LaFell is a huge loss; Pats front office makes rare mistake

memento said:

Brady's won super bowls with 5'8 receivers before and they'll remain competitive with what they've got. Sure it can be improved, but that happens with injuries and sudden retirements. I'm happy so long as we don't have another Jabar Gaffney in the starters lineup.

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"While everybody else was playing checkers... that was Bill Belichick playing chess."

PatsBoy12 said:

That is fair. Good thought, Os. Though I will add that we do not have much basis for comparison, including his rookie season. He just has not been out there enough yet.

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Okay, maybe I should have been a bit clearer in my post regarding Dobson. I think Dobson will follow a similar course as Lafell did last year. Not predicting a 1000 yard season but in that he will continually get more comfortable with his role while building chemistry with Brady. By the end of the season he will be a valuable receiver with big play ability. That's what I think we are going to get out of Dobson. A guy that opposing defenses will have to respect.

Predicted stats: 750 yards, 5 TD's. More importantly : A couple of big plays per game. Keep the defense honest.

I put it out there. That's my breakout player of the season prediction.

Let's see how it turns out.

Oswlek said:

It's a pretty nebulous term. Would 20 catches for 300 yards surprise you? Maybe not, but I bet it would some. How about 45 catches for 650 yards?

It really just means, "he'll do better than you think he will, whatever that is." Considering many expected him to be cut, I think it's a safe bet to make.

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Thanks Os. That is what I meant.

PatsFanInVa said:

"While everybody else was playing checkers... that was Bill Belichick playing chess."

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Not calling a timeout in the SB is another level above chess. IMO

PatsFanInVa said:

"While everybody else was playing checkers... that was Bill Belichick playing chess."

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I will say this for Gaffney: he did get better as the 4th WR on the chart in 2007, and the player I was thinking of was Reche Caldwell. If Gaffney was a well-positioned pawn on Belichick's chessboard, Caldwell was a crazed squirrel that knocked over the pieces before checkmate

Tony2046 said:

Okay, maybe I should have been a bit clearer in my post regarding Dobson. I think Dobson will follow a similar course as Lafell did last year. Not predicting a 1000 yard season but in that he will continually get more comfortable with his role while building chemistry with Brady. By the end of the season he will be a valuable receiver with big play ability. That's what I think we are going to get out of Dobson. A guy that opposing defenses will have to respect.

Predicted stats: 750 yards, 5 TD's. More importantly : A couple of big plays per game. Keep the defense honest.

I put out there. That's my breakout player of the season prediction.

Let's see how it turns out.

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This is reasonable, especially considering this was his arc during his rookie season before he got hurt. And I am certainly hoping you are correct. And for what it's worth, I am not a Dobson basher. I do not believe any of my posts about him would indicate that, not that I feel you are accusing me or anything. I just feel the need to make that explicit in case anyone was lumping me in that category. As I have stated before, I am more hopeful than confident in him at this point, though.

Thanks the comments, everyone. I appreciate those who took time to actually read my post rather than just read the title and conclude I am off my rocker. Disagreement is all good, but please at least disagree with what I posted rather than what you think I posted because your retort is so clever that way.

I may have misunderstood Gibson's role in the offense, and although he is not really a big-bodied wideout, it is possible th FO saw him being able to step in for LaFell. I do not agree with those who think Tyms or Dobson was an adequate insurance policy for LaFell, and just by their actions, we can infer that neither did the FO. In addition, I don't agree with those who just think since we have a bunch of skill player additions like Chandler, etc, that we can just use them without missing much in not having an X receiver. It will put tremendous stress on the game planning, tough certainly I'll repeat I think the offense will still be very good as they typically are. My point was that we need someone who can play the outside receiver role rather than yet another guy who specializes in inside routes.

Again, perhaps I did not realize how big a loss Gibson was and how that led to them going for Wayne, so my apologies if the original post overlooked that. Not sure if anyone cares to elaborate on Gibson's actual skill set and whether he was going to line up outside as an X option or not.

Tony2046 said:

Okay, maybe I should have been a bit clearer in my post regarding Dobson. I think Dobson will follow a similar course as Lafell did last year. Not predicting a 1000 yard season but in that he will continually get more comfortable with his role while building chemistry with Brady. By the end of the season he will be a valuable receiver with big play ability. That's what I think we are going to get out of Dobson. A guy that opposing defenses will have to respect.

