Camp Battles: WR

[Metaphors]

Locked Down Roster Spots
Split End: Moss
Slot: Welker

Camp Battle
CJackson vs Gaffney vs KWashington for Flanker

I don't believe this battle is for a roster spot but instead for roles and playing time. Stallworth is gone and effectively wasn't replaced. While healthy TEs will pick up some of the slack, the side of the field opposite Moss is ripe with opportunity.

CJack is the logical candidate to take advantage of that opportunity. He has the physical skills to thrive against 1-on-1 soft coverage with little help over the top. He still has to prove he can handle the route adjustments and develop a comfort level with Brady to get himself on the field.

Gaffney has already forced his way onto the field and seems to have a good working relationship with Brady. His skills are not ideally suited for the flanker position (though not horrible either) and he is playing on a 1 year deal.

Washington just adds to the interest factor at this position. He will be just 29 during this season and had all the physical talent you could hope for coming out of college. Turning himself into a top-notch special teams guy last year surely made an impression on the coaching staff. Will that translate into some catches on offense this year?

Metaphorically Speaking
CJack showed some good things in 2006 but like most rookie WRs wasn't effective enough on the practice field or on gameday to get more opportunities. 2007 was a lost year for him after surgery so he didn't get the expected sophomore bump. His ceiling is just too high not to get the first crack at filling the flanker void.

Gaffney will get his chances with his route-running and effort...and so he gets the 4th WR spot and the chance to move up and down the line of scrimmage. He also would fill the slot role if Welker goes down. Look for Washington to get lots of pre-season chances outside as well, to see if a year of koolaid drinking causes him to recapture that potential coming out of Tennessee. In the end, he will have to find his way back on the roster through special teams play.

Roster to date:
1-2: QB Brady, Gutierrez
3-5: RB Maroney, Faulk, Morris
6-9: WR Moss, Welker, CJackson, Gaffney
46: QB O'Connell (gameday inactive)

Cut or Traded: Cassel
Battling for Special Teams: Evans, Eckel, KWashington, Aiken

TEs up next...

 

[tombonneau]

Obviously you are right, the top 5 roster spots are locked down. Just a matter of in what order.

I really hope CJax shows enough to be starting in Stallworth's spot by game 1. If not, Gaffney is a decent fallback plan.

Though I think you might have missed a battle: I think for WR5 you'll have a legit competition between Washington vs. Slater vs. Aiken. The latter two are assumed to just be ST guys, but if either shows more than Washington, I could see them seizing the WR5 spot with the other two relegated to ST duty.

That said, I fully expect Washington to be the WR5; Slater is the only one IMO with a chance to challenge him.

 

[Kdo5]

Gaffney SHOULD have the upperhand and be opposite Moss as our #3 on opening day unless he absolutely sh!ts the bed during TC and preseason.

 

[Metaphors]

Though I think you might have missed a battle: I think for WR5 you'll have a legit competition between Washington vs. Slater vs. Aiken. The latter two are assumed to just be ST guys, but if either shows more than Washington, I could see them seizing the WR5 spot with the other two relegated to ST duty.

Seriously? You and I caught as many passes as the #5 receiver in 2007. What makes you think 2008 will be any different? When the Pats go 5-wide, the 5th guy is probably going to be a TE or RB, not a WR.

 

[Rob0729]

I for one will be disapointed that we won't have the annual Bam Childress hype this preseason.

I actually hope Jackson lives up to his draft pick position this year. I do believe he didn't see the field last year more because the Patriots learned from their mistakes and didn't want to rush him back rather than him not being good enough to be activated.

 

[Kontradiction]

Like I said in another thread, this needs to be Jackson's breakout year if he lines up opposite Moss. This year, Moss is guarunteed to face double coverage from just about every team we play against. Welker is going to be keyed on a lot more. Production from Jackson will really help our passing game out.

 

[PatsFan37]

Seriously? You and I caught as many passes as the #5 receiver in 2007. What makes you think 2008 will be any different? When the Pats go 5-wide, the 5th guy is probably going to be a TE or RB, not a WR.

