Will Slater be our top receiver by weekend?
As Rodak said, this seems a lot like 2006. At least, we can start facing the issue in March instead of July, as we did then.
You all do remember Caldwell and Gabriel.
Yes, we can weak with below average receivers, but there is no reason to do so. This is a passing league.
C'mon MG, I expected better from you. You know damned well that this is an entirely different situation than in 2006, where we didn't lose Branch until late into training camp. If the Pats had a game next week then your post would have some merit. But because there are STILL six more months to go before we have to play a real game, I'd stop the whining.
Its OK to feel bad that Welker is gone. Its OK to want to demand some answers as to why 2 and 12 couildn't be matched. I feel bad and I want an answer too. But lets get past it. The decision was made. The powers to be (BB) have decided that the offense has to become less 'Welker-centric", if we are to become more than just perennial superbowl contenders. I would think we'd trust in the brain trust at Gillette a little more even if we disagree. They have a lot more information than we have upon which they make these hard decisions. We can speculate all we want about why the decision was made (because we'll have to wait for BB's memoirs before we'll ever really know), but its done.
Don't you think this administration has EARNED the right to make this kind of tough decision. Hasn't their record of success deserve at least the thought that there is some plan and that this offense WILL be at least effective come September. BB has made his share of mistakes over the years, but he's made all his decisions based on a ton more information than we have. Though it doesn't stop us from making them all the time
Don't forget that even that horrid 2006 offense was still the 11th best total offense in the league and the 7th best scoring offense and that was with an "all star cast" (IIRC) of Gaffney, Caldwell, Brown, and Moroney. Right now we have 4 better offensive threats on the team for Brady to work with....and its STILL March.
Here's what we have to keep reminding ourselves over the next few weeks and months....and really we shouldn't have to be told. The sum is always greater than the individual parts. We don't need great players at every position to win a superbowl. We proved that 3 times. We need to assemble a group of players that together is greater than the individual parts.
We still have $25MM of cap space to use and there a still a lot of very good player available to sign. Keep this in mind. The player we get to replace Wes, is probably not going to be as good at doing what Wes did. But it is my hope, and BB's as well I imagine, that the combination of the 25 players who play offense, working together, will produce a better result. And until we actually get to see it in action in September, no on can say that it won't
