We didn't get a tall WR in FA or the draft? Why?

Mostly because WE DIDN'T NEED ONE. I know all the draftnicks and FA guys out there thought that was the answer, but no. We did NOT draft a tall WR and we did NOT sign one in FA. We brought a few in for a looksee. That was it.

We still have Julian Edeleman (92 catches, 972 yards), Brandon Lafell (you know, that 6-3 guy we signed last offseason who had 74 catches and 953 yards and 7 TD's) plus Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson and Brian Tyms on the roster.

Also on the roster is a dude named Rob Gronkowski. He made 82 receptions for 1124 yards and 12 TD's as a TE. Tim Wright made 26 receptions and 6 TD's as the other TE.

We signed Scott Chandler (who had 47 receptions and 497 yards with 3 TD,s) and Travaris Cadet (38 Rec last year). Does anyone get the picture where Tom's throwing it?

We have 2 BIG RZ targets as it is

I may be in the minority but I still hold out hope that Aaron Dobson will develop into a fine NFL WR. That said, I'm at ease with Edelman, LaFell and Amendola mainly because Gronk is Brady's #1 skill position weapon on O. It starts and finishes with that connection.

I don't care, I can't stand it

I think the idea behind it was due to the following:

1) It was a deeper draft at the position of WR

2) There was the thought that guys like Tyms and Dobson couldn't be depended upon--and for good reason

3) The idea was to replace one of those players with another developing talent, who could be had on a cheap rookie pact

meatface said:

I don't care, I can't stand it

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I think I pissed my pants meat.

Not sure I'd include Tyms in there lol. But yeah generally agree. As long as a solid 4th guy emerges (maybe Gibson?) they should be fine. If not, then it would be a little concerning because Edelman and Dola have both had their fair share of injuries.

Froob said:

Not sure I'd include Tyms in there lol. But yeah generally agree. As long as a solid 4th guy emerges (maybe Gibson?) they should be fine. If not, then it would be a little concerning because Edelman and Dola have both had their fair share of injuries.

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Let's not forget that they also went after Stevie Johnson a month or so ago, while we all waited patiently for his decision.

Belichick obviously has had some thoughts on improving the competition and depth chart.

OhExaulted1 said:

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I think I pissed my pants meat.

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Due to the missing comma, that just looks so wrong!

They signed Devin Gardner...or do all receivers need to be 6'6 now? how long until all receivers need to be 7 feet tall?

Wheelman said:

They signed Devin Gardner...or do all receivers need to be 6'6 now? how long until all receivers need to be 7 feet tall?

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Yup, and Devin Gardner is 6'4" and 218 pounds. Seems plenty big enough to me.

AJ Derby: 6'4"

Scott Chandler: 6'7"

yeah we're good on height with gronk, lafell, chandler

ausbacker said:

I may be in the minority but I still hold out hope that Aaron Dobson will develop into a fine NFL WR. That said, I'm at ease with Edelman, LaFell and Amendola mainly because Gronk is Brady's #1 skill position weapon on O. It starts and finishes with that connection.

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The question should be ausie, is why SHOULDN'T you be optimistic. Dobson had over 500 yds in his first year when he played only 12 games and several of those hurt. Last year was clearly both a waste and disappointment that didn't have everything to do with his injuries though most of it did.

Dobson is STILL a great "prospect" who fell a year behind his progress. I think you can greatly infer that the reason no draft capital was spent on WR's was that Bill is very happy at the off season progress of Dobson, Tyms and Boyce. If fasns used a little common sense you should know that no rookie WR selected after the first 20 picks was going to offer better possible production than the young WR we have under development right here. How could we possibly think ANY WR could come in and function well in the complex Pats offense in their rookie year. I mean many of us have written off the guy who did the best so far

:Look at what we have already. Between Gronk, Edelman and LaFell we have 3 guys already around 1000 yds, and DA who finished the last 6 games receiving at a 1000 yd rate. And that doesn't count the potential TE receiving threats of Chandler and Wright. And then AFTER that you have to find snaps for whomever survives from Tyms, Dobson, and Boyce. What a waste a draft pick on a WR would have been.

patfanken said:

And then AFTER that you have to find snaps for whomever survives from Tyms, Dobson, and Boyce. What a waste a draft pick on a WR would have been.

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I think you make a fine point, Ken, and I respect your stance on the matter. I can't however, agree with the thought that we didn't select anyone due to Tyms (barely re-signed after no one else showed interest), Boyce (cut, and re-signed to the practice squad), and Dobson.

In other words, you may have a much better argument pointing out the low numbers for the WR3-4-5 positions, historically; or the thought that there's enough competition with Gibson (don't sleep on him), Dobson, and Dorsey. Let's remember that Belichick just made bigger name FA Stevie Johnson an offer, so obviously he's not quite as "satisfied" with the depth chart and potential as some here are suggesting.

There may/may not be a relationship between prioritizing other positions and choices over WR in the draft, and Belichick being happy with guys like Aaron Dobson, but I don't think we can make the strong assumptions that Belichick feels comfortable about the position. Just my opinion, of course.

Gibson is 6'0 205. Gardner is 6'4 218.

That said, the quick and agile iron smurfs play to Brady's strengths as a QB. Super accurate short and intermediate passes, with the coming out quickly. Deep bomb is not his specialty; he's rather mediocre at it for the GOAT.

rookBoston said:

Gibson is 6'0 205. Gardner is 6'4 218.

That said, the quick and agile iron smurfs play to Brady's strengths as a QB. Super accurate short and intermediate passes, with the coming out quickly. Deep bomb is not his specialty; he's rather mediocre at it for the GOAT.

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I agree, but I do feel he gets an unfair mark in this area because he simply has never had the right kind of receiver that has deepball tracking skills. The one time in his career he did have this, he was breaking records.

I love Edelman (bro) but he's not the receiver quarterbacks should be throwing go-routes to.

Tall WRs are very overrated by people on this forum. Our offense decimated every defense it faced in the postseason and a lot of good defenses in the regular season last year.

When will people stop flapping their gums about tall receivers?

supafly said:

There may/may not be a relationship between prioritizing other positions and choices over WR in the draft, and Belichick being happy with guys like Aaron Dobson, but I don't think we can make the strong assumptions that Belichick feels comfortable about the position. Just my opinion, of course.

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With injuries being so prevalent, I don't think there's a single position on the field where BB feels comfortable with his entire depth chart.

FourierSeries said:

Tall WRs are very overrated by people on this forum. Our offense decimated every defense it faced in the postseason and a lot of good defenses in the regular season last year.

When will people stop flapping their gums about tall receivers?

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If a receiver can significantly (not just a little bit) outjump every DB who could cover him and if he can beat any press well enough to basically run his route and if he's strong enough to always keep the ball when he comes down from his leap and if the QB throw accurately and if the blockers can neutralize everybody who pass rushes, then the offense is unstoppable.

At least, that's the theory. No reliable experiment with those conditions all met has ever been conducted in the NFL, but the theory does seem pretty plausible when you think about it.

The Seahawks had the best defense in the league last season. The Pats put up 28 points on that defense and WON the Super Bowl, primarily through the air. They NEED big tall fast wideout receivers? Is there some other trophy beyond the Super Bowl that is going to require this immediate upgrade?