Can the WR unit 'gel' in the postseason?

Gel? I would just like to know who are wr's are. I really cant see Brady having any confidence in anyone but Edelman and Amendola .

I don't know about the gel-ing thing...I can tell you this the playoffs, as we all know, are a different animal. Other teams bring intensity, lots of it. When 80 and 11 catch that ball I want them to get the he11 down. We can not afford to lose a quality wideout.

Maybe Hoo-Man, maybe MUlligan once and a while. It sure would be nice to get SOME production from those TE's.

Ivan said:

Unit?


How about couple?



I doubt Dobson plays this week and Thompkins hasn't shown up in a while. At this point it is all on Amendola and Edelmen. Great as Brady is and as much as i like those 2 receivers their postseason hopes are counting heavily upon the run game, and they can go to the WR's when they need to make a play, but I seriously doubt we will see a 40 attempt game from Brady unless they get down significantly and have no choice.

Let's all hope that Thompkins re-emerges and Vereen can offset the deficit at WR to some degree. This team is as depleted as a play-off team can be, they can still get it done but the remaining players are going to have to play out of their minds for this to be a really good play-off run.

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This is the most realistic post I've seen in awhile describing our WR situation.

It's all about trying to have to execute as well as possible in the red zone, and hoping to get Edelman and Amendola as many good looks as possible, but there is no "unit" per se. Hopefully we may be able to get Vereen some important touches too, and that may offset our depleted corps even more.

They are doing more with less than I think I've ever seen as a Pats fan, and that includes the 2001 season, along with '06 (where our defense gave up 14.8 points per game).

Anyone who is actually relying on Aaron Dobson to somehow put on a cape and turn into 2007 Randy Moss is just hoping and wishing on a star. I will be happy if he ends up contributing on any level whatsoever, or even plays for that matter. I can't believe all of the posts I've read stating why Dobson is going to be the "difference." I don't agree, but obviously I hope they are right.

they will have to gel in order to win the AFC or SB

The reason Thompkins hasnt shown up in awhile is because he has been injured

but, he came up big against the saints and falcons. And not to mention more recently against Denver had a 6 catch 60 yard game.

he could be a wild-card factor. As I don't think he lacks for confidence

although I do agree our main guys are vereen, edelman and amendola

people are worried about our passing game because the last 2 weeks brady barely threw the ball. but i'm not sure if that was more game-planning than anything. Against the Dolphins with basically just 3 slot receivers and vereen Brady moved the ball at will..although they couldnt punch it in the endzone which we seemed to solve with the run game

If this team plays with the HEART it has shown ALL year - NO team is safe.

This Patriots TEAM gelled sometime in between week blerth, and week grarluuf. The TEAM..will make the correct adjustments for Luck and the rest of the Colts.

RIpats88 said:

The reason Thompkins hasnt shown up in awhile is because he has been injured

but, he came up big against the saints and falcons. And not to mention more recently against Denver had a 6 catch 60 yard game.

he could be a wild-card factor. As I don't think he lacks for confidence

although I do agree our main guys are vereen, edelman and amendola

people are worried about our passing game because the last 2 weeks brady barely threw the ball. but i'm not sure if that was more game-planning than anything. Against the Dolphins with basically just 3 slot receivers and vereen Brady moved the ball at will..although they couldnt punch it in the endzone which we seemed to solve with the run game

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Agreed. Thomkins has strength and athleticism the smaller receivers don't. If he plays with good technique, like using his hands to catch, he could definitely loosen up the defense.

It's hard to see Dobson playing much, but they've kept him for a reason. If he can endure the pain, or a shot, maybe he gets a few red zone cameos. The stress fracture isn't going to get worse and it won't heal quickly, unless they put a pin in it or something (no MD). That's what Edelman did.

Hmmmm. Just found an article saying Dobson had a minor foot injury in August (in case you remembered, I didn't).

He either stops walking for a season or gets an operation, if he wants to play football IMO.

http://www.boston.com/sports/footba...dowling-sit/9FCHm4EIcpwZ4Ipp9Qax7M/story.html

By the way, we can definitely win with Eds Amendola Vereen and the running game, with a great game plan and execution, but it's really borderline with similar receivers.

In 2001 we had two 5'10" receivers one power back and a marginal halfback and marginal TEs.

Not optimal, but a great team can outperform mere athletes.

Our offense is good enough to win, if they play well that day. I think that it is our defense that is more at issue. A casual look at our linebackers does not give one much confidence.

RayClay said:

By the way, we can definitely win with Eds Amendola Vereen and the running game, with a great game plan and execution, but it's really borderline with similar receivers.

