A Jake Ballard theory
 

Ok, Ballard is now on the PUP list, apparently to protect him from poaching. But maybe something else is going on....

Stallworth and Gaffney are released.

Hernandez has a great camp, is being tried out in several different positions.

A possible explanation:

Hernandez is going to be a WR--no need for Gaffney or Stallworth. Ballard is in better shape than anyone knew. He'll be filling Hernandez's place at TE.

Fells and Shiancoe are backups, and only one will stick.

What do you think, guys?

Re: A Jake Ballard theory
 

I thought the same thing when they released Gaffney and Stallworth. Not so much of your Ballard theory, but Hernandez being used mostly in a WR mode. I still think we are a tad thin at WR, but Hernandez at WR changes that. From an article I just googled about Ballard, they said an optimistic timetable for return is 9 months, which puts that in November. So its certainly is possible if he is ahead of schedule.

Re: A Jake Ballard theory
 

Not sure about Ballard coming back soon, but I think Belichick wants to utilize Hernandez more as a receiver (or at least running routes) and if the TE's don't keep dropping like flies we will see more 3 TE sets than last year.

Re: A Jake Ballard theory
 

I'll take a wild guess. Agree on AHern WR role. Shianco goes on PUP. Comes off PUP week six when they cut Silvestro.

Re: A Jake Ballard theory
 

Seems plausible to me. Welker came back in less time and Mankins came back in less time.

Re: A Jake Ballard theory
 

The theory of Hern at WR makes sense even if Ballard can't play this year. A TE trio of Gronk-Fells-Shiancoe is still the best in the league easily

Re: A Jake Ballard theory
 

BB likes the flexibility that Gronk and Hernandez provide and the fact that it is hard for a defense to match personell with them particularly with a quarterback like Brady who will recognize who is on the field and audible the play according that exposes the weakness. I wouldn't be surpised to see more three tight end sets this year with Hernandez more in a tweener role between WR and TE.

Re: A Jake Ballard theory
 

Ballard is more of a true Gronkowski-esque TE, a mini-Gronk if you will than Hernandez.

As soon as I heard the Ballard signing I liked the potential

Ballard and Gronk as true TEs. Lloyd as you true outside WR. Hernandez as jack-of-all-trades WR/TE/RB. Then throw in a RB like Woodhead or Vereen who can play as RB or slotback.

:D :D :D

Re: A Jake Ballard theory
 

We want Hernandez matched up with a Slot or Nickel CB not with a #1 or #2 CB. He would have harder time shaking thoe guys...Jake Ballard is slower than molasses. Jake Ballard really benefits from a good running game so he can do most of his stuff off play action. But in our pass first Offense he couldn't get open if his life depends on it.

Re: A Jake Ballard theory
 

I don't see much in a change of philosophy...Hernandez has been used in primarily a receiver role for the last year now so I don't get why it's only just being talked up. You could have labelled him alone last year.

Simple fact is they could have waited until final cut downs and placed him on IR without being subject to Waivers of they felt he wasn't ready at all. I see the Pats envision bringing him back. They have a couple of weeks to start training him after the week six marker comes around and then, by the team they've eased him in, he will be at 9 months and culd easily have been healed by then.

I expect Fells to make it for now and be that guy that Ballard is going to be in the long term future. If Ballard is healthy after week six he will no doubt be activated and replace Fells or just head to IR.

I think we will go with three TEs for now and, depending on personnel if Ballard comes back, we could go with four...we'll have to if we envision keeping Fells as he would get picked up if we cut him.

We aren't going to entirely exclude AH as a TE. We used him in a WR role a lot last year but his overall position will always be TE.