Aaron Dobson

New England Pride said:

Of he is healthy like the team claims he is, they should throw him to the wolves this year. Sink or swim time.

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If the reports are correct, it means the team is higher on him than the fans are, which isn't all that surprising. I know all the "club from the tub" and "durability is the best ability" platitudes, but coaches view that pragmatically whereas fans take bizarre personal offense to injury issues.

It seems likely that Dobson has made this team.

For me, the real question is the availability of LaFell. I think that we would fine if LaFell is put on the PUP list, although obviously we would like him to be ready to play.

RECEIVERS
Edelman, Amendola, Dobson, Wayne
Gronkowski, Chandler
White/Lewis

If Dobson's foot is healed and he has a tender hamstring, it makes sense to let him sit. Apparently did well in practice and we need him during the season, screw preseason. Looks like Amendola is the only healthy one.

Back at practice. Fingers crossed on this season for Dobson. If not now than when? Best shot at home grown reciever talent in a while minus the Edelmonster.

Better question: Where is Bequette?!

patriot1136 said:

Better question: Where is Bequette?!

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I can't find the sarcastic agree button

patriot1136 said:

Better question: Where is Bequette?!

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Bequette is so good, that team wont risk with him being on the field in preseason.
He needs to be ready for regular games on PS.

Oswlek said:

If the reports are correct, it means the team is higher on him than the fans are, which isn't all that surprising. I know all the "club from the tub" and "durability is the best ability" platitudes, but coaches view that pragmatically whereas fans take bizarre personal offense to injury issues.

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Hi Oswlek. I agree mostly, but the platitudes (if you will) would seem to apply a bit more to Dobson than most. He really hasn't been around as much as you'd like a player going into his third year to be, especially considering he missed most of his second season. It has got to disappoint the coaches a bit, just like it disappoints us. But you're right, they definitely aren't going to react to the disappointment like we (fans) do.

I'm all for Dobson being on the final roster, if only for his physical gifts to play the position. He started to come on late in his rookie season and showed the potential, in part at least, that made him a 2nd rounder. I am really hoping now that he can step up and live up to it a bit more. I am not asking for Randy Moss-like performances, but I do want someone on the field that will make the D at least feel they have to protect the deep third of the field. That's really all we need in this offense. Heck, if Dobson even equals his rookie output statistically, then I'll be happy with that. The young kid just has to get on the field and stay there long enough for people to at least know he's on the team still. LOL

New England Pride said:

Back at practice. Fingers crossed on this season for Dobson. If not now than when? Best shot at home grown reciever talent in a while minus the Edelmonster.

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I really, really want Dobson to succeed. Here is hoping he can do it.

Anyone else feel like this guy got the **** end of the stick in yesterdays pre season game? On the first interception, he beat the defender deep, won the battle for a highly contested ball, came down with it and Tillman stripped it, in my opinion after Dobson came down with it. Who else on the roster could have gotten behind the defense and jumped for that the way he did? On the second interception, that was just a poor decision.
It seems like Brady is trying to get him involved wich is a good thing, but anything outside of a circus catch and this guy is gonna be rediculed by tons of people.

New England Pride said:

Anyone else feel like this guy got the **** end of the stick in yesterdays pre season game? On the first interception, he beat the defender deep, won the battle for a highly contested ball, came down with it and Tillman stripped it, in my opinion after Dobson came down with it. Who else on the roster could have gotten behind the defense and jumped for that the way he did? On the second interception, that was just a poor decision.
It seems like Brady is trying to get him involved wich is a good thing, but anything outside of a circus catch and this guy is gonna be rediculed by tons of people.

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He just doesn't fight for his routes and doesn't fight for the ball. This is the NFL where you just need to find a way to come down with the ball if it's in your catch radius.

The 2nd INT came on a dig that Coleman read a mile off. Most posters want to blame Brady, and I certainly don't want to absolve him 100% but it's hard to explain what the relationship between Brady and Dobson is on that particular play. My bet is that Brady was thinking "come on Dobson read it right, I'm gonna give this one to you." What was telling was Brady's lack of reaction after that play. Usually when Brady makes a mistake that he knows he shouldn't have, we know right away by his body language and NSF dialogue.

Had Edelman (for example) been running that route, he would have read Coleman cheating downfield, changed from a dig to a post or seam and make Coleman pay for his gambling.

New England Pride said:

Anyone else feel like this guy got the **** end of the stick in yesterdays pre season game? On the first interception, he beat the defender deep, won the battle for a highly contested ball, came down with it and Tillman stripped it, in my opinion after Dobson came down with it.

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And can anyone explain to me how Tillman wasn't down by contact? Why was he able to get the ball while on the ground, get up and run with it. He's clearly in contact with Dobson when he gets possession, so he should be down right there.

