Does Dobson get cut when LaFell returns?

I'm guessing one of Wilson or this new safety will be gone soon. If it's Wilson, then it will be in a trade for a late pick. Richards seems to be working out, and Ebner seems to be in the second pure-ST role.

Usually there have been two pure-ST guys besides the specialists, one a "speed" guy and one an LB. (Or even more, but two who stand out, like Izzo/Cherry.) Right now however it seems to be Slater/Ebner, with LBs being required to actually seem useful on other downs.

NG Pats Fan said:

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

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I'd say Brown and Beckham seem to carry the route running and seperation skills that would be the most interesting. Wallace and Nicks? Who knows. All 4 could easily have "busted" if they can't make the reads...

Dobson is done done done. More than enough time to shine. Guy is tentative and shy on the field. Doesn't use his size to his advantage, doesn't attack the ball at the high point. Bobbles an easy catch. Goes to the turf to make sure of a ball he should catch in stride. I don't think his issues are with athleticism at all, they are psychological. The guy plays the game timid and uncertain. He needs to have some anger and focus.

For the guy who suggested we draft a guy like Julio Jones... LOL... Julio Jones was never in reach for the Pats. We took Nate Solder that year in the early 20s. Based on what Atlanta gave up in trade value, it would have cost us something equivalent to Solder (2011 1st) + Vereen (2011 2nd) + Ridley (2011 3rd) + Chandler Jones (2012 1st)+ Jake Bequette (2012 3rd) to trade up for Jones. How would that trade look today? Jones was not a sure thing coming out of school... could easily have become another David Terrell.

Fencer said:

I'm guessing one of Wilson or this new safety will be gone soon. If it's Wilson, then it will be in a trade for a late pick. Richards seems to be working out, and Ebner seems to be in the second pure-ST role.

Usually there have been two pure-ST guys besides the specialists, one a "speed" guy and one an LB. (Or even more, but two who stand out, like Izzo/Cherry.) Right now however it seems to be Slater/Ebner, with LBs being required to actually seem useful on other downs.

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We couldn't get anything for our 1st round draft pick who went to the pro bowl twice and was #2 in the entire AFC in turnovers caused during his time here (behind Polamalu), but we're going to get a late round pick back for Tavon Wilson?

I hope you're correct, but I am skeptical. Very skeptical.

rookBoston said:

For the guy who suggested we draft a guy like Julio Jones... LOL... Julio Jones was never in reach for the Pats. We took Nate Solder that year in the early 20s.

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Couple of things to note:

1) Bill Belichick did not like Julio Jones in the draft, which was noted in the book "War Room." He was concerned about his tendency to drop passes. Instead, Belichick was high on the mighty Jonathan Baldwin for first round WR consideration.

2) Nate Solder was taken at #17--not in the early twenties. If anything, they should've packaged something up to move up 6 spots and take JJ Watt, although even that would've likely cost them too much. I agree with you that moving up that far to get into Julio Jones' range would've been virtually impossible.

rookBoston said:

For the guy who suggested we draft a guy like Julio Jones... LOL... Julio Jones was never in reach for the Pats. We took Nate Solder that year in the early 20s. Based on what Atlanta gave up in trade value, it would have cost us something equivalent to Solder (2011 1st) + Vereen (2011 2nd) + Ridley (2011 3rd) + Chandler Jones (2012 1st)+ Jake Bequette (2012 3rd) to trade up for Jones. How would that trade look today? Jones was not a sure thing coming out of school... could easily have become another David Terrell.

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We're lucky that the Patriots didn't go WR in round one that year. Solder may be somewhat overrated around here, but Jonathan Baldwin would have been the first pure bust BB had ever drafted in round one.

Also, I'd trade:
Solder/Vereen/Ridley/Jones/Bequette
For Jones

in a New York minute.

Deus Irae said:

We're lucky that the Patriots didn't go WR in round one that year. Solder may be somewhat overrated around here, but Jonathan Baldwin would have been the first pure bust BB had ever drafted in round one.

Also, I'd trade:
Solder/Vereen/Ridley/Jones/Bequette
For Jones

in a New York minute.

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Not Bequette. Now you are just crazy.

rookBoston said:

Dobson is done done done. More than enough time to shine. Guy is tentative and shy on the field. Doesn't use his size to his advantage, doesn't attack the ball at the high point. Bobbles an easy catch. Goes to the turf to make sure of a ball he should catch in stride. I don't think his issues are with athleticism at all, they are psychological. The guy plays the game timid and uncertain. He needs to have some anger and focus.

