Available Recievers?

[Ring 6]

Got highlights of the game on TV now, I don't get the explanation of the incomplete pass on the Thompkins would-be TD.

How does hands sliding down the ball = losing control? His hands never left the ball so it's a clean catch, surely?

If you have control and the ball hits the ground it doesnt move and its a catch

 

[Ian]

Part of the problem is a big chunk of that 10-12 was in preseason game 1 with defensive backups playing, and what we have seen since has not been good by any measure.
Hopefully its a work in progress, but I worry its a lack of talent.
On the other hand, I was very encouraged by Dobson. He was open all night. There was never a real worry about his hands, so I expect that will be corrected, and its nerves, speed of game adjustment, etc that affected him last night.

I'm with you on your other point that with the other guys out there I think they'll both be better off. In some cases they're matched up against guys that normally wouldn't cover them. They're also getting open and it's been a game of inches in some cases (not getting a foot down, running too deep in the back of the endzone, etc) so we'll see how it plays out.

 

[Ian]

If you have control and the ball hits the ground it doesnt move and its a catch

Exactly. If Thompkins gets his hands a little more under the ball, they give it to him.

 

[Deus Irae]

Thompkins may, or may not, be able to translate his exhibition season to the real games. Dobson is not ready. Boyce is not ready.

BB knows this, yet this is how he's decided to roll. All we can do is hope that the rookies grow up fast and develop the ability to be NFL level threats.


And God help us if Edelman goes down with Amendola and Gronk already on the shelf.

 

[Kid~Brady]

I think this is 2006 again. Brady restructures deal. Pats let his favorite receiver go. Receiver corps is unacceptably thin. Very little on the free agent market. I hope next year is a repeat of 2007. LOL

Minus the helmet catch.

 

[Ian]

Thompkins may, or may not, be able to translate his exhibition season to the real games. Dobson is not ready. Boyce is not ready.

BB knows this, yet this is how he's decided to roll. All we can do is hope that the rookies grow up fast and develop the ability to be NFL level threats.


And God help us if Edelman goes down with Amendola and Gronk already on the shelf.

Yeah - I agree - THAT would definitely be a problem :bricks:

 

[TriplecHamp]

Honestly Im starting to wonder how complex this offense really is. If our receivers don't understand where to be or when to look for the ball after full camp+extra time working with Brady after practice, I don't think any other receiver will be able to waltz in week 3 and execute. Our guys have potential but I just don't get how they aren't on the same page after 2 months of work. This offense must be rocket science.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Why bring in some JAG who will stunt the development of the rookies? Pats could go 8-6 or 7-7 the rest of the way and still win the division, take the rough and the smooth with the rookies, let them get comfortable in the offense and playing in the NFL - it will help the team more in the long run.

How do you know that JAG might develop into a good player and also that the rookies might not ever turn into much?

 

[Real World]

Good thing the team is $10 million under the cap. It's not like they needed anything.

While it's totally conceivable that the young, inexperienced rookie receivers will improve as the season rolls along, what makes people so confident that Edleman, Amendola, and Gronk will be healthy when, or better yet if, that happens? All 3 have a very bad history of getting hurt. I don't want to whiz on the parade of optimism in here, but the Patriots absolutely have to get a competent veteran of some kind in here. They should have signed someone like that in the offseason. Depending on rookies, and fragile slot receivers, when you're #1 weapon has had 5 surgeries in recent years, was foolish imo. Especially when you have the cap space to have done something. Here's hoping the skill guys can stay healthy when it matters.

 

[chumpchange]

Good thing the team is $10 million under the cap. It's not like they needed anything.

While it's totally conceivable that the young, inexperienced rookie receivers will improve as the season rolls along, what makes people so confident that Edleman, Amendola, and Gronk will be healthy when, or better yet if, that happens? All 3 have a very bad history of getting hurt. I don't want to whiz on the parade of optimism in here, but the Patriots absolutely have to get a competent veteran of some kind in here. They should have signed someone like that in the offseason. Depending on rookies, and fragile slot receivers, when you're #1 weapon has had 5 surgeries in recent years, was foolish imo. Especially when you have the cap space to have done something. Here's hoping the skill guys can stay healthy when it matters.

I think continuing to be so successful as we have been lessens the urgency to bring in vet receivers for Brady.

