Gibson and Harper

Before last nights game, Harper wasn't even being considered by us that he would make the 53 man roster.
Add to the fact that he can return kick offs and punt returns gives him a chance to make it. Who ever makes it, won't see many targets barring injuries to other receivers on the team. Gronk, Chandler, Edelman, Amendola, LaFell and the third down back will all receive more passes then Dobson, Gibson, Boyce, Harper and Tyms. Gibson and Dobson probably make it with Harper, Boyce and Tyms having a chance to end up on PS and there is still a chance one of them will be injured and end up on IR.

Ross12 said:

Edelman, LaFell, Amendola, and Gibson, plus Gronk and Chandler, would be one solid receiving group. If Dobson doesn't make it, I think Harper has a shot.

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Why would we need to carry Harper on the 53, when we can carry him on the Practice Squad? I think that Dobson is competing against himself for the 5th WR position.

I like Gibson, and I have him making the roster.

Good, veteran presence that can actually catch a pass, and knows how to run a route. Sure, he'll mostly be a reserve or an injury back-up guy - but he knows the offense, and it does give the Patriots an option to go 5-wide with Gronk or Chandler. That's something they haven't really had recently.

mgteich said:

Why would we need to carry Harper on the 53, when we can carry him on the Practice Squad? I think that Dobson is competing against himself for the 5th WR position.

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Yeah, that's certainly a possibility, but in the event they like him enough to make him active some game days for real experience...

Harper made the catch of the day in practice, for what it's worth. People keep talking about his KR experience and i don't know how good he was. I do know he decided to take one out of the end zone and got stopped at the ten. What was he looking at?

It sounds like they're both making the team at this present moment, although there's some time left.

Harper has caught all 12 of his catchable balls, right? Can't remember a drop.

mgteich said:

Why would we need to carry Harper on the 53, when we can carry him on the Practice Squad? I think that Dobson is competing against himself for the 5th WR position.

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If Belichick thinks Harper is better than Dobson, why wouldn't Harper get the roster spot?

I don't really get why Dobson gets the established veteran treatment around here. He was okay-while-flashing-some-potential for half of 2013, then spent the last year and a half hurt.

Understanding that it's all wild speculation and nobody really knows how this shakes out, I think Gibson's WR4 and Harper's WR5.

ashley1992 said:

I liked what I saw of Harper the other night. Totally better than Boyce, our receiving corp should be really good!!!!!

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Pm Can Harper produce against starting calibre cornerbacks ash?

He can field punts, versatility is important to securing a back end roster spot. I am liking his chances.

Everyone sing together


Don't really wanna make it tough (don't really wanna make it tough),
I just wanna tell you that I had enough (that I had enough).
Might sound crazy,
But it ain't no lie,
Bye, bye, Boyce.

BradyFTW! said:

I don't really get why Dobson gets the established veteran treatment around here.

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I think it's the report about Dobson wanting to play and the team holding him back to be sure he's 100%. The reporter took that to mean Dobson's a lock, and we've gotten nothing to counter that from the normally loquacious Bill Belichick...

Maybe they're waiting to unleash Dobson on Pitt in week 1

BradyFTW! said:

If Belichick thinks Harper is better than Dobson, why wouldn't Harper get the roster spot?

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We have a Harper almost every year. Sometimes, these players make the Practice Squad, sometimes not. As is the case with players like this every year, if the man with roster spot isn't healthy enough to make the roster, Harper could make the roster. I have said that even in that case, I think that we might not carry the additional wide receiver.

nabwong said:

Everyone sing together


Don't really wanna make it tough (don't really wanna make it tough),
I just wanna tell you that I had enough (that I had enough).
Might sound crazy,
But it ain't no lie,
Bye, bye, Boyce.

Click to expand...

mgteich said:

We have a Harper almost every year. Sometimes, these players make the Practice Squad, sometimes not. As is the case with players like this every year, if the man with roster spot isn't healthy enough to make the roster, Harper could make the roster. I have said that even in that case, I think that we might not carry the additional wide receiver.

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We pretty much always have a Dobson too. 2nd-3rd round WR who flashes some potential but struggles to get/stay on the field and isn't anything remarkable even when he does play. Before Dobson it was Taylor Price, before that it was Brandon Tate, before that it was Chad Jackson, before that it was Bethel Johnson.

And maybe Dobson isn't that guy. I'm not writing him off yet, and I'm sure Belichick isn't either. But I don't buy that he's an automatic in on the 53, either. He's a fringe player on this roster, so if he can't go out and earn his spot then I expect he won't have a spot.

If Dobson makes the roster, he's the #3 WR just because he offers better balance in my opinion. He and LaFell take the outside and Edelman goes to the slot.

manxman2601 said:

If Dobson makes the roster, he's the #3 WR just because he offers better balance in my opinion. He and LaFell take the outside and Edelman goes to the slot.

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Dobson's battling for the WR4/WR5 spot.

No..we DON'T have a Harper every year. THAT is why he's sticking out. He catches everything. He doesn't have good hands, he has GREAT hands. Any casual fan can see this...that is if you're even WATCHING the games and practices. If you're just pontificating from atop Knower-Of-Things tower, well, you're welcome to YOUR opinion. Time will tell.

Deus Irae said:

Dobson's battling for the WR4/WR5 spot.

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I disagree but I think it's moot anyway because Chandler will be taking snaps away from both.