Wide Receiver

[jmt57]

Upon Further Review: Patriots vs Saints by Christopher Price for WEEI:


Brandon Tate. The receiver didn’t get the start, but saw plenty of time running with the first offense throughout the first half, ending up with one catch for 20 yards, a tiptoe job along the sideline where the North Carolina product showed good composure coming down with the ball. The catch came on a third and 14 and allowed New England to keep a scoring drive alive, the Patriots’ most impressive offensive sequence of the evening.

In the end, Tate played 29 snaps. While he wasn’t exceptional, given everything he’s been through over the last year, it was probably exactly the sort of performance the Patriots’ coaching staff was looking for from Tate, who also had one kick return for 12 yards. At this point in the preseason, he’s probably a safe bet to be penciled in as a backup to Torry Holt. He could also figure into the mix as a kick returner, but is probably now second on the depth chart there to Devin McCourty.

“I think I’m still trying to get used to everything. This is my first real actual preseason game, so I’m still trying to get used to everything and just get more comfortable with it,” said Tate. “[But] it was good for us to get out on the field and execute like the coach is telling us. Go out there and execute on every play.”

 

[mgteich]

Chris has a vote of confidence for Holt.

Upon Further Review: Patriots vs Saints by Christopher Price for WEEI:

At this point in the preseason, he’s probably a safe bet to be penciled in as a backup to Torry Holt. He could also figure into the mix as a kick returner, but is probably now second on the depth chart there to Devin McCourty.[/I]

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[jmt57]

More from Price on the WR position, this from his 7/28 pre-camp roster rankings:

It Is What It Is Rating the Roster, Training Camp Edition (Part 6)


25. Wide receiver Brandon Tate: Kind of high for someone who is still such a limited body of work at the professional level, but he’s one guy people consistently asked about this offseason. He’s my choice as one of the most intriguing players to watch this summer. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder was taken in the third round of the 2009 draft with a knee injury, but spent the first few months rehabbing and actually returned for three weeks (actually, two games), returning four kicks for 106 yards before suffering another knee injury, which ended his season. He had a good spring, and that could lead to more reps this summer at both at kick returner and wide receiver if he’s healthy. At receiver, he could challenge veteran Torry Holt at the No. 3 receiver position, while he could also clearly take charge of a crowded and uncertain field at kick returner. Tom Brady says that Tate has had a “great offseason.” We’ll see how it all shakes out for the North Carolina product this summer.

 

[Fencer]

Without Holt, the WR depth chart is some combination of:

Two recent Pro Bowlers, each at least a moderate injury risk. (Moss is aging and probably played somewhat hurt last year. Welker is coming off a major injury and takes some big hits in any case.)

Three very young/inexperienced guys. (Tate and Price have done substantially nothing in the pros. Edelman has one year at WR ever.)

STers who suck at WR. (Aiken/Slater)

The TEs are rookies or past their prime as well.

Of the RBs, Faulk is an excellent receiver but might get fewer snaps this year (less shotgun), the others are questionable.

BB has the guts to go into a season with no more assurance than that, but I think at least one other of Tate/Price has to join Edelman in really proving it in August for Holt to be cut.

 

[jmt57]

WEEI's Price has three receivers in the top tier of his roster rankings:

It Is What It Is Rating the Roster, Training Camp Edition (Part 7)


13. Wide receiver Julian Edelman: No player taken in the seventh round had a better first season in the history of the New England franchise than Edelman. “For Julian Edelman to come in and pick things up as quickly as he did last year and to be at the point as a receiver that he is right now — considering the fact that he, A) never played the position, and, B) converting to a new position as a rookie in an offense that has a number of moving parts and to be where he is now — is just phenomenal,” Belichick said shortly after the end of the season. How much playing time he gets early in 2010 could be tied to the overall health of Wes Welker, but it’s a safe bet that after the year he had in 2009, even if Welker is on the field, the Patriots will find some place for the converted college quarterback.


4. Wide receiver Randy Moss: While he is not the Randy Moss of 2007, he will almost certainly have better numbers than he did in 2009, when he struggled throughout the season with a bum shoulder. (Even with the injury, he still had 83 catches for 1,264 yards and 13 touchdowns.) Some of his fortunes will almost undoubtedly be tied to the health of Welker — if Welker can get on the field fast, it will divide the attentions of opposing defensive backs, and create positive opportunities for Moss. In addition, if any one of the other pass-catchers (Torry Holt, David Patten, or even the two rookie tight ends) can really produce, then No. 81 should see more single coverage and better chances.


