Number 3 Receiver...

[PatriotsRiot93]

Lets get Marvin Harrison to a reconstructed contract.

I think it's imminent that CJ winds up on the IR by week 8 this year....call me pessimistic but prior play predicts future performance. I'd love to be wrong.

 

[The Great Fork]

You must have watched a different season than the rest of us because Stallworth underperformed the entire year and really didn't take much heat off of Moss and Welker. Nor did he perform the way he should have with them drawing so much attention. You also have to remember that, by the end of the year, Gaffney was actually getting more reps than Stallworth was.

Donte had more catches and better YPC, so you can't act as if he wasn't part of the offense, I'm just curious who should replace him as the supposed number 3 option. Fine, Gaffney. I like Gaffney. Just curious. You're harsh, man.

 

[DocE]

I'd love for the Patriots to have another legitimate threat down the field. Nobody showed during the playoffs that they could make a BIG play if Randy was getting a ton of attention. Welker is not that guy, he's not going to catch many passes 25 yards or more down the field. Chad Jackson could be that guy, and I hope he is. It would also help if Watson would make some plays down the seam, which would force teams out of the cover 2 defense.

I think this team still could use another wideout for next year. Jackson has an injury history and is unproven and Gaffney is not a guy that strikes fear in to opposition. If the team is going to continue to run most of their offense out of 3 or 4 WR sets, then it has to have some quality depth.

 

[The Great Fork]

I'd love for the Patriots to have another legitimate threat down the field. Nobody showed during the playoffs that they could make a BIG play if Randy was getting a ton of attention. Welker is not that guy, he's not going to catch many passes 25 yards or more down the field. Chad Jackson could be that guy, and I hope he is. It would also help if Watson would make some plays down the seam, which would force teams out of the cover 2 defense.

I think this team still could use another wideout for next year. Jackson has an injury history and is unproven and Gaffney is not a guy that strikes fear in to opposition. If the team is going to continue to run most of their offense out of 3 or 4 WR sets, then it has to have some quality depth.

That was my biggest concern. Gaffney may have had more reps than Stallworth near the end but only Moss can go deep. I think the team needs someon else to stretch the field, go for the big plays. I keep hearing CJ, but after all his injuries, how can anyone be sure he will have the speed or pure ability anymore?

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

Stallworth really should have been much more of a force... but then again, Moss should have been more visible in the playoffs, and more importantly the superbowl. Having the dumb a s s McDaniels being so stupid for calling dumb a s s plays def. played a part though.

This IS Jacksons time to step it up. He is a bust if he doesn't have at the least a decent year.

Welker is NOT the #3.

He is Brady's most important weapon.

Yes, I said it.

He makes all of the hard catches and blocks so that Moss can get all of the glory.

Welker is the man.

I like Gaffney. He showed me that he belongs here back when he played opposite of eyes wide shut.

I would like to see Washington get some playing time, because I know that he can do it. He was recruited very high in college. Higher than even Stallworth before his injury.

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

That was my biggest concern. Gaffney may have had more reps than Stallworth near the end but only Moss can go deep. I think the team needs someon else to stretch the field, go for the big plays. I keep hearing CJ, but after all his injuries, how can anyone be sure he will have the speed or pure ability anymore?

Stallworth is faster than Moss is...

 

[Seneschal2]

This is, however, Jackson's make or break season, all things considered. I believe he will make it, though.

Pretty much what I said a while ago, that this is his season to shine.

Assuming he's now healthy, and knows the playbook, this is the perfect opportunity for him to produce, primarily because of the gameplanning devoted toward Moss and Welker. Moss will continue to be Brady's first downfield read (he won't be a decoy), but we have to expect the coverage to be tight unless the league's DCs are brainless. This scenario ought to open up downfield opportunities for both Gaffney and Jackson. I hope the offense is designed with this expectation in mind.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I've always felt that numbering WR's fails to truly capture the way in which they are utilized - especially in the Patriots system where both Moss and Stallworth were used in ways that differed from other #1 and #2 WRs of other teams.

But generally both 1 & 2 WRs have the ability to go deep - and while we had that with both Moss and Stallworth last year, Stallworth really wasn't used as a deep threat - and his stats bear that out.

That's not to knock the guy - he can't control how he is used and he is MUCH more than JUST a deep threat. But the fact is he wasn't used as a deep threat and Defenses caught onto that later in the season and knew they could double cover Moss without the threat of someone else beating them deep.

So for next year, seeing as Gaffney was getting more looks late last season as it was (and doing a good job too) I expect Gaffney will line up on the other side of Moss. Chad Jackson, as a potential deep threat, would make more sense assuming he could 1.) Prove himself as a deep threat and 2.) Assuming McDaniels would use him that way - but those are two big assumptions.

What this leaves us with is a #2 WR who is not a deep threat. That means a safety isn't going to have to spend much time worrying about Gaffney (or Welker for that matter) beating him deep. They can simply focus on limiting the damage caused by Moss - as they did later last season, when we saw many more close games than we did early in the season when Defenses were worried about Stallworth's 19 YPC average he had for the Eagles.

But in answer to the ultimate question, Welker was and remains the "#3 WR" in the traditional sense of the term regardless of whether he has 50, 100 or 200 catches next season

 

[tatepatsfan]

I'd say it is Gaffney's spot to lose, as it seems Brady has developed a nice rapport with him on the field.

On the other hand, Gaffney seemingly took the job from Stallworth last year, so there is no reason why Jackson couldn't do the same.

 

[signbabybrady]

Donte had more catches and better YPC, so you can't act as if he wasn't part of the offense, I'm just curious who should replace him as the supposed number 3 option. Fine, Gaffney. I like Gaffney. Just curious. You're harsh, man.

