Dobson's 2nd year

I think this kid is gonna be a stud.. I went back and rewatched the AFCCG, even playing on an injured foot, his route running was spot on. Did anyone else see the deep comeback route he put on where he beat a double team and came back for the football. It was crazy that he was that wide open even though he was being doubled.

I also think about those deep balls he could have caught earlier this season, that were just flat out drops. I don't think he will make those next year, he is more comfortable playing in the league and an offseason as a pro will be extremely beneficial. I hope to see an Alshon Jeffrey like 2nd season.

What are your expectations/projections for Dobson in his 2nd year?

Well, it partially depends on whether Brady's long ball woes were due to that report of ligament damage or not.

But I completely agree... he gets behind people more than anybody I've seen in a Pats uniform besides Moss and Morgan. Certainly over 50 catches and maybe upwards of 1000 yards.

Eric Decker's rookie year: 6 receptions for 106 yards and 1 TD. His second year he had 44 receptions for 612 yards and 8 TDs in 16 games - numbers not that far removed from what Dobson did this year in only 12 game due to injury.

It's way too early to pass judgment on Dobson, Thompkins and Boyce. It takes WRs at least a year or two to develop.

He has the physical tools. He appears to be putting in the work. I'm confident he should improve. It's too early to say how much, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is significant.

oldrover said:

Well, it partially depends on whether Brady's long ball woes were due to that report of ligament damage or not.

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Maybe partially, but he has never been an accurate touch passer and the deep ball requires a lot of touch. His strength is throwing the ball on a line.

oldrover said:

Well, it partially depends on whether Brady's long ball woes were due to that report of ligament damage or not.

But I completely agree... he gets behind people more than anybody I've seen in a Pats uniform besides Moss and Morgan. Certainly over 50 catches and maybe upwards of 1000 yards.

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Brady isn't a great long ball thrower but it's very possible that his overthrows this weekend were partially because of the thin Denver air. That said, I think Dobson really comes online next season.

if he makes that 2nd year leap that BB usually preaches, the kid will be a baller and an asset to the offense. Still, we need another outside WR to comfortably attack all zones and backup. Slater doesn't count, though you'd think he'd be able to put something together (on offense) at this point.

Well...he's tall...and he's fast. So there's that. He is the only chance they have to be threat outside the numbers but he looked pretty bad at times this year.

I'm certainly opptimistic about his chances but I felt the same way about Vereen too. He won't be a savior by any means next year but he should be solid.

Snake Eyes said:

Brady isn't a great long ball thrower but it's very possible that his overthrows this weekend were partially because of the thin Denver air. That said, I think Dobson really comes online next season.

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This is getting so overblown. He overthrew Edelman. That's pretty much it.
Slater catches the ball if he is a real WR. The one to Collie was an impossible throw. The one out of the endzone was a throw away.
I love how Brady throws the ball where no one can get it when nobody is open, and people act like it was a bad pass.

I'm still scratching my head as to why it was Slater out there and not Dobson on that one play where Slater couldn't bring it down.

Clearly Dobson wasn't hindered by injury, because if Brady puts a better touch on that ball when Dobson was in the end zone it's 20-10 and that sack on 4th and 2 never happens.

Dobson had two catches against supposedly a sub par secondary...I wouldn't get too excited. I'm sure clowns like Brandon Tate, Taylor Price, etc., would have mimicked Dobson and Thompkins' performances this year had they not been playing with guys named Welker, Moss, Branch, etc, back in 09 and 10

Let's not get all excited about Dobson and Thompkins...they had 37 and 32 catches. They need to stay on the field for 16 games next season....

I'm a huge Dobson fan, but he better spend the offseason busting his ass. He needs to spend as much time with the Juggs gun as possible, ala David Givens after HIS rookie season. Givens went from having the dropsies his rookie season, to being one of Brady's most reliable receivers (catching TDs in two straight SB's). If he cleans up that issue, as well as works on everything else a receiver should be working on (strength, route running, etc), he can be a very good receiver, his ceiling is very high.

If Dobson is smart, he's looking at apartments in LA right now. He needs to spend this offseason attached to Brady's hip.

He needs to work on his short yardage ability to get open. Complete players like D. Thomas are assets even within 10 yards.

Totally agree with Doc about working on his short yardage game. Even Moss was able to do some damage with YAC receptions in his time. I think Dobson will evolve into a more complete WR based on the flashes we have seen.

BradyFTW! said:

If Dobson is smart, he's looking at apartments in LA right now. He needs to spend this offseason attached to Brady's hip.

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I absolutely agree. Not to be too authoritarian about it, but BB should at least consider trading/cutting any member of the receiving corps (including Vereen), not named Edelman, who doesn't spend a considerable amount of offseason time working with Brady.

KoolAid said:

Totally agree with Doc about working on his short yardage game. Even Moss was able to do some damage with YAC receptions in his time. I think Dobson will evolve into a more complete WR based on the flashes we have seen.

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Dobson's 10 and 20 yard times are almost identical to Edelman's, he definitely has acceleration. I wouldn't mind seeing be targeted on screens in bunch formations, like we saw so much with Demaryius Thomas this year. Show that a few times, and he should have an easier time getting open deep.

I think Dobson is obviously the most promising of the 3 rooks and hopefully makes a huge leap this offseason. Will be interesting to see how much resources BB invests at WR. If he thinks all three rooks have promising futures then aren't you all set?

But get it wrong and your real short at the position.

Personally I think bring Jules back rely on the rooks develope but invest heavy in a TE to hedge your bet.

Deus Irae said:

I absolutely agree. Not to be too authoritarian about it, but BB should at least consider trading/cutting any member of the receiving corps (including Vereen), not named Edelman, who doesn't spend a considerable amount of offseason time working with Brady.

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And when he is not working with Brady, he needs to hit the gym. Five inches taller than Edelman but the same weight.

Imagine if we had two more Dodson type player on this team, we would be dangerous.

I'm not going to project his ceiling for talent, but if he can develop into a decent red zone target given his height and make defenses respect the deep ball and outside the numbers, while posting something alone the lines of 50-60 catches and 800 yards minimum a year, I will be satisfied.