Aaron Dobson

Rob0729 said:

I am sorry, but I totally disagree with you. Dobson had the most promising rookie season of the Brady era and what was most impressive was his ability to get open. Unfortunately he is not Julio Jones who is an elite WR and can play through recovering from a broken foot and subsequent surgery (but he has a size advantage to work with). Maybe if Dobson was a more seasoned veteran, it would be easier for him to play through less than 100%. Losing the entire offseason and training camp put him way behind in his progression even if he started the season at 100%.

People are writing this guy off way too quick. He may bust out. Or he just may need more time to get back close to 100%.

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Tough to bust out if you can't get on the field.

Rob0729 said:

I am sorry, but I totally disagree with you. Dobson had the most promising rookie season of the Brady era and what was most impressive was his ability to get open. Unfortunately he is not Julio Jones who is an elite WR and can play through recovering from a broken foot and subsequent surgery (but he has a size advantage to work with). Maybe if Dobson was a more seasoned veteran, it would be easier for him to play through less than 100%. Losing the entire offseason and training camp put him way behind in his progression even if he started the season at 100%.

People are writing this guy off way too quick. He may bust out. Or he just may need more time to get back close to 100%.

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Being the "most productive rookie in the Brady era" isn't really saying much, Rob; especially in a year when there were no other viable options for the majority of the time. Hell, we saw Gronk, Vereen, and Amendola out for long stretches at a time, with players like Josh Boyce and Kenbrell Thompkins getting starting duty...and yet Dobson still couldn't run with it due a combination of factors (some of them injury, which obviously aren't his fault).

I just believe that he's been overhyped as much as Thompkins and Boyce have been. I do agree with you that there's absolutely no reason to give up on him. I would be shocked if someone suggested that.

On the other hand, I'm sure that you can start to understand why some feel as though he's looking much more like another Brandon Tate, Taylor Price, Chad Jackson, etc....especially if he doesn't contribute much through his first 2 years as you predicted due to another "red shirt" year.

maybe he can get some reps in at OL if someone else goes down..becasue by the looks of it he isn't seeing the field anytime soon

I remember when people were questioning Edelman.

"He's a spread-option college QB that can return punts, he offers nothing in the receiving game"
"2009 was a fluke" "Half his stats came in 2 games, the 1st of the season and the last game of the season"
"Belichick has trouble developing actual WRs, why did he ever think he could convert a spread-option QB to a WR"

Clearly the foot injury kept Dobson from developing trust with Brady and getting reps.

This could be a year where he spends most of it getting reps in practice. Maybe by the playoffs he will be up to speed.

JMC00 said:

I remember when people were questioning Edelman.

"He's a spread-option college QB that can return punts, he offers nothing in the receiving game"
"2009 was a fluke" "Half his stats came in 2 games, the 1st of the season and the last game of the season"
"Belichick has trouble developing actual WRs, why did he ever think he could convert a spread-option QB to a WR"

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Do you also remember when Edelman did basically nothing for 4 years and was allowed to walk away, and only got brought back on small cash?

Yes, Belichick has had trouble developing and keeping WR's.

Arguably, we sometimes acted too soon. Tate is still playing for CIN. We brought him in knowing that he would have a long rehab.

Price had a medical issue that the team didn't deal with that probably contributed to his ineffectiveness. Perhaps, he'd still be here if he were treated better. BTW, he's still listed as a free agent. Perhaps, he'll play some this year for someone.

And, of course, most of us would have kept Lloyd longer. As with Price, Lloyd has medical issues that the team was unable to deal with. He certainly could have been our #4 receiver, probably more.

supafly said:

Being the "most productive rookie in the Brady era" isn't really saying much, Rob; especially in a year when there were no other viable options for the majority of the time. Hell, we saw Gronk, Vereen, and Amendola out for long stretches at a time, with players like Josh Boyce and Kenbrell Thompkins getting starting duty...and yet Dobson still couldn't run with it due a combination of factors (some of them injury, which obviously aren't his fault).

I just believe that he's been overhyped as much as Thompkins and Boyce have been. I do agree with you that there's absolutely no reason to give up on him. I would be shocked if someone suggested that.

On the other hand, I'm sure that you can start to understand why some feel as though he's looking much more like another Brandon Tate, Taylor Price, Chad Jackson, etc....especially if he doesn't contribute much through his first 2 years as you predicted due to another "red shirt" year.

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mgteich said:

Yes, Belichick has had trouble developing and keeping WR's.

Arguably, we sometimes acted too soon. Tate is still playing for CIN. We brought him in knowing that he would have a long rehab.

Price had a medical issue that the team didn't deal with that probably contributed to his ineffectiveness. Perhaps, he'd still be here if he were treated better. BTW, he's still listed as a free agent. Perhaps, he'll play some this year for someone.

And, of course, most of us would have kept Lloyd longer. As with Price, Lloyd has medical issues that the team was unable to deal with. He certainly could have been our #4 receiver, probably more.

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I'm assuming that you mean Chad Jackson, instead of Llyod?

Either way, Tate has played for 5+ years now, and has never caught more than 24 passes in a season.

Taylor Price has played in 4 seasons, and has a TOTAL of seven passes caught.

supafly said:

I'm assuming that you mean Chad Jackson, instead of Llyod?

