Backup Receivers, Who and How Many?

[PatsFan37]

Maybe, maybe not. Ask Pats1 how many people vied for Patrick Pass's services after he was cut (both times). We tend to think more highly of our players, and that is a good thing - we are fans, but Washington was a free agent for a while and no one picked him up until the Pats did. Likewise no one came knocking when the Pats cut him last spring (though it is possible he prefers playing STs on the Pats for vet minimum to catching passes on "many if not most teams").

You're forcing me to put on my realistic hat and it's not my favorite headgear. I'm sure I have an inflated opinion of the guy.

OTOH, I do think Washington would be first off the bench over Slater and it would only take one injury to do that. Slater may have better potential, but WR is tough to learn and Washington has the experience, both in the NFL and with Brady.

 

[RayClay]

All great questions and Moss makes the answers a little fuzzy for the Pats. Moss is a unique WR in that his skill set doesn't restrict him to any of the WR positions...even playing inside. So when I put Moss at SE, take it with a grain of salt because he also plays off the line (flanker) depending on formation.

Just a quick primer...
Split end is counted as being on the LOS along with the 5 OL and another receiver (usually the TE). Since he is at the LOS, press coverage can be use to hold him up or redirect. SE needs to be able to beat press coverage with strength, quickness/moves and/or the ability to threaten huge areas of the field (making press coverage dangerous).

Flanker is wide opposite the SE but set off the line. The flanker has room to get into his routes and avoid the press corner. He needs to be able to get into his routes quickly and make fast/accurate route adjustments when necessary. Often this is a hot receiver on blitzes, so the ability to take a WR screen or quick slant and get lots of YAC are an important skill.

Slot guy is also set of the line and is the guy you often see in motion along the LOS. Got to be quick and smart to navigate the traffic in the middle of the field. Also needs to be on the same page as the QB since the decisions are super fast and mistakes in the middle of the field can result in turnovers or getting lit up.

Moss and CJack have the skills needed to play SE or flanker so the difference isn't overly important. I generally put Moss at SE since he is scary enough to keep a CB out of press coverage. CJack has the strength to turn a screen or short route into a big play if he is single covered (which should be the norm)...but he also has the speed to threaten deep and keep the safety on his side from sneaking up and helping with the TE or pinching Welker's routes.

Welker is a prototype slot guy so no real additional explanation needed.

Gaffney has the flexibility to play anywhere, but he really doesn't provide much of a deep threat which limits his effectiveness outside. His comfort level with Brady makes him a solid backup for Welker or the other inside WR in a 4-WR set. Outside, he would play better off the line as a flanker.

Washington has great strength, but it takes him a while to get up to speed. He can beat the press coverage and get downfield, which makes him a better SE (or even TE at PF37 mentions...which I didn't consider but is a good point). As a flanker, he is a couple of additional steps from getting downfield and he really isn't much of a threat to get much YAC on screens and quick passes.

While folks like to put the WRs in a nice depth chart order (Moss, Welker, Gaffney, CJack/Washington), there are other considerations. That is why I see Moss (SE), Welker (Slot), Watson (TE) and CJack (Flanker) as the ideal standard receiver formation. Gaffney gets lots of work all along the line. Washington is a solid WR but has a more focused skill set that will make it difficult for him to get on the field without some kind of injury.

If Gaffney is lined up at flanker opposite Moss for the majority of the base formation snaps, that is more of an indictment of CJack's development than it is an indication of Gaffney winning the spot. While Gaffney is a good receiver, he can be left with single coverage which allows others to shade Moss and Welker even more. A healthy and productive CJack keeps the defensive back 7 more balanced which opens up space for others (probably Welker/Watson more than Moss...Moss gets attention regardless) to operate.

Not denying differences about individual players, if you're not full of beans, that was a great little tutorial on receiver play.

Thanks Metaphor. As one who isn't an XO guy, I find these explanations to be the very best of Patsfans.com.

 

[bokonon]

Interesting topic. I have Moss, Welker, Gaffney, Jackson, Washington, in that order. But I think one of Slater/Aiken will make the roster as a special-teamer. It's semantics whether you call that a WR roster slot, I guess. When I try to project a 53-man roster, I list guys in one of 4 categories: Starter, Backup, Special Teams Only, and Also Contributing (guys who nominally play other positions but may contribute to the position in question from time to time). I think you need to consider this category with the emhasis BB places on versatility. If you look at the defensive roster in this way, nearly everybody fits into multiple roles, for example Rodney at nickel linebacker, Meriweather at corner, Adalius at rush end, etc. On offense perhaps it is less so, but it still happens a good deal.

