Aaron Dobson

IllegalContact said:

he also doesn't do special teams......there is value to me in that.....at least Tyms does.

Click to expand...

Ya there is a guy that has shown he can be counted on. /sarcasm

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

It seems like every year there is an offseason "comeback" article about a young player who fell from grace via injury or work ethic and is poised to make it back. I think I recall similar articles about Dowling, Crable, Price, Brace, C. Jackson, D. Butler, Wheatley, and other disappointments. I have yet to see one of these young draft picks fall as far out of favor as Dobson and ultimately make it back with this organization. Just saying.

Click to expand...

Did you miss the first 4 years of Edelman's career?

Some make it immediately, some get sidetracked with injuries and have to work their way back.

I don't know why you would not want to give this player a chance. If it works out, he will be a great addition to the offense (and a helluva lot cheaper than a decent FA).

JMC00 said:

Much? Serious?

They need a #3 WR that could be a #2 if called upon. That's just how the Pats offense is with Gronk.

Seems like people are setting their sights on someone like Maclin or Crabtree when they should be setting their sights on someone like Nate Washington, Brian Hartline or Cecil Shorts.

I'd argue that finding a definitive #2 receiving TE that has blocking ability is more of a need than a #3 WR.

Cut Hoomanauwai and use that $1.4m to help bring in Lance Kendricks.

Click to expand...

Especially when Wright/Dobson are reasonable wildcards and Amendola was a viable fourth option by the time the playoffs rolled around. I wouldn't have traded him for Welker straight up.

Not that I'd kick a great receiving option to the curb, but the position isn't exactly bare. As you said, a legitimate backup to Gronk is a far bigger need.

Why wouldnt you? Guy is on a rookie contract and costs nothing.

Patjew said:

Haha, what a tattle tale you are, Cindy Brady.

Click to expand...

Well at least I am not cousin Oliver right? : )

ChrisR2223 said:

Dobson, DGB,Lafell,Gronk, on the field heck of a goal line package.
If we signed Harvin that would be a incredibly flexible piece as well.

Click to expand...

Harvin? Please no. You would replace Edelman in that goal line lineup?

Why poison a championship lockerroom with a walking time bomb? Who also wants to get paid.....

If we are going to test the salary cap, do it with Revis, McCourty, Gostkowski and a DT. Then draft a slew of OL's. Fix what's broken, don't poison what works.

Percy Harvin is like a third nipple as far as usefulness. And a cancerous one at that.

Injuries have been a big part of his first couple of seasons. I don't coach so no big deal. Give him the right to compete for a job and let's see how it goes. For me it is a make or break year for Dobson and I wish him well. Who wouldn't want him to succeed? Either he goes ras crable or he becomes that guy that was getting darn good separation a couple of seasons ago and adds himself as a chess piece.

Dr. Gill robbed Dobson of his 2nd year with his poor handling of the broken foot (remember, he had the guy play games on it!). Wait and see what he can do when he's actually healthy.

Edelman and LaFell on the outside is great imo. Picking up a guy like Harry Douglas would be perfect. Edelman, LaFell, Dola, Douglas and some young wide out is a good crew.

Froob said:

Edelman and LaFell on the outside is great imo. Picking up a guy like Harry Douglas would be perfect. Edelman, LaFell, Dola, Douglas and some young wide out is a good crew.

Click to expand...

Hmmmmm.....some young wideout.........maybe someone on a cheap rookie contract.......maybe someone who caught 37 passes for a 14.0 avg in his rookie year in 12 games before he got hurt and mismanaged by a since fired team doctor??????....This someone is finally healthy, knows the Patriots offensive system quite well by now and is putting his body through the full car wash at the Fischer Institute.

.....and you want to SEARCH for a young wideout?

Big-T said:

Dr. Gill robbed Dobson of his 2nd year with his poor handling of the broken foot (remember, he had the guy play games on it!). Wait and see what he can do when he's actually healthy.

Click to expand...

Yeah, but playing Fantasy Football is waaaay more cool, dude!

Seriously, all Fan Duel noise aside, if Dobson is healthy this year, he will be catching 50+ passes for over 700 yards on a rookie contract.

This is the make or break year for both Dobson and Boyce, I expect. If Amendola stays, I think Boyce is out. If Amendola is cut, both of those guys could make the team.

I won't shortchange Dobson. A foot injury is a miserable thing, but if it heals properly, it's in the past. The guy has all the talent and physical gifts. We'll see how it plays out.

One more thing, for everyone discounting Percy Harvin: I hear ya, but don't be surprised if he comes in for a look. I seem to remember BB wanting him in the draft and (reportedly) being very disappointed when Harvin was picked before he got to the podium. There is history there.

I'm really excited for Dobson. I think he can be a VERY GOOD player next year if he stays healthy.

dobson will have between 400-500 receiving yards this upcoming year.

shmessy said:

Harvin? Please no. You would replace Edelman in that goal line lineup?

Why poison a championship lockerroom with a walking time bomb? Who also wants to get paid.....

If we are going to test the salary cap, do it with Revis, McCourty, Gostkowski and a DT. Then draft a slew of OL's. Fix what's broken, don't poison what works.

Percy Harvin is like a third nipple as far as usefulness. And a cancerous one at that.

Click to expand...

You don't seem to get it, Shmess. Don't you understand. To the WR Mafia, every available WR will ALWAYS be better than the guys we have on our own team, regardless.

The WR Mafia would like you to forget that Dobson is the most productive rookie WR in the BB era. They would hope you would ignore that his rookie year was better than guys like DThomas, AJefferies, and a dozen other successful NFL WR's I could name. None of this fits into their delusional world where all football problems can be solved simply by adding a WR that doesn't currently play for the Pats.

