Re: Austin Collie signed
After Game One, we had 4 wide receivers and 2 tight ends. To say that we were counting on Sudfeld as our 5th WR is interesting to say. If he were the 3rd or 4th TE, that might have made sense. Belichick knew that he was going to depend on untested rookies. You are essentially saying that Belichick counted on all four to immediately produce enough to bridge the gap until Gronk and Danny came back, and BTW none could be injured in the meantime.
Forgive me if this doesn't make sense to me. Sudfeld was indeed a move TE. He was so bad that Hooman took over that role almost immediately. TO suggest that either was expected after Game One to be our immediate 5th receiver doesn't seem right. IMHO, we counted on Sudfeld to be our #2 TE. When he was hopeless, Mulligan was picked up.
it seems to me that after Game One, we needed WR help, perhaps only for a few weeks. Belichick decided to roll the dice and count on all the rookies and that none would be injured.
And then, two were injured. As I have argued since long before we set the roster, we have room for a veteran, given the inexperience of the receiver corps and given Gronk's injuries.
Many, many of us suggested adding a veteran after Game One, before which contracts were guaranteed. This seemed a perfect solution, especially when Danny was injured. Belichick stayed stubborn and here we are.
And yes, this is all good. We are in fine shape, even if we are 6-3 going into the bye (and we WILL beat the jets and pitt). Obviously, we have opportunities to be in even better shape.
The problem is that every receiver on the team, sans Edelman and Boyce, is on the report this week. It isn't just a couple injuries, all of them are nicked up. And you can add Suds' ineffectiveness to the picture as well, because if he were producing NE probably wouldn't have signed Collie even with all the WRs being banged up.
Under the assumption that 4 of 6 WRs get hurt and the team runs out of patience and releases a defacto 5th WR, sure it would have been nice to have another stray body lying around. Unfortunately, you don't have space to build around this scenario, at that point you just roll with the punches. :confused2:
. With DA -Gronk - JE and Collie they would make us rely less on the Rookies period! I think this Collie signing if he can stay concussion free will help our Rookie WR's over the long run get em out of the fire. I couldn't see us going 1 for 13 on third downs with this combination DA -Gronk - JE and Collie. Let the Rookies WR's spend more time with the Scout Team developing their hands and route running. A injury to any of the four mentioned should get em some action but if not leave Rookie's on the pine. Watching some will help their growth process.
