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In the Starting Line-Up
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Punt Returner - Yes; Slot Receiver - Yes; Flanker - Not exactly; Split End - Not ExactlyFirst Edelman can do anything .
Three tight ends is sufficient for the New England Patriots needs. Daniel Fells at least participated in one preseason game.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.
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.And don't give me that as an excuse unless you think we should crap on Brian Waters too.
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.
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.
How about we agree to disagree on the number of tight ends (four versus three) sufficient for the New England Patriots needs?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.
During the course of a 16 game schedule, you do not anticipate whatsoever injuries at the wide receiver position?
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.
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.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.
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?
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.
Do you realize that Salas spelled backwards is Salas?Team captain in college; typical Pats-type character.
What's not to like about this?
mgteich;3127084 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 said: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.
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.
....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...