The Benjamin Watson we all imagined?

[PatsFanInVa]

The original post - comparing Watson to Windslow, Troupe, et al., was a little less far reaching than some of the followups. Think about this...

Okay, I have to preface this with the fact that I did not see him play yesterday (which will be the jumping off point for much derision,) but I've seen just about every other Pats game this season, and my guess is he's showing more of the same, but with more of the coverage rolled over onto Moss.

Watson has acted like a superstar tight end this season. I'm not saying that won't continue... and now he is obviously the beneficiary of the stretched field. Put everybody on Moss, and voila, Watson looks brilliant.

But against the likes of Gates and (still) Gonzales, you have to look at years of production. You also have to understand that the Pats will drop the Watson looks like a hot potato, if he's drawing the coverage. That's the Patriot way: take what the D gives you. Truth be told, they've been hard pressed to cover anybody on this team, the result of an infusion of talent and speed in the receiving corps. Romeo reached back to the Rams super bowl, and decided they needed to take away one guy, and this time in the Marshall Faulk role, it was Randy Moss. The result was not the same, though.

What comes next? Probably on many Sundays, the same thing. Probably, Watson has a fantastic season... but think about Gates, having fantastic seasons year in and year out, despite the lack of a Brady throwing to him, despite the lack of a Moss/Welker/Stallworth receiver stable playing with him. Same with Gonzales, if you take away last year.

As a combo, complete tight end, Watson is among the best, but it's still Kyle Brady we call on as the road grader, unless there were indications to the contrary yesterday (again, didn't see that game.)

Just playing the devil's advocate, as usual.

He's one of the best, and that's enough for me... the "better than Gates" idea seems all wet to me.

But back to Patschick's original post... Watson still has time to become that... this year may be the start of it.

PFnV

 

[fourthandmiles]

Just from the game yesterday it has to be Watson hands down. I was there and my buddy had Winslow on his fantasy team so we watched him extra close. I had a good laugh.

KW couple nice grabs in the 4th quarter which is pretty predictable since the DBs were most likely playing deep, but also had the fumble and he missed a chance to score at the end when he stepped out. Although he did not have Brady throwing to him either but that has nothing to do with the fumble.

Watson was just getting it done.

 

[Nordy]

Some of you seem to be underrating Winslow. The guy is a very good player.

 

[Remix 6]

Some of you seem to be underrating Winslow. The guy is a very good player.

yeah. he didnt have that good of a game but hes also playing with a bad shoulder that hes going to play through the season with

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

I was one of those who saw a major future for Thomas, although I don't know if I actually claimed that he would take over the starting position.

However, Watson really impressed me today. He has made a major improvement so far this year, and is showing that he might be one of the best tight ends in the league right now.

I also posted on that thread in praise of Thomas, though I also never did it at the expense of Watson. Watson was a #1, so I expected big things (and he is delivering). He's much better this year and I couldn't be happier.

I only thought that Thomas, being a 3rd, was a great value. I have since rethought it, and am coming the the conclusion that he's somewhat brittle. Watson is far superior.

Watson looked terrific yesterday. It was great to see both him and Stallworth stepping up in a game where Moss was not his usual dominant force.

From the get-go, Winslow acted like he'd served detention with Roethlisberger at the Summer Camp for Better Judgment. Much rather have Watson.

Well, not sure "stepping up" was the right phrase. Stallworth dropped a sure LONG GAINER and left a play or two out there. Watson was great though. I think it was a function of how Cleveland defended us. Moss draw a HUGE crowd on on every play and Welker was blanketed too. The beauty of this whole offense is that when you do that, you're gonna have a lot of mismatches on the TE and one-on-one's with the #3 guy.

That left plenty of plays for Stallworth and Big Ben. Don't get me wrong, they played pretty good, but their production stemmed mostly from the fact that "that's was the D was giving us".

 

[patchick]

But against the likes of Gates and (still) Gonzales, you have to look at years of production.

Absolutely. Those are HOF-type careers.

He's one of the best, and that's enough for me

That's really all I was getting at. As Watson enters the prime of his career he has developed into an excellent all-around player, among the top 25% of starters at the position, and arguably the best tight end to enter the league in a 3-4 year period. What's more, the other players in that argument -- say Winslow and Vernon Davis -- were top-10 picks. So Watson has to be considered a heck of a #32 pick. And we have to be considered blissfully spoiled that Watson doesn't stand out as a star on this team!

