The Biggest Weakness Is Definitely Not WR

It is at TE. It really is. Unless and until Gronk is ready to play 90% of the offensive reps, we are in deep trouble. We need to re-sign a TE and get some fast learning from Sudfeld.

===============
OTHER SITUATIONS (in reasonable shape)

We have Connolly to start at center if Wendell continues to have issues.

We have Vereen at RB (and others) when Ridley when Belichick puts Ridley on time out.

Amendola and Edelman are fine as our #1 and #2 WR. Would Welker and Lloyd have produced more? Branch was our 3rd last year. Thompkins is already better than that. Even so, there are THREE people to turn to in search of our #3 WR. One of the kids will be an OK wide receiver, or better.

Vellano has shown up as a backup DT.

We have hopes from the defensive rookies. One should be significant contributor this year, hopefully more.

Until Gronk is ready (which might be Thursday for all we know) why not surprise the Jets and run something whacky like the run & shoot? They don't have the corners to run with 4 receivers at all times and getting Vereen in space in the passing game in such a system would be devastating.

For me though, the weak link in the entire team is Matt Patricia, he's too conservative. He has the horses to have a very good defense, now he needs to use them.

Said it in other threads. #1 need is an interim TE. Fells if healthy, otherwise...?

that was the worst TE play I've seen out of the Pats since pre 2000...Fells as blocking TE , free up Sudfeld down the seams until Gronk is back. Hooman is a JAG is a JAG is a JAG...

Totally agree with the basic premise, but IMO safety #2 belongs prominently on your contenders list.

Joker said:

that was the worst TE play I've seen out of the Pats since pre 2000...Fells as blocking TE , free up Sudfeld down the seams until Gronk is back. Hooman is a JAG is a JAG is a JAG...

Click to expand...

Really do not like Hoo on the 53 but it was HIS excellent block that got Vereen the big yardage inside the 20 to win the game

It is what it is

#2 safety has been on the list for years. Yes, it's still there.

patchick said:

Totally agree with the basic premise, but IMO safety #2 belongs prominently on your contenders list.

Click to expand...

We need to get TB12 some help underneath (TE). This offense will roll once we have one more passing option at a non-WR position.

PatsWickedPissah said:

Really do not like Hoo on the 53 but it was HIS excellent block that got Vereen the big yardage inside the 20 to win the game

It is what it is

Click to expand...

Yup.

I'm more of the opinion that it is a lack of practice time more than anything else that's the biggest problem. Learning everyone's tendencies and all the various permutations of plays within the playbook. It's asking an awful lot of the new kids and I suspect that some of the things the coaches would LIKE to run have been dialed back whilst everyone of the youngsters catches up with the veterans.

We do not have the wide receivers to run a 4 wide. Thompkins simply does not have the experience to be one of the four. We only have Amendola, Edelman and Vereen.

Big-T said:

Until Gronk is ready (which might be Thursday for all we know) why not surprise the Jets and run something whacky like the run & shoot? They don't have the corners to run with 4 receivers at all times and getting Vereen in space in the passing game in such a system would be devastating.

For me though, the weak link in the entire team is Matt Patricia, he's too conservative. He has the horses to have a very good defense, now he needs to use them.

Click to expand...

Would it have been cheaper to bring back Ballard after Week 1? Hopefully that's why he was cut and he'll be back. Wonder if ADob will be active v Jets? or Washington?

Let's just wait two weeks and deal with Hooman/Suds for now. It seems like we're running a 1 TE offense, so by week 4 Gronk will be ready to take the majority of those snaps.

The samething about KT applies to Sudfeld. How do we expect him to improve if we just bury him on the chart by signing JAGs?

This is not about burying Suds on the depth chart. He is our only move TE. If he is able to learn, he'll play. Otherwise, we'll play with 1 TE or 2 blocking TE's.

Let's be realistic. Gronk needs to take 90%. And what do we do when we need 2 or even 3 blocking TE's on the field? The issue is Hooman as much as it is Sudfeld.

I think that we need at least one TE in addition to Gronk and Suds.

With regard to Hooman. He is an OK #1 emergency TE for this week and perhaps next, but he is not the solution at TE.

IMHO, Hooman and Develin share one roster spot: FB/h-back/emergency TE. I really don't care much who has this roster spot.

patsinthesnow said:

Let's just wait two weeks and deal with Hooman/Suds for now. It seems like we're running a 1 TE offense, so by week 4 Gronk will be ready to take the majority of those snaps.

The samething about KT applies to Sudfeld. How do we expect him to improve if we just bury him on the chart by signing JAGs?

Click to expand...

A few days ago, people were quick to complain about Dallas Clark. Not that I want Dallas Clark. But today's TE play was non existent.

Still have faith in studfeld

mgteich said:

It is at TE. It really is. Unless and until Gronk is ready to play 90% of the offensive reps, we are in deep trouble. We need to re-sign a TE and get some fast learning from Sudfeld.

Click to expand...

The biggest offensive weakness with regard to the offensive starters are the tight end and the "X" receiver positions.

Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman are fine at the "Z" receiver position.

Hmmm you may be right but I'm not so sure there. Unless Thompkins improves quick, one injury to DA and we are in big trouble, same way the TE's are doomed without Gronk. Chances are Thompkins will get it eventually, but until then WR is just as iffy.

nabwong said:

A few days ago, people were quick to complain about Dallas Clark. Not that I want Dallas Clark. But today's TE play was non existent.

Still have faith in studfeld

Click to expand...

he's the reason for the Brady INT, I don't think he will be seeing the ball a whole lot this year

nabwong said:

Still have faith in studfeld

Click to expand...

Looks more like DUDfeld to me.

WR is NOT the biggest weakness just because we are one injury away from bring the biggest weakness, the injury of DA.

There are lots of positions that would one the two worst with one injury. QB, NT, CB and S all come to mind.
===================================
The problem at TE is that, unless we want to commit to a 1 TE offense, we need 2-3 tight ends. We currently have none, plus a rookie learning. So, at TE, we have one TE injured, one TE learning, one TE useless.

The situation is much better at WR. Here we have 2 WR's healthy and performing and 3 WR's learning.

Given that we want to run sets with between 1 and 3 each of TE's and WR's, we are much better off at WR.

PATSYLICIOUS said:

Hmmm you may be right but I'm not so sure there. Unless Thompkins improves quick, one injury to DA and we are in big trouble, same way the TE's are doomed without Gronk. Chances are Thompkins will get it eventually, but until then WR is just as iffy.

Click to expand...

TE and X receiver are both major weakness spots at the moment.

Bills didn't even concern themselves with either today. And this Bills secondary was primed for abuse today had the Pats had the horses outside and at the TE spots.

I was at the game and watched Hooman extensively .... he shouldn't be out there.

This offense BADLY needs Gronk back healthy and someone that is able to at least pose a downfield threat so as to open up things underneath.