The Tight End Situation

NEPettyOfficer72 · Jun 20, 2013

Why shouldn't we expect anything from the rookie receivers? And Edelman can heal like other plays can lol. And Danny Amendola can stay healthy after injury riddled seasons back to back. Its possible, I've seen more "impossible" like things happen in my life.

jmt57 · Jun 20, 2013

primetime said:
Michael Jenkins is bad. He didn't stop being bad because he signed with the Patriots, folks.

And right now, Edelman's a starter.

Two completely different skill sets and roles.

You might as well be saying that Dan Connolly is going to be the starting OL over Sebastian Vollmer.

primetime · Jun 20, 2013

jmt57 said:
Two completely different skill sets and roles.

Yea the two points were separate. Jenkins is bad, and Edelman is a starter (not a 5th receiver who may or may not make the team).

jmt57 · Jun 20, 2013

primetime said:
Yea the two points were separate. Jenkins is bad, and Edelman is a starter (not a 5th receiver who may or may not make the team).

Edelman is a slot receiver, as is Amendola.

So are you speculating that the Pats are going to go with a base offense that has two slot receivers and no outside wide outs?

Whether it be Jenkins, Jones, Dobson, Boyce, one of the undrafted free agents, or someone else, I seriously doubt that the two 'starting' (most snaps) WRs are Amendola and Edelman. Someone from that other group will emerge and earn a 'starting' role.

Jercules · Jun 21, 2013

Why is everyone forgetting that the '12 offense was unstoppable despite rarely having Hernandez and Gronk healthy at the same time?

If you feel Amendola is a massive downgrade from Welker, fine, but otherwise I can't see what everyone is complaining about. A healthy Gronk and Ballard will give us every bit the TE firepower we had last season, and even a motley committee of Dobson, Boyce, Jenkins, Edelman, etc. ought to approximate what Brandon Lloyd brought to the mix. There's every reason to expect an improved running game as well, and Tom is Tom.

jb1095 · Jun 21, 2013

What gets me is that nearly everyone is underestimating Jake Ballard. He is 6-6 and 275 pounds...that is bigger than Gronk. He showed amazing skill with the Giants in the post season a few years ago and will probably shoot up to elite TE status by the end of the year.

In fact, my guess is that he will be the talk of the town by week 9 this season, possibly sooner than that. Ballard is a viable replacement for AHern and when paired with Gronk after he gets off the PUP(Which he WILL be on the PUP to start the season), they will be without a doubt the best TE combo in the NFL...

The morality clause will save us from eating a lot of AHERN money and that will eventually be used to sign Ballard to a long term deal after this season....Mark my words...

Also, Donald Jones definitely seems to be under-estimated here. For gods sakes, he now has Tom Brady throwing him the ball....that automatically increases WR value immensely...

edboc · Jun 21, 2013

jb1095 said:
What gets me is that nearly everyone is underestimating Jake Ballard. He is 6-6 and 275 pounds...that is bigger than Gronk. He showed amazing skill with the Giants in the post season a few years ago and will probably shoot up to elite TE status by the end of the year.

In fact, my guess is that he will be the talk of the town by week 9 this season, possibly sooner than that. Ballard is a viable replacement for AHern and when paired with Gronk after he gets off the PUP(Which he WILL be on the PUP to start the season), they will be without a doubt the best TE combo in the NFL...

The morality clause will save us from eating a lot of AHERN money and that will eventually be used to sign Ballard to a long term deal after this season....Mark my words...

Also, Donald Jones definitely seems to be under-estimated here. For gods sakes, he now has Tom Brady throwing him the ball....that automatically increases WR value immensely...

Don't Hernandez and Ballard play different positions? Ballard is a Y TE, and Hernandez is a Flex TE. They may bring back Visanthe Shiancoe, David Thomas, or Dallas Clark type to replace Hernandez.

satz · Jun 21, 2013

jb1095 said:
What gets me is that nearly everyone is underestimating Jake Ballard. He is 6-6 and 275 pounds...that is bigger than Gronk. He showed amazing skill with the Giants in the post season a few years ago and will probably shoot up to elite TE status by the end of the year.

what!!! please stop spreading rumours

Gaints Post Season
Games Played : 4
Reception : 5
Thrown to : 15
Catch % is 33% really low
Yards : 43

jb1095 · Jun 21, 2013

satz said:
what!!! please stop spreading rumours

Gaints Post Season
Games Played : 4
Reception : 5
Thrown to : 15
Catch % is 33% really low
Yards : 43

You obviously didn't watch any of those games. I know the stat columns tell a different story but you honestly had to see it for yourself. We all know Eli can be inconsistent at times, but trust me and come back to me at the end of this year...you will see. I am pretty sure there are others on these forums that know what I am trying to say...and agree with it.

He was utilized as a Mega Blocker and did a tremendous job. You simply do not see those stats on teh statline. The Giants finally started to use him as a receiver and then his value started to climb quickly...then the injury...

he is a fantastic blocker with good ball catching skill, his rookie year(only 14 GP) he had more yard and a much better rec yard average that AHern...You may not like him yet, but you will....

Nehalem · Jun 21, 2013

jb1095 said:
What gets me is that nearly everyone is underestimating Jake Ballard. He is 6-6 and 275 pounds...that is bigger than Gronk. He showed amazing skill with the Giants in the post season a few years ago and will probably shoot up to elite TE status by the end of the year.

