Ramifications of Welker's injury

[PatsFan37]

Let's say Welker is out for a few games, as many as 6 or 8. How does the team adjust?

My take on a slot receiver's characteristics: accurate route runner, reads defenses in sync with QB, quick and fluid in his breaks, reliable hands, can get YAC. Does not need top-end speed or size.

First, how does Welker's injury change the active roster? Moss and Gaffney start. In a 3 WR set, Gaffney moves to the slot and Jackson plays outside. So who backs up Gaffney inside? Jackson with Washington outside? Maybe, but route running is questionable. Washington? Lacks quickness. Slater? He qualifies physically and is likely to make the roster, but lacks experience.

Second, how does Welker's injury change the 53? The two bubble players who could play slot are CJ Jones and Ventrone. My sense is that Jones has the hands and route running to play the slot, but I admit I don't know where he's been lining up. He also returns punts (even when he shouldn't!).

Ventrone has shown some nice spark and has great versatility, but would you trust him starting against the Colts? I would sooner trust Jones.

My feeling is, if you see the Pats keeping C.J.Jones, it's an indication that Welker could be out for a while.

 

[JSn]

Let's say Welker is out for a few games, as many as 6 or 8. How does the team adjust?

My take on a slot receiver's characteristics: accurate route runner, reads defenses in sync with QB, quick and fluid in his breaks, reliable hands, can get YAC. Does not need top-end speed or size.

First, how does Welker's injury change the active roster? Moss and Gaffney start. In a 3 WR set, Gaffney moves to the slot and Jackson plays outside. So who backs up Gaffney inside? Jackson with Washington outside? Maybe, but route running is questionable. Washington? Lacks quickness. Slater? He qualifies physically and is likely to make the roster, but lacks experience.

Second, how does Welker's injury change the 53? The two bubble players who could play slot are CJ Jones and Ventrone. My sense is that Jones has the hands and route running to play the slot, but I admit I don't know where he's been lining up. He also returns punts (even when he shouldn't!).

Ventrone has shown some nice spark and has great versatility, but would you trust him starting against the Colts? I would sooner trust Jones.

My feeling is, if you see the Pats keeping C.J.Jones, it's an indication that Welker could be out for a while.

Let's hope for crickets on this one. I think Ventrone looks like a wicked Slot Receiver in the making, but yeah, likely Gaff moves to slot.

Still, Welker's ok.

 

[Tunescribe]

Run the ball more.

 

[signbabybrady]

Troy brown

 

[Pats726]

Run the ball more.

Which I think is there plan going forward...

 

[ScottieC]

Let's say Welker is out for a few games, as many as 6 or 8. How does the team adjust?

My take on a slot receiver's characteristics: accurate route runner, reads defenses in sync with QB, quick and fluid in his breaks, reliable hands, can get YAC. Does not need top-end speed or size.

First, how does Welker's injury change the active roster? Moss and Gaffney start. In a 3 WR set, Gaffney moves to the slot and Jackson plays outside. So who backs up Gaffney inside? Jackson with Washington outside? Maybe, but route running is questionable. Washington? Lacks quickness. Slater? He qualifies physically and is likely to make the roster, but lacks experience.

Second, how does Welker's injury change the 53? The two bubble players who could play slot are CJ Jones and Ventrone. My sense is that Jones has the hands and route running to play the slot, but I admit I don't know where he's been lining up. He also returns punts (even when he shouldn't!).

Ventrone has shown some nice spark and has great versatility, but would you trust him starting against the Colts? I would sooner trust Jones.

My feeling is, if you see the Pats keeping C.J.Jones, it's an indication that Welker could be out for a while.

I've been out of town and have been away from Pats news all weekend. I was able to catch a few min of the game, but not the whole game or any recap.

I saw what happened to Welker, but did not hear any follow up on it. What's the story???

 

[Jimke]

Run the ball more.

Up to now the running game has been non-productive.

 

[fourthandmiles]

A big vote of confidence is given to Slater and he sees time there.

 

[PatsFan37]

Run the ball more.

Not your best option in 3rd and 5. Got to have that slot receiver.

 

[everlong]

I think David Thomas will see more action in the slot this year even with Welker healthy.

 

[BradyManny]

For starters, hopefully Welker's just fine. I was really hoping it was just the wind knocked out of him...so I'm not too worried, yet....

But in the unfortunate scenario you present in which he misses a few games, I'd say he'd have to miss at least the first 6 weeks for it to affect the 53, and even then, I see solutions without having to make adjustments to the roster.

