Report: Brandon Lloyd's 'erratic behavior proved tiresome', may lead to release

[FredFromDartmouth]

I don't care about Lloyd's supposed erratic behavior but I do care that he could not get open. Last year when I said that he does not have deep speed or short quickness and cannot get open I as killed here but I as right.

He would be OK as a number 3 WR but sucked as a number 1/2. He is too expensive for a #3.

 

[Deus Irae]

I don't care about Lloyd's supposed erratic behavior but I do care that he could not get open. Last year when I said that he does not have deep speed or short quickness and cannot get open I as killed here but I as right.

He would be OK as a number 3 WR but sucked as a number 1/2. He is too expensive for a #3.

Not only did most of us understand that Lloyd's game was fighting for the ball as opposed to getting separation, but we were talking about that in thread after thread. It was, in fact, a big part of our logic as to why, while he's a middle-deep threat guy, he's more about spreading the field to the middle sidelines than about taking the top off the defense.

 

[letekro]

You are kinda disproving your own point with some of these examples.

2012 - Ravens won with average skill players at receiver. Not a star in the bunch. Boldin played over his head in the playoffs. Not one of the receivers were in the top 20 in yards or receptions last year and only Smith was in the top 20 in TDs (tied with 8 other receivers for 15th).

Again. You are confusing stats with quality. Brandon Lloyd had more yards last year than Torrey Smith, but Torrey Smith puts the fear of God into defenses. I would say he would command roughly twice the salary of Lloyd (if not more) on the open market. The Patriots had to devote two players (ARrington plus safety help) to take Smith away (leaving one less player to handle Pitta and Boldin over the middle) while Baltimore only had to devote one player to take Lloyd away, allowing an additional player to take away the Pats bread butter--short stuff over the middle.

There is no question that, without Gronk, the Ravens had a better group of skill position players than the Pats.

Also, why do you discount Boldin's performances in the playoffs? Shouldn't he get MORE credit for upping his game in the playoffs, rather than less? It sure seems like the Pats skill players did not have another gear to go to in the playoffs.

 

[BradyBranch39]

Again. You are confusing stats with quality. Brandon Lloyd had more yards last year than Torrey Smith, but Torrey Smith puts the fear of God into defenses.

Smith was, however, playing in an inept Cam Cameron offense for 13 games—and has Boldin on the other side of him.

 

[YearbookCurfew]

Well, BB knows what is best. If it's time to cut him, it's time to cut him.

 

[tonyto3690]

As far as I'm concerned Lloyd is as good as gone.

None of this gets out if Belichick hadn't already decided to get rid of him.

 

[Rob0729]

Again. You are confusing stats with quality. Brandon Lloyd had more yards last year than Torrey Smith, but Torrey Smith puts the fear of God into defenses. I would say he would command roughly twice the salary of Lloyd (if not more) on the open market. The Patriots had to devote two players (ARrington plus safety help) to take Smith away (leaving one less player to handle Pitta and Boldin over the middle) while Baltimore only had to devote one player to take Lloyd away, allowing an additional player to take away the Pats bread butter--short stuff over the middle.

There is no question that, without Gronk, the Ravens had a better group of skill position players than the Pats.

Also, why do you discount Boldin's performances in the playoffs? Shouldn't he get MORE credit for upping his game in the playoffs, rather than less? It sure seems like the Pats skill players did not have another gear to go to in the playoffs.

Smith puts the fear of God in defenses?!? A guy who never had a 900 yard season puts the fear of God in defenses? A guy who had over 80 yards in a game only four times this season puts the fear of God in defenses?

Defenses know you get physical with Smith and he can be neutralized. Also, he only performs well against bad defenses/secondaries for the most part.

Thanks for the laugh. Smith doesn't scare opposing defense. They may have to account for him, but they know he is streaky and soft.

 

[Rob0729]

Smith was, however, playing in an inept Cam Cameron offense for 13 games—and has Boldin on the other side of him.

And even when the offense kicked into gear after Cameron, Smith was a non-factor except for two plays vs. the Broncos.

Smith is still an one dimensional receiver who can only run go routes for the most part and can be neutralized if he is manhandled.

 

[letekro]

Smith puts the fear of God in defenses?!? A guy who never had a 900 yard season puts the fear of God in defenses? A guy who had over 80 yards in a game only four times this season puts the fear of God in defenses?

Defenses know you get physical with Smith and he can be neutralized. Also, he only performs well against bad defenses/secondaries for the most part.

Thanks for the laugh. Smith doesn't scare opposing defense. They may have to account for him, but they know he is streaky and soft.

"get physical with Smith"--what does this mean, since he mostly runs deep patterns and you can't touch a receiver after 5 yards??? Also, if you miss a jam on him, it is good night. So, this strategy seems dubious, unless you are also rolling a safety towards him, which proves my point that he is dangerous and as you acknowledge, must be accounted for.

Here is an excerpt from a Clark Judge article about the AFCCG that explains why Smith was quiet in that game after burning the Pats twice previously:

"A coach I trust told me the Patriots will be wise to Smith this time, trying to smother him with double coverage, which could make guys like Anquan Boldin and tight end Dennis Pitta more attractive as short or intermediate options."

So, for whatever reason, you are discounting Smith's ability to dictate defenses--which has immense value beyond stats.

