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

OhExaulted1 said:

Yeah Rob. I was just getting a little concerned with the "We need a WR" outcry. Some posters here think it's an end all be all referendum because we brought some in for workouts and showed a little FA interest.

As we know that's not how it turned out. We signed a catch-passing RB to take Vereens spot (Cadet), an under-the-market WR (Gibson) for depth and a huge TE (Chandler) to make our system work. This is where this team is going in terms of the passing game.

Bombs away was 8 years ago. Not our offense anymore.

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People always want to add skill positions. Unless you have an elite lineup, people want to upgrade their WR corp all the time. Everyone wants a deep threat WR because they are the Ferraris of the WR world (pretty, go fast, more flashy than productive in most cases, and constantly giving you problems).

My concern wasn't with getting a "tall fast WR" to start but rather to get better depth. Imagine if Edelman and LaFell were both hurt for a significant period of time... Your starting lineup at this point would be Amendola, Dobson, and Gibson/Tyms/Boyce. Now imagine that brittle Amendola goes on IR quickly after... You see what I mean, I would hope.

Now, if everything goes right, Dobson and Gibson could turn in pretty good seasons, and that depth chart would actually still be decent. We just don't know that at all right now, which is why I would like to have better depth.

I'm also thinking about the timeframe now: the FA period was back in March when BB signed Gibson and was trying to sign Stevie. That led us to believe he also wanted more depth. However, it's now May, and he may have seen enough out of Gibson & Dobson by now to feel comfortable with what he has and bypass the WRs in the draft. Which, IMO, is quite a statement, considering you could get a talent like Greene or McBride so incredibly late. It was a very deep class.

meatface said:

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

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This will never get old. LOL.

supafly said:

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.

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I think that BB pursues any player he thinks can help his team. I don't think it signifies need as much as it signifies he likes the player. Where there is need, he is not so easily outbid.

Look, BB views S, TE, WR and RB differently than the rest of the league. No one drafts as many TE and S as he does, IMO, because he is looking for a unique skillset and to get that you have to take chances, and you have to draft them early. No one spends less on WR and RB, and IMO its because he has Brady. If you have Brady and he can give you the best offense in the NFL, or close to it, with cheap WRs, then you spend more on other positions.

Ross12 said:

My concern wasn't with getting a "tall fast WR" to start but rather to get better depth. Imagine if Edelman and LaFell were both hurt for a significant period of time... Your starting lineup at this point would be Amendola, Dobson, and Gibson/Tyms/Boyce. Now imagine that brittle Amendola goes on IR quickly after... You see what I mean, I would hope.

Now, if everything goes right, Dobson and Gibson could turn in pretty good seasons, and that depth chart would actually still be decent. We just don't know that at all right now, which is why I would like to have better depth.

I'm also thinking about the timeframe now: the FA period was back in March when BB signed Gibson and was trying to sign Stevie. That led us to believe he also wanted more depth. However, it's now May, and he may have seen enough out of Gibson & Dobson by now to feel comfortable with what he has and bypass the WRs in the draft. Which, IMO, is quite a statement, considering you could get a talent like Greene or McBride so incredibly late. It was a very deep class.

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Any teams depth chart would look barren if you count the top 3 guys as injured.

AndyJohnson said:

Any teams depth chart would look barren if you count the top 3 guys as injured.

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Yeah, this is very true. Just speaking hypothetically. I was focusing more on the fact that Amendola would be relied upon to be your #1 guy in that situation, and his propensity for injury could end up putting you in an even worse position.

I don't think we didn't need a WR, I just think we have already good value on Dobson and Gibson and adding another WR would make a good player to get cut in a numbers game. Maybe BB had a couple names he would grab if available and that didn't happen, we don't know.

Also, I don't understand the correlation between winning the SB last year and not needing or wanting to improve the receiving corps. For that successful example I could give you another 3 that failed. Last season we got that good physical outside receiver in Lafell. And Gronk was 100% in the SB. The theory that small and shiftier receivers work well with Brady and is an unstoppable weapon is yet to be proved in playoff games. Having a Torrey Smith type of receiver can't hurt, people need to stop with this BS that Brady is not good with the bombs. With this current receiving corps that is simply not a play that they should practice a lot, instead, they work at their strengths. It takes 2 to make a completion, give Brady a guy with this profile and they will practice until perfection, we all know how obsessive and hard worker Brady is.

Once again, I'm not pissed or advocating that we should draft a receiver in the 2nd or 3rd round, I'd be more favorable to draft a running back to be honest but generally I'm ok with this offense, they can score, they can move the chains, improving the offensive line is also a big step. I just think that those who wanted some focus on the WR corps have legitimate reasons for that.

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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I'd love to believe that Dobson will redeem himself and live up to his potential and draft position, but I think at this point you have to treat him as what he is and plan going forward as if that's all he'll be.

If he rebounds and starts playing the way people thought he was capable of, it's an awesome bonus.. but I don't think you can bet or plan on him being that after 3 disappointing seasons

Forget adding a tall WR. What they need is a suitable replacement for Vereen.

Ross12 said:

Yeah, this is very true. Just speaking hypothetically. I was focusing more on the fact that Amendola would be relied upon to be your #1 guy in that situation, and his propensity for injury could end up putting you in an even worse position.