Two things jump to mind, you mentioned them - Gaffney plays the slot, Jackson takes the outside. Not a bad solution at all, Gaffney doesn't have Welker's quickness, but he's reliable.

Solution two is what we saw in the preseason game which is Washington takes the slot, Gaffney stays outside. I think that's less likely, but still an option. Another option is Washington goes outside (instead of Jackson), Gaffney to the slot.

Jackson played some slot in college, but it looks like they are working him primarily in the outside so far in camp, so he can only work the two outside positions for now.

I think between Gaffney, CJax and Washington, there's enough flexibility to make up for Welker's potential absence without needing CJ Jones or Ventrone.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think David Thomas will see more action in the slot this year even with Welker healthy.

Just beat me to it. I think that if Thomas had been healthy the entire season last year, he would have gotten a good number of those passes for Welker (under those circumstances, I'd have predicted ~80 Welker catches).

 

[patsgo]

Which I think is there plan going forward...

you had the greatest offense in the history of the nfl and you want to change it and run more??? excuse me thats a really dumb and stupid idea

 

[Tunescribe]

Not your best option in 3rd and 5. Got to have that slot receiver.

you had the greatest offense in the history of the nfl and you want to change it and run more??? excuse me thats a really dumb and stupid idea

The objective is not to get into many third-and-fives. This team was very lucky last year in that the battery of Brady and his wide receivers never got hurt. The Pats over-relied on the pass, as it worked even when defenses knew what was coming. I really want the running game to be emphasized this season, and I find the presence of Morris and Jordan encouraging.

 

[patsgo]

The objective is not to get into many third-and-fives. This team was very lucky last year in that the battery of Brady and his wide receivers never got hurt. The Pats over-relied on the pass, as it worked even when defenses knew what was coming. I really want the running game to be emphasized this season, and I find the presence of Morris and Jordan encouraging.

you wont be saying that when the 3 and outs start happening

 

[Pats726]

you had the greatest offense in the history of the nfl and you want to change it and run more??? excuse me thats a really dumb and stupid idea

SO if that happens who will be DUMB and STUPID??? I doubt they will do the same as last year...."greatest offense in history" or not.. If you had payed attention the last few years and obviously you have not. They change the offense from year to year..they will run more this year..that is a given. Do the same thing every year..and teams will be quite ready for that.. Doing the SAME THING is what is dumb and stupid and CoachB does not. Sure, they will pass the ball a lot, but there will be many new wrinkles so that what teams saw last year will not help them.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

you had the greatest offense in the history of the nfl and you want to change it and run more??? excuse me thats a really dumb and stupid idea

First off, it wasn't air it out every down, although the pass/run balance was as pass-heavy as it's ever been in New England (586 pass/451 run, which is "only" 56.5%).

Second, how much of that was by design, and how much by necessity, as the result of injuries, opposing defenses, etc.?

I don't expect the Pats to go back to being a predominantly running team, but I do expect the balance will shift significantly closer to 50-50.

 

[JSn]

you wont be saying that when the 3 and outs start happening

I think the move to a more solid running game indicates one of two things:

1) We want to be chameleon-like and make the aerial attack even scarier.

Or, and more likely...

2) BB and co. want to justify paying a punter to be on the team.

 

[patsgo]

SO if that happens who will be DUMB and STUPID??? I doubt they will do the same as last year...."greatest offense in history" or not.. If you had payed attention the last few years and obviously you have not. They change the offense from year to year..they will run more this year..that is a given. Do the same thing every year..and teams will be quite ready for that.. Doing the SAME THING is what is dumb and stupid and CoachB does not. Sure, they will pass the ball a lot, but there will be many new wrinkles so that what teams saw last year will not help them.

the old saying if it aint broke dont fix it applys here moss brady, welker, are your main weapons use them , and dont change a thing, why run more and slow down the game and make the game closer, from what ive seen from our d we are going to ned to light it up , not be more conservative, if you had adrian peterson, i could see your point, but morris, jordan, and maroney, isnt all that scary to me, with a injury depleted o line

 

[BradyManny]

the old saying if it aint broke dont fix it applys here moss brady, welker, are your main weapons use them , and dont change a thing, why run more and slow down the game and make the game closer, from what ive seen from our d we are going to ned to light it up , not be more conservative, if you had adrian peterson, i could see your point, but morris, jordan, and maroney, isnt all that scary to me, with a injury depleted o line

The point of this thread was to suggest what the Pats may do if Welker's injury is at all serious and if the Patriots had to play any length of time without him. Your point isn't relevant for this specific conversation and what the thread is about.