 

[PatsFan37]

Well, not sure "stepping up" was the right phrase. Stallworth dropped a sure LONG GAINER and left a play or two out there. Watson was great though.

Not sure what you mean by stepping up. To me, it means stepping up production when another player is injured or drawing the attention of the defense. According to some media scribe, yesterday was Watson's first 100-yard game since high school, so that's got to count as stepping up. Also, I think he caught everything thrown his way.

Stallworth had 77 yds total offense, which ain't bad.

We're quibbling over details here. This team has some serious weapons and serious speed across the entire offense.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Absolutely. Those are HOF-type careers.
And we have to be considered blissfully spoiled that Watson doesn't stand out as a star on this team!

Though this production, last year, would have made him the island of sanity in a world gone mad. Combo-pack of:

1) improvement (I seem to remember a lot of dropped balls last year on his part,) and

2) Pressure and coverage are off him.

The only question is, do we keep the whole stable when the bill comes due? Gni gni gni... Eh, I'll worry about this year until February or so.

PFnV

 

[N.Eman]

Brady going to him all the 4 quarters of the game its catching defense either off guard or single coverage on Watson which is resulting in points on the board. He'll continue to do well this season, just part of the opposing defense scheme in keeping them guessing.

 

[Oswlek]

What is weird about Watson's improved blocking is the fact that he looked bad in preseason. Every time I watched him block in the PS he was either shedded easily or outright blown up.

Then the regular season comes and he is dramatically improved. I suppose that some of this could be due to the return of Kyle Brady. Maybe they had Watson doing things in the PS that would normally be Brady's responsibility and now he has easier responsibiliteis. I don't know.

And he has been everything you could ask for as a receiver. He as #1 at footballoutsiders in DVOA by a wide margin going into this week with a ridiculous catch % in the 90's. Some if it most certainly less double teams, but he looks more natural out there right now. Frankly, he looks more comfortable than I ever expected him to be. I sold myself on the idea that he was a physical freak who was mildly akward on the football field. He doesn't look that way now.

So, long story short (I know, too late) if Watson keeps this up all year, he would have to be considered one of the best TEs in the leage. His blocking is good and his receiving is exceptional. What else is there?

 

[sebman2112]

Absolutely. Those are HOF-type careers.




That's really all I was getting at. As Watson enters the prime of his career he has developed into an excellent all-around player, among the top 25% of starters at the position, and arguably the best tight end to enter the league in a 3-4 year period. What's more, the other players in that argument -- say Winslow and Vernon Davis -- were top-10 picks. So Watson has to be considered a heck of a #32 pick. And we have to be considered blissfully spoiled that Watson doesn't stand out as a star on this team!

Yes, Watson has improved this season but I've felt for awhile he was a very good TE and still developing. Remember Benjamin missed almost his entire rookie year and he's just recently secured two years worth of experience. The fact that Watson has improved his routes and seems more aware of what's going on should have been somewhat expected considering that previous lack of experience. His hands and ability to hold onto the ball improving show a lot of dedication on his part as you're only improving those areas of your game through hours of practice. And to think the 2006 version of Watson recorded 49 receptions the most by a Patriots TE since 1998 (My boi Ben Coates). Benjamin's improved blocking has also been a welcome sight.

This is part of the reason I thought NE's 2007 offense could be so dangerous. If opposing teams try and take away Moss than they'll have to worry about putting Stallworth or Welker one-on-one or Watson one-on-one against a Safety Who he's likely bigger and faster than. If they try and take away both Moss and Welker/Stallworth than Watson's likely one-on-one against a LB (bad idea). All three of Moss, Stallworth and Watson can stretch the field so you've got to worry about creating a big gap for Welker, Morris or Faulk to work in underneath. You've also got to worry about NE's stretching the field when it comes to Maroney and Morris running the ball (pretty nice combo). And, while Welker's not really a burner and a threat to stretch the field he is very quick/shifty and hard to cover. I can truly say I find the idea of stopping NE's offense a complete headache.

There's to many options for Brady and their offensive line is playing to good right now. If you overload the line your not guaranteed to get at Brady and then you're leaving some dangerous offensive weapons one-on-one or wide open if you don't get to Brady.

 

[Frezo]

Crumpler over Gates??

Clark over ALL of those??

yeesh

I could see Todd Heap in that mix.