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But thats just life with a 53 man roster. If you take away the 2 starters and primary backup all any position you are screwed. We certainly cannot have a starter as the 4th and 5th WR.
We do, though, have a 2nd round pick who look very good before being injured, and a veteran who has produced in the NFL, so I think we would be in as good a shape as anyone if we had to make our 4 and 5 our 1 and 2, especially considering the quality at TE, and the fact that we have the GOAT QB.

FourierSeries said:

Forget adding a tall WR. What they need is a suitable replacement for Vereen.

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Cadet and White are competing for that role.

Ross12 said:

My concern wasn't with getting a "tall fast WR" to start but rather to get better depth. Imagine if Edelman and LaFell were both hurt for a significant period of time... Your starting lineup at this point would be Amendola, Dobson, and Gibson/Tyms/Boyce. Now imagine that brittle Amendola goes on IR quickly after... You see what I mean, I would hope.

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Yea but there really isn't any team in the league that could sustain losing 3 starters to injury and keep chugging along without missing a beat.

In your scenario, after sustaining injuries to 3 key starters which is almost unheard of, but if it happened they would still have Gronk, Chandler, wright, Dobson, Gibson and boyce.

That's better than most any team would have if they lost their 1-3 starting receivers

AndyJohnson said:

But thats just life with a 53 man roster. If you take away the 2 starters and primary backup all any position you are screwed. We certainly cannot have a starter as the 4th and 5th WR.
We do, though, have a 2nd round pick who look very good before being injured, and a veteran who has produced in the NFL, so I think we would be in as good a shape as anyone if we had to make our 4 and 5 our 1 and 2, especially considering the quality at TE, and the fact that we have the GOAT QB.

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Yeah, I'm just saying as of right now the depth pieces don't inspire a lot of confidence. More competition in camp increases the likelihood of better depth come September. Otherwise, if Dobson and Gibson don't pan out, you're not scrambling to sign street guys or something in Week 1.

JarOfMayo51 said:

Yea but there really isn't any team in the league that could sustain losing 3 starters to injury and keep chugging along without missing a beat.

In your scenario, after sustaining injuries to 3 key starters which is almost unheard of, but if it happened they would still have Gronk, Chandler, wright, Dobson, Gibson and boyce.

That's better than most any team would have if they lost their 1-3 starting receivers

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Right, but I'm saying that that's working under the assumption that Dobson progresses after a bad year and Gibson makes his way back after injury. If not, you basically have nothing at WR and you're screwed.

All I'm arguing for is better camp depth to insure against Dobson and Gibson not panning out. It seems BB isn't as concerned with it, which is probably a good sign.

Ross12 said:

Yeah, I'm just saying as of right now the depth pieces don't inspire a lot of confidence. More competition in camp increases the likelihood of better depth come September. Otherwise, if Dobson and Gibson don't pan out, you're not scrambling to sign street guys or something in Week 1.

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And, again, what teams have 4th and 5th WRs that have a better chance of panning out?
It just seems like you are stating a situation that exists with every team in the NFL, yet are stating it as if it is a major flaw with the Patriots. Would a 5th round pick added to that group be more likely to 'pan out'?

I for one want a tall WR to keep up with the league trend of "chuck and pray" for pass interference calls. (/sarcasm sort of)

Brady might be the only Hall of Fame quarterback to never have the first round wide receiver drafted for him. That just shows you how amazing he is. Just imagine how much better he would be had belichick drafted him some first round weapons? We never go offense in thr first round....manning always had his first round weapons

For people who say tall wide receivers are overrated did you watch the Super Bowl? Some journeyman wide receiver with height almost single-handedly beat us by burning our midget defensive backs on jump balls

NG Pats Fan said:

Brady might be the only Hall of Fame quarterback to never have the first round wide receiver drafted for him. That just shows you how amazing he is. Just imagine how much better he would be had belichick drafted him some first round weapons? We never go offense in thr first round....manning always had his first round weapons

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Arguably you hurt him by drafting 1st round WRs. Brady gets his job done almost regardless of who you play at WR. That means you strengthen the rest of the team by not wasting high picks and big contracts at WR. In other words, the incremental improvement of spending big on a WR is less than other positions because Brady gets so much out of limited guys anyway.

Ross12 said:

My concern wasn't with getting a "tall fast WR" to start but rather to get better depth. Imagine if Edelman and LaFell were both hurt for a significant period of time... Your starting lineup at this point would be Amendola, Dobson, and Gibson/Tyms/Boyce. Now imagine that brittle Amendola goes on IR quickly after... You see what I mean, I would hope.

Now, if everything goes right, Dobson and Gibson could turn in pretty good seasons, and that depth chart would actually still be decent. We just don't know that at all right now, which is why I would like to have better depth.

I'm also thinking about the timeframe now: the FA period was back in March when BB signed Gibson and was trying to sign Stevie. That led us to believe he also wanted more depth. However, it's now May, and he may have seen enough out of Gibson & Dobson by now to feel comfortable with what he has and bypass the WRs in the draft. Which, IMO, is quite a statement, considering you could get a talent like Greene or McBride so incredibly late. It was a very deep class.

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What team IS in a good spot if they lose their top 3 guys? Why don't we just have Gronk get hurt again too to complete your doomsday scenario.

It sounds like you wouldn't be happy with anything less than Andre Johnson, Larry Fitz, and Brandon Marshall warming the bench in case the top guys get hurt.