Either way, Tate has played for 5+ years now, and has never caught more than 24 passes in a season.

Taylor Price has played in 4 seasons, and has a TOTAL of seven passes caught.

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In his 5th NFL season, Brandon Tate is now just 2 catches shy of a whopping 50 career receptions!

He looked all right last year and lousy early, when he and Thomkins were getting force fed. Maybe a nagging foot injury, or maybe LaFell and Tyms (not much) are crowding him out as well as Wright and Gronk.

Bottom line is, you have to force your way on to the team in practice, draft pick or not. The draft is over. Means as much now as who had the nicest suit on a job interview.

I think we have a good, competitive group at receiver and a decent two tight end combination. Who's to say Tyms wouldn't have been a 1st round pick with a stable family allowing him to be recruited and play more in college? The draft is a snapshot in time. If Dobson is a fighter, he'll get his snaps, because he's talented.

RayClay said:

Bottom line is, you have to force your way on to the team in practice, draft pick or not. The draft is over. Means as much now as who had the nicest suit on a job interview.

I think we have a good, competitive group at receiver and a decent two tight end combination. Who's to say Tyms wouldn't have been a 1st round pick with a stable family allowing him to be recruited and play more in college? The draft is a snapshot in time. If Dobson is a fighter, he'll get his snaps, because he's talented.

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That is so true of the patriots. However I do think bb and the coaching staff recognize and allow for injuries and give players a fair shot to get caught up.

The question is - will Dobson take advantage and put in the work necessary to become a player for this team?

scott99 said:

Tough to bust out if you can't get on the field.

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Being benched twice in the same game for false starts isn't helping his cause either. Has to play a lot smarter than that if he wants to see the field on this team.

The question is who do you want active to get 1-5 targets a game, Tyms or Dobson.

It seems that Brady is set for now with its six primary targets: Edelman, LaFell, Amendola, Gronkowski, Wright and Vereen.

Will Dobson show Josh and Tom that he should get more reps? Will Tyms?

mgteich said:

Yes, Belichick has had trouble developing and keeping WR's.

Arguably, we sometimes acted too soon. Tate is still playing for CIN. We brought him in knowing that he would have a long rehab.

Price had a medical issue that the team didn't deal with that probably contributed to his ineffectiveness. Perhaps, he'd still be here if he were treated better. BTW, he's still listed as a free agent. Perhaps, he'll play some this year for someone.

And, of course, most of us would have kept Lloyd longer. As with Price, Lloyd has medical issues that the team was unable to deal with. He certainly could have been our #4 receiver, probably more.

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Wait. Are you really advocating that the team would be better right now with Brandon Tate and Taylor Price? Really?

now that Lafell has the trust of brady, it is going to be really hard IMO for Dobson to pry that spot away from him. he better hope he starts playing better to stay on the field...because if Amendola can work his way into being a contributer again then its not going to look good for dobson.

I'm not even really counting Dobson going forward especially if he doesn't play vs Chicago. No idea what has gotten into him, he's been a colossal disappointment this season. Let's just pray Edelman and LaFell stay healthy because there's been almost zero production behind them. Perhaps Tyms will become something but until he does Edelman and LaFell is pretty much all we have.

I still have some hopes for Dobson but at this point I'd love to trade him for help elsewhere. Whether it's someone else's disappointment (to match Dobson at a position of greater need) or an older player, we just don't seem to need Dobson with Edelman, LaFell, Amendola, Tyms and Boyce sitting on the PS. Not that that's an all time great list, of course, but adding Dobson to it doesn't move the needle a lot for me.

Obviously an ILB would be great but we also need to look at RB unless they have confidence in Gray. Personally I liked how he looked, we'll see on Sunday if he gets more chances. The Browns have 3 RB in Tate, West and Crowell, I could see one being made available. Also, I doubt it would take much to get Stephen Jackson from Atlanta at this point. He's looking done but could get us through the season if there's not better options.

the pats need more at lb and dt than they do at WR at this point. Edelman and Lafell are getting work done. Amendola is starting to produce. Gronk is looking like himself, Wright is chipping in some big plays, and Vereen is absolutely a weapon out of the backfield.

I wouldn't mind landing VJax if all it costs is a 3rd. Right now Dobson is battling with Tyms to get on the field as the 3rd/4th wideout but we are going to be seeing a lot of double TE sets with Gronk and Wright clicking.

He hasn't been giving a fair chance this year, to be honest. I'm not a fan of players earning their playing time through practice. Or "you play how you practice". I guarantee you put the kid out there and give him starter snaps, he will produce.

I bet if he was on the Broncos, Colts, Cowboys or Saints he would be putting up solid numbers.

The sample size of his snaps this year is far too small to write him off. Stat-wise, didn't he have the best year of any rookie WR in the Brady-era? Please...just find a way to get him involved. He has more potential than Tyms and LaFell IMO.

AndyJohnson said:

Wait. Are you really advocating that the team would be better right now with Brandon Tate and Taylor Price? Really?

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No.

The rule for the patriots is that we dump players; they are mediocre elsewhere, and the assumption is that they could not have developed if they stayed.

Yes, I would take Tate instead of Tyms in a minute. Price and Lloyd had medical problems that we didn't deal with. If that had been done, PERHAPS one of these players would be producing more than Tyms or Dobson at about the same cost.