All that being said, I have the following picture of the WR position:

STARTERS: Moss, Welker
BACKUPS: Gaffney, Jackson, Washington
ST ONLY: Aiken/Slater
ALSO CONTRIBUTING: Faulk, Watson, maybe Pollard (i.e., in this case, may line up as a WR occasionally in some formations, but not taking up a roster slot at the position)

I suppose you could argue for 3 Starters, or that Washington is Special Teams Only, or anything. We'll know soon enough.

 

[PatsFan37]

Not denying differences about individual players, if you're not full of beans, that was a great little tutorial on receiver play.

Thanks Metaphor. As one who isn't an XO guy, I find these explanations to be the very best of Patsfans.com.

If you find the right thread with the right people, and you don't mind asking a question instead of puffing out another opinion, you can learn more than you could in any of the media reports. Guys like Metaphors, Unoriginal, TripleOption, Box-o-rocks, Pats1. Great resources.

 

[jeffbiologist]

Every back up pretty much HAS to play special teams. Preseason is to find out who is making the roster, and diva WRs almost always start slow leaving plenty of room for a camp standout to do just that. We run mostly 3wr sets, so we need 5 WRs, but the last 2 have to play ST. Slater is going to be a great PS guy(I see our new CB as our returner), a guy who will make our ST better by practicing against...next year who knows.
Washington was signed last year for WR $$ and didnt make a catch because we got Moss after he signed. Now I dont know if he didnt take to a backup role or wasnt doing well on ST but he didnt dress for several games. He and Stallworth were college teammates and they came here to win a ring(on noted "one year" contracts)and now Stallworth is gone. If he can shine in preseason both at WR and ST he should see some backup/mop-up time at WR for being a team player. If he doesnt use his time wisely there will be guys nipping at his heels though. Bottom line is he needs to be flexible to get on the field.
In the last 2 years we have now lost Graham, Brady and Stallworth in the recieving corp. I think our expanded WR talent has lessened the TE influence(that and the timely DROPS!).
CJ, what more can you say? If he doesnt RIP up the preseason(where he should get ALOT of reps with the first team) it will be very telling. If he gets hurt or you hear alot from a FA guy...all that will count against CJ more than anyone. They are counting on him this year, and one of the other WRs is bound to be going down with injury(as they always do) so he needs to be ready. No more excuses guys.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

If you find the right thread with the right people, and you don't mind asking a question instead of puffing out another opinion, you can learn more than you could in any of the media reports. Guys like Metaphors, Unoriginal, TripleOption, Box-o-rocks, Pats1. Great resources.

Best post I've read all night. This is precisely why I read, more than post. No need for me to pretend I know everything, when I clearly don't.

I also try to read through a whole thread, because somewhere in the middle of all the dumb posts, is a great post.

 

[Patjew]

This really is a great thread. Well-thought out, technical arguments being made in a respectful tone. Great to see.

And just for fun, I'll say they keep 5:

WWW
Moss
Gaf
CJ
Washington

I don't know much about this Aiken character.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

This really is a great thread. Well-thought out, technical arguments being made in a respectful tone. Great to see.

And just for fun, I'll say they keep 5:

WWW
Moss
Gaf
CJ
Washington

I don't know much about this Aiken character.

from what ive heard, aiken is having a decent camp, but he's more of a special teamer. if i was betting, i'd be picking the 5 you listed. plus, with lamonts signing, im hoping we keep 5 rb's, and run the ball more this year.

 

[Metaphors]

from what ive heard, aiken is having a decent camp, but he's more of a special teamer. if i was betting, i'd be picking the 5 you listed. plus, with lamonts signing, im hoping we keep 5 rb's, and run the ball more this year.

