Patriots Trade For Rams WR Greg Salas

[eom]

they're settin' up the welker trade

 

[Triumph]

Does this mean that Ocho isnt coming back?

 

[ATippett56]

First Edelman can do anything .

Punt Returner - Yes; Slot Receiver - Yes; Flanker - Not exactly; Split End - Not Exactly

Second. Did Visanthe run over your dog? Bang your sister? I don't get the level of hate for a decent veteran TE who hasn't played a snap yet.

Three tight ends is sufficient for the New England Patriots needs. Daniel Fells at least participated in one preseason game.

As for Visanthe Shiancoe, you can't make the club from the tub. Visanthe Shiancoe has not EARNED carte blanche with this organization.

And don't give me that as an excuse unless you think we should crap on Brian Waters too.

Brian Waters was on the team last year playing at a Pro-Bowl level. Shiancoe has never ever played a down with the New England Patriots. Apples and Oranges.

 

[The Scrizz]

Let's discuss the 2011 WR stats and the importance of backup WR's..

WR1.....Welker 89%
WR2.....Branch 76%
WR3.....Ocho/Underwood/Price 41%
WR4.....Edelman 13%

ANALYSIS

Even though we had very poor performance from our "backup" #3 WR's, they got on the field a lot.

Even if Welker and Lloyd both average over 82% of the offensive and Edelman continues in his minor role of 13%, there will be lots of reps for the #3 WR position. There will be even more if there are any injuries.

If Branch were here, he would be active and expect to in on a significant number of offensive reps. Salas may or may not be ready, so Hernandez and Edelamn may need to get more reps.

Most importantly, our top receivers are not allowed to be injured. That stragey work last year until Gronkowksi was injured at the end. Belichick has addressed the issue of backups at TE. It is not even clear that the primary roles are covered at WR unless one believes that Salas is ready for 41% of the offensive reps. The only available backup is Edelman.

CONCLUSION
We need an additional backup WR in case of injury to Welker, Lloyd or Salas.

Analysis. Our backups aren't as good as our starters. We are f'ing screwed.

When the the guy who has the best season for a TE IN HISTORY goes down there is not much of a backup plan for that. Sorry.

Take Nicks off of the Giants SB team and they are still rubbing their asses from the butt ******* they would have taken.

Conclusion

Salas is the #5-6 receiving option depending on your level of Edelman hate. They traded for him so they must like him enough not to risk not getting him if he had been waived.

Oh and has been mentioned a billion times. The roster can change a ton between now and the beginning of the season.

 

[The Scrizz]

Punt Returner - Yes; Slot Receiver - Yes; Flanker - Not exactly; Split End - Not Exactly

Three tight ends is sufficient for the New England Patriots needs. Daniel Fells at least participated in one preseason game.

As for Visanthe Shiancoe, you can't make the club from the tub. Visanthe Shiancoe has not EARNED carte blanche with this organization.

Brian Waters was on the team last year playing at a Pro-Bowl level. Shiancoe has never ever played a down with the New England Patriots. Apples and Oranges.

I was being slightly facetious about Edelman. Just slightly.

You believe 3 TE's are sufficient for the NE Patriots needs. You.

The Waters comparison is perfectly apt because Shiancoe has a track record that would seem to indicate he can do what he is expected to do. Be a vet 4th TE. Nobody expects him to be a pro-bowl anything.

Unless he is cut or IR'ed, he has indeed made the club from the tub.

 

[RI Patriots fan]

Here are some fan reactions on the Salas trade from some Rams' fans:


"Ugh, I really liked Salas."


"If it really is a late pick two years from now, I think that's a bad deal for The Rams. I understand that there was an overlap of skill sets with several other guys on the roster but I think he was worth more than that. With a little seasoning & good health, that guy could be Welker's replacement as early as next season. Good character, good hands, jukey & strong enough to get YAC on underneath throws. You don't give that away just because he's superfluous to your needs at a particular moment for a pick that is going to be nothing more than STs depth or some project in all likelihood.
And I hate the idea of Darth Hoodie & McD getting a bargain at the Rams' expense. Poorly done, Mr Snead."



"I bet Salas is gonna be a stud in new england."



"Just my opinion, but this is why New England is New England, and the Rams are, well, the Rams. They pretty much just gave Salas away. I don't like it at all."



