfield.

Its looks like we may have finally landed the next Deion here in New England this year-and for the next several years as it looks now.

If he is what I think he is,He may be the best receiver of all of these guys this year..Yes that includes Stallworth and Moss.

Welker isn't the same sort of receiver as Stallworth and Moss. A more apt comparisson would be to Troy Brown (and as much as I love Troy, I think Welker will ultimately prove a better receiver).

 

[PATRIOT64]

Welker isn't the same sort of receiver as Stallworth and Moss. A more apt comparisson would be to Troy Brown (and as much as I love Troy, I think Welker will ultimately prove a better receiver).

You read it wrong...I compared Welker to Branch - not Stallworth or Moss...I said I could see Welker having a bigger year than those 2 guys in terms of yardage and catches although I think Moss will be leading TD maker at the WR position for the Pats

 

[pats63]

I am sure the the open reciever will get the ball....Man,I can't wait...

 

[primetime]

You read it wrong...I compared Welker to Branch - not Stallworth or Moss...I said I could see Welker having a bigger year than those 2 guys in terms of yardage and catches although I think Moss will be leading TD maker at the WR position for the Pats

I definitely agree. Welker was next to impossible for the Patriots to cover. In the game against the Dolphins that they won, it looked like they were going to lose until Belichick started putting two guys on him. In the game they lost, they couldn't handle him.

There's a reason they gave up a 2nd rounder for him, weak draft or no.

He's also already started becoming involved in the team, attending charity events and whatnot like Faulk's softball game. I think he really appreciates being able to play. He reminds me alot of Troy Brown, in both talent and character.

 

[patsox23]

Good Lord. If Welker's a Deion Branch, I'm thrilled. But this thread is the kind of fan-boy wet-dream posting I'm used to seeing at jetsinsider.com. Aren't we better than this? Can we just take him for the nifty, nice little player he likely will be and not fantasize to the point of insanity?

 

[PATRIOT64]

Good Lord. If Welker's a Deion Branch, I'm thrilled. But this thread is the kind of fan-boy wet-dream posting I'm used to seeing at jetsinsider.com. Aren't we better than this? Can we just take him for the nifty, nice little player he likely will be and not fantasize to the point of insanity?

From what I have seen of him on film highlights,I don't think its impossible to think he can be Deion Branch-like

Its not as if I am saying he is like a Jerry Rice or Marvin Harrison which he is not even close to that dominating type of WR.

Deion was very good,not great but very good at what he did and a comparison is not really a 'wet dream' as you call it,comparing Welker to a HOFer is going over the edge,not with Deion who fit perfectly with the Patriots offensive plans and to which I think Welker will adjust very similar once the season begins.

 

[JaredOfNazareth]

From what I have seen in highlights at times of Wes Welker,it almost looks like a mirror image of how Branch played here in New England,Crisp routes,not afraid to head into traffic,a good set of hands and a good communication with the quarterback and both have similar blocking skills downfield.

Its looks like we may have finally landed the next Deion here in New England this year-and for the next several years as it looks now.

If he is what I think he is,He may be the best receiver of all of these guys this year..Yes that includes Stallworth and Moss.

You are high! You must be on drugs. Welker is not Deion Branch! He is not even better than Caldwell, was #3 in Miami, was behind Marty Booker. He catches maybe 40 passes next year. I would bet under.

BTW, I actually like the guy. He will help us a lot this season. But please stop comparing him to the Super Bowl MVP!!!!

 

[JaredOfNazareth]

Good Lord. If Welker's a Deion Branch, I'm thrilled. But this thread is the kind of fan-boy wet-dream posting I'm used to seeing at jetsinsider.com. Aren't we better than this? Can we just take him for the nifty, nice little player he likely will be and not fantasize to the point of insanity?

Amen brother! Amen. I am not as kind as you in my remarks. I like the "nifty little player" tag for him as well.

 

[DarrylS]

I definitely agree. Welker was next to impossible for the Patriots to cover. In the game against the Dolphins that they won, it looked like they were going to lose until Belichick started putting two guys on him. In the game they lost, they couldn't handle him.

There's a reason they gave up a 2nd rounder for him, weak draft or no.

He's also already started becoming involved in the team, attending charity events and whatnot like Faulk's softball game. I think he really appreciates being able to play. He reminds me alot of Troy Brown, in both talent and character.

That is a pretty good synopsis, remember Rodney Harrison speaking about how difficult he was to cover.. really like the way he is making the charity circuit with these guys, if I were to write how to do some "team building" this would be the way to do it. Seems as though he enjoys being here have felt all along that he along with Thomas are very significant signings for this team.

 

[Aqua4Ever04]

You are high! You must be on drugs. Welker is not Deion Branch! He is not even better than Caldwell, was #3 in Miami, was behind Marty Booker. He catches maybe 40 passes next year. I would bet under.

BTW, I actually like the guy. He will help us a lot this season. But please stop comparing him to the Super Bowl MVP!!!!

