Sorry for the long post, just want to hit on some points.
The offensive game plan was terrible. The play-calling and execution was terrible. So, apparently, the solution has to be to fire someone and replace him by a Practice Squad quality player. If that is needed, then activate Boyce.
No, I like to look at body of work. Danny Amendola has been here for a season+quarter of a season, what exactly has he done? We gave him a good amount of money for exactly what? He was injured for a large portion of the season and it effected him on the field, does this surprise you? That is who he is, he may not train to be fragile or want to be fragile, but he is and I am convinced that will never change with him and it's very unfortunate that some players are just like this.
There were many things that went wrong last night, but if there was ever a game where DA had to show up and produce it was last night, why else are we paying him the money that we are? He is slow, he can't get open, and once again he is very injury prone. As far as we know, he is 100% healthy, Dobson/Thompkins are both inactive, this guy should be catching
AT LEAST 3 balls a game with those two out. Do you not agree? I'll get to boyce later in this post.
BTW, the posts that our our only receivers are Edelman and Gronk are simply ignorant.
=================
As receivers, we have Edelman, LaFell, Gronkowksi, Vereen and Wright. We need more production from Gronk and Wright. White is OK as Vereen's replacement as a receiving RB. When Gronk is at 100% (or near), this is enough to run 2 WR sets and 2 TE sets. We also have a FB who can be a receiver.
Edelman - Solid, reliable, can move the chains for us.
LaFll - He is a work in progress, his 37 yard catch late last night was a complete mental break down by the Chiefs D. I think it's safe to say we definitely need to see more out of LaFell before we can crown him as reliable and a legitimate threat moving forward.
Gronk - A beast when healthy, but that's the issue with him, he's not healthy very much. Ask yourself if you think Gronk can consistently be active in playoff runs, and be honest with yourself. We need a back up for Gronk more than Edelman IMO.
Vareen - He is not a legitimate receiver, can he catch balls? Yea, but he is a RB. He is a change of pace RB, you cannot honestly believe he's going to go out there on a weekly basis and have success (Esp when half of the receivers are injured/inactive) They have a handful of plays designed for him and that's about it. They need to stop running him up the middle on 1st/2nd downs IMO as well. He's one of those players who benefit when the defense has higher priority threats to cover.
Wright - He is not a healthy Gronk and he is not Jimmy Graham, I think he needs to be involved in the game plan more but just like LaFell we need to see more and also can be a good option if Gronk goes down. He NEEDS to keep developing, it will be key for us.
A FB doesn't stretch the field, you might as well just send Vareen to the flat and maybe he can break loose. But it's good to have a FB who has that ability, I agree.
We need a 3rd receiver for 3 WR sets and we need a backup in case of injuries. After all, the #4 WR rarely gets many reps absent injuries, the 5th WR even less (he is usually inactive). If Amendola were producing, Brady has enough active targets. After all, Gronk and Vereen can (and I think did) line up as WR's.
But that is the problem, Amendola
ISN'T and hasn't been producing for over a season now on this team. Gronk also is not healthy. There are a lot of ifs in there.
THE PROBLEM
is not that we should be activating more WR's. It would not us any good to have Thompkins or Dobson on the bench.
======
DOBSON
I presume that Dobson is still injured. Otherwise, he should not be inactive. He is plenty good enough for a 2-4 reception a game role if healthy, probably much more on a good day (like LaFell). I suppose Dobson will be inactive until he is healthy, which could be next week or late in the season. In any case, Dobson is an asset worth a #5 WR roster spot.
I agree, Dobson has to be injured otherwise I see no reason for him not to be active. You're right, Dobson needs to be on this team ATM.
AMENDOLA
Amendola is at least Edelman's backup (perhaps an inactive roster spot if others are able). I would keep him for the entire year just for that role. I have no idea why he hasn't caught more. However, let me add a bit of perspective. For me, he is worth an active roster spot if he can catch 2-4 receptions a game. He caught 3 in the first game and did catch couple that were called back. Amendola is WAAAY overpaid, but the team seems to have confidence in his ability to run routes. Otherwise, at least one other WR would be active (even Boyce).
In any case, he has a roster spot as a backup to Edelman. Of course, there is an outside chance that we could trade him, but I doubt it.
Ok, we are not paying Amendola to be Edelman's back up. This guy was suppose to come in and make a difference from the start especially considering he worked with McDaniels before. What makes you think if Edelman went down that he would be able to come and run those routes and be as efficient as Edelman? I think you are undervaluing Edelman, or overrating Amendola. He has done nothing in the NFL to prove he was worth the contract he received. There is no way I'm buying he can just take over Edelmans role if he were to go down. Like I said earlier, I really do believe he is getting this much play time right now because there are no other options. The tape doesn't lie, he is slow and has no physical side to him.
THOMPKINS
This is the real question mark for me. DI has convinced me that he should have been active, even if he were to play just a few reps. Thompkins can indeed stretch the field. In any case, we sometimes do get behind and need an additional downfield receiver, no matter what the game plan. And sometimes, down and distance requires an extra downfield receiver.
If Thompkins isn't worth activating with Dobson not playing, I don't understand his place on the 53. After all, his role is to backup Dobson.
I agree, if hes not worth activating if he's healthy then he has no reason to be on the 53. I think he has value, but he needs to see the field.
Perhaps Boyce and Tyms should compete in practice for this roster spot. However, I have seen nothing from either one that would give me any confidence in their success.
Tyms had a good preseason, I know it's just preseason but his number was called and he provided nice results. What has he done not worth the chance? Boyce has seen NFL play, and the Patriots apparently didn't like much of it. Boyce was cut as well this offseason, it just goes to show how highly they think of him. Sure he was brought back, but I don't know, it doesn't seem like they really care much if a team would of picked him up.
Amendola has shown nothing since last season that would make me say "keep him on this roster". He has almost no value, you never know until you try with Tyms. Even if he fails, what does that really change if he takes DA's spot? He could be the spark this offense needs while everyone else continues to get healthy. What are we going to do? Keep getting completely shut down on offense / lose games just because we're afraid Edelman may go down and absolutely need the unproven DA in his spot?
With the strange lineups BB and McDaniels have put out there on Offense you act like seeing Brian Tyms would surprise you. like Pete said new blood wouldn't hurt what has Amendola done to be a game day active???? I'm still waiting??
