Torry Holt the Odd Man Out?

[Deus Irae]

Edelman, Price and Tate have a long way to go to be a better wider receiver than Torry Holt.

Well, that would depend on how much Holt's skills have faded, wouldn't it?

 

[mgteich]

Of course it does. If Terry Holt has lost two steps since last year, then he won't make the team.

If he is as good as he was last year, he is one of the best #3's in the league. If he is anywhere close to last year, he is as good as any of his competitors are likely to become in their careers.

And just BTW, absent injuries, I don't see Price active whether Holt stays or not. Bot Edelman and Tate will be active because they are returners. Brady may need four wide outs as targets, but he doesn't need five, especially when he has 3 TE's and 4 RB's who are also options.

Well, that would depend on how much Holt's skills have faded, wouldn't it?

 

[Deus Irae]

Of course it does. If Terry Holt has lost two steps since last year, then he won't make the team.

If he is as good as he was last year, he is one of the best #3's in the league. If he is anywhere close to last year, he is as good as any of his competitors are likely to become in their careers.

He was cut by the Jaguars. He struggled some to get separation last season, and his receiving numbers are in obvious decline (93/64/51). I'm not sure the loss of "two steps" would be needed. I hope he's got enough left in the tank to play the Gaffney role, which would allow Price and Tate to be worked in slowly.

And just BTW, absent injuries, I don't see Price active whether Holt stays or not. Bot Edelman and Tate will be active because they are returners. Brady may need four wide outs as targets, but he doesn't need five, especially when he has 3 TE's and 4 RB's who are also options.

Well, having not been to camp or seen any exhibitions yet, I can't say that I have any idea what Price's role will be yet, because the media (including Patsfans.com 'media' publishing its observations) hasn't given us much on him so I really can't get any kind of fix. From what I've been reading, it seems that Tate will be playing the Stallworth role to start off the season. Edelman still makes the most sense to me at the Welker backup and second slot WR, and Hernandez would seem to be an H-back/2nd slot receiver. Holt would, as noted above, seem to be in position to fill the Gaffney role if he makes the team.

 

[mgteich]

Your analysis seems reasonable.

So,

Moss is Moss
Welker is Welker (unless Welker is injured, in which case Edelman is Welker)
Tate is Stallworth
Holt is Gaffney

In 2007, only four wide receivers had any catches at all; only two tight ends had more than one catch.

I do agree that Hernandez will have some role, as will at least one of Gronkowksi and Crumpler. As in 2007, we have three tight ends, one of whom is primarily a blocker.

. From what I've been reading, it seems that Tate will be playing the Stallworth role to start off the season. Edelman still makes the most sense to me at the Welker backup and second slot WR, and Hernandez would seem to be an H-back/2nd slot receiver. Holt would, as noted above, seem to be in position to fill the Gaffney role if he makes the team.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Taylor Price, has never played a down in the NFL Brandon Tate, is yet to catch a pass. i find it hard to believe that Holt will be cut

Some folks here were saying the same thing about Edelman v. Lewis.

 

[jefmblrd]

Buddy Farnham snagged two one-handers today... do we just have all the next all-word receivers now? lol

I know you're joking around, but Farnham looks pretty smooth out there. Those catches were sweet and in traffic. It would be nice if we could get him on the practice squad.

 

[SanAngeloState]

I don't think so. i think they'll keep 6WRs. They get injured often.

 

[patsfan-1982]

Some folks here were saying the same thing about Edelman v. Lewis.

Torry Holt, is a BB kind of guy he will do what ever it takes th help the team win if that means blocking playing ST or puting he's body on the line to get a first down. BB loves vets like that i just don't see him geting cut

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Holt may be the 3rd or 4th best receiver on the team and still get cut. Tate, Edelman, and Price are the future and are locks, especially given their special teams play. Holt sticking has more to do with whether we feel we can get by with 9 OL, 6 DL, and 4 CBs, or replace Arrington and Aiken on ST than it does with how Holt compares to Tate and Price now.

I expect our 5-wide lineup is likely to be Moss, Welker, Hernandez, Faulk, and Edelman/Tate, where Faulk and Edelman have the potential to move into the backfield between plays and Hernandez can play split or tight end and eventually the backfield, allowing the offense to switch formations on the spot and keep the defense off-balance. Holt has one position, doesn't play teams, is losing a step, and will only figure in the plans for this year. He's obviously good enough to make the team, but he might not just the same.

 

[mgteich]

I don't see Belichick handicapping the team by cutting or 3rd or 4th best receiver. It simply doesn't make sense. If Holt is #3 or #4, he stays. This is especially true if he is our #3. Of course, if Holt is our #5 or #6, I would expect him to be waived. All of our receivers from last year had injuries during the year. I suspect that you would also waive Crumpler if he is #3.
======================

There is indeed room on the roster for our six position receivers, especially given that we have at least three returners in the group: Welker, Tate and Edelman. Tate was drafted because of his return skills. It appears that the scouts were right.

A quick look at the roster shows that we could have up to four positions available for special-teams only players like Aiken, Arrington, Slater, Lockett, Alexander, and Murrell. Given the special teams skills added in the past two years among the position players (e.g. Chung and McCourty), I would think that we need only two special-teams only players.

OFFENSE (24)
QB 2
RB 4
WR 6
TE 3
OL 9

DEFENSE (22)
DL 6
LB 8
CB 4
S 4

SPECIALISTS (3)
K 1
P 1
LS 1

THE FINAL SPOTS (4)
ST ??? (Arrington and Aiken are my choices)
LB ??? (Will Burgess be replaced by a position linebacker?)
DL ??? (a seventh DL is a popular but unreasonable choice)
CB ??? (Should we keep a 5th position corner?)
added developmental player ??? (for me, Price is already that player)
utility player ??? (Williams could take a spot)

As of now, I would expected to use 2 roster spots for STer's, 1 for a LB, and 1 for a CB.

============



BOTTOM LINE
There is room for 1-3 special teams only players. There is actually room for another if a 9th position linebacker isn't kept on the 53. The roster spot could go to Alexander or Murrell or Williams instead of a position linebacker. I would consider any of these players among the final roster spots.

Holt may be the 3rd or 4th best receiver on the team and still get cut. Tate, Edelman, and Price are the future and are locks, especially given their special teams play. Holt sticking has more to do with whether we feel we can get by with 9 OL, 6 DL, and 4 CBs, or replace Arrington and Aiken on ST than it does with how Holt compares to Tate and Price now.

I expect our 5-wide lineup is likely to be Moss, Welker, Hernandez, Faulk, and Edelman/Tate, where Faulk and Edelman have the potential to move into the backfield between plays and Hernandez can play split or tight end and eventually the backfield, allowing the offense to switch formations on the spot and keep the defense off-balance. Holt has one position, doesn't play teams, is losing a step, and will only figure in the plans for this year. He's obviously good enough to make the team, but he might not just the same.

 

[IllegalContact]

if anything kills holt it will be his zero special teams value

don't expect to see much special teams work for welker, at least early on.

moss
welker
edelman
price
tate

whether they hold on to 6 WR's or not, combined with what they see out of edelman,price, and tate in offense and on special team will dictate whether holt, o aiken, or even slater is the 6th WR...you can also throw in the potential for injury to any of the above guys during the summer as a factor.

holts a damned good route runner. he would be useful if here

 

[yuval]

I think a lot of it has to do with Aiken. If a young player can assume the role he had last season playing ST, than they'll probably be able to keep more than 5.
If they keep Aiken though, one of the WRs (Holt, Tate, Price) won't make the roster.