In fact, my guess is that he will be the talk of the town by week 9 this season, possibly sooner than that. Ballard is a viable replacement for AHern and when paired with Gronk after he gets off the PUP(Which he WILL be on the PUP to start the season), they will be without a doubt the best TE combo in the NFL...

The morality clause will save us from eating a lot of AHERN money and that will eventually be used to sign Ballard to a long term deal after this season....Mark my words...

I have to say I have always liked the idea of going with 2 TEs that are legitimate receivers and blockers ala Gronk+Ballard

Sivy · Jun 21, 2013

I can see Tebow being a TE, having a monster year taking over for Hernandez,. and Bill coming out looking like a genius....Again

captain stone · Jun 21, 2013

MTM558 said:
...Tom Brady is getting older and shouldn't have to win games by throwing the ball 35 times a game, so a more run-oriented offense could be expected (and maybe welcomed, Ridley-Vereen is a dynamic pairing)...

And what would be a great addition to a more run-oriented offense? Vonta Leach!

TruthSeeker · Jun 21, 2013

Jercules said:
Why is everyone forgetting that the '12 offense was unstoppable despite rarely having Hernandez and Gronk healthy at the same time?

If you feel Amendola is a massive downgrade from Welker, fine, but otherwise I can't see what everyone is complaining about. A healthy Gronk and Ballard will give us every bit the TE firepower we had last season, and even a motley committee of Dobson, Boyce, Jenkins, Edelman, etc. ought to approximate what Brandon Lloyd brought to the mix. There's every reason to expect an improved running game as well, and Tom is Tom.

Agree with you 100%. Depending on whether everyone can stay healthy, I feel the Pats will have one of the top 5 offenses in football. Good running game that should get better (plus Washington returning kicks), exciting rookies, I'm excited to see what Ballard can do while Gronk is out. I'm really excited about the rookies Dobson, Boyce and Sudfeld. Sudfeld especially has been receiving some good reviews from minicamps. AND, the best QB in football, and a very solid O-Line. Love what Hernandez brought to the offense, but he's not irreplacable.

lurker1965 · Jun 21, 2013

Archeryaddict12 said:
Ok, show me proof of this happening, oh wait. There is none! Just pure nonsense.

Are your feet wet? Can you see the pyramids?
You are in de nile.

Hey, I can respect that. If you see some foot prints, odds are they are mine. "Fryar cut his hand on a knife in the drawer!! Yes, I never heard of anyone else doing that, but who would make up an excuse that stupid?"

lurker1965 · Jun 21, 2013

Jimke said:
I think we are premature in assuming Gronkowski will start the season
on Reserve/PUP. The back operation was a routine, one hour procedure.

See my joke about wet feet and the pyramids.

IllegalContact · Jun 21, 2013

primetime said:
Hernandez isn't even really a tight end, he was the team's #1 receiver. And this was a receiving corps that could ill-afford to lose anyone, because now you have a couple injury prone guys, a couple rookies, and a bunch of bad veterans

mark Harrison is the closest thing they have to AH

edboc · Jun 21, 2013

IllegalContact said:
mark Harrison is the closest thing they have to AH

Harrison's number at Rutgers was 81, and he has better measurables than Hernandez. Haha.

40 Time: 4.37
Height: 6-3 Weight: 231

Mark Harrison | Rutgers, WR : 2013 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

lurker1965 · Jun 21, 2013

primetime said:
Yea the two points were separate. Jenkins is bad, and Edelman is a starter (not a 5th receiver who may or may not make the team).

jmt57 said:
Two completely different skill sets and roles.

You might as well be saying that Dan Connolly is going to be the starting OL over Sebastian Vollmer.

jmt57 said:
Edelman is a slot receiver, as is Amendola.

So are you speculating that the Pats are going to go with a base offense that has two slot receivers and no outside wide outs?

Whether it be Jenkins, Jones, Dobson, Boyce, one of the undrafted free agents, or someone else, I seriously doubt that the two 'starting' (most snaps) WRs are Amendola and Edelman. Someone from that other group will emerge and earn a 'starting' role.

Guys, guys, No matter what we think, Edelman is a PR who I'd be amazed if Belichick can not find another use for. If it is Edelman on the outside or taking over the slot when Amendola goes down it WILL happen.

lurker1965 · Jun 21, 2013

Jercules said:
Why is everyone forgetting that the '12 offense was unstoppable despite rarely having Hernandez and Gronk healthy at the same time?

If you feel Amendola is a massive downgrade from Welker, fine, but otherwise I can't see what everyone is complaining about. A healthy Gronk and Ballard will give us every bit the TE firepower we had last season, and even a motley committee of Dobson, Boyce, Jenkins, Edelman, etc. ought to approximate what Brandon Lloyd brought to the mix. There's every reason to expect an improved running game as well, and Tom is Tom.

Bingo!

At worst we have 2006. Reche Caldwell was a BEAST.
No, seriously, sort of. His production (both number of receptions and yards) was more than doubled with Tom.

scout · Jun 21, 2013

How good does BB look at claiming Ballard from the Giants. Makes you wonder if he saw potential problems with Hernandez. We all looked at the pot smoking incidents in college and probably thought big deal. Maybe there were other indications that the pot was nothing compared to behavioral issues. I mean seriously, signs a huge contract that sets him for life, and he is "somehow" involved in a murder. Wonder if there is a behavioral clause in his contract. Me thinks his days with N.E. are numbered.

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