Glad to see some here get it. If you are predicting 75 catches close to 1000 yards and a Super Bowl MVP for Welker, you have to be on some serious drugs. I'd say about 40 catches for 500 yards and 0 or 1 TDs for Welker.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

He is going to be a factor with Moss being double teamed, he will be left underneath,which we all know that is when Brady is at his best..

 

[livinginthe past]

Glad to see some here get it. If you are predicting 75 catches close to 1000 yards and a Super Bowl MVP for Welker, you have to be on some serious drugs. I'd say about 40 catches for 500 yards and 0 or 1 TDs for Welker.

You sound pretty confident.

Wanna make a bet?

 

[FarScapeR]

I think people here are underestimating Welker's ability as a possession receiver. He isn't just the slot guy who'll catch a 10 yard pass and go down. With Stallworth and Moss covered, he'll find his way to the endzone quite a few times.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

On NFLN the other night they took a look at NE's embarassment of riches at the WR position. They showed clips of what guys do best, how they do it and why it works. Well actually, they focused on 3 guys. They showed Randy and Donte basically running away from coverage on the outside, but the guy they positively salivated over was Welker. Said it's not speed but quick feet and his ability to change direction that flumoxes his coverage. And they highlighted his fearlessness and determination going over the middle. They noted that with Moss and Stallworth on the field teams will struggle to cover Welker, and if they do that will leave Brady to pick them apart on the outside with one of the other two.

It takes some folks longer than others to see the forrest for the trees. Belichick didn't trade a 2nd rounder for a "nifty little player". Unless of course your definition of a "nifty little player" is Troy Brown in his prime. It was never speed or size with Troy, but savvy and a PR's elusive quick first step that made him difficult to defend even in the absence of bigger threats. That's a guy who among other things can be your #1 WR when the situation dictates, just like Wes was for the hapless Miami Dolphins last season... Imagine that guy playing with a competent QB and you understand all that BB potentially sees in Wes.

Or you won't because you are locked in to defending your own uninformed prior assessments - or because your a dolphins troll incapable of rationally assessing much of anything football related.

 

[dhamz]

Now Welker is Deion Branch at WR? He's already been dubbed a game breaker as a kick returner/punt returner. This guy seems like a lock HOFer at this point.

I just wonder why people don't think what he is (a very good slot WR who will move the chains on third down and a solid return man who isn't going to break them often but makes good decisions, gets the yards that are there, and doesn't fumble) is good enough? That is what Troy Brown has made a career of forever and Welker is a younger version of Troy.

 

[Referee]

From what I have seen in highlights at times of Wes Welker,it almost looks like a mirror image of how Branch played here in New England,Crisp routes,not afraid to head into traffic,a good set of hands and a good communication with the quarterback and both have similar blocking skills downfield.

Its looks like we may have finally landed the next Deion here in New England this year-and for the next several years as it looks now.

If he is what I think he is,He may be the best receiver of all of these guys this year..Yes that includes Stallworth and Moss.

Living in Miami I saw a lot of Wes Welker and HE is the one player NO ONE wanted to see go! Miami wouldn't paaaaaaahhht with the $$$ to keep him so wait till he plays against the Fins! On Special Teams he is superb and he will give it everything he has to make a play. New England fans will appreciate his talent. Look for many kids and fans to be wearing Welker jerseys this season... He is a great acquisition. Remember Larry Izzo when he came from the Dolphins... He kinda worked out well?

 

[Welker83]

he's very similiar to branch...except for his 4.7 forty time...

 

[JoeSixPat]

Glad to see some here get it. If you are predicting 75 catches close to 1000 yards and a Super Bowl MVP for Welker, you have to be on some serious drugs. I'd say about 40 catches for 500 yards and 0 or 1 TDs for Welker.

We shall see. But I'm not expecting our leading receiver is going to be Moss or Stallworth. They'll have a great YPC but the majority of catches are going to be in the 10 yard range... and that means Welker's going to see a lot of balls coming his way.

Now unless this guy can't hold onto the ball - and from what I've seen that's not an issue with him - he's going to have every opportunity to at least equal last year's production and then some.

So in our system, comparisons to "Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch" aren't as farfetched as they may seem. If Dolphin fans ever wind up winning a Super Bowl in the modern day era they'll realize that the MVP tag is a bit over-rated. Every SB win has been a team effort.

 

[Pats726]

But please stop comparing him to the Super Bowl MVP!!!!

gee...Branch is on a pedestal..we all bow down to him...Frankly, I think in many ways THAT award was the worst thing for him and the team...No doubt he had a great playoff series and a great game there..but??? Having a great game or series of games does NOT in anyway put him in the top 10 receivers in the league. (gee did you miss all the many threads about him and where he ranks??) I think after that award a LOT went to his head..and he thought a LOT MORE of what he was worth than not... And the Patriots? They knew his defeciencies and a few months later went after Mason...Hmmm Really?? they went after HIM despite the SUPER BOWL MVP??? I wonder what that says about how the Pats saw his ability..
I liked Branch a lot but his attitude about his contract?? A total loser... Welker will be a solid receiver but will be similar to TroyB..Dare anyone compare him to Branch....??