3. Wide receiver Wes Welker: No one does a better job of moving the chains that Welker, who has more catches (346) than anyone since the start of the 2007 season. Even with the continued development of Edelman and the return of the pass-catching tight ends, it would be difficult for the New England passing game to operate with any sort of efficiency without Welker. Because of the injury, no one is sure what he will be able to contribute early, but it’s a safe bet he will be back to reasonable facsimile of the old Welker by the time Thanksgiving rolls around.

 

[jmt57]

Felger and Curran contrast Welker and Edelman in this short video clip:

Putting to rest the Welker-Edelman comparison

 

[Kontradiction]

If Tate keeps up his impressive showing at TC and during the preseason, I have to think our 4WR sets with Moss and Tate on the outside and Edelman and Welker in the slots will be as deadly as any receiving corps in the league. Provided, of course, that the O-Line can keep Brady upright.

 

[jmt57]

WR Torry Holt Placed on IR :Ian's New England Patriots Blog

A lot of the talk during traning camp had revolved around where exactly wide receiver Torry Holt would fit into the Patriots plans for this season, especially with the depth they seem to have at the wide receiver position.

Well, it appears he won’t be fitting in at all.

Veteran Holt Won't Catch On This Year; receiver placed on IR because of knee woes by Monique Walker for the Boston Globe:

The abundance of receivers in camp already had limited Torry Holt’schances at earning a roster spot with the Patriots.

Yesterday the 11-year veteran ran out of chances. The Patriots placed Holt, who missed several practices last week and didn’t play in the exhibition win over New Orleans Thursday, on injured reserve because of a knee injury.

“He is disappointed,’’ said Holt’s agent, Kennard McGuire. “He looked forward to competing and playing with another great quarterback, and playing for one of the all-time great coaches.’’


McGuire added that Holt is expected to have surgery. Holt, 34, signed a one-year, $1.7 million deal in April that could have been considered an insurance policy as the Patriots waited to see how Wes Welkerrecovered from offseason knee and shoulder surgeries. Once Welker was activated from the physically unable to perform list, Holt’s chances of making the team may have dwindled.

In the first week of training camp, Holt said competing for a supporting role was a unique experience, but a scenario he accepted. Holt said he was hoping to not only boost the offense but help mentor New England’s young receivers.


“From my first year in the league to now, I’ve always taken the approach that I have to go out and make the football team. I have to go out and prove and earn my starting spot,’’ Holt said.


Holt played 10 seasons with the Rams before signing with the Jaguars last season. From 2000-2009, Holt had league highs in receptions (868) and receiving yards (12,594).

Training Camp Report From Sunday Afternoon Practice by Christopher Price for WEEI:

•As expected, the Patriots announced the re-signing of wide receiver Buddy Farnham, as well as the acquisition of OL Brian Simmons. (Farnham will wear No. 13, while Simmons will take 65.) To make room on the roster, the Patriots waived defensive back Ross Vetrone and placed wide receiver Torry Holt on injured reserve. Placing Holt on IR solves a bit of a logjam at the receiver spot, and likely allows veteran Sam Aiken to breathe a little easier when it comes to landing a spot on the final 53-man roster.

 

[Ring 6]

If Tate keeps up his impressive showing at TC and during the preseason, I have to think our 4WR sets with Moss and Tate on the outside and Edelman and Welker in the slots will be as deadly as any receiving corps in the league. Provided, of course, that the O-Line can keep Brady upright.

I'm still not sold on Tate.

 

[jmt57]

Edelman's Simply Finding His Own Identity by Mike Lowe for the Portland Press Herald:



"I've got to prepare like I prepared last year to do my job," he said. "You've got to manage those expectations."

But they'll get higher after performances like Thursday's. On New Orleans' first punt, Edelman caught the ball at the Patriots' 41, sidestepped a tackler, shrugged off another, slipped through another and ran down the right sideline for 40 yards, setting up a 35-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski.

On the Patriots' next possession, he made another jaw-dropping play.
Taking a quick pass from Tom Brady in the right flank, Edelman made a quick head-and-shoulders move, making Saints cornerback Jabari Greer miss. Then he ran 21 yards to the Saints' 16, leading eventually to a touchdown run by BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Afterward, Edelman said that he knows he can't slack off.

"I still have a long ways to go," he said. "I've got to keep working hard, taking my notes and preparing real hard every week.

"There were a couple of mistakes left out there on the field and I've got to go out there and get that fixed. We'll watch the film and I'm sure there's probably more (mistakes) and I'm going to get yelled at.

"I'll just take that and bring it to next week's practice and get ready for next week's game."

 

[jmt57]

Practice report: Secondary faces Brady to Moss barrage | Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons secondary had to face New England quarterback Tom Brady without their top two corners backs in the first practice on Tuesday morning.