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This sums up what I think too. The guy just seems to crap his pants when he's out on the field. It's like he's afraid of success. I think he's gone anytime between now and when Lafell returns.

Josh has to remove the deep out to Slater, it hasn't worked once since it's been implemented. Josh, remove that wasted play ASAP please !! I am frustrated as to why Dobson isn't playing, he had a nice game against the Bills and seemed to be trending upward and then all of a sudden he's not dressing, I just don't understand it. I think he can be a real asset for us.

The_Riddler said:

Josh has to remove the deep out to Slater, it hasn't worked once since it's been implemented. Josh, remove that wasted play ASAP please !! I am frustrated as to why Dobson isn't playing, he had a nice game against the Bills and seemed to be trending upward and then all of a sudden he's not dressing, I just don't understand it. I think he can be a real asset for us.

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Yea...Slater running Go routes is a waste of time.

The_Riddler said:

Josh has to remove the deep out to Slater, it hasn't worked once since it's been implemented. Josh, remove that wasted play ASAP please !! I am frustrated as to why Dobson isn't playing, he had a nice game against the Bills and seemed to be trending upward and then all of a sudden he's not dressing, I just don't understand it. I think he can be a real asset for us.

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Has to be practice...the Patriots seem to bounce people in and out of line-ups as much or more than any other team. Dobson had a big game against the Bills, then disappeared - crazy.

But I agree with the other posters in that there's something in the guy's head. Confidence issues? I don't know, but he should be a lot better than he is. he can get separation, is almost always open on a deep route, but even if he was ten yards ahead of the coverage, he'd probably catch the ball falling down. It's weird.

mgteich said:

Slater played 3 plays. Two were kneel downs. One was an end of half fly pattern. This is Slater's role.

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Embrace reality Josh, Slater is better at the kneel down plays.

I assumed the play to Slater was to just waste time. If he gets wide open then you obviously throw it to him, but since he didn't then you just throw it out of bounds and be happy with cutting the clock from 13 seconds to 8 or whatever.

Too bad Aaron you had your chance and blew it...the word on the street in Houton was Keyshawn Martin couldn't catch a cold now he's catching passes from Brady go figure. Dobson looks uncomfortable in everyway on the field and not like a player who is ready to breakout. I hope the Dog House and Practice helps Dobson to get his act together. I see 5'10 WR's who play Bigger than him what a shame it's up to you Aaron.

I'm all for the Slater play..... as long as you don't throw it to him. Take advantage of the obvious attention given to him and toss it underneath to Amendola. You may not even need to use a pick play to free Danny with three defenders running deep.

Oswlek said:

I'm all for the Slater play..... as long as you don't throw it to him. Take advantage of the obvious attention given to him and toss it underneath to Amendola. You may not even need to use a pick play to free Danny with three defenders running deep.

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Seems like everytime Danny makes a Breakaway catch an illegal pick is called I'm getting sick of it.

PatsFan2 said:

Seems like everytime Danny makes a Breakaway catch an illegal pick is called I'm getting sick of it.

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Man he had only 2 yards against the Cowboys, if not for stupid penalties it should be 100. I want Danny to be a real threat all season, it's going to benefit the team, he seems to be more involved than ever.

NG Pats Fan said:

Notice I said "prime". Did you see Nicks in his prime? I did. He was amazing. Some players age quickly, Nicks had a short prime. He was very elite in the 2-3 year period. Injuries derailed his career. If the patriots had Nicks in 2011, they beat the Giants in the Super Bowl.

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Sure, if you take a starting WR from one team and put him on the other one it's likely to change the outcome of the game.

Hicks had a great but brief run. Presumably had the Patriots drafted him you would be blaming the team's scouts for failing to know in advance how injuries would hobble his career as this is the exact complaint you have about the drafting of Dobson.

LJRomanoff said:

Sure, if you take a starting WR from one team and put him on the other one it's likely to change the outcome of the game.

Hicks had a great but brief run. Presumably had the Patriots drafted him you would be blaming the team's scouts for failing to know in advance how injuries would hobble his career as this is the exact complaint you have about the drafting of Dobson.

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Your replies are getting more ridiculous as the thread goes on. Perhaps you should follow the first rule of holes at this point.

Oswlek said:

I'm all for the Slater play..... as long as you don't throw it to him. Take advantage of the obvious attention given to him and toss it underneath to Amendola. You may not even need to use a pick play to free Danny with three defenders running deep.

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I don't know if I'd assign even one defender on Slater, who after 7 years in the league, and to his discredit, simply does not know how to run a deep route, at all. Man, was I pissed-off when I saw what was called.