OFFSEASON CONCERN: PATS NEEDS WR's

edgeofepic · Jan 1, 2012

Okay, so it's not really any incredible observation but I noticed today Deion Branch had no catches. I think he's been shut out in a couple other games this season and has had quite a few games with anywhere from 1-3 catches and really minimal impact on the offensive game plan. We all know the enigma that Ocho has been all season. One would hope that after another successful Super Bowl run (thinking positive here) the Pats will look at this position. It appears we have a good group of RBs with Ridley and Vereen complimenting Woodhead and perhaps BJGE (if he returns). Our TE position looks stacked, so offensively, other than continuing to draft for OL depth, our primary need appears to be WR. Edleman gives you a little WR insurance here because he has shown occasional flashes of being a Welker-lite but let's be candid, we need more production from our traditional WRs (I consider Welker a slot receiver although he's clearly our best receiver which is why he starts.) I think our TEs and Welker's performances helped to conceal how thin we are at WR. Arguably, we are as thin, or thinner at WR than we are at Safety/Cornerback/Defensive back.

Any thoughts here? I wouldn't anticipate getting flamed too badly on this observation but we'll see.

Oh, and as far as I'm concerned, Bill O'Brien calls a lousy game every week and #12 is the reason our team is in the playoffs. Good luck at PSU Bill - steer clear of the showers!!!

PatriotFan77 · Jan 1, 2012

Brady just threw for 5000 yards. They don't need WRs.

brady199 · Jan 1, 2012

If Welker has 120 catches, Gronk has 80 and Hernandez has 70, that doesn't leave a lot of catches left for anyone else. (Assuming Welker comes back of course.)

nabwong · Jan 1, 2012

I feel the contrary. We need one more TE in case either Gronk or AH goes down. If we have 3 stud, imagine what we can do with a 3 TE set.

Big-T · Jan 1, 2012

brady199 said:
If Welker has 120 catches, Gronk has 80 and Hernandez has 70, that doesn't leave a lot of catches left for anyone else. (Assuming Welker comes back of course.)

Hernandez, Welker & Gronkowski had that many catches because they're the only receivers who can get open or are trusted by Brady, bring in another WR who can learn the system and get in sync with Brady and the offense would be even better than it was this year.

Sciz · Jan 1, 2012

Branch also didn't play for a very large portion of the game.

102 Pat · Jan 1, 2012

No disrespect OP, but let's wait till the offseason starts (hopefully in February) before looking ahead to next season.

edgeofepic · Jan 1, 2012

I don't disagree on having another TE for depth but to think you don't need at least one game breaking WR is a head scratcher to me. I think many would argue that Hernandez is actually more of a WR than a TE anyway. I can see some merit to that argument. You don't notice it not b/c we have a marginal running game, but we ever decide to get serious about running the ball (maybe if BoB leaves?) we'll need to open the field up a bit. A WR stretches the defense a bit and gives the RB some running room. And just because Brady throws for 5,000 yards doesn't mean you're all set at WR. Welker is ageless and I hope he plays for many more years. The ugly truth is he won't. Aside from Brady, he is very much the heart of our team - the guy who always plays hard no matter what the score is - as guys like Troy Brown and a younger Kevin Fault were in years past.

You need at least one competent WR to work with Welker. Neither Ocho nor Branch are that guy. Does anyone even see Ocho on this squad next year?

Hok · Jan 1, 2012

brady199 said:
If Welker has 120 catches, Gronk has 80 and Hernandez has 70, that doesn't leave a lot of catches left for anyone else. (Assuming Welker comes back of course.)

We don't need an outside guy to catch passes, we just need one to force opposing safeties to respect the threat of a vertical pass and create more room underneath for Welker and our TEs.

makoute · Jan 1, 2012

Pats need Safeties, LB, DE or OLB. After watching the broncos put up 3 points against the Chiefs, I have to ask how the hell did they move the ball against the Pats so easily, just like Buffalo did today.

edgeofepic · Jan 1, 2012

102 Pat said:
No disrespect OP, but let's wait till the offseason starts (hopefully in February) before looking ahead to next season.

