INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Surprising Stat On Brandon LaFell

TheButlerDidIt said:

Personally, I would love to see Martin take more of LaFell's snaps. I have been pretty impressed with Martin -- really solid hands and seems to get a lot more separation than LaFell.

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Yea hes faster and has more short-area quickness.

robertweathers said:

I still hate that swing pass.

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It was very effective for LaFell last year. It's been very effective throughout Brady's career. The problem is LaFell. He's not the same this year.

Deus Irae said:

It was very effective for LaFell last year. It's been very effective throughout Brady's career. The problem is LaFell. He's not the same this year.

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Yea. No question hes not the same.

robertweathers said:

Yea. No question hes not the same.

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Given how patient BB's been with Amendola, I expect LaFell will be back next year, and he should have a better year, unless he gets beat out by the FA signings/draftees/Martin.

TheButlerDidIt said:

I do, however, remain confused by Josh's plan with LaFell. I know we had some slip screen success with LaFell last year, but I think defenses are keyed on it and LaFell as never struck me as the quick slippery guy that is well-suited to those anyway

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Yes. LaFell had a couple big hits with that early last year but that success may have been because there was then no film on LaFell getting that call. Now teams know but Josh keeps going to the well after it's long since run dry.

LaFell as a Big WR who should excell at Slants - Comebacks and routs that involves Back Shoulder throws. He did those very well last year and completely blows on all fronts this year. LaFell is Big WR who should use his body better we are looking at a player who have lost his confidence. 54 snaps last game with jack-$h!t to show for it BB and Josh please give Keshawn Martin more snaps than LaFell atleast we know Martin will do something. I have seen enough of LaFell this year he needs another scenario.

robertweathers said:

Yea I've come to the same conclusion. I think he is in fact still banged up.

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I dissagree what is aching his feet or his hands? Every NFL player plays with some type of pain but the guy is flat out rounding routes off some of Brady's ducks were catchable. It's hard for me to make excuses for a vet WR LaFell is playing is way off this Team. I have seen lesser WR's who are more effective than him.

PatsFan2 said:

I dissagree what is aching his feet or his hands? Every NFL player plays with some type of pain but the guy is flat out rounding routes off some of Brady's ducks were catchable. It's hard for me to make excuses for a vet WR LaFell is playing is way off this Team. I have seen lesser WR's who are more effective than him.

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If you have crappy footwork or impeded by a leg/foot injury it absolutely puts you in a sub-optimal position to make the completion.

If you have a shoulder injury it also impacts your ability to catch the ball.

LaFell had pretty decent hands last year. Now he just suddenly sucks?

There is more to it than that.

robertweathers said:

I hated that swing pass. A minor mark on an otherwise excellent day for Josh.

That might have been a Charlie Weis special....show a crap play to set up a good one later in the game.

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You watch- in one of the next two games, they'll try that play and one of the blockers will "miss" his block- Brady will pump at Lafell, then hit the "blocker" for a huge gain. ;-)

We know that Jo Jo LaFell has the ability to be a factor in this game on Sunday. With Chris Harris, Jr. nursing a bad shoulder, and talking smack, look for Brady to pick on this guy, and he may very well be covering LaFell.

Make him pay, Jo Jo!

markd said:

You watch- in one of the next two games, they'll try that play and one of the blockers will "miss" his block- Brady will pump at Lafell, then hit the "blocker" for a huge gain. ;-)

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I keep hoping for that.

The most frustrating thing about Lafell is he seems to play soft. Doesn't fight for the ball, gives up on routes, shy's away from contact after the catch. If only he had Edelman's fight in him.

mitsudriver said:

The most frustrating thing about Lafell is he seems to play soft. Doesn't fight for the ball, gives up on routes, shy's away from contact after the catch. If only he had Edelman's fight in him.

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Or Martin's. That's one thing I do love about Martin is that he goes up and battles for the ball whenever it's thrown to him. He's about the only player that I don't hold my breath when Brady chucks it downfield to him and I think he's been an excellent addition this season.

Yes he has had a rough year but he was decent last game. Also he gets the ball in space because he is actually good at it. He isnt the obvious option for the play so that doesnt tip off the D and he has some strength to muscle his way for an extra yard or two.

He still reminds me of a bigger version of Amendola minus the effort on contested balls. He also reminds me of Givens.

I feel like I've defended Jojo quite a bit this year but to be honest, I just wasn't that high on him to begin with. He came here with a reputation for bad hands and then people complain about the drops. It's weird.

He's a competent #2, a high #3, and without Jules around, he's being covered by a #1 CB. He doesn't always beat good #2s, and he's absolutely going to struggle against #1s.

I'm not disappointed, but this is more or less what I expected from him. Last year was a shocker, the outlier in his career. If you prorate his numbers this season to a full year, it would have been his second-best year as a Panther.

His success last year had largely in part to do with Jules and Gronk getting double-teamed, and he'd feed on the space beneath. Without both, he struggled. Combine that with the slow injury recovery and I just don't know why anyone is really surprised at his season.