Branch, Gaffney or Stallworth???

[IllegalContact]

I'd be more worried about the OL

 

[mgteich]

I also don't think that having Gaffney or Branch would have made a difference, given what we saw from Josh.

We need to face that Josh plans to have Edelman available as the #2 WR, and wants to give him lots of reps. I expect to see both Edelman and Welker getting more reps in the next few weeks because of the injury to Hernandez.

We have our 3 top receivers for our 3 WR sets. We have a blocking TE for our 2 TE sets. One would think that we would use a lot more 3 WR sets in place of the 2.5 WR - 1.5 TE sets we had when Hernandez was healthy.
========================
PREPARING FOR ANOTHER INJURY
My expectation is that Salas will be active. He looked good before his injury when he played for Josh.

That being said, Belichick may choose to sign a receiver or TE. There are indeed available roster spots. Whether they are active is another issue.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Most people believe that the Pats need to pick up a receiver, with Hernandez out. Even though he is listed as a tight end, he is far more of a wr/h back type.

So, if Belichick decides to add a WR, who should it be, Branch, Gaffney, Stallworth or the one behind the curtain????

That is of course, he does pick up a WR. Will they go with just two tight ends????

Neither Branch, Gaffney (injured & unwanted by poorer teams) nor Stallworth (lost his speed, separation & has the dropsies) fills the void in capability left by Hernandez so why sign any of them? It's like losing an OC and signing an OT just because they're both offensive linepersons.

Either Fells steps up into the TE void (Hootenanny looked terrible Sunday) or if a WR is deemed needed, Salas is supposed to be a possession, fight for the ball & yards receiver.

 

[ATippett56]

We have a blocking TE for our 2 TE sets.

The New England Patriots currently have on the roster a blocking tight end whose blocking is suspect, to put it kindly. Michael Hoomanawanui is not the answer at the tight end position.

 

[ATippett56]

I don't think either one would have made a difference.

Meanwhile, Lex Hilliard is the answer to the New England Patriots offensive woes.

 

[condon84]

Would not be surprised if we don't sign any of them. We basically dropped them and then traded for Salas. Chances are we sign another TE.

 

[mgteich]

If the Hooman is not the answer for our backup blocking TE position (backing up Fells), then we need to sign another TE. It is clear that we need 2 TE's who can block, given the quality of the blocking of the right side of our OL.

The New England Patriots currently have on the roster a blocking tight end whose blocking is suspect, to put it kindly. Michael Hoomanawanui is not the answer at the tight end position.

 

[Deus Irae]

If the Hooman is not the answer for our backup blocking TE position (backing up Fells), then we need to sign another TE. It is clear that we need 2 TE's who can block, given the quality of the blocking of the right side of our OL.

Neither the TE with the long and complicated name who can't execute basic blocks, nor the fullback who can't block, need to be on this team's roster.

 

[mgteich]

OK, you are disagreeing with Belichick's choice for our 4th TE and 5th RB. There will always be such disagreements regarding marginal players. Obviously, we'd like to be getting some blocking help out of those two positions, from these two players or from two others.

To stay on topic, I also agree that we should a 5th WR instead of one of 16 front seven players.

Neither the TE with the long and complicated name who can't execute basic blocks, nor the fullback who can't block, need to be on this team's roster.

 

[Deus Irae]

OK, you are disagreeing with Belichick's choice for our 4th TE and 5th RB. There will always be such disagreements regarding marginal players. Obviously, we'd like to be getting some blocking help out of those two positions, from these two players or from two others.

If a team's blocking TE and fullback aren't succeeding while attempting to block, they don't need to be there. This isn't a "from two others" issue. This is a "not doing their job" issue.

To stay on topic, I also agree that we should a 5th WR instead of one of 16 front seven players.

This has been the case since the beginning, but many here chose to claim that it wasn't an issue because Hernandez would count as a WR.

Cut the FB and bring in one WR. Then, cut a DL and bring in another WR. Then, either cut the TE and bring in another TE or, if Fells isn't going to be ready this week and it's felt that it's too late to have another TE up to speed by Sunday, at least put the TE on notice that he'd better start making blocks or he'll be unemployed after next week's game.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Neither the TE with the long and complicated name who can't execute basic blocks, nor the fullback who can't block, need to be on this team's roster.

Assuming they're not ST aces, they're fodder for lots of roster improvement possibilities wide ranging from OL to long snapper. Hard to believe that there isn't someone out there who could add better backup quality to this 53.