No offense taken, I was just reviewing the regular season stats and the WR drop off after Branch was astonishing. To Branch's credit, he had 700 yards receiving which surprised me.

And while I hope this isn't the case, I have concerns that our lack of WR depth could bite us in the ass in the post-season... but I also have the same concern about our inability to commit to the running game unless it's garbage time of a blowout.

Deus Irae · Jan 1, 2012

1.) Yes, the team needs WRs.

2.) No, BOB doesn't call a lousy game.

3.) Yes, this thread should have waited for another day. The Patriots just wrapped up the #1 seed in the conference, for crying out loud.

Ring 6 · Jan 1, 2012

edgeofepic said:
No offense taken, I was just reviewing the regular season stats and the WR drop off after Branch was astonishing. To Branch's credit, he had 700 yards receiving which surprised me.

And while I hope this isn't the case, I have concerns that our lack of WR depth could bite us in the ass in the post-season... but I also have the same concern about our inability to commit to the running game unless it's garbage time of a blowout.

We don't have an 'inability to commit' to the running game, we just have an offense that doesnt do nearly as well when we do that.

PATSYLICIOUS · Jan 1, 2012

Branch has 702 yards on the season, despite missing some action. What more do you want from your FOURTH option?

If Branch has another year left at this level, we're set assuming Welker is retained. Maybe someone can be brought in to eventually replace him but as it stands we're fine at the position. AH at full speed is a legit 3rd option.

PatsChamp88 · Jan 1, 2012

Clearly i agree 100% would buy again

edgeofepic · Jan 1, 2012

PATSYLICIOUS said:
Branch has 702 yards on the season, despite missing some action. What more do you want from your FOURTH option?

If Branch has another year left at this level, we're set assuming Welker is retained. Maybe someone can be brought in to eventually replace him but as it stands we're fine at the position. AH at full speed is a legit 3rd option.

Personally I'd want a guy who doesn't disappear and hasn't lost a step. I'm trying to look forward. Personally, I don't want Branch or Ocho back next year. I'd keep Welker as my veteran WR, time for perhaps another Free Agent or a draft pick at WR.

I have a feeling Brady would like to have some more options, even if they are the 4th, 5th, and 6th option after Gronk, Welk and AH.

PatsFan24 · Jan 1, 2012

edgeofepic said:
Okay, so it's not really any incredible observation but I noticed today Deion Branch had no catches. I think he's been shut out in a couple other games this season and has had quite a few games with anywhere from 1-3 catches and really minimal impact on the offensive game plan. We all know the enigma that Ocho has been all season. One would hope that after another successful Super Bowl run (thinking positive here) the Pats will look at this position. It appears we have a good group of RBs with Ridley and Vereen complimenting Woodhead and perhaps BJGE (if he returns). Our TE position looks stacked, so offensively, other than continuing to draft for OL depth, our primary need appears to be WR. Edleman gives you a little WR insurance here because he has shown occasional flashes of being a Welker-lite but let's be candid, we need more production from our traditional WRs (I consider Welker a slot receiver although he's clearly our best receiver which is why he starts.) I think our TEs and Welker's performances helped to conceal how thin we are at WR. Arguably, we are as thin, or thinner at WR than we are at Safety/Cornerback/Defensive back.

Any thoughts here? I wouldn't anticipate getting flamed too badly on this observation but we'll see.

Oh, and as far as I'm concerned, Bill O'Brien calls a lousy game every week and #12 is the reason our team is in the playoffs. Good luck at PSU Bill - steer clear of the showers!!!

Is this a joke? The postseason is about to start. Do offseason threads in the offseason.

crowell33 · Jan 1, 2012

FWIW, Brandon Lloyd says that he and Josh McDaniels are a package deal. Claims he will follow Josh anywhere. ( have to wait and see how the Penn State thing plays out )

Joker · Jan 1, 2012

Sciz said:
Branch also didn't play for a very large portion of the game.

aha!!! I see what you did there ...slipping in that pesky FACT....

PatsFan24 · Jan 1, 2012

If they are going to look for a WR there is only one way to go.

Randy Moss.

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