The fact that the Pats just won a superbowl with 3 WR's who at one time or another been summarily dismissed by these arbiters of football knowledge; shouldn't be a factor in their minds. To them continuity has no place in improving the product. Their fascination with a player like Harvin only highlights their blindness to true team building. Big names and reputations are the bright shiny objects they so fruitlessly seek.

As to the OP, this was a great article. I have great hopes for the likes of Dobson, Tyms, Boyce, and Wright to strongly compete for WR snaps with last year's starters and to add their skill sets to the receiver mix. Hopefully this article is just the first of many that will detail their hard work in preparing to make the CURRENT receiver group the deepest and most talented in Patriot history.

JMC00 said:

Much? Serious?

They need a #3 WR that could be a #2 if called upon. That's just how the Pats offense is with Gronk.

Seems like people are setting their sights on someone like Maclin or Crabtree when they should be setting their sights on someone like Nate Washington, Brian Hartline or Cecil Shorts.

I'd argue that finding a definitive #2 receiving TE that has blocking ability is more of a need than a #3 WR.

Cut Hoomanauwai and use that $1.4m to help bring in Lance Kendricks.

Click to expand...

OK, I believe that it is insufficient to have 3 top receivers and 3 nobodies in the other three positions (#3 WR, #2 TE and 3rd down RB).

Also, if we are relying on only three receivers, then we need strong backups for them. And just BTW, I believe that our #3 WR is on the field a lot, and not just as a substitute for the #1 or #2 receiver. We do run lots of 3 WR sets.

I believe that we need four players in addition to the top 3: a 3rd WR, a 3rd down RB, a blocking TE and a receiving TE. I believe that the four together constitute "MUCH MORE".

IMHO, losing Amendola and Vereen could have a major impact on our passing game.

I agree with you that an upgrade over Hooman is desired.

The biggest hole we have in our WR corps ATM is at the top. The best scenario imo is if we grab a WR that will leap frog everyone. Realistically, if a draft pick like a Watkins or Benjamin were available (cheap, young, healthy), that would be the surest option opposite LaFell. If you think Gronk and Edelman already do whatever they want, just imagine. Brady would throw 70% on the year.

There is a chance Dobson can make an impact on this team, but he will likely settle at the #4 WR to start the season.

That said, I (as have other posters) have read a lot of "this is what 'x' player is doing to get his young career on track," and I'm used to nothing good happening after them. But the way this article talked about guys who use the program, and how those guys are able to get through a full season without injuries made me a little more hopeful than most articles I read. "Strengthening weak areas" that are more susceptible to injuries seems like a no-brainer to me, but this seems like an improvement on existing training methods. I'm hopeful because of the proven results.

If this helps turn Dobson's career around, the pats need to put an extra conditional workout bonus in every player's contract for this program. Imagine if we had the fewest injuries of any team in the league every year.

patfanken said:

Hopefully this article is just the first of many that will detail their hard work in preparing to make the CURRENT receiver group the deepest and most talented in Patriot history.

Click to expand...

Yes, the team has to option to cut Amendola, lose Vereen and not sign free agent replacements. After all, the team can use hard work to make losing the players work out.

Of course, that is a possibility. The team would succeed without these players.

If the team doesn't keep or replace Amendola and Vereen, then Josh will need to coach up Dobson, Tyms, Boyce and White, all of whom would be on the 53 man roster, and would need to be counted on (in addition to Gray and Gaffney who would also be on the 53). Of course, we might add draftees and JAG's
to compete with these players.
===========================
ARE WE REALLY TO COUNT ON
Dobson, Tyms, Boyce, White, Gray, AND Gaffney

Don't you think that at least one or two of the above 6 players might be upgraded upon?

JMC00 said:

Ya there is a guy that has shown he can be counted on. /sarcasm

Click to expand...

I'm never quite sure what you ever write. I just find myself staring at your avatar and thinking how damn hot she is. Had to be said


I have hopes for Dobson still.

shmessy said:

Did you miss the first 4 years of Edelman's career?

Some make it immediately, some get sidetracked with injuries and have to work their way back.

I don't know why you would not want to give this player a chance. If it works out, he will be a great addition to the offense (and a helluva lot cheaper than a decent FA).

Click to expand...

I did not miss the first 4 years of Edelman's career. Edelman was almost never a healthy scratch; he was our backup slot receiver/ #5 receiver and starting punt returner. When Welker did miss playing time, Edelman was immediately put in the lineup.

I said nothing about not wanting to give Dobson a chance. I just pointed out that once previous players (I listed a bunch of them) had sunken to this level on the depth chart/perceived coach's doghouse, none of that group ever really got out of it. I'm not talking about players that developed slowly- I'm talking about players who were flat out demoted, passed by more hungry players, and/or never able to get back from an injury. There are numerous examples of guys like Dobson who were drafted highly, got off to a fairly quick start their rookie year, and then failed to progress.

I am often wrong (I certainly was on Edelman), but last year I was flamed because throughout the season, I reiterated my educated guess that Dobson's benching was due to his play and not his injury, and that the coaches had essentially decided he shouldn't be in the lineup, even if LaFell were to get injured. I believe I was correct about that.

Objectively, the odds are stacked against Dobson to be a valued contributor to the Patriots. I hope he overcomes those odds. Like everyone else, I was excited when we drafted him, but I also realize that the chances are greater of a second round receiver busting than making it. I'm freely willing to accept that Dobson just won't make it; there are heaps and heaps of once-promising draft picks that busted all across the NFL at all positions.