Tight end Shuffle: Hartsock, Maneri, Terrence Miller in; Jones, Watson, RB Houston out

Deus Irae · Aug 13, 2014

mgteich said:
OK, we didn't win the Super Bowl and the offense weren't the #1 offense in the NFL, even with major injuries in key positions. We NEED to do much, much better. I understand the position that anything less than than the Super Bowl is a failure, and that we should be able to be the best in the league when our #2 player is injured. I just disagree.

I would expect a #2 TE to be the #7 or #8 receiver on the team. Do you disagree?

The team is likely to be a 3 WR team more often than a 2 TE team. Is that unacceptable to you?

We might run more 2 RB or 1 RB/1 FB sets. Is that unacceptable?

YES, I would feel more comfortable with a better backup for Gronk. However, a DT was probably a better choice. Would you have drafted a TE in the first round?

How they did at TE is not the same as how they did as a team. At TE, they were terrible without Gronk. TEs nicknamed Gronk totaled 39 catches in 7 games. TEs not nicknamed Gronk totaled 14 catches in a combined 28 games. How are you even arguing this?

supafly · Aug 14, 2014

mgteich said:
YES, I would feel more comfortable with a better backup for Gronk. However, a DT was probably a better choice. Would you have drafted a TE in the first round?

Understanding that this wasn't aimed at me, personally--I would not have drafted a TE in round one, no.

An argument could be made for drafting a TE in one of the mid-late rounds, however (Gillmore, Lynch, etc). Apparently, Belichick didn't deem that as a priority, so we'll have to hope that Gronkowski stays healthy this year.

supafly · Aug 14, 2014

This conversation alone just brings up bad feelings. Since at 5'9"--5'10", I'd have to jump to sock Hernandez in the mouth, I'd probably just resort to kicking him in the balls and running off like a little *****. I may even squeal for good measure and dramatic effect.

Either way, he'd feel my wrath, that SOB

ATippett56 · Aug 14, 2014

At this point in time, it might not even be worth keeping a third tight end on the roster.

jmt57 · Aug 14, 2014

If Gronk and Hoomanawanui are not 100% healthy, then the Patriots may be in a position where they have no choice but to retain a third tight end on the roster, at least for week one.

patchick · Aug 14, 2014

supafly said:
An argument could be made for drafting a TE in one of the mid-late rounds, however (Gillmore, Lynch, etc).

I liked Gillmore, and would have happily taken him in the 5th. As the crazy TE draft played out, though, the last pick where the Pats could have gotten him was the 2nd!! So he's not really in the discussion.

As for Lynch, I'd call him Hooman without the experience, not a solution to anything.

Ring 6 · Aug 14, 2014

Deus Irae said:
How they did at TE is not the same as how they did as a team. At TE, they were terrible without Gronk. TEs nicknamed Gronk totaled 39 catches in 7 games. TEs not nicknamed Gronk totaled 14 catches in a combined 28 games. How are you even arguing this?

This is wrong. How they did as a team speaks to how they overcame the weakness at TE which really is the point of this discussion since there really was no reasonable option this offseason that would have put them in position to not be weak at TE if gronk goes down.
Sure you can flap your gums about signing some slug who could have caught 20 passes in hoomans place last year but that wouldn't really improve the team appreciably.
Until a viable #2 is developed the answer to a gronk injury is overcoming it not pretending he can be replaced. Anyone that good either wouldn't come here or would change us back to a 2 TE offense and then would be a starter not gronks replacement.

Armchair Quarterback · Aug 14, 2014

AndyJohnson said:
This is wrong. How they did as a team speaks to how they overcame the weakness at TE which really is the point of this discussion since there really was no reasonable option this offseason that would have put them in position to not be weak at TE if gronk goes down.
Sure you can flap your gums about signing some slug who could have caught 20 passes in hoomans place last year but that wouldn't really improve the team appreciably.
Until a viable #2 is developed the answer to a gronk injury is overcoming it not pretending he can be replaced. Anyone that good either wouldn't come here or would change us back to a 2 TE offense and then would be a starter not gronks replacement.

You act as if there is Hooman and there is a starting caliber TE and there is nothing in between.

Armchair Quarterback · Aug 14, 2014

Hartsock released, tackling dummy signed to active roster to compete at TE.

Ring 6 · Aug 14, 2014

Armchair Quarterback said:
You act as if there is Hooman and there is a starting caliber TE and there is nothing in between.