I've heard the 5 RB situation discussed multiple times and there may be something to it. Here is the Pats schedule sorted by rush defense ranking (for comparison, the Pats were #10 at 98 ypg):

3 - PIT 90 ypg
9 - ARZ 98 ypg
12 - SEA 103 ypg
15 - IND 107 ypg
16 - SD 107 ypg
20 - STL 115 ypg
22 - SF 119 ypg
25 - BUF 125 ypg (2x)
28 - KC 131 ypg
29 - NYJ 135 ypg (2x)
30 - DEN 143 ypg
31 - OAK 146 ypg
32 - MIA 154 ypg (2x)

The Pats play 11 games against the bottom half of the league in rush defense and really face only one top team (PIT). By contrast, the Pats play 11 games against top half teams defending the pass (though you have to take that with a grain of salt since teams that are so easy to run against generally don't give up as many passing yards). A better measure might be to measure the QB rating surrendered...but that leads to the same conclusion with 11 games against top half teams on the schedule.

While past results don't guarantee future success, it still looks like the Pats have an easier road to the end zone on the ground vs. trying to light up teams through the air. Don't expect the Pats to turn into the Vikings, but still interesting to consider.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

If you find the right thread with the right people, and you don't mind asking a question instead of puffing out another opinion, you can learn more than you could in any of the media reports. Guys like Metaphors, Unoriginal, TripleOption, Box-o-rocks, Pats1. Great resources.

Harumph kind sir! All blushing aside, Metaphors discussion on the WR slots was very informative, thank you both for a good query and answer.

WRs and CBs tend to bring speed to Special Teams - Washington, Aiken, and Slater are in some sense competing with Richardson, Spann, and Wilhite for back of the roster assignments.

Moss, Welker, Gaffney, and Jackson would seem to be locks, Washington seems to have a comfortable edge on Aiken, Slater, and the DBs. Aiken seems to have the lead on Slater and the DBs, if for no other reason than Slater is Practice Squad eligible and would seem to have a good chance to slip through waivers. If it comes down between Slater and a DB, I think BB will take a DB, at this point in TC I project Slater to the Practice Squad.

I've skipped over CJ Jones, Dunlap, and Ventrone because all three seem to have Practice Squad eligibility to work with and have not stood out significantly in reporting to date.

WR: Moss, Welker, Gaffney, Washington, Aiken; I think the sometimes 6th WR will be filled by a DB/LB this season with the faster young LBs and some good looking young CBs making an impression early.

 

[PatsFan2]

I was one of the Biggest Chad Jackson fans when they Drafted him, yes injuries have set him back. But if Jabar Gaffney who's a Jag is showing more than Jackson who more than passes the eyeballs test physically then (((drum roll))) Jackson might be one of those players who looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane. I will be the First the say if Jackon doesn't impress in Preseason he will be a Early Cut! Not many young players with an history of being frequently injuried makes it with the Patriots under BB. Believe it or not Kelley Washington and Sam Aiken could prove more valuable than Chad Jackson. Bethel Johnson wasn't here very long...Chad you hear that?

 

[JoeSixPat]

I was with you right up until this paragraph, where our opinions began to diverge. For all that people have spent a lot of the offseason insisting that Jackson's a bust (and the other side saying he's a monster talent), this is Jackson's first healthy training camp. He's at a huge disadvantage trying to crack this lineup because he's competing against the best wide receiver in the game, the best slot receiver in the game and a third receiver that Brady seems to be supremely comfortable with.

I'm not looking for Jackson to knock Gaffney off the perch at his spot during training camp. What I'm looking for out of Jackson, at least at the start of the season, is for him to take the 'rest' plays when the team gives Moss, Welker or Gaffney a play off. If he's out there on those plays and looking as if he's getting more confident and comfortable, everything else will be gravy.

Of course, that's just my take on it.

That's a pretty tall order you're setting for Jackson - you've got him filling in for three very different types of receivers, all of whom play very different roles.

I'm not saying he's not up to the task or can't do it - as I believe he's got more potential than "just" being a deep threat - but as you point out he's done nothing to prove much of anything yet...

So while I belive he does have the potential to be a multi-faceted WR, I'll be happy if he can show he can fulfill any WR role - with my preference being a deep WR

 

[MKats31]

Chad Jackson will have a break-out year...he is predicted by CBSSPORTS.COM Pro Weekly Magazine that he will be the sleeper on the team this year

 

[jeffbiologist]

I would love to see CJ have a great camp and preseason so we can trade him to the Eagles for Lito Sheppard..... Just saying, WR has been a deep spot for us, but there really isnt anyone behind CJ PUSHING him for a roster spot either. This guy needs to find and show off his mojo really quick.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I would love to see CJ have a great camp and preseason so we can trade him to the Eagles for Lito Sheppard..... Just saying, WR has been a deep spot for us, but there really isnt anyone behind CJ PUSHING him for a roster spot either. This guy needs to find and show off his mojo really quick.