In 2001 we had two 5'10" receivers one power back and a marginal halfback and marginal TEs.

Not optimal, but a great team can outperform mere athletes.

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Tunescribe said:

Try to get outside for a bit of sunshine tomorrow.

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Or just get it over with it and break the computer now.

mgteich said:

Our offense is good enough to win, if they play well that day. I think that it is our defense that is more at issue. A casual look at our linebackers does not give one much confidence.

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Absolutely.

I don't think that there's any doubt in anyone's mind that our defense was much better in 2001.

They allowed 17 points or less in their final NINE games of the season, and in 11/12 of their last games to end the year, while winning the SB.

On a whole, they came in at the same 17 point per game average for the entire year.

This current 2013 defense is much shakier as a whole, and obviously that's mainly due to our injury situation in a big way.

supafly said:

Absolutely.

I don't think that there's any doubt in anyone's mind that our defense was much better in 2001.

They allowed 17 points or less in their final NINE games of the season, and in 11/12 of their last games to end the year, while winning the SB.

On a whole, they came in at the same 17 point per game average for the entire year.

This current 2013 defense is much shakier as a whole, and obviously that's mainly due to our injury situation in a big way.

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but this years secondary is better than that 2001 version. And lets be honest here, that 2001 defense would not be as dominate in today's game because of the polian rules. The rams vs patriots superbowl is 60 minutes of defensive holding and pass interference.

coolguy said:

but this years secondary is better than that 2001 version. And lets be honest here, that 2001 defense would not be as dominate in today's game because of the polian rules. The rams vs patriots superbowl is 60 minutes of defensive holding and pass interference.

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I think you make some fine points that I'd definitely agree with coolguy, but also keep in mind that we've had some very dominant defenses post-Polian rule changes. In 2006 we allowed 14.8 points per game, and in 2007 we only allowed about 17 per game again. Both of those secondaries were certainly more than capable of course.

I agree that our secondary has the potential to be better, but since they intertwine hand in hand with the front seven, they haven't fully been able to to showcase their talents nearly as much as they should have been doing. I would certainly think that our secondary would be much better had we not experienced so many injuries. The run stoppers were definitely much better in the earlier years, and that may prove to be big, particularly at this point in the season.

If you're speaking just 2013 vs 2001, then I'd agree that our secondary is slightly better (only slightly, due to injuries), but we give up that advantage in the run game, the experience, and probably the overall physicality too. Therefore, I do not believe that the 2013 defense is better myself.

These days we're feeling pretty good if our defense holds the opposition to the early to mid 20's, and that may not be good enough for the postseason challenge vs the better teams of the NFL. We will have to see, and I certainly have hope that you're right. My concern is that we also have the tendency to give up points in the higher 20's where we have to play practically perfectly on offense to compete, much like we've seen prior to the last 2 games when having to come back from double digit deficits at the half. We can't really afford to get into those situations at this time of the year.

supafly said:

I think you make some fine points that I'd definitely agree with coolguy, but also keep in mind that we've had some very dominant defenses post-Polian rule changes. In 2006 we allowed 14.8 points per game, and in 2007 we only allowed about 17 per game again. Both of those secondaries were certainly more than capable of course.

I agree that our secondary has the potential to be better, but since they intertwine hand in hand with the front seven, they haven't fully been able to to showcase their talents nearly as much as they should have been doing. I would certainly think that our secondary would be much better had we not experienced so many injuries. The run stoppers were definitely much better in the earlier years, and that may prove to be big, particularly at this point in the season.

If you're speaking just 2013 vs 2001, then I'd agree that our secondary is slightly better (only slightly, due to injuries), but we give up that advantage in the run game, the experience, and probably the overall physicality too. Therefore, I do not believe that the 2013 defense is better myself.

These days we're feeling pretty good if our defense holds the opposition to the early to mid 20's, and that may not be good enough for the postseason challenge vs the better teams of the NFL. We will have to see, and I certainly have hope that you're right. My concern is that we also have the tendency to give up points in the higher 20's where we have to play practically perfectly on offense to compete, much like we've seen prior to the last 2 games when having to come back from double digit deficits at the half. We can't really afford to get into those situations at this time of the year.

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Points per game is fluky stat that's directly tied to time of possession.
in 2006 the pats were 6 in the league with 31 minutes per game 505 total time 52.6% % of possession
in 2007 the pats were second in the league with 32 minutes per game 521 total time and 54.27% % of possession


The pats haven't been in the top 10 of top since 2010.

mgteich said:

Our offense is good enough to win, if they play well that day. I think that it is our defense that is more at issue. A casual look at our linebackers does not give one much confidence.