Dunta Robinson, who signed a six-year $57 million free agent contract, has been out with a hamstring injury. Brent Grimes, who’s been working with the first team defense at left cornerback, did not practice because of a groin injury.

Brady and wide receiver Randy Moss connected for two touchdowns. He caught one that appeared to be over Christopher Owens. He caught another and then went behind the Falcons players on the sidelines and told them “that’s two today.”

Moss later dazzled the crowd with a one-handed grab with Brian Williams in coverage.

“Yeah, I saw his one-handed grab there,” [Falcons coach Mike] Smith said. “He had a nice catch. I thought it was a spirited practice.”

 

[jmt57]

Jeff Howe of NESN breaks down the current depth chart for the Pats at WR:

Outside Wide Receivers
1. Randy Moss: Huge year coming
2. Brandon Tate: Surprisingly fast emergence
3. Taylor Price: The rookie is sliding a bit
4. Sam Aiken: Always practices well
5. Matthew Slater: Was performing very well before suffering calf injury
6. Darnell Jenkins: Highlight-reel play against Saints showed his ability
7. Rod Owens: In New England for depth

Slot Receivers
1. Wes Welker: The best in the business
2. Julian Edelman: He'll get reps all over the field, too
3. Buddy Farnham: Gets swallowed up in press coverage

I wonder how much time Edelman will see on the outside once the regular season begins.

 

[jmt57]

Mike Reiss 8/17 Mailbag - espnBoston


Q: With Welker and Edelman, does one become a trade target for other teams? Would the Patriots entertain any offers? Which of the two would seemingly be more valuable? What do you think they would net in return?

A: I don't think it would be a consideration. The Patriots want to keep both Welker and Edelman as that opens up some intriguing possibilities for the offense. Just because they are both viewed as slot receivers doesn't mean they can't be paired together and do some lethal things. So I'd say any proposal would be dead on arrival.



Q: Julian Edelman looks like a legit threat in the NFL as a receiver, but might he be just as effective as a Wildcat QB considering that he played QB in college at Kent State and has the ability to run the ball?

A: I would think so. I thought Tedy Bruschi had some great thoughts on Edelman after that preseason opener, saying the way he makes plays with the ball in his hands will challenge quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien to find ways to get him the ball.



Q: Hi Mike, I was trying to watch Brandon Tate in the first preseason game. How would you rate his development so far?

A: I would put Tate in the category of players who seems to grow in each practice. He's also made some of the best catches in training camp, so if we were putting a highlight reel together from the best training camp plays, we wouldn't have to look far to find him on it.



Q: With Taylor Price not having played in the punt or kickoff return game in college, what kind of progress was he made in training camp? Has he practiced kickoff return or just punt returns?

A: I have seen Price on both kickoff and punt returns. He seems sure-handed and one of the team's depth options in both spots.

 

[Rob0729]

Jeff Howe of NESN breaks down the current depth chart for the Pats at WR:



I wonder how much time Edelman will see on the outside once the regular season begins.

People say that Edelman is Welker Jr., but I think he will be the next Deion Branch myself. I think Edelman has skills to be an outside player like Branch was. He makes people miss him where Welker is more adept at taking the hit but not letting people get a clean shot on him and taking him down.

 

[jmt57]

Chris Price of WEEI looks at five veterans on the bubble: Bubble Watch, Part 2

Sam Aiken: Things have gotten a little easier for the wide receiver now that Torry Holt (season-ending injured reserve) and David Patten (retirement) are out of the picture, but with the continued emergence of the younger receivers and what appears to be a diminished role on special teams, Aiken could still be fighting for a job when cutdown day comes around. (Things could really change for Aiken on special teams this year — Pat Chung is being used more and more as the punters’ persona protector. Last season, that was Aiken’s job.) Last year’s special teams captain, Aiken’s spot on the team is almost certainly tied to how many running backs the Patriots keep on their roster — if New England decides to hold on to both Sammy Morris and BenJarvus Green-Ellis, then Aiken could be on the outside looking in come Week 1.

 

[jmt57]

Relatively minor news since it's extremely doubtful he will be playing on any team this year - unless a certian division rival wants to sign him to make him team captain for one game.

Injury Settlement for Torry Holt by mike reiss for espnBoston:


In a bit of housecleaning type news, the Patriots have given veteran receiver Torry Holt an injury settlement. The essence of what this means is that Holt is no longer part of the club. He is a free agent.

Holt was scheduled to undergo surgery on his knee this week after the Patriots placed him on season-ending injured reserve Sunday.

Now, with Holt getting an injury settlement, he could potentially play this season for another club if he returns to full health.

