Can Minitron Repeat in 2014?

I think a big factor that is flying under the radar for the upcoming season is the performance of one Julian Edelman. That is can he put up a similar performance and numbers to what he put up last year -- 100 catches and 1,000 yards? If so Brady has a reliable go-to target, and I see our offense as very good going forward.

Getting Gronk and Amendola back healthy will only improve on last year's unit. Dobson, Boyce, or Thomkins might make a sophomore leap but those are projections.

If Edelman continues to prove that he is the guy, a consistent 1,000 yard 100 catch guy. I see Brady being very comfortable out there, and that is bad news for NFL defenses.

So how many of you feel like Edelman can continue to perform after his 'breakout' season? I am optimistic that he has arrived at that next level and will continue to do so. So how do you guys feel about Minitron?

VJCPatriot said:

I think a big factor that is flying under the radar for the upcoming season is the performance of one Julian Edelman. That is can he put up a similar performance and numbers to what he put up last year -- 100 catches and 1,000 yards? If so Brady has a reliable go-to target, and I see our offense as very good going forward.

Getting Gronk and Amendola back healthy will only improve on last year's unit. Dobson, Boyce, or Thomkins might make a sophomore leap but those are projections.

If Edelman continues to prove that he is the guy, a consistent 1,000 yard 100 catch guy. I see Brady being very comfortable out there, and that is bad news for NFL defenses.

So how many of you feel like Edelman can continue to perform after his 'breakout' season? I am optimistic that he has arrived at that next level and will continue to do so. So how do you guys feel about Minitron?

Click to expand...

I think he will break 1000 yards but he may fall short of 100 reception because Brady will spread the ball around more.

I hope not, because it will mean our receiving corps fell apart again. Given the options we have, 3/4 of that production with everyone else doing their job, would mean an outstanding offensive season.

Yes, he can.

Whether he reaches 100 receptions or not will not be a reflection on the rest of the receiving corps; if anything, a strong receiving corps might make it more likely he gets 100 catches.

RayClay said:

I hope not, because it will mean our receiving corps fell apart again. Given the options we have, 3/4 of that production with everyone else doing their job, would mean an outstanding offensive season.

Click to expand...

Welker had 100+ receptions every season here except 2010; he played with the likes of Moss, Gronkowski, Hernandez, Lloyd, and others.

"CAN" he?? Absolutely. "WILL" he?? eh.. I'd lean towards no simply because he will likely/hopefully have less targets with a healthy stable of options in the passing game.

Can he? yes.

Will he? no

He was lucky without being injured...that stretch will be hard to continue

Odds are he gets injured again like he usually does with the exception of last year so no.People are also forgetting that the Pats last year were not that excited to resign him because he is a so so receiver, and last year was probably an aberration.

Brady6 said:

Welker had 100+ receptions every season here except 2010; he played with the likes of Moss, Gronkowski, Hernandez, Lloyd, and others.

Click to expand...

I'd rather see Dotson and others get some looks, The safety valve receiver is an important function, but when it comes to the playoffs, if the defense is allowed to key on a small short yardage receiver without getting burned, we're going nowhere again.

Give me a healthy Gronk and Dobson, another TE (Keller?) Vereen and maybe White receiving out of the backfield, LaFell and Amendola doing their bits and Edelman using his smarts to attack where the defense is vulnerable, we'll be awesome and that's all I care about.

If, on the other had, Brady has to force it into Edelman all season for whatever season, a 100 catch season will be pretty hollow. Never felt too great when defenses could double up o Welker in the stretch run and playoff either. Compiling stats during the season really doesn't matter if you don't have TD capability from your receivers in the playoffs.

Actually, Amendola was supposed to take over Welker's role, so maybe he will catch 100 five yard passes and Edelman will run different routes.

I don't think he'll be any worse of a weapon on the field but his production will almost certainly decrease. Hopefully the other receivers will be a little better and take some of those targets from Edelman, but it's also pretty unrealistic to expect 16 games from him again. Don't forget the 4 years before last when he was seemingly always injured.

However, when he is on the field, he is dangerous. We just can't expect him to be on the field as much as he was last season.

Edelman has his place and will get his catches. But if he is Brady's go to guy or most productive wr this offense could struggle even more. Edelman is a wr most effective as a #3 check down/short dropoff guy. He wouldn't get shutdown so thoroughly at times if we had a legit playmaker to open things up for him on his shorter routes. He certainly shouldn't be the go to guy or be anything close to your most dangerous weapon. Or the offense will stall along with him. I hope there is a trade in mind for a legit intermediate/deep threat who can consistently threaten defenses at the 15-20 yard range on every play.