First of all I'd say that CJs feeling plenty of push for a roster spot.

This is a make or break year for him and he's not even guranteed a spot on Special Teams - theres' even decent competition for returners.

I don't expect it to happen but if he underperforms during camp and someone else over-achieves, Belichick's patience could well come to an end.

As far as depth at WR, one needs to keep in mind that our Moss, Welker and Gaffney all play different roles and all have different skills, and all very much feed off of each other.

Given the fact that - unless CJ steps up - Moss is our only real deep threat, if he goes down, Welker and Gaffeny are seeing a ton more pressure as defenses collapse on the typical short to mid-range passes that are their forte.

That's not to say the team can't get by with just them - Brady showed he could do well with less than that in 2006 - yet 2006 also clearly illustrated how much additional pressure is put on the OL, RBs, TEs, WRs and of course QB when there's no deep game to keep defenses honest.

So trust me - CJ's feeling a lot of push, and we're a much better team if he can come through and actually do what we all think he can do.

 

[BPF]

I was one of the Biggest Chad Jackson fans when they Drafted him, yes injuries have set him back. But if Jabar Gaffney who's a Jag is showing more than Jackson who more than passes the eyeballs test physically then (((drum roll))) Jackson might be one of those players who looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane. I will be the First the say if Jackon doesn't impress in Preseason he will be a Early Cut! Not many young players with an history of being frequently injuried makes it with the Patriots under BB. Believe it or not Kelley Washington and Sam Aiken could prove more valuable than Chad Jackson. Bethel Johnson wasn't here very long...Chad you hear that?

From Reiss today: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/07/observations_fr_6.html

1) Potential springboard effort for Chad Jackson. If there was one play that stood out from the practice, it was a diving Chad Jackson catch on a laser of a throw from Tom Brady in 11-on-11 two-minute work. The offense was running out of time on the scoreboard clock in the back left-hand corner of the practice field, and was facing third down. Brady scanned his options but was forced to hold on to the ball a bit longer than he probably would have liked. Realizing that his time was running out, he unloaded a rocket about 10 yards down the field, along the numbers up the left side. The throw was to Jackson’s back shoulder and required the third-year wideout to lunge in the opposite direction of where his momentum was taking him. It was the type of play that bailed Brady out, and could be a potential springboard toward the two developing more chemistry. Earlier in the practice, however, the two did appear to have a miscommunication as a Brady throw to the sideline sailed out of bounds, as Jackson had run his route down the field instead of out.

First of all I disagree with you that Gaff is a JAG. Gaffney has good size for a WR (6-1, 200) and is a good athlete. He is a very good route runner with good quickness/nimbleness who sets up DB's with top notch instincts to gain separation. He has a quick initial burst to push off the line off scrimmage which allows him to get open eventhough he is not the fastest player. He has very good hands and also adjusts well to make tough catches. Gaffney is a leaper who makes tough catches in traffic (see Indy playoff game, one footed tip toe catch in back of the end zone). He is a solid, solid 3rd WR and could be a #2 for some teams.

Now on to Jackson. He has had some injuries but I think those have allowed him to gain a different vantage point and allowed him to learn how to become a pro. He was not a real polished product coming out of college and needs to learn how to run better routes and set up DB's. He was really, really raw and being out w/injuries hasn't allowed him to work the physical part of the game. He has good size (6-1, 215) and is strong which gives him the ability to break tackles and make plays after the catch. He had good hands in college but hasn't shown it so far with the Pats. You need to remember that he is still really young at 23 yrs old. Sometimes it pays to be patient, just look at Lester for the Sox - people were dying to trade away this kid but it looks like he could be a great player going forward so Theo is being reward for exhibiting patience. Jackson has some things he needs to work on, like his route running and he needs to dictate to the DB not the other way around. Once he gets comfortable and stops thinking out on the field I believe he will take off as a player because he is a super athlete with the tools to develop into a solid, solid WR. It won't cost us anything to show some patience and allow this kid to show us what he can do. Some guys get it right away, but more often than not WR's take some time to develop. "Patience is the companion of wisdom." Saint Augustine