 

[jmt57]

Chris Price of WEEI on which Positional Battles Are Getting Clearer For Patriots:

Wide receiver, specifically the outside spot opposite Randy Moss: At the start of camp, it was a crowded field that included Torry Holt, David Patten, Brandon Tate, Sam Aiken and Taylor Price. That picture changed when Holt was placed on IR and Patten retired, which opened up the field for a group of youngsters and Aiken. However, while the youngsters Tate and Price have played well, there’s a question as to how much they’ve distinguished themselves, and it appears they might not be quite ready for heavy game action. (We should know more by the end of the preseason.)

The Patriots have opened both preseason games in a multiple tight-end set that’s featured just one wide receiver, Randy Moss. At this point, with the pass-catching skills flashed by rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez and the continued quick rehab of slot receiver Wes Welker, it could ultimately render the need for another starting outside wide receiver moot, with the Patriots instead relying heavily on a set that features multiple tight ends, Moss split wide and Welker in the slot.

Winner: Undecided.

 

[jmt57]

Erik Scalavino of Patriots Football Weekly answers a question about the WR group: Ask PFW: Preseason progress reports

Q.: So, with the injuries to [Torry] Holt and [Ty] Warren, it seems that the Pats might have problems in the WR and d-line corp. Don’t you guys think that maybe it would be wise to use one of the next year’s first-round picks in a trade for a young, proven player like Vincent Jackson or some good defensive lineman?

A.: No, that would be far too much of a panic move right now, in my estimation. Holt was heading toward a bottom-of-the-roster spot as it was, so his loss is virtually a non-factor, as far as I’m concerned. Not that I wouldn’t want a receiver of Jackson’s talents on my team, but there’s not as desperate a need for him as you might think. Brandon Tate may not be a Pro Bowler yet, but he’s proving a capable NFL outside receiver, Julian Edelman continues to improve as a slot specialist, and Taylor Price is still raw, but the talent is there. I still have some questions about the receiving corps, but not as many as I did a month ago. If I were trading for a player like Jackson, I might try to swap Logan Mankins and a mid-round pick – say a second or a third – but not the first.

 

[jmt57]

Chris Warner of Patriots Daily eyes the receivers heading into the Rams game:

http://www.patriotsdaily.com/2010/08/worry-wart-–-preseason-game-three-vs-rams/

Get More For Wes? We hope not. Although it made us happy to see Wes Welker back on the field, every time a defender got near him it felt like my innards were hosting a gymnastics meet. Maybe one series vs. St. Louis, maybe one catch or two, but save Welker for Week One. Let’s check out more of what receivers like Taylor Price and Brandon Tate can do. A repeat of Tate’s Pardon-Me-I-Have-A-First-Down-To-Make move where he shook four defensive backs wouldn’t hurt.

 

[jmt57]

I suppose I should have had another thread for Special Teamers, because that is really what position Aiken (and Arrington, Woods, Alexander, etc.) play, but I'll put this here since he is officially a wide receiver.

Ten Things We Learned Thursday Night by WEEI's Chris Price

When it comes to guys on the bubble, Sam Aiken may have done the most to help his cause

Last year’s special teams’ captain, Aiken isn’t really exceptional at anything, but is above average in a number of areas and will clearly do whatever it takes to land a roster spot. On Thursday night, he was also a part of the kick coverage unit that did such a great job blocking for Brandon Tate on his first-quarter touchdown return. He also had four catches (tied for tops on the team) for 22 yards, and was in the game well into the second half. While that final receiver position is still up in the air (it’s likely tied to how many running backs the Patriots decide to keep), Aiken is doing everything he can to make sure he gets it.

And speaking of wide receivers and special teams, the Patriots May Have Found Their Kick Returner

The unquestioned highlight of the night for the Patriots came on the first play of the evening, when Brandon Tate returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. It was a masterfully put-together return — Tate received some great blocking, he hit a huge hole perfectly and wasn’t touched on his way to the end zone.

“My teammates were the ones blocking, so without them, it wouldn’t have been possible,” he said. “I kept saying, ‘I’m ready … this is going to be the one,’ so all the credit has to go to my teammate.”

After trading away Ellis Hobbs before the start of the 2009 season, the Patriots spent much of last season struggling to find an answer in the return game. They tried a variety of people, but to no avail — New England was 15th in the league in kick return average with 22.7 yards per return, and was one of only a handful of teams in the league last year not to run a kick back for a touchdown.

But this preseason, they’ve gotten strong performances in the return game from both Tate (who nearly broke a second one last night and finished with three returns which averaged 54.7 yards per attempt) and McCourty, who had kick returns of 50 and 52 yards in the preseason opener against the Saints.