JoeSixPat said:
Caldwell hasn't done anything yet to prove correct those who say his career high of 28 catches in a season is just an aberration.
And while I guess 30 catches a season isn't the absolute worst production you'd expect from a #3 WR, I think I'd prefer someone with more upside, and potential to grow into a #2 WR at that spot.
I actually give Caldwell a lot of credit for taking that hit and shaking it off the way he did - and I think we can find a place for him on this team - but in my mind he's still where he's always been in my view - a #4 WR.
I agree with you that Jackson's college highlight reel, speed, skills, and size suggests that he has #1 WR potential - but I don't think you wait.
If there's a #1 WR on the market (and there might not be) I think you use the ample salary cap space we have and pull the trigger. Having a 2nd round draft choice signed for 4 years who's playing near a #1 WR level, along with an expensive free agent #1 is a good problem to have.
Having no #1 WR is NOT a good problem to have.
I hear comments like "Having no #1 WR is NOT a good problem to have" from posters who are long time Pats fans and I have to ask where you've been for the last few years.
Troy Brown has NEVER been a true #1 WR. I would have to go back to 2000 and Terry Glenn to remember when the Pats had a "TRUE" #1 wr. I don't count 2001 because Glenn was suspended for much of the year.
During the Belichick era, the Pats haven't had a TRUE #1 receiver (re: dominant). Even Deion Branch wasn't a TRUE #1 receiver. Yes, he caught the passes, but he was extremely injury prone missing games in every season but last year. And he would disappear for games at a time.
The Patriots offense is predicated on NOT having that TRUE #1 receiver and the Patriots having a variety of weapons that Brady has confidence in. Yes, the team is going through growing pains this year because of the high turnover of players (gone are Fauria, Branch and Givens). But, Brady will develop the timing with them as the season goes on. Each week, there is improvement by the receivers.
What I don't see is improvement in the play-calling though (In fact, the Play Calling looks eerily similar to that of Schottenheimer's play calling). The Patriots offensive play-calling excelled when it wasn't predictable and the opposing team didn't know what the Pats were going to do. It excelled when the Pats would recognize early whether the run would open up the passing game or vice versa. It excelled when the Pats would use a variety of plays from Slants to Screens, to Ins, Outs and Gos besides the different running plays. There have been NUMEROUS threads on how predicatable the Pats are getting on offense. There has to be SOME validity to what is being said.
I hope that the Braintrust gets the play-calling straightened out. Whether its Brady, McDaniels, or the WRs, the Pats need them to be clicking to help keep teams from focusing strictly on the run. Miami showed that, right now, if you shut down the Pats RUN game, you shut down the Pats. And that earily remindful of how the Pats were during the lean years.