If we have superior TEs we will play them. If not, we won't.
The WR situation is much, much, better than last season. Edelman is a known commodity as is Amendola. The rooks are not raw rooks this season. La Fell provides a second big X receiver and slot move TE. So does the experiment with Harrison. Boyce provides a true speed, flanker. There are additional newcomers in Gallon etc.
I agree completely. two TE's is talent dependent and as nice as it is to have a big time number 1 WR you can win without them as the early Patriot champs did and the Seahawks showed last season and Ravens the one before it. This WR situation is much better than last season's, and where they have an advantage is in the construction of it, as they don't rely on a big number 1 but have a number of guys who can get open quickly and help negate pressure while relying upon YAC to make their plays. And when you are playing teams like Seattle and SF the ability to make plays quickly trumps big play ability downfield as you generally aren't going to get the time to make those plays. I'm really looking forward to seeing how McDaniels puts this together because it isn't going to be like the offenses we have seen from him in the past but could be really creative and effective. Ultimately I expect a balanced attack with a quick hitting passing game that is very difficult to defend over the middle and underneath coverage, but it won't be as slot focused as the Welker team's were and will have more options both inside and out. They don't have anyone as good as Welker and Moss were but they have more good WR's than those teams did imo. I expect a great season out of Amendola and another really good one from Edelman, as well as significantly improved performances from Dobson and Boyce, I don't have as much hope for Thompkins but we will see? I agree that Lafell could end up playing some of the old Hernandez role and they could split up those plays designed for him between he and Vereen, who can run some of the routes they had Hernadez run inside and out of the backfield.