No, but pointing to any 2nd round WR's "skills" as proof of future sucess is idiotic, as evidenced by Jackson, as well as many others throughough history. Saying that the only thing a 2nd round draft pick WR needs is to get acclimated to the offense is ridiculous. If it were that easy to spot the successful WRs, that position wouldn't be at the top of the annual bust rates. Dobson could end up being the greatest WR of all time. He could also be a complete bust.
DI,
Your observation is quite correct. But to denigrate BB drafting of WRs, is somewhat misplaced. He only concentrated on a WR once or twice. The others were swings and misses with damaged goods, like Tate, or end of draft guesses. He did hire some winners in Branch, Givens, Bethel to a degree, and a few more like Jabar.
Hiring Chad Jackson, Gabriel, Galloway, and Ocho Cinco revealed that dummies who have great athletic skills but lack brainpower can do well in a very simple Offense. They can put up great numbers but no one fears the simplified Offense, and those prima-donnas never play on Teams that win a lot. They can't contribute to a complex passing game.
Everyone wants to make a big deal about the receivers.
Consider as if the starting battery is Gronk, Amendola and Jenkins. That is a crew of proven and competent NFL veterans. Its composed of a great TE, a prolific slot pass catcher, who has been injury prone, and a mediocrity but a consistent veteran with great size who won't be intimidated like the previous dwarfs, and who averages 40 catches a year. They are backed up by reserve veteran TEs in Ballard and Fells, with an H back in Hoomanawanui. The backups at WR are Edelman, and Hawkins.
Considering that as the entire receiving corps, it's average or slightly better perhaps, but still proven NFL competent, with a gunslinger like Brady pulling the trigger.
You can win with that and a league leader rushing game, which they now possess, if you have a good Offensive line. The O-line is much better than than last year, when they were breaking in talented but unproven newcomers at three of the five positions. Now Solder, Wendell and Connoly are proven, to go with Probowlers Mankins and Volmer, and the depth is better than last season with experienced Svitek, Green and Zuscevich. The O-line could be the best in the League if Cannon displaces Connoly at RG.
Now add the WR rookies. Anything you get from them are pure gravy. Dobson has all the athletic ability and brains you need to excel, and Josh has the stubby size and great speed to be an valid addition. Still they are rookies at a position that commonly takes a few seasons to excel.
My chief concern though is that I think you overlook the emerging Defense. Consider how far the rebuilding has proceeded in the four years since BB began in earnest in 2009. Two Probowlers on the D-line with another probable Probowler in the future in Jones and a competent fourth veteran at LDE. Six deep at LB including 2 Probowlers and couple more emerging possibilities. I consider Mayo and A Wilson to be star LBs, and Donta Hightower an emerging star. Now you can platoon superb anti-run MLB Spikes with a competent anti-pass LB, too.
They have three proven, competent First round selections in the secondary and a several above average contributors. It wasn't all that long ago that there were only a few hopeful but rookie starters and a remaining crew of ST scrubs, like Sergio Brown, Marquis Cole, Phil Adams etc. just waiting to be picked on to display their deficiencies.
There are now more experienced starting caliber players in the secondary then there are positions, plus a spare or two for depth. Those days where there were not enough are gone now, finally.
It is a truism that Rome wasn't built in a day, and BB took four years to strip the Browns down, and rebuild from scratch. What he found in NE in 2000 was considerably more with which to work.