Predicted stats: 750 yards, 5 TD's. More importantly : A couple of big plays per game. Keep the defense honest.

I put out there. That's my breakout player of the season prediction.

Let's see how it turns out.

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And one last thing, Tony, I hope that you never felt my original comment to what you posted was me attacking you in any way. I re-read it and I still think the point I tried to make was fair, while still respecting your viewpoint. In fact, I don't really think I was contradicting you, so much as I was just trying to say that, while I feel other people want him to put up high numbers to be satisfied, I feel any improvement over what he's done, last year especially, would be beneficial. And I do think that is at the core of what you are saying as well. I just felt the extra clarification necessary, for whatever reason. I hope you see that, buddy.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

@Ice_Ice_Brady I don't think your thread post deserves to be flagged with so many disagree ratings. It was a valid critique of a WR depth issue that concerns all of us.

I happen to agree with your view on the Reggie Wayne fiasco. The signing of Wayne shows how desperate Belichick was to add to the depth chart.

After the Pats failed to sign free agents Percy Harvin and Stevie Johnson in March, they didn't really have much of a back up plan in terms of FA signings. And they didn't bother getting a WR in this year's draft either. Their most promising free agent signing, Brandon Gibson, suffered a season-ending injury in the fourth quarter of a preseason game that quite frankly, he shouldn't have been in.

So now, with just one week to go before the season begins, we're in a somewhat precarious position.

But I trust the coaches to figure out what the team needs. They've managed to overcome far far worse (remember 2013?)



I'm glad someone pointed out this. We didn't draft one single WR this year, despite the many standouts.

Not saying it was a bad move....but it might've given us an additional option to work with.

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No any WR draftee needs time to adapt. They would have been an option in 2018 after three years of grooming. Three years ago they chose Dobson and Boyce and signed UDFA KT. Three years later Boyce is a can't catch disappointment,KT sits on the PS, and Dobson looks ready to contribute. To what degree is the only question.

1960Pats said:

These are the bye weeks for each of the Pats SB winning years;
2001 - Wk 2
2003 - Wk 10
2004 - Wk 3
2014 - Wk 10

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Actually because of 9-11 in 2001 the bye week didn't happen until week 16 of that season.

supafly said:

Yeah, I'm not sure that this past year was the best example for him to choose in terms of WRs.

Overall, I do agree with his point that the position should've been addressed a bit more, although it's virtually impossible to try and project how any other WR would do in this system and in this environment.

Who knows? Maybe Chris Harper or Aaron Dobson can show some progress and impress.

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No, I could fully predict how Corderelle Patterson would do as a Pat, despite many posters here wanting him drafted. Just like Belichick when he traded #29 to get somebody else. I think he took Jamie Collins? Just like he did in Minnesota. That certifiable moron (Wonderlic 6) is Third string and sitting on their bench...

oceansizer said:

First of all JoJo LaFell is a crucial piece of our offense, but putting him on a PUP list isn't the end of the world. Gronk and Edelman are the main weapons in my opinion. There is Chandler, Amendola and I'm sure one of the Dobson/Harper duo ( or maybe both of them ) will jump into a higher level. Of course BB would think about experienced WR vet like James Jones, Michael Floyd or maybe even VJ, but a trade isn't a necessary matter. Many times we question and doubt in BB's decisions , but all in all he's got right. Personally I prefer to see a team as a one body with manny weapons in the offense, than put my trust in one or two superstars with no backups.

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Belichick would say that you have achieved the beginning of wisdom. But isn't amazing the number of losing coaches who feel the opposite.

sambam94 said:

it is irritatintg that the GOAT continually has a less than stellar WR corp.

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The Rolling Stones sang "...You don't always get what you want... but, if you try real hard....you get what you need..."

Pats Fanatic said:

Actually because of 9-11 in 2001 the bye week didn't happen until week 16 of that season.

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Oh that's right. I should have remembered.