"i hate giving the Pats young talent, i always wish ex- Rams the best but i can`t in this case..i just hope he doesn`t end up another Wes Welker"



"And this is exactly why the Patriots will dominate this league for as long as the duo of Brady and Belicheck are there. Finds amazing value in trades like this. Now makes Welker expendable, and replace him with a solid and high upside Salas, who was severely underrated. Its a shame he's no longer here after just one year."



"UGH, not a fan of this move at all. I know Steve Smith can also play in the slot along with Amendola but Salas is young with some upside. Yeah, Salas kind of miscast on the outside but Gibson has shown very little on the outside himself as a Ram and I am not sold on him being a NFL WR at this point.
Think the Pats definitely won this trade and that it wasn't a necessary move to begin with."


Greg Salas traded to the Pats - Page 2

 

[ATippett56]

I was being slightly facetious about Edelman. Just slightly.

You believe 3 TE's are sufficient for the NE Patriots needs. You.

The Waters comparison is perfectly apt because Shiancoe has a track record that would seem to indicate he can do what he is expected to do. Be a vet 4th TE. Nobody expects him to be a pro-bowl anything.

Unless he is cut or IR'ed, he has indeed made the club from the tub.

How about we agree to disagree on the number of tight ends (four versus three) sufficient for the New England Patriots needs?

I prefer an additional wide receiver on the roster to an additional tight end.

 

[Deus Irae]

During the course of a 16 game schedule, you do not anticipate whatsoever injuries at the wide receiver position?

As of right now, they've got adequate backup to Welker. What they don't have is adequate backup to Lloyd or a proven WR3 who could help in a 4 or 5 wide set. BB knows this. I expect he'll fix it. He may not get to it right away, because he may want to bring back someone after week one, or he may want to wait on Gaffney. If that's the case, he'll do a bit of gambling for a week or more.

As I said in another thread, I'll give him a couple of weeks before joining the pitchfork committee, because this is a roster in a state of flux. I recommend that you do the same.

 

[mgteich]

We're talking about players who are on the field for 1/2 of the offensive reps. You can continue to believe that the quality of this player doesn't matter. For comparison, the #3 and #4 WR are on the field as much as Love, a critical component of our DL.

We are not screwed because we have Salas and Edelman are our #3 and #4 receivers, or #3 and #4 receivers. If Josh believes that they are both better receivers than Branch, Gaffney and Stallworth, then it for Josh to make it so.

Our normal game plan in 2011 (with no injuries) called for our #3 and/or #4 receivers to be used almost 50% of the time. That is not really a "backup" position, anymore than nickel bcak is a backup position. The #3 receiver is an important part of the offense.

Analysis. Our backups aren't as good as our starters. We are f'ing screwed.

When the the guy who has the best season for a TE IN HISTORY goes down there is not much of a backup plan for that. Sorry.

Take Nicks off of the Giants SB team and they are still rubbing their asses from the butt ******* they would have taken.

Conclusion

Salas is the #5-6 receiving option depending on your level of Edelman hate. They traded for him so they must like him enough not to risk not getting him if he had been waived.

Oh and has been mentioned a billion times. The roster can change a ton between now and the beginning of the season.

 

[The Gr8est]

So the Rams liked him enough to draft him #112 overall just last year (4th round), and he played well until injured.

This year he was sort of squeezed out, although it appears a lot of Rams fans wanted to keep him, and the Pats get him for a late pick three years in the future.

Josh McDaniel likely endorsed pursuing him as he coached him last year, and Salas is already, at least, somewhat familiar with our system; short learning curve, and apparent ability to understand our system.

Team captain in college; typical Pats-type character.

What's not to like about this?

 

[ATippett56]

As of right now, they've got adequate backup to Welker. What they don't have is adequate backup to Lloyd or a proven WR3 who could help in a 4 or 5 wide set. BB knows this. I expect he'll fix it. He may not get to it right away, because he may want to bring back someone after week one, or he may want to wait on Gaffney. If that's the case, he'll do a bit of gambling for a week or more.

As I said in another thread, I'll give him a couple of weeks before joining the pitchfork committee, because this is a roster in a state of flux. I recommend that you do the same.

If and when Jabar Gaffney returns from injury fully fit, then the New England Patriots should be set at wide receiver, barring any further injuries at the wide receiver position. In the interim during Gaffney's absence, I would prefer to have Deion Branch on the roster.

 

[Deus Irae]

So the rams liked him enough to draft him #112 overall just last year (4th round), and he played well until injured.

