Danny Amendola Injury Watch 2015

Ross12 · Nov 24, 2015

I just want to know what practice squad player y'all are planning to call up or sign that's going to make an appreciable difference for the next 4 weeks, that you would rather have, than making due with what we have now with the ability to have a receiver with years of experience in the system back for the games that matter.

supafly · Nov 24, 2015

goheels22002 said:
The Patriots didn't come out committed to running the ball, but had success in the second half when they did, particularly after Amendola left the game. The 10 points in the 2nd half came primarily on running plays.

White scored on a well-blocked off-tackle run from the 6 in the 3Q on Amendola's final drive. LeGarrette Blount set up the field goal in the 3Q to make it 20-10 with a 17-yard run and Bolden added an 8-yd run on that drive.

Assuming Amendola is out against Denver, the Patriots will have to load up for the running game. I expect that we'll see a game that features White, Bolden, Blount and some trickeration running behind Mason and Stork who are nasty maulers.

Vollmer was clearly not right last night, and I'm interested to learn why they yanked Andrews. He and Kline were getting beat up the middle in the first half by the DL. I wonder if Andrews got concussed.

I hope things settle down this week as those guys get some more reps together in more natural positions. My guess is we see Vollmer-Mason-Stork-Kline-Cannon if Vollmer is healthy enough to play LT.

The other thing was that Gronk spent a tremendous amount of time blocking which wears you out. I think we'll see lots more of Michael Williams at TE.

If the OL could settle down, order can be restored as we saw in 2014 when Stork took over for Wendell at center.

Good post. I agree with a lot of it. I can't say that I'm quite as optimistic about the run game as maybe you are, but there's no doubt that we'll see more dedication to it in the coming weeks/months.

I'm not sure that @Denver is the situation to do it, but we'll have to see how the injury front looks at the WR position.

Oswlek · Nov 24, 2015

Ross12 said:
I just want to know what practice squad player y'all are planning to call up or sign that's going to make an appreciable difference for the next 4 weeks, that you would rather have, than making due with what we have now with the ability to have a receiver with years of experience in the system back for the games that matter.

Dobson has less than 200 yards receiving in the past two years. A guy would just need to be a special teams regular to provide more value than an injured player who averages 15 yards per appearance.

supafly · Nov 24, 2015

Oswlek said:
Is there any evidence that punt returners are more likely to get hurt per play than receivers? If not, what is the difference between playing Danny for 40 snaps and 5 PRs and 45 snaps?

Belichick obviously tends to agree with you. Personally, I don't know if there's a clear cut answer since you're right that PRs aren't really that dangerous of a play, but I do think that there's some difference between Amendola catching quick, shorter timing routes, and having to deal with lots of full speed traffic and looping blocks.

It obviously isn't the same as say, a KOR, but I don't think it's necessarily the same as what he's asked to do playing the slot either.

At the end of the day, I expect to see him continuing to return punts based on what we know of Belichick, as well as DA's value to that part of the game. I can't say that I'd be terribly disappointed if they allowed someone else to do it for a little while, though.

Brady_to_Moss · Nov 24, 2015

phewwwwww

Ross12 · Nov 24, 2015

Oswlek said:
Dobson has less than 200 yards receiving in the past two years. A guy would just need to be a special teams regular to provide more value than an injured player who averages 15 yards per appearance.

I do realize he hasn't been productive, but didn't Amendola only have like 200 yards last season before totally going off in the postseason? Just because a guy hasn't done much yet doesn't mean he's not worth keeping as depth at a position that is perpetually teetering on the edge of disaster as of late.

Deus Irae · Nov 24, 2015

Ross12 said:
I do realize he hasn't been productive, but didn't Amendola only have like 200 yards last season before totally going off in the postseason? Just because a guy hasn't done much yet doesn't mean he's not worth keeping as depth at a position that is perpetually teetering on the edge of disaster as of late.

Amendola was/is a known commodity who had/has problems keeping healthy. Dobson is a guy who's done nothing.

Huge difference.

Oswlek · Nov 24, 2015

Ross12 said:
I do realize he hasn't been productive, but didn't Amendola only have like 200 yards last season before totally going off in the postseason? Just because a guy hasn't done much yet doesn't mean he's not worth keeping as depth at a position that is perpetually teetering on the edge of disaster as of late.

Sure, but Amendola had a history of superior production and is also an excellent special teamer.

Look, I'm as much of a Dobson supporter as you're going to find around these parts. I'm not someone who thinks he should be cut even if he were healthy, I just think that - assuming this is a long term injury - Aaron is one of the first people on the list if the team decides they need another body at RB, WR or CB. They'd need to cut someone, so who else?

supafly · Nov 24, 2015

upstater1 said:
I would not classify it as must-win myself. They should be underdogs with all these injuries.

At Denver on a short week? Bad mojo here.

But regardless, the Patriots will have at least a 1 game lead and Denver does not have an easy schedule either. They have the Bengals and Steelers.

Definitely, without a doubt bad mojo--yes. Add in the fact that Denver has a very good defense and a tendency to play dirty (Ward, Talib) and there are plenty of reasons for concern. The short week and high altitude obviously don't help.

That all said, I'd still be surprised to see them as underdogs. I honestly haven't looked at the lines yet, and I don't even know if they've been taken down in some places due to the uncertainty of the WR injuries, but I'd have a low spread myself. Probably something around NE-4, maybe 4.5, expecting it to close lower. Somewhere in the -3 range.