Last year was a fluke in that Moss, Welker, and Gaff were healthy all year. DBs and WRs usually suffer as many or more injuries as other positions, because of the speed and violence of their collisions. For that reason, I think the 5th guy has to be a competent receiver.

To me, WR #5 must excel in STs play to make the roster, but must also have a great rapport with Brady. STs play alone will not be enough. This, I think, gives Washington a huge advantage over rookies and first year vets.He was great at STs last year, is a competent receiver, has a nose for the ball, good hands, and terrific body control. It all adds up to a guy who will be hard to knock out of that 5 slot.

Personally, I think he's going to give CJack a run for his money for the #4 slot. And yes, you got that right, he's one of my binkies this TC.

 

[tombonneau]

Last year was a fluke in that Moss, Welker, and Gaff were healthy all year. DBs and WRs usually suffer as many or more injuries as other positions, because of the speed and violence of their collisions. For that reason, I think the 5th guy has to be a competent receiver.

To me, WR #5 must excel in STs play to make the roster, but must also have a great rapport with Brady. STs play alone will not be enough. This, I think, gives Washington a huge advantage over rookies and first year vets.He was great at STs last year, is a competent receiver, has a nose for the ball, good hands, and terrific body control. It all adds up to a guy who will be hard to knock out of that 5 slot.

Personally, I think he's going to give CJack a run for his money for the #4 slot. And yes, you got that right, he's one of my binkies this TC.

Exactly. Last year was an anomaly. Looking back at the last 3-4 seasons, the #5WR nets around 10-15 passes. Not a huge number for sure, but not completely insignificant. And odds are the majority of catches came in a 2-3 game stretch where they covered for injury.

I'd expect the WR5 this year to catch in that neighborhood.

 

[Metaphors]

To me, WR #5 must excel in STs play to make the roster, but must also have a great rapport with Brady. STs play alone will not be enough. This, I think, gives Washington a huge advantage over rookies and first year vets.He was great at STs last year, is a competent receiver, has a nose for the ball, good hands, and terrific body control. It all adds up to a guy who will be hard to knock out of that 5 slot.

Gotcha and totally agree. In these threads, I'm deferring guys who need to be solid on ST to make the roster (Evans, Washington, etc.) until the end. Part of the decision to put a guy on the roster in a ST spot will be how effective he can be in a position rotation (or even multiple rotations) if needed.

I really think "Camp Battles: Special Teams" is going to be the most interesting thread in the series. In addition to the new blood on defense, I'm looking forward to seeing if the special teams can turn into more of a turnover-forcing, field-position-changing weapon in 2008.

 

[cstjohn17]

To me, WR #5 must excel in STs play to make the roster, but must also have a great rapport with Brady. STs play alone will not be enough. This, I think, gives Washington a huge advantage over rookies and first year vets.He was great at STs last year, is a competent receiver, has a nose for the ball, good hands, and terrific body control. It all adds up to a guy who will be hard to knock out of that 5 slot.

Personally, I think he's going to give CJack a run for his money for the #4 slot. And yes, you got that right, he's one of my binkies this TC.

I was about to say "Binkie Alert", some serious love for Washington aka Mr. No Catches. Logan Mankins had more receptions that either Washington or Jackson last year.

Washington is a lock because of special teams play, I will be surprised if he has 10 receptions in 2008 and I will be really shocked if Slater takes a single rep at WR.

Jackson is all potential, no way he pushes Gaffney out of the #3 spot, it is even not outside the realm of possibility that Jackson gets cut and they fill the 4th and 5th spots with special teamers. (Washington and Aiken).

 

[Metaphors]

Jackson is all potential, no way he pushes Gaffney out of the #3 spot

What is the #3 spot? The guy with the 3rd most yards? catches? snaps?

That is why I was specific in calling out the flanker position (not much difference in flanker and split end for the Pats since Moss plays both) and not just assigning a number.