This year he was sort of squeezed out, although it appears a lot of Rams fans wanted to keep him, and the Pats get him for a late pick three years in the future.

Josh McDaniel likely endorsed pursuing him as he coached him last year, and Salas is already, at least, somewhat familiar with our system; short learning curve, and apparent ability to understand our system.

What's not to like about this?

His last name is very close to salsa, and misreading it could make people hungry. People who are dislexic are now in danger of packing on even more winter weight.

 

[Deus Irae]

If and when Jabar Gaffney returns from injury fully fit, then the New England Patriots should be set at wide receiver, barring any further injuries at the wide receiver position. In the interim during Gaffney's absence, I would prefer to have Deion Branch on the roster.

I would prefer having Mike Wallace and Calvin Johnson. That's really not the issue here. The issue here is that you should hold off *****ing about the roster until it's no longer in flux. The first game is still more than a week away.

Worry about the QB position. That's likely much more static than the WRs.

 

[ATippett56]

Team captain in college; typical Pats-type character.

What's not to like about this?

Do you realize that Salas spelled backwards is Salas?

 

[RI Patriots fan]

More Rams' fans reaction to the Salas trade that I found:



"I bet that the Pats let Welker walk next year and he takes over for the slot position. Salas is going to be one of the best slot WR's in the NFL, take my word for it."




"It is sad to see us trade a player with such hugh upside. Especially when we have some many 'unprovens' at WR."




"I'm not happy to see his time come to an end, because I thought he flashed some ability last year."




Greg Salas traded to the Pats - Page 3

 

[patfanken]

50% MG? Are you sure about that. I don't think so. It sounds awfully high to me.

I'd guess Branch Welker, Gronk and Hernandez were the 4 receivers on the field at least 70% of the time last season. Our #3 WR was on the field only about 15-20% of the snaps. Think about it. When you have the big 4 on the field the 5th guy is an afterthought to begin with. That's why I don't see the hullabaloo about the whole WR depth thing to begin with. Without injury whoever the 3rd or 4th receiver is doesn't matter in the great scheme of things. They only become important AFTER an injury.

 

[mgteich]

Chad or Underwood were out there 1/3 of the time. Add them all up and you get my 50% number.

Ideally, you are correct. The #3 and #4 receivers should never see the field with Welker, Lloyd, Gronkowski and Hernandez on the team (and finally a TE backup and 3rd TE on the squad). However, we do run some 3 WR sets. In any case, here are the numbers.

==========
2011 Offensive Reps (from Reiss)

WR Wes Welker -- 89.2%
WR Deion Branch -- 76.0%

WR Chad Ochocinco -- 26.3%
WR Julian Edelman -- 13.3%
WR Tiquan Underwood -- 7.2%
WR Matthew Slater -- 3.3%
WR Taylor Price -- 1.3%

50% MG? Are you sure about that. I don't think so. It sounds awfully high to me.

I'd guess Branch Welker, Gronk and Hernandez were the 4 receivers on the field at least 70% of the time last season. Our #3 WR was on the field only about 15-20% of the snaps. Think about it. When you have the big 4 on the field the 5th guy is an afterthought to begin with. That's why I don't see the hullabaloo about the whole WR depth thing to begin with. Without injury whoever the 3rd or 4th receiver is doesn't matter in the great scheme of things. They only become important AFTER an injury.

 

[Deus Irae]

....Ideally, you are correct. The #3 and #4 receivers should never see the field with Welker, Lloyd, Gronkowski and Hernandez on the team (and finally a TE backup and 3rd TE on the squad)...

I don't know where people are getting this idea, but I hope it dies soon. Ideally, the Patriot will have skillful enough players that 5/0/0 is a threat just like 2/3/0, 2/2/1, 3/2/0 etc...

 

[Joker]

I miss Salas...most reasonably priced restaurant in Newport...

 

[mgteich]

We have enough skilled players for the 5-0-0
Welker, Lloyd, Gronkowksi, Hernandez and Woodhead.

I agree that we could used Edelman instead, since he would always be active. But, absent injuries, I prefer not to have our 3rd Wr on the field.

Faulk used to sometimes be a WR when we ran an empty backfield.

I don't know where people are getting this idea, but I hope it dies soon. Ideally, the Patriot will have skillful enough players that 5/0/0 is a threat just like 2/3/0, 2/2/1, 3/2/0 etc...