Can Reggie Wayne Still Be A Productive WR? Recent History Says No

Can Reggie Wayne Still Be A Productive WR? Recent History Says No

Steve Balestrieri

Reggie Wayne has been a prolific WR for 14 years for the Indianapolis Colts. Now he's shooting for one more NFL season with the Patriots and Tom Brady

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This is a decent summary of known facts but I was hoping for something a little more substantial, perhaps with trend charts of receivers in Wayne's age group. I don't really consider morons like Ocho and Galloway to be any precedent simply because they were at the tail end of their careers, they would have flopped at any point. Holt is a reasonable comparison, even having similar production to Wayne's 2014 the year before signing, though I recall a knee injury doing him in more than inability to grasp the offense. Am I mistaken?

EDIT: I should add that, while Holt had an entire offseason, his being a earlier signing also means that he was part of the "throw a bunch of old guys against the wall" strategy and few of them stick. Wayne being such a late camp signing means they have a more defined plan for him. That plan could be "get us through the next couple weeks and see if there is something there for the regular season" but it separates the two somewhat.

I agree with you but I think there is a possibility that he could work out for a few reasons.

1. I don't think he will be getting #1 CB attention. Edelman, AD, Lafell , when healthy, will command that.
2. He may not have to play 50-60 snaps a game. Stays fresh.
3. This is a fresh start on a team that may get him another ring. He might be motivated.
4. BB is better than Pagano. McDaniels is Better than Pep Hamilton.
5. Tom Brady is better than Luck. ( I know I know.. I just committed sacrilege....forgive me)
6. Just having him in a Pats uniform in week 6 is too good to pass up.

Or he is just an old worn out HOF player that will get cut.

Jerry Rice remained a productive receiver through the age of 42. And he managed to clear the 50-catch marker beyond the age of 37. It has been done before.

I think he can. Reggie wayne was still a productive receiver last year. and the colts were asking him to be their #2 option basically. Here he is being asked to be #4 at MOST...after edelman/gronk/lafell there is still amendola, Scott chandler and the RB's

if he is going up against #3 and #4 CB's he will be open alot

reggie wayne is a smart player. these are usually the guys who thrive in new england. this isnt brick head ochocinco

Coming off of:

Year 1 post ACL
Torn Triceps

v.

Age


Will rehab fend off the reaper, or will father time finally put Reggie Wayne down for the count?

Tune in to find out!

wayne's numbers dropped in the second half of last year. you have to keep him fresh if he is to be effective down the stretch.

i honestly like the move. you never know when amendola, lafell or edelman are going to get injured. now we have wayne as a 4th receiver.

I don't think it is fair to compare him to other old receivers. He is 36 and coming off injury. Wayne's forte has always been route running...lets see how it goes, but each guy writes his own story.

I hope for the best, but expectations are low.

TommyBrady12 said:

wayne's numbers dropped in the second half of last year. you have to keep him fresh if he is to be effective down the stretch.

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He tore is triceps in October so that might have hampered him but I agree, Wayne is no longer a 1000 play guy.

With JE11, Gronk, DA and hopefully at some point LaFell as the preferred options he should not see the field more than 20-30 snaps a game.

Worth giving him a shot.

Let's face it, we brought him here to help with the bugs in the locker room (BB: Reggie, on game day, I want you to go visit your former teammates and spread these little beauties around when they aren't looking....)

On a serious note, it seems like a typical BB signing. Give an aging (but once great) vet a chance on a one year deal, particularly where we have injuries at the position. He might do great and redeem himself into a decent contract next year, or he might be a bust, and if he is, we only signed him for one year. Playing with Tom Brady ups his chance of doing great. Potential win/win, as usual.

I am not expecting monster numbers from Wayne or anything, but comparing him to Ocho Cinco, Holt. and Galloway is not really accurate.

First, let get Galloway out of the way because the guy just dogged it when he got here. He refused to learn the playbook or the presnap reads. Brady was totally frustrated with him.

Ocho Cinco was a bad route runner and not a very bright guy who just didn't get the play book. His career in Cincy he was allowed to run lazy routes and play school yard football. He wasn't a fit for this offense. Belichick just loved the guy and was blind to the fact he was a poor scheme fit.

As for Torry Holt, I don't know why people always bring him up as a failed WR attempt. The guy had a knee injury in the preseason and had season ending surgery. Sure he was a failed attempt in that he never got to play, but it wasn't like other failed WR where he just couldn't pick up the system and was an on the field failure. He didn't even make it past August with the team.

