If Boyce picks up his game...

It's the regular season. Why are we taking about practice squad players?

If Boyce picks up his game as a developmental WR, it will benefit our overall depth and competition at the position for next season.

That said, I think he's got a long way to go--at least at the current moment. We'll all be rooting for him to make a nice leap, which will be proven by remaining on the team through TC next year, and actually making the 53 man roster.

The underlying difference here appears to be one player has shown he can play football in the NFL and the other has shown at this point in time, the grade is far above his ability.

Boyce seems very motivated now that he's been demoted to the practice squad.
Maybe this is what he has been needing to know that what he has done in college isn't enough to make his name In the NFL.
What he really needs is Brady to have confidence in him because no matter how he looks with Grap and the weekly QB.
He won't see the field til Brady has confidence in Josh.

Boyce more than likely will never see the field in a patriots uniform. A game that matters anyways. And I am okay with that. Dunno why some people on here are so in love with an under 6 foot slot receiver who has shown nothing of value in his 2 years here and KR isn't value in now adays NFL

I agree this is just what he needed. Big motivation and dose of reality. He still might be a decent player and WR sometimes take 2-3 years to bloom. Best place for him, and for us. Continues his development in a known system. Changing might have really F'd him up. If did actually any better this pre-season he might have been scooped up. And he'd still be here if we weren't so deep and healthy.

Boyce will be no more then a PS guy.

Wheelman said:

What I don't under is why they don't do the combine in pads for all the drills with any running involved?

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I don't think that would make things any clearer, though. Maybe if they wore pads and had a corner playing bump and run and pressing them all along their route it would. But that would also be somewhat ridiculous.

ChrisR2223 said:

Boyce seems very motivated now that he's been demoted to the practice squad.

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Huh?
What specific evidence do you have to support this assertion?

I think the pats give him one more year. if he doesnt show anything in TC next year then he is gone.

To me, Boyce is a marginal Practice Squad player. I would probably prefer Swanson.

To be direct, if there were to be one WR injury, I would not expect us to activate Boyce. Having 4 WR and 3 TE's active is fine. If there were an injury, we would simply add Tyms after four weeks.

TBR said:

Do you think he could play a role similar to Percy Harvin?

I love those end-around and sweep plays Seattle runs with Harvin and I think it would be a nice wrinkle in our offense as well

Same height. 10-15 lbs heavier. A faster 40 time (Boyce 4.34, Harvin 4.41)

I think we've ran a few similar plays with Edelman and Amendola but those guys aren't as explosive.

Thoughts?

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i dont think so. That play works due to the idea of the QB could keep it and run. Its a spread option play which i dont think works with our personnel

mgteich said:

To be direct, if there were to be one WR injury, I would not expect us to activate Boyce. Having 4 WR and 3 TE's active is fine. If there were an injury, we would simply add Tyms after four weeks.

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Could not agree more

Thread title more aptly should be "If Pigs Could Fly..."

RIpats88 said:

Doesn't Edelman kind of play that role?

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Edleman can make guys miss him in a phone booth. (For the younger among us, Therre used to be booths. With phones in them.)

ChrisR2223 said:

Boyce seems very motivated now that he's been demoted to the practice squad.
Maybe this is what he has been needing to know that what he has done in college isn't enough to make his name In the NFL.
What he really needs is Brady to have confidence in him because no matter how he looks with Grap and the weekly QB.
He won't see the field til Brady has confidence in Josh.

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Is this based on anything in particular?

rochrist said:

Is this based on anything in particular?

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I think people underestimate how much of an athletic freak Harvin is. There are only a few guys in the league who can play the role that he plays (and no, Boyce isn't even close to being one of them). He's a standout among standouts when healthy; that's why he was able to get so much money despite being a known constant injury risk.

If you're looking for guys who could be used similarly to how he is, that list probably starts with Cordarrelle Patterson and Randall Cobb, and Vereen is pretty high up on it as well IMO. But it's not a long list at all.

I think Boyce's best chance to step-up is by replacing an injured ST player late in the season, when kickoff returns begin to happen with regularity.

Wheelman said:

What I don't under is why they don't do the combine in pads for all the drills with any running involved?

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Boyce would be just as fast in pads. His lack of speed on the field is attributable to two things:

• his inferior moves, which gives defenders a head start in covering him when he makes his break;
• his mental speed does not match his physical speed.

The latter is obviously speculation on my part, but he seems lost at times out there. Folks say that he doesn't have any fire, but I think he is simply thinking too much. Time on the practice squad will help with this even more than with developing the technique of his moves. I still don't think he makes it as a WR, but by later this year, he may suffice as an emergency backup.

Skeeter712 said:

LOL people need to give up on Josh Boyce, much like the Patriots have.

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I'm not suggesting Boyce is going to be a player, but I think year 2 is too early to give up on a receiver.

Wes Welker didn't catch a single pass his rookie season. Troy Brown caught 2 passes in his first 2 seasons combined.

Edelman caught 37 passes his rookie season, then dropped to 7 and 4 catches the next two, then caught 21 passes the next season. He would catch more passes in his 5th season than the previous 4 combined.

Again, not saying Boyce is going to break out or anything, but it really is too early to decide anything.

I think Boyce has the talent to be an NFL WR. I think his speed was evident in the fact that in every game I saw him play he consistently beat DB's in deep coverage, getting behind DB's at least a couple of times. Personally I think the fact he didn't make the final roster says more about the guys in front of him than his own personal talent. (hard to believe I just said that after last season ). I wouldn't be surprised to see him get another shot either here or elsewhere when the inevitable injuries occur.

The player I think he compares to the most to me is Brandon Tate, who has carved out a very nice career as a back up WR/ST's guy with the Bengals running a simpler offense. 2 final points.

I think the Baron's post has some merit. I think in a league where most of the talent is pretty much on the same level for 90% of the guys, confidence plays a huge part in the success or failure of a player. Right now I don't think Boyce is playing with a lot of confidence right now.

It also says a lot about something I've been saying for a long time about WR's. There are a lot of decent guys out there. Brian Tyms isn't an anomaly. You can find guys like him all the time in the league. The raw talent is out there, whether it develops or can fit the system is another matter entirely. You DON'T have to spend first round picks to find adequate WR's.