RayClay said:

Actually, Amendola was supposed to take over Welker's role, so maybe he will catch 100 five yard passes and Edelman will run different routes.

Click to expand...

How did Edelman average 10.1 yards per reception if he was catching 5 yard passes?

Posters always point out the “Amendola was signed to replace Welker” bit but we do not know that to be the case, his signing may have been because we needed a wide receiver and felt he offered the best value of what was on the market. We had to replace Welker, Lloyd, and Branch who were all here in 2012.

As far as routes go, Edelman is not going to start running deep outs, and seam routes all of a sudden, Amendola was on the field last season for the final 10 games and Edelman ran the routes in the 1-10 yard range, I do not see any reason that would change.

Amendola and Edelman complement each other nicely, especially on screen passes. Edelman's freakish after the catch - there's a reason he's one of the greatest punt returners in league history - and Amendola's superior blocking can help spring him.

I don't necessarily think they need to run the same routes, either. Both are perfectly capable of running short and intermediate routes.

primetime said:

Amendola and Edelman complement each other nicely, especially on screen passes. Edelman's freakish after the catch - there's a reason he's one of the greatest punt returners in league history - and Amendola's superior blocking can help spring him.

I don't necessarily think they need to run the same routes, either. Both are perfectly capable of running short and intermediate routes.

Click to expand...

I agree. Like I said in the other thread about the offense improving I think one big part of that is going to be the game plan. McDaniels had to rebuild on the fly with the loss of Hernandez and pieced together an offensive playbook. With a full offseason to plan how to incorporate Edelman, Amendola, Dobson, LaFell, and even Boyce into the game plan I think you will see a significant difference.

Gymrat said:

Edelman has his place and will get his catches. But if he is Brady's go to guy or most productive wr this offense could struggle even more.

Click to expand...

I know it, they could come in 4th in points scored instead of 3rd. And although i realize that they led the league in scoring while Gronk was active that would still mean they were second in points instead of first, and that is simply unacceptable. If you could get ahold of Belichick and explain to him as you have us how you could do much better if would be really helpful to the Patriots and by extension all of us who get to bask in your incredible knowledge. Maybe you could get them that #1 WR so critical to winning Lombardi's, you know, guys like Kearse, Boldin, and Santonio Holmes.

I voted no. It is not that he can't, but there are like 1,000 slot receivers on this team.

Brady6 said:

How did Edelman average 10.1 yards per reception if he was catching 5 yard passes?

Posters always point out the “Amendola was signed to replace Welker” bit but we do not know that to be the case, his signing may have been because we needed a wide receiver and felt he offered the best value of what was on the market. We had to replace Welker, Lloyd, and Branch who were all here in 2012.

As far as routes go, Edelman is not going to start running deep outs, and seam routes all of a sudden, Amendola was on the field last season for the final 10 games and Edelman ran the routes in the 1-10 yard range, I do not see any reason that would change.

Click to expand...

Ran after the catch, Mr. Literal?

Brady6 said:

How did Edelman average 10.1 yards per reception if he was catching 5 yard passes?

Posters always point out the “Amendola was signed to replace Welker” bit but we do not know that to be the case, his signing may have been because we needed a wide receiver and felt he offered the best value of what was on the market. We had to replace Welker, Lloyd, and Branch who were all here in 2012.

As far as routes go, Edelman is not going to start running deep outs, and seam routes all of a sudden, Amendola was on the field last season for the final 10 games and Edelman ran the routes in the 1-10 yard range, I do not see any reason that would change.

Click to expand...

Amendola was literally signed as we were negotiating with Welker and we withdrew from negotiating when we signed him.

RayClay said:

Amendola was literally signed as we were negotiating with Welker and we withdrew from negotiating when we signed him.

Click to expand...

Kraft said they were attempting to retain Welker as well. Listen it is possible the reason Amendola was signed was solely to replace Welker, you could be right. I personally think it is possible they just like Amendola and wanted to add him, there were rumors of him being traded for back in 2012 so he has been on the teams radar for a bit.

Either way it appears Edelman is the #1 inside receiver currently, I am sure Amendola will have a role, I just do not see a 100 catches in his future, not with Edelman and LaFell.