As we showed in the analysis of other teams TEs, thats not far from true.
I will expand though.
If you eliminate the FA TEs who were competing for starting jobs and wouldn't come here because they wouldn't see the field behind Gronk, there was no one who would make a SIGNIFCANT difference over Hooman.
Had we replaced him with any of those players and Gronk was injured, we would equally de-emphasize the TE and the production you would get may be a little more, but nothing significant.

chasa · Aug 14, 2014

How on earth is this offense going to maintain its top 5 offense without a second TE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

with gronk we have the best offense in the league, without him we are top ten.

Drafting a TE was not a priority, The patriots made TE's cool, they can make playing without them cool as well.

patchick · Aug 14, 2014

Armchair Quarterback said:
Hartsock released, tackling dummy signed to active roster to compete at TE.

It's pretty obvious that they brought in a batch at the same time for a glorified tryout, not planning to keep them all (even at roster 90).

Brady6 · Aug 14, 2014

patchick said:
It's pretty obvious that they brought in a batch at the same time for a glorified tryout, not planning to keep them all (even at roster 90).

I have to think another TE is going to be signed. They have 1 right now and he is more of an extra OL. The other 3 are injured in some capacity or rehabbing.

PatsWickedPissah · Aug 14, 2014

Let me be the first to welcome Dustin Kellor to the Patriots!

Ring 6 · Aug 14, 2014

Brady6 said:
I have to think another TE is going to be signed. They have 1 right now and he is more of an extra OL. The other 3 are injured in some capacity or rehabbing.

Probably so, but I think that if Hooman and Gronk are expected back, Maneri is exactly the type of player they are looking for as the 3rd TE.
I could see him being kept to free up a spot by going with only 8 OL, because he could fill in at OT in a pinch and the 9th OL could be on the practice squad, maybe one of the rookies.

Keep Solder, Vollmer, Cannon, Connolly, Mankins, Wendell, Kline and one of the rookies with Maneri as the emergency 9th OL and put the other 2 rookies on the ps.

Urgent · Aug 14, 2014

...that was quick...
Ben Hartsock sort of seemed like the "I love being a role-player" guy that might stick.

Looking more like this is the position targeted once cuts release another group of tight ends...

TonyTucker · Aug 14, 2014

chasa said:
How on earth is this offense going to maintain its top 5 offense without a second TE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

with gronk we have the best offense in the league, without him we are top ten.

Drafting a TE was not a priority, The patriots made TE's cool, they can make playing without them cool as well.

They sure looked cool in the AFCCG when they scored 3 points until garbage time.

TE should have been a priority. Look at how many stinkbombs they've signed and released recently. It's pretty sad that the talent behind Gronk is so bad than HOOMAN is considered decent. He stinks, too.

Armchair Quarterback · Aug 14, 2014

patchick said:
It's pretty obvious that they brought in a batch at the same time for a glorified tryout, not planning to keep them all (even at roster 90).

I didn't think any of them would last more than a week.They were unemployed midway through training camp for a reason.

jah · Aug 14, 2014

I don't see what made Hartsock any different from Matthew Mulligan.

Brady6 · Aug 14, 2014

AndyJohnson said:
Probably so, but I think that if Hooman and Gronk are expected back, Maneri is exactly the type of player they are looking for as the 3rd TE.
I could see him being kept to free up a spot by going with only 8 OL, because he could fill in at OT in a pinch and the 9th OL could be on the practice squad, maybe one of the rookies.

Keep Solder, Vollmer, Cannon, Connolly, Mankins, Wendell, Kline and one of the rookies with Maneri as the emergency 9th OL and put the other 2 rookies on the ps.

I liked what Mulligan gave us last season so if Maneri can play a similar role I would be pleased. I just don't even know if Hooman will be ready for the season. I also think Hooman is being overrated because our TE situation is so dyer. He is a solid depth option but having him as the primary backup isn't ideal in my opinion. He has had 2 straight seasons where he had a tremendous opportunity to step in and prove he could be a starting caliber TE and he didn't show much at all.

Tight end Shuffle: Hartsock, Maneri, Terrence Miller in; Jones, Watson, RB Houston out

PatsFans.com Retired Jersey Club

Eff you, Shula

Eff you, Shula

Pro Bowl Player

Moderator

Moderatrix

PatsFans.com Supporter

In the Starting Line-Up

In the Starting Line-Up

PatsFans.com Supporter

Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract

Moderatrix

Pro Bowl Player

PatsFans.com Supporter

PatsFans.com Supporter

In the Starting Line-Up

Third String But Playing on Special Teams

In the Starting Line-Up

Degeneracy Expert

Pro Bowl Player

Similar threads