Now here is why Wayne is different than Ocho and Galloway. Wayne is known as one of the best route runners in the league. Unlike Ocho and Galloway, he was never known as a burner who relied on his speed and strength over his route running abilities. I heard Andrew Brandt on the radio last night and he said although Wayne has lost a step, his style of play can actually make his slower speed more of a problem for some CBs because they have trouble slowing down their play while running with a receiver who runs sharp routes.

Again, I am not looking for a 1,200 plus yard season from Wayne. Hell, I doubt he will get 1,000 yards. But I think he can get 800-900 and be a solid #2-#4 receiver. No one is going to ask him to be the #1 WR on this team. Even at #2, he will be Brady's third option at best. I think he can play that role.

Reggie Wayne Never had Tom Brady.
Low Risk, High Reward. I'm sure he can still get open and catch a football and thats good enough for TB plus Brady will know he can go to him with confidence seeing what RW has done in past unlike Ocho Cincos of past Pats.

Can Reggie Wayne still be productive? Not many Teams 3rd CB can stop him even at age 37, in this Offense he ain't drawing elite coverage. So the answer to the question is YES!

robertweathers said:

He tore is triceps in October so that might have hampered him but I agree, Wayne is no longer a 1000 play guy.

With JE11, Gronk, DA and hopefully at some point LaFell as the preferred options he should not see the field more than 20-30 snaps a game.

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don't forget about scott chandler....

TommyBrady12 said:

don't forget about scott chandler....

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Yep- Didn't mean to slight him. I don't see him putting up huge numbers but I do see him (guess) doubling what Wright did last year. He should be out there 50% of the time at least.

I'm assuming that his knee injury isn't anything too serious and that they are being cautious.

Well let's define productive

90 catches- 1200 yards 10 TD, productive? Obviously not.
40 catches- 400 yards 3 TD, productive? Absolutely.

He just had 65 catches and 800 yards last year and that was coming back from a torn ACL.

Steve Smith just last year at age 35:

79 receptions 1,065 yards 6 TDs

What kind of production?

Suppose he only gets 500 total yards, but most of his catches are big plays?

Was Malcolm Butler production last year?

What kind of production did BB have in mind when Reg was signed?

Rob0729 said:

I am not expecting monster numbers from Wayne or anything, but comparing him to Ocho Cinco, Holt. and Galloway is not really accurate.

First, let get Galloway out of the way because the guy just dogged it when he got here. He refused to learn the playbook or the presnap reads. Brady was totally frustrated with him.

Ocho Cinco was a bad route runner and not a very bright guy who just didn't get the play book. His career in Cincy he was allowed to run lazy routes and play school yard football. He wasn't a fit for this offense. Belichick just loved the guy and was blind to the fact he was a poor scheme fit.

As for Torry Holt, I don't know why people always bring him up as a failed WR attempt. The guy had a knee injury in the preseason and had season ending surgery. Sure he was a failed attempt in that he never got to play, but it wasn't like other failed WR where he just couldn't pick up the system and was an on the field failure. He didn't even make it past August with the team.

Now here is why Wayne is different than Ocho and Galloway. Wayne is known as one of the best route runners in the league. Unlike Ocho and Galloway, he was never known as a burner who relied on his speed and strength over his route running abilities. I heard Andrew Brandt on the radio last night and he said although Wayne has lost a step, his style of play can actually make his slower speed more of a problem for some CBs because they have trouble slowing down their play while running with a receiver who runs sharp routes.

Again, I am not looking for a 1,200 plus yard season from Wayne. Hell, I doubt he will get 1,000 yards. But I think he can get 800-900 and be a solid #2-#4 receiver. No one is going to ask him to be the #1 WR on this team. Even at #2, he will be Brady's third option at best. I think he can play that role.

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You saved me a lot of time Rob, because you listed literally every salient point that can lead one to believe that Reggie Wayne can bet a productive WR for the Pats. That being said, my expectations are actually lower given that, baring injury, Wayne is likely to be a 3rd to 5th option behind Gronk, Edelman, and Amendola, and 3rd down RB. Anything over 40 catches and 400 yds with 3 TDs will make this signing worthwhile. Unfortunately the mediots who ultimately judge everybody's value with FF numbers, so be prepared to hear the whining early and often. So to summarize why this was a good signing

1. Right system

2 Right skill set for the system

3. Great leader and work ethic

4. Fills a need for a skilled experienced 4th receiver after losing Gibson and Tyms

5. Part of his last season decline could be due to his knee and tricop

Negatives

1. No STs - unless you need a guy who fair catch a punt.

2. Contract - which can just as easily be a positive when the details come out.

In the great scheme of things this is merely a decent signing that I don't think it happens without the Tyms and Gibson injuries. I think the best explanation is that it doesn't make the Pats a better team, its just not worse because of the injuries.