Your argument that the Ravens skill players are average is patently absurd. Their defense was certainly average, at best. Their QB's best play was throwing it up for grabs and having the skill players go get it. I remind you that this team won the Super Bowl. If they did it without a very good defense or QB, I suggest to you that it had a lot to do with their skill players.

 

[Rob0729]

"get physical with Smith"--what does this mean, since he mostly runs deep patterns and you can't touch a receiver after 5 yards??? Also, if you miss a jam on him, it is good night. So, this strategy seems dubious, unless you are also rolling a safety towards him, which proves my point that he is dangerous and as you acknowledge, must be accounted for.

Here is an excerpt from a Clark Judge article about the AFCCG that explains why Smith was quiet in that game after burning the Pats twice previously:

"A coach I trust told me the Patriots will be wise to Smith this time, trying to smother him with double coverage, which could make guys like Anquan Boldin and tight end Dennis Pitta more attractive as short or intermediate options."

So, for whatever reason, you are discounting Smith's ability to dictate defenses--which has immense value beyond stats.

Your argument that the Ravens skill players are average is patently absurd. Their defense was certainly average, at best. Their QB's best play was throwing it up for grabs and having the skill players go get it. I remind you that this team won the Super Bowl. If they did it without a very good defense or QB, I suggest to you that it had a lot to do with their skill players.

First, one coach doesn't mean much especially a game after Smith burnt the Broncos for two long TDs. You can find a coach who will say much of what you want to write about if you are a columnist.

Second, stats say something about WRs. I don't get why you totally discount them. The guy had eight games this season where he had two catches or less. That is not dictating the defense.

Third, Ray Rice dictates what defenses do against the Ravens. Up until the playoffs, the way you stopped the Ravens offense was to shutdown Rice and force Flacco to air it out.

Fourth, the way you get physical with Smith is press coverage where you bump him off the line of scrimmage and knock him off his route. Dennard actually did a pretty good job of that in the AFCCG. He beat Smith quite a bit in single coverage. Smith did most of his damage (which wasn't much) in zone.

Smith has a lot of physical skills, but he has been a disappointment so far. He can be elite one game and invisible the next three. When he is on, he is elite. But he is rarely on.

 

[borg]

Not sure if this was linked yet
Patriots expected to part ways with "Weiirrrdddd" Brandon Lloyd | nePatriotsLife.com - New England Patriots Fan Site, Blog, T-shirts

 

[DocHoliday]

http://m.jsonline.com/sports/packer...ule-on-jennings-finley-hu8td2q-192944071.html

Hmm, Jennings at 8 mill. Take Rodgers or Hunter in the draft. Boom. WR set for at least a few years

 

[Sciz]

Use of franchise tag on Greg Jennings possible for Packers - m.JSOnline.com

Hmm, Jennings at 8 mill. Take Rodgers or Hunter in the draft. Boom. WR set for at least a few years

The price is a lot better than the $14M he was looking for, but he's still a receiver that is turning 30 early next season and has had injury problems each of the past two seasons. For two seasons at $8M, sure. He'll want more than that, though.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

8 mill for 2 years ok...but like said above...he will want more than that...so it looks like we are stuck with a mid range FA at the #1 spot this year or a trade out of left field..harvin ect

 

[voluntarysaftey]

Just thought of a trade
Lloyd and a 3rd rounder for Revis.

Lloyd's weirdness would fit right in with the Jets; and they get a good value on a multi year deal. And Sanchez's 'throw it up' style fits in with Lloyd's skillset

 

[neuronet]

Will Donte Stallworth be healthy? I like him when he's healthy. I guess he's about 33 years old, so maybe...no?

 

[PatsFanStnfrd]

Really, some here have a disdain for the known and love of the unknown. You don't cut Lloyd unless you have someone you believe is better at the role. BB paid a fortune for Ochocinco in multiple draft picks and dollars. (still paying) Lloyd is available at a reasonable price. He more than adequately succeeded where Ocho and a raft of others failed.

One area (one of the very few) where BB and his coaching staff have failed is their development of young WRs from the draft. I would not cut Lloyd. He knows the scheme, has a year under his belt, behaved himself publicly and deserves a 2nd year.

 

[kennyb]

Just thought of a trade
Lloyd and a 3rd rounder for Revis.

Lloyd's weirdness would fit right in with the Jets; and they get a good value on a multi year deal. And Sanchez's 'throw it up' style fits in with Lloyd's skillset

Lloyd would be cut no trade value. Jets aren't trading revised for a third.

 

[PP2]

Really, some here have a disdain for the known and love of the unknown. You don't cut Lloyd unless you have someone you believe is better at the role. BB paid a fortune for Ochocinco in multiple draft picks and dollars. (still paying) Lloyd is available at a reasonable price. He more than adequately succeeded where Ocho and a raft of others failed.

One area (one of the very few) where BB and his coaching staff have failed is their development of young WRs from the draft. I would not cut Lloyd. He knows the scheme, has a year under his belt, behaved himself publicly and deserves a 2nd year.

I'm inclined to agree with this. The Pats haven't cut him yet, so I would be inclined to believe that all this hubbub is just a warning shot they fired across Lloyd's bow.

 

[Sciz]

I'm inclined to agree with this. The Pats haven't cut him yet, so I would be inclined to believe that all this hubbub is just a warning shot they fired across Lloyd's bow.

From what I understand, there's not really an action of cutting him that they have to take. They just have to let the 16th pass without paying him his bonus. It's a weird situation where doing nothing would actually be letting him go.