New England Pride said:

Anyone else feel like this guy got the **** end of the stick in yesterdays pre season game? On the first interception, he beat the defender deep, won the battle for a highly contested ball, came down with it and Tillman stripped it, in my opinion after Dobson came down with it. Who else on the roster could have gotten behind the defense and jumped for that the way he did? On the second interception, that was just a poor decision.
It seems like Brady is trying to get him involved wich is a good thing, but anything outside of a circus catch and this guy is gonna be rediculed by tons of people.

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Respect. I'll watch again, but I think I agree on the second INT. The first, however, no way. You have to fight more for that football in the NFL. Maybe he gets away with that in college, but not at the pro level.

I feel Dobson has all the physical gifts to be even more than an above average receiver. I just don't see the "IT" with him. I don't see a true desire to go snatch the ball. In fact, it's almost like he is afraid of it. Go back and watch the 40-yarder from last night. He is wide open between the corner and safety and there was a slight bobble when the ball hit his hands. I don't know if he was worried about the safety or what, but it was a split second bobble of the football. This is something we saw a lot of (and drops) in his rookie season. I'll never forget how mad Brady was in the first meeting with the Jets that season. Apparently, the drops were happening in the TC's open to the media this season. He had a strong start, but there were still drops and bobbled catches. It's so weird for a guy who was known for having GREAT hands out of Marshall.

He's got some work to do. In the meantime, I think he will continue to be a mixed bag of results. I hope they target him early to try to help him build some momentum. Maybe he can be that legitimate deep threat (or any threat at all) later in the season. Bill commented in the presser that it's good to have someone who can get behind the D. I felt it was one of the rare candid statements in his time at the podium last night.

Dobson has become one of this guys that **** happens to. There's a world of difference between clutch playmakers and talented guys with an omnipresent black cloud hanging over them whose career path is strewn deep with excuse after rationalization.

It is still early enough in Dobson's career to break the cycle. He might take matters into his own purvey and try stuff like aggressively fighting for the ball.

Did Moss gave Dobson any advices during last weeks practice?

bresna said:

And can anyone explain to me how Tillman wasn't down by contact? Why was he able to get the ball while on the ground, get up and run with it. He's clearly in contact with Dobson when he gets possession, so he should be down right there.

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This. LOL I was wondering the same thing! I've watched repeatedly and still don't get it.

Not sure people realize how difficult it is to play for this organization, this coaching staff and this QB. The amount of minute-by-minute pressure they put on you to be perfect is staggering. Some can hack it. Some can't. Physically, mentally...You need to perform. Every single second. That is why they win.

I have no doubt Dobson has the physical tools and I think he knows the offense. He's been snake-bit by injuries and that's hampered his development.

I have no proof but I wonder if he has the mental stamina to make it here. Some players thrive in this place. Some wilt. Just don't know about him.

PP2 said:

He just doesn't fight for his routes and doesn't fight for the ball. This is the NFL where you just need to find a way to come down with the ball if it's in your catch radius.

The 2nd INT came on a dig that Coleman read a mile off. Most posters want to blame Brady, and I certainly don't want to absolve him 100% but it's hard to explain what the relationship between Brady and Dobson is on that particular play. My bet is that Brady was thinking "come on Dobson read it right, I'm gonna give this one to you." What was telling was Brady's lack of reaction after that play. Usually when Brady makes a mistake that he knows he shouldn't have, we know right away by his body language and NSF dialogue.

Had Edelman (for example) been running that route, he would have read Coleman cheating downfield, changed from a dig to a post or seam and make Coleman pay for his gambling.

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I agree on the first INT, although Tillman made a great play -- he timed it perfectly. But on the second INT, I don't know. It was basically a one-man route. The route probably called for him to run a dig if Coleman was above him, which he was, by a lot. The bigger problem is that Dobson rounded off his break too much, kind of the way Ochocinco used to do when he was here. He should have planted his foot and broken back to the line.

The Pats have a history of taking guys with physical skills and turning them into terrific players through coaching and repetition. Givens was hopeless as a rookie. Edelman couldn't run routes at all, now he's a great route runner. It still seems early to give up on a player with Dobson's physical talent. He was starting to get it at the end of his rookie year. And he provides something none of the other receivers have, the ability to get behind the defense. The payoff if he develops correctly seems like it's worth waiting for.

I don't know what to make of him. Last night he was both good and bad. I hate it when a player doesn't put in the extra effort saw that with Boyce and Dobson.

Brewskies said:

I don't know what to make of him. Last night he was both good and bad. I hate it when a player doesn't put in the extra effort saw that with Boyce and Dobson.

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I'm not sure its an effort issue. IMO it seems more like a lack of football instincts issue and playing smart.

If it was truly an effort issue both these guys would have been sent packing a long time ago.