Tony2046 said:

Okay, maybe I should have been a bit clearer in my post regarding Dobson. I think Dobson will follow a similar course as Lafell did last year. Not predicting a 1000 yard season but in that he will continually get more comfortable with his role while building chemistry with Brady. By the end of the season he will be a valuable receiver with big play ability. That's what I think we are going to get out of Dobson. A guy that opposing defenses will have to respect.

Predicted stats: 750 yards, 5 TD's. More importantly : A couple of big plays per game. Keep the defense honest.

I put out there. That's my breakout player of the season prediction.

Let's see how it turns out.

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The Pats needed a X reciever who is often a bigger Split End. They need to block and often run deeper routes to open the Defense. La Fell was more of a blocker than a deep threat, but sufficed in that facet of a Split Ends duties. Aaron Dobson is less of a blocker then LaFell, but has truly deep speed and a knack for getting behind the Defense, better than JoJo. Each effective Spit End has a mix of those qualities, and I agree Dobson, if healthy, will do fine.

PatsBoy12 said:

And one last thing, Tony, I hope that you never felt my original comment to what you posted was me attacking you in any way. I re-read it and I still think the point I tried to make was fair, while still respecting your viewpoint. In fact, I don't really think I was contradicting you, so much as I was just trying to say that, while I feel other people want him to put up high numbers to be satisfied, I feel any improvement over what he's done, last year especially, would be beneficial. And I do think that is at the core of what you are saying as well. I just felt the extra clarification necessary, for whatever reason. I hope you see that, buddy.

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I haven't seen anything you've said as attacking or offensive in any way. Not really sure what post you are referring to. We are debating on a football forum. Opinions vary. Your points are fair.

AzPatsFan said:

Belichick would say that you have achieved the beginning of wisdom. But isn't amazing the number of losing coaches who feel the opposite.

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I hear you and very much agree. I just want to point out that I still think this statement over simplifies it a bit. Sometimes that star player really does provide the spark that can make a not so relevant team and make that team relevant overnight. But then I guess you have to deal with relevance vs. truly contending, but that may be a separate matter altogether. I guess what I'm saying is the "losing" coaches do not have the luxury of time and reasonable doubt like an established coach like BB. BB has made mistakes that "losing" coaches make from time-to-time, but do we really expect to see these mistakes end his tenure here? No. But why? Because he was allowed to implement a system that works. It was given a true chance to work. When you're that other guy and you get canned after two season . . . well, I guess one could argue legitimately that you really were not given a true opportunity to prove whether or not your system works.

A big bang, star player could change all of that for you overnight. Win a few games just because of that star player, while still adding critical pieces elsewhere. BB caught lightning in a bottle with Tom. I mean, c'mon! When is the last time that you heard of a six-round QB with, as the experts described it, little talent and even less to offer physically rising up to be probably (definitely to some) the greatest QB ever? Sit back and really think about that for just one more second, as I'm sure you've pondered that more than a handful. That's absurd. We may never see it again. Some could argue that for all of his brilliance, BB is sure one lucky ass S.O.B. because even he could not have seen this coming; otherwise, he would have picked Tom long before 199 himself. Am I talking too much? I feel like I am.

I agree with your premise, but I just wanted to add that there's still more to it than that in it's simplicity. Hope I didn't offend, confuse or bore.

1960Pats said:

Oh that's right. I should have remembered.

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I did after I thought about it. I guess I just never got around to posting it.

AzPatsFan said:

No, I could fully predict how Corderelle Patterson would do as a Pat, despite many posters here wanting him drafted. Just like Belichick when he traded #29 to get somebody else. I think he took Jamie Collins? Just like he did in Minnesota. That certifiable moron (Wonderlic 6) is Third string and sitting on their bench...

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My comment was meant to look at things from the other side, such as the difficulty in trying to predict a successful WR like Dez Bryant for our particular system, but yes--your thought that there are plenty of WRs who wouldn't do well here is certainly true.

Cordarelle Patterson is definitely one of these guys, and I'm sure there have been plenty of others in the past several years as well.

1960Pats said:

These are the bye weeks for each of the Pats SB winning years;
2001 - Wk 2
2003 - Wk 10
2004 - Wk 3
2014 - Wk 10

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Kind of weird to see week 2 and week 3 byes.

That must have been before the NFL changed its policy where they don't begin until week 4.