The point people make when Bringing up that Gaffney had passed Stallworth on the depth chart is that In trying to replace Stallworth you are actually replacing the 4th option not third as Gaffney was the 3rd option down the stretch.

I think you under rate Gaffney as a deep threat, he does have pretty good speed...not the speed Stallworth has but more complete reciever and he does have deep threat speed.

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

Welker was and remains the "#3 WR" in the traditional sense of the term regardless of whether he has 50, 100 or 200 catches next season

technically, where he is playing from... yes.

 

[signbabybrady]

But in answer to the ultimate question, Welker was and remains the "#3 WR" in the traditional sense of the term regardless of whether he has 50, 100 or 200 catches next season

I dont think their is a traditional sense here. There are more technical names for the positions (x, y, z) so that there is no confusion there. If you are talking numbers than IMO you are talking about the QBs perferred targets. 1 moss 2 Welker ect.....

 

[State]

I'd love for the Patriots to have another legitimate threat down the field. Nobody showed during the playoffs that they could make a BIG play if Randy was getting a ton of attention. Welker is not that guy, he's not going to catch many passes 25 yards or more down the field. Chad Jackson could be that guy, and I hope he is. It would also help if Watson would make some plays down the seam, which would force teams out of the cover 2 defense.

I think this team still could use another wideout for next year. Jackson has an injury history and is unproven and Gaffney is not a guy that strikes fear in to opposition. If the team is going to continue to run most of their offense out of 3 or 4 WR sets, then it has to have some quality depth.

Good points, DocE. That's why, when the Jets spite us by picking Gholston at #7, we can trade down and grab Devon Thomas, a legitimate deep threat (4.43) who is also big enough (6'2", 210) to be a possession receiver or go across the middle. He was the most impressive receiver at the meat market, catching EVRYTHING thrown his way. Last year he grabbed 79 receptions for 1260 yards. Let's see the third string DB cover him, a more talented Gaffney and a more durable Jackson.

He's good kickoff returner, too.

Tom Brady's talent is too precious to let ride on the #3 guys we have. We know teams are going to smother Moss, beat the crap out of Welker, and let things ride with our #3 guy. Let's be special, people.

In addition, we can go for a CB or a linebacker with the extra pick moving down. Gawd, our LBer corps is aged and slow.

 

[OhExaulted1]

The #3 option is Ben Watson with Kevin Faulk a close #4. The "#2" WR is actually the 5th option and will get maybe 40 catches. I think it will end up being Gaffney and Jackson will be a bust. I beleive Washington will end up with more receptions than CJ.

 

[JoeSixPat]

The #3 option is Ben Watson with Kevin Faulk a close #4. The "#2" WR is actually the 5th option and will get maybe 40 catches. I think it will end up being Gaffney and Jackson will be a bust. I beleive Washington will end up with more receptions than CJ.

Looks like there's multiple definitions of 1, 2, and 3 WRs as I thought - everyone is convinced their definition is the right one.

In my book it has nothing to do with how many passes a WR catches - though typically - but not always - the #1 and #2 WR have the most catches.

The 1 and the 2 line up outside. The 1 is usually the best deep threat - but the 2 can usually go deep too. The #3 is the workhorse catching many short passes and the #4 is usually the possession/3rd down receiver.

So the fact that Welker led the team in catches didn't make him our #1 WR - or even #2.

Moss and Stallworth lined up on the outside - strangely Stallworth wasn't used as a deep threat as he was in Philly - and that allowed the defenses to cover Moss tighter (teams were worried earlier in the year and devoted significant coverage to Stallworth as well as Moss but eventually McDaniels let them know that was unnecessary).

So while we had a legitimate #2 WR last year we used him more like a #3. This year we might not have a legitimate #2 WR and even if we do, it remains to be seen if McDaniels takes an approach of having a #1 in Moss - and then multiple #3 and #4s - inviting teams to constantly double cover Moss with no threat of anyone else beating them deep (not that we necessarilly have anyone who truly can).

 

[The Great Fork]

Stallworth is faster than Moss is...

And he is a Brown now. I was talking about this season, not last.

 

[The Great Fork]

Looks like there's multiple definitions of 1, 2, and 3 WRs as I thought - everyone is convinced their definition is the right one.

In my book it has nothing to do with how many passes a WR catches - though typically - but not always - the #1 and #2 WR have the most catches.

The 1 and the 2 line up outside. The 1 is usually the best deep threat - but the 2 can usually go deep too. The #3 is the workhorse catching many short passes and the #4 is usually the possession/3rd down receiver.

So the fact that Welker led the team in catches didn't make him our #1 WR - or even #2.

Moss and Stallworth lined up on the outside - strangely Stallworth wasn't used as a deep threat as he was in Philly - and that allowed the defenses to cover Moss tighter (teams were worried earlier in the year and devoted significant coverage to Stallworth as well as Moss but eventually McDaniels let them know that was unnecessary).

So while we had a legitimate #2 WR last year we used him more like a #3. This year we might not have a legitimate #2 WR and even if we do, it remains to be seen if McDaniels takes an approach of having a #1 in Moss - and then multiple #3 and #4s - inviting teams to constantly double cover Moss with no threat of anyone else beating them deep (not that we necessarilly have anyone who truly can).

I agree with this description of who is the #1, #2, etc. I just figured describing Stallworth/Gaffney as the "#2" would get me instantly flamed by people screaming saying Welker was the #2.

 

[Xzibit23]

Stallworth is faster than Moss is...

lol..you really dont like Moss do you. Why any Pats fan would feel anything but love for Randy Moss is beyond me.