 

[yukon cornelius]

It's quite simple, really

the kids are thinking.....thinking in sport is generally bad, they key is to garner enough practice/repetition to get to a point where you don't have to think, you just do


they'll get there - dobson was open all night, thompkins is still showing flashes of being very good......they'll be fine, especially when the best TE in the game and amendola get back into the mix



on a side note, it seems officials are leveling the playing field a little.....DB's have gotten away with much more contact this year in the 6-7 games I've watched so far.....I like the de-Polian-ization effort on DB/WR play, but that is just another thing the kids are having to get used to.....Thompkins especially is really getting the rookie treatment from the officials.....he can't seem to buy a call, he's gotten mugged 2 weeks in a row now



you've gotta look at the NFL in 4-game segments; you're only as good as your last 4 games......we're trying to judge these kids on 2 total games of NFL experience......they are going to be fine, it just won't be a smooth ride all the time......hopefully it won't be a real long one


2-0 in the division......I really, really am starting to like our two outside CB's along with Arrington in the slot....I even liked what I saw of Harmon last night when Gregory was out

the glass is very much half full, folks

 

[Ring 6]

Yeah - I agree - THAT would definitely be a problem :bricks:

I don't know. I now edelman caught a lot of passes but they didnt add up to much that helped make the offense effective.
A 3 yard pass on 2nd and 10 with a 90% completion rate is worse IMO than a 15 yard pass with a 20% completion rate.
That was the problem with the game plan IMO. McDaniels wanted to rely on Edelman because of his experience, but the result was running plays that were not effective even if they succeeded.
Would have been better of running the ball 45 times and chucking it deep 20.
I think we would have been better without Edelman yesterday because we would have been forced out of the comfort zone of running plays that failed when they succeeded.

 

[JMC00]

People still need to remember these rookies didn't have a lot of snaps with Brady in the preseason games, which might be alright for a veteran but rookies in this offense it is some what significant.

1st game- 16 snaps. But really Brady only played 1 series against the Eagles. That first series was all running.
2nd game- 23 snaps/2 series and it was the Brady/Amendola show
3rd game- Played the first half
4th game- Brady didn't play at all.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I don't know. I now edelman caught a lot of passes but they didnt add up to much that helped make the offense effective.
A 3 yard pass on 2nd and 10 with a 90% completion rate is worse IMO than a 15 yard pass with a 20% completion rate.
That was the problem with the game plan IMO. McDaniels wanted to rely on Edelman because of his experience, but the result was running plays that were not effective even if they succeeded.
Would have been better of running the ball 45 times and chucking it deep 20.
I think we would have been better without Edelman yesterday because we would have been forced out of the comfort zone of running plays that failed when they succeeded.

Disagree. Jets loaded up against the run. They could because they didn't need safety help deep. Run game was futile. Maybe poor execution by the OL as well, but I can't tell.

Jets needed to hit Edes at the LOS and they would have won.

 

[stinebot]

If the rookies are not enough in sync with Brady to do well after an entire off season and two games, what makes you think someone off the street will just come in with zero knowledge of the offense and do better?

 

[yukon cornelius]

I don't know. I now edelman caught a lot of passes but they didnt add up to much that helped make the offense effective.
A 3 yard pass on 2nd and 10 with a 90% completion rate is worse IMO than a 15 yard pass with a 20% completion rate.
That was the problem with the game plan IMO. McDaniels wanted to rely on Edelman because of his experience, but the result was running plays that were not effective even if they succeeded.
Would have been better of running the ball 45 times and chucking it deep 20.
I think we would have been better without Edelman yesterday because we would have been forced out of the comfort zone of running plays that failed when they succeeded.

kind of hard to argue with an offensive gameplan that won on a night with realistically no TE's in the passing game, one "experienced" slot receiver and 2 rookie WR's, one of whom was making his NFL debut, against what will prove to be one of the better fronts against the run in the NFL, which more or less shut down the run....


the pats had to pass to win......in lousy 2nd half weather conditions....with 2 rookie receivers and julian freaking edleman.....with no pass catching TE.....and with no run game.......and they won

and people want to complain about the offensive game plan?


we are a spoiled lot, aren't we?

 

[yukon cornelius]

Disagree. Jets loaded up against the run. They could because they didn't need safety help deep. Run game was futile. Maybe poor execution by the OL as well, but I can't tell.

Jets needed to hit Edes at the LOS and they would have won.

when things shake out this season, that Jet front is going to be viewed as one of the best in the league against the run

OL has been a bit of a letdown for me against the run so far, but that jet run D is way solid

 

[Observer]

We don't need new wide receivers, that ship has sailed. We do need the Brady-WR combo that we do have to actually perform.

 

[yukon cornelius]

Brady needs to take some ownership, too


his performance last night was also sub-par - he missed more than a few throws, and his temper tantrums were Manning-esque


not sure the ranting and pouting is necessarily the best form of leadership these young guys need

true greatness is measured in the ability to elevate those around you......granted there's the whole silk purse/sow's ear theory, but brady needs to take the reins and help get them up to speed as well

 

[Fixit]

kind of hard to argue with an offensive gameplan that won on a night with realistically no TE's in the passing game, one "experienced" slot receiver and 2 rookie WR's, one of whom was making his NFL debut, against what will prove to be one of the better fronts against the run in the NFL, which more or less shut down the run....


the pats had to pass to win......in lousy 2nd half weather conditions....with 2 rookie receivers and julian freaking edleman.....with no pass catching TE.....and with no run game.......and they won

and people want to complain about the offensive game plan?


we are a spoiled lot, aren't we?

I thought a few calls were questionable, but the overall gameplan was pretty solid.

Except for that pitch to Ridley on 2nd down late in the fourth. WTF was that?