CJack's skill set is much more suited for the outside than Gaffney's. That is why I gave CJack first crack at the flanker position with Gaffney getting snaps all along the line, depending on formation.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I was about to say "Binkie Alert", some serious love for Washington aka Mr. No Catches. Logan Mankins had more receptions that either Washington or Jackson last year.

That's true, but they did end up with more yards than Mankins.

 

[signbabybrady]

pretty bland camp battle in this position. but it will be fun to watch anyway because we are all so interested to see what Chad Jackson can do for us now that he should be fully healthy and no longer buried on the depth chart.

If Chad Jack can turn into 75% of what we wanted out of him when we drafted him than this unit may be as good if not better than last year.

 

[WhiZa]

Seriously? You and I caught as many passes as the #5 receiver in 2007. What makes you think 2008 will be any different? When the Pats go 5-wide, the 5th guy is probably going to be a TE or RB, not a WR.

I tend to agree with this. Our TEs this year are all pass catching TEs. I would rather see Watson, Pollard or even Faulk out there then Washington

 

[tombonneau]

I tend to agree with this. Our TEs this year are all pass catching TEs. I would rather see Watson, Pollard or even Faulk out there then Washington

Well, rarely are 5WRs on the field at the same time (except for maybe in the old Fun 'n Gun Oilers days ...). Washington (or whoever is WR5) will likely only see the field due to injuries or blowout wins.

 

[fgssand]

Ahh hell, I just have to say this if for no other reason that if it should somehow come about - I get to dig this post out in a few months....

Watch out for the surprise of camp - Matt (dont call him Jacky) Slater for the #5 or forces them to keep a 6th.

 

[Kontradiction]

Ahh hell, I just have to say this if for no other reason that if it should somehow come about - I get to dig this post out in a few months....

Watch out for the surprise of camp - Matt (dont call him Jacky) Slater for the #5 or forces them to keep a 6th.

If Slater can actually gel in the number five spot, he'd be a good weapon with his speed, shiftyness, and willingness to hit. I don't think it's going to happen (I think they'll keep him as a defensive back/ST gunner personally) but if it does, that would definitely be neat.

 

[signbabybrady]

Ahh hell, I just have to say this if for no other reason that if it should somehow come about -

I read this and I thought you were going to say bring back Troy Brown.



Which I would love to see albeit for sentimental reasons. I am one guy who never wants to see guys retire. Once they do usually thats it and if it isn't I am usually routing for the comeback. Like in Farve's case, I hope he does come back. Reason: I would rather watch Farve this year than Rodgers and anyone who says otherwise is being stupid unless you are related to Rodgers or went to his school or something.

 

[Kontradiction]

I read this and I thought you were going to say bring back Troy Brown.



Which I would love to see albeit for sentimental reasons. I am one guy who never wants to see guys retire. Once they do usually thats it and if it isn't I am usually routing for the comeback. Like in Farve's case, I hope he does come back. Reason: I would rather watch Farve this year than Rodgers and anyone who says otherwise is being stupid unless you are related to Rodgers or went to his school or something.

I'm pretty far from stupid, do not know Rogers, nor did I go to his high school and I would like to see what he has more than I would like to see Favre come back. Favre said it was a rumor (that he started no doubt) that he was coming back, but in the event that he did, I would be extremely disappointed. For me, it's just time to see Brett hang them up and pass the torch.

 

[dhamz]

Like in Farve's case, I hope he does come back. Reason: I would rather watch Farve this year than Rodgers and anyone who says otherwise is being stupid unless you are related to Rodgers or went to his school or something.

If it were strictly a football thing, I would probably agree.

The issue with Favre is I can't deal with the whole Brett Favre drama he surrounds himself with in order to satisfy his need to be THE STORY. Years 1-3 of his fake retirement tour were brutal enough. Year 4 would be unbearable.

Back to the topic, I see little camp competition at this position. Moss and Gaffney on the outside and Welker in the slot are likely to get the majority of snaps. Jackson and Washington in some order are the 4th/5th WR and will contribute on special teams. If etiher Jackson or Washington can prove their worth at WR, they could potentially take snaps from Gaffney.