Does Dobson get cut when LaFell returns?

It's highly disappointing when you draft two WRs in the 2013 draft in attempt to "re do " the position. Unfortunately, the patriots have the worst WR scouts in the whole country. Dobson and Boyce have been nothing but colossal busts, while very good WRs like Keenan Allen and Terrance Williams we're still sitting there in round 3.

We had to invest in good WRs like Brandon Laffell in order to make up for our failed draft picks at WR. Thank god Edelman since then has developed into a star.


Bill, in the future, NO more projects! Draft the well known WRs who we know are already good

What was the catch Keshawn Martin made? I think I missed it.

Sicilian said:

Slater only got one snap on offense yesterday, and Dobson was inactive, so I wouldn't quite classify it as him getting snaps over Dobson. And Slater is always going to be active because of his contributions on ST.

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The long-ball-to-Slater-where-nothing-good-happens is an annual, once-per-year Patriots tradition at this point.

Maybe BB just does it for titular reasons. Like, if Slater doesn't take at least one snap at WR during the year, you couldn't call him a WR on the depth chart.

RayClay said:

You were doing great til you put Slater there. Players have been drafted, had decent careers and retired since he caught his pass.

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My point in having Slater there is he's an emergency outside WR who is at least a body, who can run post routes. I'm not saying Slater is a better option than Dobson.

I feel like I've been more hopeful about Dobson than many, but there's no way to get around how damning yesterday was.

Also, someone pointed out a slip I made recently..I said one thing I wished the Pats had on the roster was a young, developing receiver, because it takes time in this system to really get up to speed so it's good to have them on the roster improving until you really need them, and someone pointed out that shouldn't that be Dobson?

Didn't really have a response for that.

Froob said:

What was the catch Keshawn Martin made? I think I missed it.

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You can see it at about the 1:35 mark.


http://www.patriots.com/video/2015/10/11/patriots-vs-cowboys-highlights

tasmlab said:

The long-ball-to-Slater-where-nothing-good-happens is an annual, once-per-year Patriots tradition at this point.

Maybe BB just does it for titular reasons. Like, if Slater doesn't take at least one snap at WR during the year, you couldn't call him a WR on the depth chart.

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I think it's like the movie Tin Cup. Deep-Ball-to-Slater is basically Josh McDaniels' version of the shot over the water in the US Open.

Uncle Rico said:

I'm always optimistic about Dobson — but I'm pretty sure I saw Brady's heart glow a little when Martin made that catch yesterday.

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I have been cautiously optimistic about the kid, but yesterday is just a bad sign for him all around. I don't see how you can look at him being a scratch as anything but a bad thing for his future prospects with the team. We've seen things like this before with other players, some of whom were better than Dobson (albeit probably marginally). I just have a hard time picturing him being part of this team by season's end. I'm not predicting or proclaiming anything, however. I'm just saying that I would not at all be surprised if he was gone from the team by playoffs.

We should have drafted Justin Blackmon. He's a sure thing.

There's a name for for great receivers in big schools running pro offenses and putting up big numbers against elite defenses. They're called top ten picks.

NG Pats Fan said:

Oh really? What makes you say that?

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Complexity of the system
Low tolerance to struggles from BB and Brady
System more tailored to small and shiftier receivers

That's 3 big points, I would say hurrying him back from the foot fracture was also a mistake but that could happen in any other team. My point is you put him in the Giants or Steelers and we would be complaining BB passed on him.

Even if we cut Dobson, it seems we've found another solid outside WR in Martin who can also contribute as a returner, which makes him more valuable.

I was certainly high on Dobson, like I was on Chad Jackson, but I just don't think it's gonna work out based on what we've seen in the few years he's been here.

NG Pats Fan said:

It's highly disappointing when you draft two WRs in the 2013 draft in attempt to "re do " the position. Unfortunately, the patriots have the worst WR scouts in the whole country.

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Are you suggesting that the scouts should have known Dobson would injure his foot 3/4ths of the way into his rookie season? Do you expect scouts to travel around in DeLoreans with Doc Brown bringing back information from future seasons?

LJRomanoff said:

Are you suggesting that the scouts should have known Dobson would injure his foot 3/4ths of the way into his rookie season? Do you expect scouts to travel around in DeLoreans with Doc Brown bringing back information from future seasons?

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No. The should recruit Bill & Ted from San Dimas High School.

condon84 said:

Even if we cut Dobson, it seems we've found another solid outside WR in Martin who can also contribute as a returner, which makes him more valuable.

I was certainly high on Dobson, like I was on Chad Jackson, but I just don't think it's gonna work out based on what we've seen in the few years he's been here.

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At least Dobson has produced. Jackson did absolutely nothing.

I don't think Martin is a stretch the field guy. Seems like hes more a Troy Brown/Deion Branch type

LJRomanoff said:

Are you suggesting that the scouts should have known Dobson would injure his foot 3/4ths of the way into his rookie season? Do you expect scouts to travel around in DeLoreans with Doc Brown bringing back information from future seasons?

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It doesn't seem that his current spot on the depth chart has much to do with an injury two years ago. There's nothing wrong with his speed. He can't hold onto the ball, and there's speculation he doesn't practice / learn the playbook with enough effort. Whatever it is, he is very low on Brady's hierarchy of trusted pass catching targets, and you can't blame his injury for that. Edelman broke his foot in 2012; how is he doing?

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

It doesn't seem that his current spot on the depth chart has much to do with an injury two years ago. There's nothing wrong with his speed. He can't hold onto the ball, and there's speculation he doesn't practice / learn the playbook with enough effort. Whatever it is, he is very low on Brady's hierarchy of trusted pass catching targets, and you can't blame his injury for that. Edelman broke his foot in 2012; how is he doing?

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I'm not defending Dobson but I also don't put any stock in speculation about his work ethic. Draft evaluation is based on talent, not future unknowns such as foot and hamstring injuries.

As for Edelman and his foot: different player, different injury. Facile comparison.

I don't really feel one way or another about Dobson. Hope he plays well, but if he doesn't, oh well get someone else.

I think the expectations for 2nd rounders Is off. Being the 50th best player in college this year, translated more like being the 400th best player in the NFL.

Or being the seventh best WR in college in a year. The year before there were 6 other receivers that were better, and the year before that. And that collection of 8-10 years of college guys still in the NFL means you can expect a second rounder to be more like the 50th best WR in the NFL.

Obviously some guys do better or worse, but that's about what I expect.

varjao said:

Complexity of the system
Low tolerance to struggles from BB and Brady
System more tailored to small and shiftier receivers

That's 3 big points, I would say hurrying him back from the foot fracture was also a mistake but that could happen in any other team. My point is you put him in the Giants or Steelers and we would be complaining BB passed on him.

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I disagree with point number 3. What proven productive 6 foot 2 plus 200lb plus wide receivers in their PRIME have failed here? We simply haven't had many. Moss and Laffell the only two I can think of, both did great, moss put up the best season of all time. Laffell had a career year.

Also disagree with Giants and Steelers. No evidence at all Dobson would be good in there offense. He doesn't have good hands, lacks confidence, and doesn't have top end speed. He's also not physical.

If patriots had drafted mike Wallace, Hakeem nicks, Beckham jr or Antonio brown trust me they would be producing here

NG Pats Fan said:

If patriots had drafted mike Wallace, Hakeem nicks, or martavius Bryant trust me they would be producing here

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Based on what? If they can't learn this offense or get Brady's trust they are done without even starting.

tasmlab said:

The long-ball-to-Slater-where-nothing-good-happens is an annual, once-per-year Patriots tradition at this point.

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Its funny - it's really never even close to a completion either...