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Spikes has been playing with a bad knee for a number of weeks. I think Collins and Fletcher are ready to step up and we'll be faster, if less experienced.

It's a crazy year, but the DL and secondary should be better than they have been too. If Siliga and company can hold the line, what are we really losing by not having a guy who can't move sideways?

lamafist said:

The timing of the injuries to Amendola, Dobson and Thompkins was probably fortunate for the regular season, as they were never all hurt for the same games. The other side of the coin, however, is that they were only simultaneously healthy for a game or two (and in those games, with a healthy Gronkowski, the Pats weren't using many 3+ WR sets.)

I feel like a receiving corps of Edelman, Amendola, Dobson and Thompkins could have been a deceptively dangerous unit -- the kind where Brady's favorite receiver is the open one, and opposing teams don't have any one guy to key on.

Unfortunately, even if the Pats get all 4 healthy for the post-season -- and that's a big if, considering Dobson's ailing foot -- it might already be too late to get them all sufficiently integrated and on the same page with Brady for the passing game to reach its potential.

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Honestly if we’re going to win the Super Bowl it will likely have to be centered on Blount and Ridley running for a combined 150-200 rushing yards per contest. Edelman has played like a stud and I expect that to continue, Amendola and Vereen need to be more consistent week-to-week, and we need the combo of Dobson/Thompkins to provide an outside threat even if they don’t make a ton of plays.

The piece of the puzzle that is missing is Gronkowski otherwise we’ve basically supplemented the pieces of the 2012 offense:

• Edelman = Welker
• Amendola = Hernandez
• Vereen = Woodhead
• Dobson/Thompkins = Lloyd

So we will need to get some level of production from Hoomanawanui at least in the red zone where his size can create some matchup opportunities.

Brady has to play 3 straight incredible games.

If he can do that we win the SB

stcjones said:

Our rook WR are made of glass.....Boyce is done.....Dobson and Thompkins will either be out or limited.....Indy will take Edelman out of the game....leaving Collie and Amendola to make it happen. Don't think we are going to be that successful through the air. This is going to come down to passes to RB in the backfield and flat....and THE RUNNING game. Not going to be easy for here on out. I think we can knock off Indy in a close game....think that is where the fairy tale will end Dorothy.....

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Have you watched Indianapolis at all this season? What exactly has their pass defense done to merit such fear and respect, especially when they play on the road? To refresh your memory, here are their most recent road games:


Last week: allowed 44 points, 65% completions, 378 passing yards, 8.2 yards per pass attempt, 4 touchdown passes (should have been five, if not for a bad throw to a wide open receiver) with zero picks.
- Opponent's season averages per game: 26.9 points, 61% completion rate, 209 passing yards, 6.5 yards per pass, 1.5 TD, 0.5 picks.

Previous Game: Give the Colts credit, a very good game: 7 points, 153 passing yards, 5.5 yards per pass, 0 TD, 1 INT

Previous Game: allowed 42 points, 69% completions, 275 passing yards, 7.9 yards per pass, 3 TD, zero INT
- Opponent's season averages per game: 26.9 points, 62% complete, 259 passing yards, 7.4 yards per pass, 2.0 TD, 1.1 INT

Previous Game: allowed 40 points, 70% completion rate, 314 yards passing, 8.5 yards per pass, 2 TD, 0 INT
- Opponent's season averages per game: 23.7 points, 63% complete, 250 passing yards, 7.5 yards per pass, 1.5 TD, 1.4 INT

Previous: allowed 27 points, 79% completion rate, 222 passing yards, 7.9 yards per pass, 1 TD, 0 INT
- Opponent's season averages per game: 22.6 points, 61% complete, 219 passing yards, 7.0 yards per pass, 1.3 TD, 1.0 INT

Previous Game: allowed 24 points, 59% completion rate, 350 passing yards, 10.3 yards per pass, 3 TD, 0 INT
- Opponent's season averages per game: 17.3 points, 54% complete, 220 passing yards, 6.9 yards per pass, 1.1 TD, 0.8 INT


Notice a trend here? With one exception, opponents of the Colts perform better in their passing game than they do against the rest of the NFL. So just like that, they are suddenly going to shut down the player that finished the season with the 4th-most receptions in the NFL this year?

For the guy who said Indy will shut down Edelman, I don't see that happening. Brady is too patient and accurate and Edelman is running great routes. Edelman will get 10/120, the key will be if Vereen/Amendola step up.