Aiken and Washington are much different players than Jackson and are competing for different roles on this team. Bethel Johnson was never the player Jackson was talent wise. Although listed at 5-11, 201 I think he was closer to 180 and although fast and elusive he was not a physical player at all. He never pushed hard off the line when beginning his route and was a terrible route runner. With those two weaknesses you can never be a WR in the NFL. To top it all off he thought he was better than he was, a lot of that is due to his guardian who was feeding his head with nonsense about playing in San Diego or Dallas and how he could be a star there because Weiss was wasting his talents.

I apologize about the length here.

 

[Patriotis]

From Reiss today: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/07/observations_fr_6.html



First of all I disagree with you that Gaff is a JAG. Gaffney has good size for a WR (6-1, 200) and is a good athlete. He is a very good route runner with good quickness/nimbleness who sets up DB's with top notch instincts to gain separation. He has a quick initial burst to push off the line off scrimmage which allows him to get open eventhough he is not the fastest player. He has very good hands and also adjusts well to make tough catches. Gaffney is a leaper who makes tough catches in traffic (see Indy playoff game, one footed tip toe catch in back of the end zone). He is a solid, solid 3rd WR and could be a #2 for some teams.

Now on to Jackson. He has had some injuries but I think those have allowed him to gain a different vantage point and allowed him to learn how to become a pro. He was not a real polished product coming out of college and needs to learn how to run better routes and set up DB's. He was really, really raw and being out w/injuries hasn't allowed him to work the physical part of the game. He has good size (6-1, 215) and is strong which gives him the ability to break tackles and make plays after the catch. He had good hands in college but hasn't shown it so far with the Pats. You need to remember that he is still really young at 23 yrs old. Sometimes it pays to be patient, just look at Lester for the Sox - people were dying to trade away this kid but it looks like he could be a great player going forward so Theo is being reward for exhibiting patience. Jackson has some things he needs to work on, like his route running and he needs to dictate to the DB not the other way around. Once he gets comfortable and stops thinking out on the field I believe he will take off as a player because he is a super athlete with the tools to develop into a solid, solid WR. It won't cost us anything to show some patience and allow this kid to show us what he can do. Some guys get it right away, but more often than not WR's take some time to develop. "Patience is the companion of wisdom." Saint Augustine

Aiken and Washington are much different players than Jackson and are competing for different roles on this team. Bethel Johnson was never the player Jackson was talent wise. Although listed at 5-11, 201 I think he was closer to 180 and although fast and elusive he was not a physical player at all. He never pushed hard off the line when beginning his route and was a terrible route runner. With those two weaknesses you can never be a WR in the NFL. To top it all off he thought he was better than he was, a lot of that is due to his guardian who was feeding his head with nonsense about playing in San Diego or Dallas and how he could be a star there because Weiss was wasting his talents.

I apologize about the length here.

I'm finally done reading this mini-novel, good read though. Here's more on Jackson's day from Scalavino-> Jackson looking better
Chad Jackson has made some nice catches in tonight’s practice. He seems to be stepping it up a bit after a slow start to camp.

http://blog.pfwonline.com/2008/07/29/jackson-looking-better/

 

[DocE]

I think the Patriots keep 6 WR's on the roster, but maybe only 4 true WR's. I see Moss, Welker, Gaffney, Jackson as the 4 true WR's with Kelly Washington and Sam Aiken making the roster as special teamers. I hope Kelly Washington can make a leap up to productive WR in addition to special teams standout.

Slater and Ventrone are interesting options and it would not shock me to see the Pats keep one of these guys as a 7th WR if they excel in camp. Both players have position flexibility at both S and WR, so they could fill a very poor man's Troy Brown role at the bottom end of the active roster. At the very least, I see Slater on the practice squad in the Bam Childress role from last season.

Ideally, I'd like to see the Patriots have one more legitimate threat at WR. That's why I think there is so much interest among Pats fans in the performance of Chad Jackson. If Jackson can step up, then the Patriots have enough depth at the WR position to withstand a short term injury. If Jackson can't step up then the Patriots are in trouble as a team that loves to run 3 and 4 wideout sets, yet only has 3 legit targets at the position.