Another thread lamenting the offensive player selections. Too bad that fool Kraft extended the GM's contract.
This thread is NOT lamenting our offensive player selections. We all have done plenty of that (and reasonably so).
This thread simply looks at 3 of our top 2012 contributors and asks whether we can reasonably replace the 2012 production (not required to win, but definitely a plus). In general, I view this as a POSITIVE thread indicating that we are in a position to have as good an offense as last year for the playoff run. Of course, injuries could affect this.
I agree the WOODHEAD will be replaced by Vereen when he gets back. We have also have Washington, who must still be injured, but is the backup for Vereen in this role. I suspect that Woodhead will be greatly missed, but Belichick did all he could do to replace Woodhead.
I don't agree with the throw the excrement against the wall approach to matching the production of LLOYD. All through the offseason, the reasonable idea was that we would have a veteran who would be our #2 or #3 receiver or even #4 receiver. There was a HOPE that Dobson would be the #2. Later in the preseason, we somewhat even more reasonably came to expect that one of the youngsters would step up to be the #2 or #3. What happened? Sanders could have been offered a couple of million more to be a one year bridge for the kids. Belichick didn't do this, presumably because he thought more of Jones, Jenkins and Hawkins. In the end, with 2 roster spots open (and now with one dedicated to a backup special teamer), Belichick chose to go with no veteran backup. We have Edelman to replace Branch's and his 2012 role. HOWEVER, it seem that we should have a backup on the 53 in case Edelman is injured or there is not enough production from 2 of the kids.
And yes, I expected Gronk and a second TE to be able to produce what the TE's did in 2012.
Just 3 weeks ago, folks were suggesting (delusional though they be) which TE we should trade away. After all, we had too many backups in Fells, Hooman, Ballard and Sudfeld. Now, Belichick is happy to find Mulligan available as a fill in, and Solder is our #3 TE. So, some of these difficult receptions will be made by Edelman, partnering with Amendola in place of Welker and Hernandez. This is not OK, but it is a reasonable replacement for what Hernandez did in 2012. We had a missed opportunity to see Gronk and Hernandez both healthy and productive. However, this is not necessary to improve over the 2012 offense.
BOTTOM LINE
We have had many threads focusing on the kids. However, it is well to note that we should be reasonably fine in replacing the 2012 production of Hernandez and Woodhead (and also of Edelman/Branch. Our dink and dunk will be fine when Amendola, Edelman and Gronkowski are on the field together. Even then, we need a 3rd WR from among the kids (or an added vet). That is an OK expectation (noting that we haven't been able to do this since 2002).
And what happens when one of big three is not available?
It seems to me that we can be fine with health and production from one of the kids. For me, it would be prudent to have a veteran receiver and a 4th TE on the roster (if not Mulligan, then someone else). The good news is that we can do this in one easy phone call to a vet TBD. The roster spot can be easily found.
So, we might start 4-4 and still be in fine shape. We also could start 6-2. Splitting the next 6 games is fine with me (5-3 for the first half).