 

[mgteich]

Every year, we say this about the bottom few players on the roster. We posters find it hard to believe that there is no one more valuable out there than

the Hooman
the fullback
Forston
Francis
Rivera
Dennard
Salas

Almost all of us believe that at least a couple of these players could CERTAINLY be upgraded.
BTW, on what basis do we make such judgements?

Assuming they're not ST aces, they're fodder for lots of roster improvement possibilities wide ranging from OL to long snapper. Hard to believe that there isn't someone out there who could add better backup quality to this 53.

 

[Deus Irae]

Every year, we say this about the bottom few players on the roster. We posters find it hard to believe that there is no one more valuable out there than

the Hooman
the fullback
Forston
Francis
Rivera
Dennard
Salas

Almost all of us believe that at least a couple of these players could CERTAINLY be upgraded.
BTW, on what basis do we make such judgements?

History
Knowledge of other players who are out there
Common sense

Any, and all, of the above

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I don't see any of these guys coming back. But again...hope i am wrong

 

[DaBruinz]

Most people believe that the Pats need to pick up a receiver, with Hernandez out. Even though he is listed as a tight end, he is far more of a wr/h back type.

So, if Belichick decides to add a WR, who should it be, Branch, Gaffney, Stallworth or the one behind the curtain????

That is of course, he does pick up a WR. Will they go with just two tight ends????

Are you satisfied with a WR corps of Lloyd, Welker, Edelman, Salas and Slater????

BTW, did Salas dress and play?????

Had you checked the inactive list on either the Globe, Herald or the thread on here, you'd know that Salas wasn't dressed, so he didn't play..

The 2TE set is what Belichick wants to run here.. My guess is that Fells will be active for the next game..

 

[DaBruinz]

They should have had at least one of Branch/Gaffney on the team even before the injury. Now they should sign both. It's an "all in" year, and this guy's screwing around with stiffs at the bottom of the roster instead of loading up to prevent the sort of thing we saw today.

Why is it an "all in" year? The Pats certainly haven't viewed it as such to this point.

Branch was not doing a great job getting separation against 2's and 3s. What makes people think he'll, all of a sudden, be able to get free against other teams 1s?

Gaffney was injured. The Pats let him go. No one else has though highly enough of him to sign him even though he's worked out for Miami and at least one other team..

 

[Deus Irae]

Why is it an "all in" year? The Pats certainly haven't viewed it as such to this point.

Sure they have, at the top of the roster.

Branch was not doing a great job getting separation against 2's and 3s. What makes people think he'll, all of a sudden, be able to get free against other teams 1s?

Funny, I saw, and read about, Branch getting open enough for Brady to make throws to him, and about him catching the ball. It seems to me that those are two qualities that this team used to like in their WRs. Has that changed?

Gaffney was injured. The Pats let him go. No one else has though highly enough of him to sign him even though he's worked out for Miami and at least one other team..

We don't know the story behind Gaffney. We do know, or should know, that the actions of the Dolphins are meaningless.

 

[DaBruinz]

The Donald Thomas/Marcus Cannon combination at right guard/right tackle will drive any fan to the medicine cabinet in search of a bottle of Pepto Bismol.

Cannon played extremely well yesterday. Donald Thomas sucked.. Thomas doesn't understand that when the guy he's blocking shifts to Cannon, he should back off to pick up anyone who might be stunting.. He didn't and that's the guy who laid Brady out yesterday. Cannon isn't at fault for that.

 

[DaBruinz]

If a team's blocking TE and fullback aren't succeeding while attempting to block, they don't need to be there. This isn't a "from two others" issue. This is a "not doing their job" issue.

This has been the case since the beginning, but many here chose to claim that it wasn't an issue because Hernandez would count as a WR.

Cut the FB and bring in one WR. Then, cut a DL and bring in another WR. Then, either cut the TE and bring in another TE or, if Fells isn't going to be ready this week and it's felt that it's too late to have another TE up to speed by Sunday, at least put the TE on notice that he'd better start making blocks or he'll be unemployed after next week's game.

Could you give us suggestions as to which TE you'd have the Pats bring in..

 

[Deus Irae]

Could you give us suggestions as to which TE you'd have the Pats bring in..

Well, just for one obvious example, I'd be willing to bet that Winslow, even on gimpy knees, could have blocked at least as well as ol' #47 did. Of course, that's because #47 blocked worse than your average 92 year old woman could.