Cutdown Day: PATS DISCUSSION thread

[BadMoFo]

Mike Reiss ?@MikeReiss

LB Tracy White, who has missed most of training camp with injury, back at practice today.

Well, I did not expect him to be there. I thought Tarpinian looked ok, more than I can say for White.

 

[strngplyr]

LOL!

Shiancoe can't even find the practice field!

Ochocinco and Underwood couldn't find the actual field.

 

[Linda_The_Pats_Fan (She was NEM)]

Having Mallett as the only backup QB is a concern. I don't see him as often as BB does, obviously, but the kid doesn't look ready to me.

It is very hard for fans to evaluate how a player, in particular a quarterback, will play when the only thing we get to see is him performing alongside backup players on the o line, tight ends, receivers and running backs.

I have always been one to say that to get a real judgement, play them, in pre season, with the first team.

How many times have we said that Rohan Davey, or Michael Bishop, for examples, looked good based on what we witnessed in pre season and then they sheet the bed when it come to playing against real NFL players.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Considering Belichick signed every conceivable receiver option going into the offseason, it's hard to imagine he is happy with the depth at receiver right now, considering it's no better than last year. I bold depth b/c I acknowledge that the 1's are better.

Belichick gutted the safeties last year without any contingency, and it might've been the first time I've ever truly scratched my head at something he did. If this doesn't play out differently in the next few weeks, I'll be feeling the same way.

Great post, I feel exactly the same way. Until he signs somewhere else, I'm just going to assume that Gaffney's coming back. I'd say that there's no way that Belichick's going to leave the WRs as they are now, but, as you said, it wouldn't be any more baffling than what he did at safety last season.

 

[ATippett56]

Do you believe that we will get less production in 2012 from Fells and Shiancoe than we did from Ocho and Underwood in 2012?

Daniel Fells at least found his way into MetLife Stadium Wednesday night. Shiancoe has not practiced since the first week of training camp.

Branch >>>>> Shiancoe
Gaffney >>>> Shiancoe

 

[ATippett56]

Ochocinco and Underwood couldn't find the actual field.

At least Ochocinco and Underwood were seen on the field.

 

[Froob]

Because shianco is injured now obviously he can't get healthy and make an impact down the stretch amirite?

 

[patfanken]

2011: #3 passing offense and overall offense in the nil
================
2012: LOSE: Branch, Ochocinco and Underwood
........ .ADD: Lloyd, Fells, and Shiancoe (and Ebert as the young developmental inactive)
==================
Q1) Is Lloyd an adequate replacement for Branch? No his is a big UPGRADE over Branch, both in size and the areas of the field you can now attack

Q2) Do you expect less from Fells and Shiancoe than we got from Ocho and Underwood? God I hope we get more from Shiancoe/Fells. It would be hard not to.

Q3) We will likely start the season with our usual inactive young developmental receiver? IIRC, it was Price last year.If I have my way, no. That receiver will already be on the PS when it all settles out.
====================
I would like a veteran backup, but I would not expect him to be active, although he could be depending on game plan.

Again if we don't have injuries to the big 4 than all this WR depth crap doesn't come into play and we are likely to have active for most games only Edelman, Welker, Lloyd, and Slater as WR. That will still leave us with 8 receivers active for most games. Given that we have 4 RBs who are more than adequate receivers as well, I think we have that issue covered.

 

[Kontradiction]

I didn't say it didn't concern me. I am surprised they cut Gaffney and Branch. I wonder what BB has up his sleeve. But I think this group can survive a couple of games as is. Long term, no.

I wonder what Ebert is really capable of. Kid ran a 4.38 in the 40, so he has terrific speed. Maybe he's better than we all think.

Usain Bolt could be in this offense and it wouldn't make a difference if he didn't have a connection with Brady.

 

[Finnishfan]

Two interesting tweets from Reiss:

Players not spotted (projected due to health): RB Vereen, RB Demps, OL McDonald, OL Kopa, DT Love, OT Vollmer, TE Shiancoe, LB Koutouvides.

Players not spotted at practice today (projected due to cuts): WR Jesse Holley, S Sergio Brown, TE Tyler Urban, DL Marcus Harrison.


If he is correct, then Holley is out and Taylor and Ebert will likely stay at least for now. Also Koutovides isn't in the practice, and I haven't heard him being injured. Rivera, Carpenter, White and Tarpinian are all there.

 

[ATippett56]

Because shianco is injured now obviously he can't get healthy and make an impact down the stretch?

The New England Patriots need wide receivers that threaten the football field outside the numbers. The New England Patriots already have three tight ends on the 53 man roster:

Gronkowski
Hernandez
Fells

I'll take Branch and Gaffney over Shiancoe any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

 

[mgteich]

I think that you have made this point several times.

The New England Patriots need wide receivers that threaten the football field outside the numbers. The New England Patriots already have three tight ends on the 53 man roster:

Gronkowski
Hernandez
Fells

I'll take Branch and Gaffney over Shiancoe any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

 

[Deus Irae]

The New England Patriots need wide receivers that threaten the football field outside the numbers. The New England Patriots already have three tight ends on the 53 man roster:

Gronkowski
Hernandez
Fells

I'll take Branch and Gaffney over Shiancoe any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

I think it's fair to have questions about the WR spot. I don't think using Shiancoe as the focal point is particularly helpful, because we have no idea what's going on with him.

Just my $.02

 

[Deus Irae]

With Brown released, the secondary seems to be taking shape.

 

[ATippett56]

I think that you have made this point several times.

It will be an utter travesty if Visanthe Shiancoe gets a roster spot over Deion Branch.

 

[AzPatsFan]

If BB let the WR spot remain precarious for 3-4 weeks, even if it's because he's holding a spot open, wouldn't that justify cracking out the pitchforks in your eyes?


P.S. Bedard just said that he thinks the quad issue will take another couple of weeks.

Noted. Plus:

Don't forget he needs roster spots for Brian Waters and both roster and CAP space for possibly Andre Carter.

 

[BadMoFo]

With Brown released, the secondary seems to be taking shape.

I would not be surprised to see Sterling Moore cut, and maybe we add one more DB.

 

[Mack Herron]

With Brown released, the secondary seems to be taking shape.

One of the few areas where there is obvious improvement. Not really seeing it yet at OL, WR, RB, DL. Maybe LB.

 

[The Gr8est]

Now seeing Sergio Brown was cut, so it looks to me like the binkie survivability quotient was pretty high.

At least for me, I'm guessing, Ebner, Dennard, and Bolden all survived. In fact it's looking like our whole draft class may have survived, pending Ebert.

Anyone lose any binkies?

 

[Ring 6]

If we could be so lucky........

And it wont be in 2012.