Edit: Looks like it's already -3, so it's a point or so lower than I'd have expected.

supafly · Nov 24, 2015

Oswlek said:
I just think that - assuming this is a long term injury - Aaron is one of the first people on the list if the team decides they need another body at RB, WR or CB. They'd need to cut someone, so who else?

We're talking about sending him to IR, right? You aren't suggesting an outright cut, are you?

I think no matter what happens, he's still a guy worth keeping through TC next summer.

RobertWeathers · Nov 24, 2015

Ross12 said:
I do realize he hasn't been productive, but didn't Amendola only have like 200 yards last season before totally going off in the postseason? Just because a guy hasn't done much yet doesn't mean he's not worth keeping as depth at a position that is perpetually teetering on the edge of disaster as of late.

For the reasons you cite are why Dobson is still with the team.

Dobson has talent, works hard, knows the offense, has a good attitude and Brady has confidence in him.

Because he doesn't really play special teams, has been oft-injured and there are better receivers on the roster are reasons why he living in the current pecking order on this roster.

Ross12 · Nov 24, 2015

Deus Irae said:
Amendola was/is a known commodity who had/has problems keeping healthy. Dobson is a guy who's done nothing.

Huge difference.

Oswlek said:
Sure, but Amendola had a history of superior production and is also an excellent special teamer.

Look, I'm as much of a Dobson supporter as you're going to find around these parts. I'm not someone who thinks he should be cut even if he were healthy, I just think that - assuming this is a long term injury - Aaron is one of the first people on the list if the team decides they need another body at RB, WR or CB. They'd need to cut someone, so who else?

Yeah, I'm not saying he's on Amendola's level at all, was just pointing that occurrence out. I wouldn't be angry at BB if he did IR Dobson, as he knows the needs of the team better than I ever will, but I'm just very hesitant to dump a guy at position that's in such rough shape just for a short term fix somewhere else. If they had to add a body elsewhere, I would probably cut a special teamer before I permanently put Dobson on the shelf. A guy like Eric Martin may still be available to re-sign in a couple of weeks. Can't un-IR Dobson, and there aren't any other young guys out there with his upside with his knowledge of the offense. Except Josh Boyce, I guess. Ugh.

n6249c · Nov 24, 2015

Ross12 said:
I just want to know what practice squad player y'all are planning to call up or sign that's going to make an appreciable difference for the next 4 weeks, that you would rather have, than making due with what we have now with the ability to have a receiver with years of experience in the system back for the games that matter.

1. Brock Vereen (CB)
2. Chris Greenwood (CB)
3. Chris Barker (OL)
4. Joey Iosefa (RB)
5. Darius Fleming (ST)

I'll trust the coaching staff to juggle the order, maybe Greenwood is closer than Vereen, or priority of needs may be different than I see it.

Also, if a productive receiver is the need I'd take a look at Fauria or Cleveland to see if they offer a better blend of catching and blocking at TE than Williams or Chandler. Or maybe keep Williams and Chandler and replace Dobson with Fauria or Cleveland as offensive contributors.

Point is, Dobson has had his chances. He has not capitalized on his opportunities, so carrying him as an injured non-player in hopes he will capitalize on future opportunities seems a luxury the team can ill afford given the dire needs in a variety of positions.

n6249c · Nov 24, 2015

Ross12 said:
Yeah, I'm not saying he's on Amendola's level at all, was just pointing that occurrence out. I wouldn't be angry at BB if he did IR Dobson, as he knows the needs of the team better than I ever will, but I'm just very hesitant to dump a guy at position that's in such rough shape just for a short term fix somewhere else. If they had to add a body elsewhere, I would probably cut a special teamer before I permanently put Dobson on the shelf. A guy like Eric Martin may still be available to re-sign in a couple of weeks. Can't un-IR Dobson, and there aren't any other young guys out there with his upside with his knowledge of the offense. Except Josh Boyce, I guess. Ugh.

You can only go so far on unrealized potential before you have to actually produce.

How many years has Dobson had that upside? Where is the production?

Ross12 · Nov 24, 2015

n6249c said:
You can only go so far on unrealized potential before you have to actually produce.

How many years has Dobson had that upside? Where is the production?

I get it, he hasn't done jack in his time here. He's not Randy Moss. I'm just trying to counter those who are quick to shelve Dobson for the year for a quick fix elsewhere. Be careful what you wish for, is all.

n6249c · Nov 24, 2015

Ross12 said:
I get it, he hasn't done jack in his time here. He's not Randy Moss. I'm just trying to counter those who are quick to shelve Dobson for the year for a quick fix elsewhere. Be careful what you wish for, is all.

what I'm wishing for is a healthy team. at least by January.

obgod3 · Nov 24, 2015

Yeh I don't see how BB can put more effort into Dobson, he has had plenty of time to make it happen and hasn't or wasn't able to take advantage of it. I have always rooted for him but his time is done.

As far as running the ball against Denver I think White has a better chance than Blount, Blount just can't get going fast enough quickly based on last night. Denver defense if nothing else is quite fast.

Ross12 · Nov 24, 2015

n6249c said:
what I'm wishing for is a healthy team. at least by January.

Now that we can surely agree on

PP2 · Nov 24, 2015

KontradictioN said:
Early reports saying they don't expect Amendola to miss extended time. So probably not "SIX WEEKZ ZOMGGGGG". Hopefully this will help you take a step back off the Tobin a bit.

If you take a step back away from jumping off the Tobin, you get run over!

Kontradiction · Nov 24, 2015

PP2 said:
If you take a step back away from jumping off the Tobin, you get run over!

I haven't been to Massachusetts in 4 years, man. Cut me some slack.

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