Julian Edelman?

[mgteich]

This is true.

Let's consider some context.

Many of us were uneasy with depending on so many players with injury histories: Gronk, Hernandez, Talib, Amendola, Edelman, Fells and Vereen.

Edelman has been the exception, the healthy one who played for us this year.

Just for the record for those who used to say he was glass made he played every game so far

 

[Jackson 2]

Okay, fair enough. Maybe "regressed" is a poor choice of words, but either way you look at it he has come back down to earth, which is the point of the thread.

It would appear that the coaching staff agrees with me based on his more limited reps and opportunities lately. There is another thread about this regarding our current depth chart, and Edelman would appear to be trending in the wrong direction for one reason or another. Mgteich actually assumes that Edelman may be taken out of the scheme altogether as Collie and Amendola receive more reps. Collie has been seeing increased reps as he learns the offense/becomes more comfortable with it, and Amendola's reps will only be increasing as he returns to full health.

We'll have to see how it turns out, and I'm sure he'll still make some plays here and there, but he's nowhere near where he was in importance or talent as he was when Amendola and Collie were not playing.

How important are his punt return skills?

 

[supafly]

How important are his punt return skills?

Once again---everyone knows that he's a great punt returner, but the thread was started by the OP to speak of his production in the passing game, along with his downturn in the past few games, so that is what we're discussing.

This isn't about him and the special teams. It's about him and the offense.

 

[Dexter]

Gonna put it here since I can't open threads yet, but Edelman is awesome!

I am WR/PR Julian Edelman - AMA! : nfl

 

[cstjohn17]

Once again---everyone knows that he's a great punt returner, but the thread was started by the OP to speak of his production in the passing game, along with his downturn in the past few games, so that is what we're discussing.

This isn't about him and the special teams. It's about him and the offense.

I would still ike to see him used more in the slot, he may not have the dynamic deep skills of Danny A. but has proven to be reliable. It could well be that the Patriots are managing his snaps to preserve him for the entire season.

I love his punt return game, even when he doesn't take one to the house he is constantly changing field position. A 10-12 yard return is absolutely huge.

 

[Jackson 2]

Once again---everyone knows that he's a great punt returner, but the thread was started by the OP to speak of his production in the passing game, along with his downturn in the past few games, so that is what we're discussing.

This isn't about him and the special teams. It's about him and the offense.

I would dispute your assertion that, "everyone knows that he's a great punt returner." However, since you've declared that discussion off-limits here, I guess we'll have to save that for another time and another thread.

 

[Kontradiction]

For one, Amendola is better. For another, Dobson has been continuing his ascension through our offense and is understanding the playbook and route trees better and better every week. That would explain why Edelman has been seeing less time in the offense. The best passing attack that we can put out there on a weekly basis is: Amendola, Dobson, Gronk, RB (whether that's Ridley, Bolden, or Vereen when he returns).

 

[ALP]

For one, Amendola is better. For another, Dobson has been continuing his ascension through our offense and is understanding the playbook and route trees better and better every week. That would explain why Edelman has been seeing less time in the offense. The best passing attack that we can put out there on a weekly basis is: Amendola, Dobson, Gronk, RB (whether that's Ridley, Bolden, or Vereen when he returns).

You're missing the 5th offensive skill player...ur stated offense here would only have 10 men...

 

[letekro]

Huge luxury having such a good player to back up Amendola.

 

[Kontradiction]

You're missing the 5th offensive skill player...ur stated offense here would only have 10 men...

Should have made it known I would have included either the Hooman or Develin. This style offense wouldn't key the defense off about the play call being a pass or a run. If we go four wide with a RB, Edelman would be included.

 

[Brady6]

I have been very surprised to see him phased out of the passing game. He showed a lot in the first couple of games. Especially with Gronk back I thought he could assume the role of a Wes Welker wanna be. Line him up in the slot and the Pats have two reliable targets on the inside (Edelman and Gronk) then a rotation is setup outside with Dobson, Thomkins and Amendola. Pair this with Ridley and the skill positions look pretty decent.

What have others seen? Any thoughts on why Edelman is not more involved? I don't want him to get 20 targets a game but he can make an impact with 4-7 touches per game.

I don’t think it as much him being phased out as it is him not playing as well. In the first 4 games of the season Edelman was targeted 43 times for 34 receptions which equated to a 79% catch rate, in the last 5 games he was targeted 24 times for 13 receptions equating to a 54% catch rate. His snap count start started being reduced after the 2/7 and 5/11 showings against Cincinnati and New Orleans.

My belief is that he is banged up and it is affecting his play but he is soldering up and playing through it. If he looks more like the player he was in the first 4 weeks after the bye that will be proven as the case.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Julian needs to hold onto the slant pass when he's wide open.
Then again, I'd be throwing my hands over my face seeing the onrushing MLB approach.

 

[supafly]

I would dispute your assertion that, "everyone knows that he's a great punt returner."

Well, you'd be wrong with your dispute. Terribly, terribly wrong.

Normally when you're the active leader in NFL history for highest average on punt returns, most people realize that you're a great punt returner. On top of that, he's brought at least one punt return to the house for a TD in each of his last 3 seasons. His importance is more than obvious in this aspect.

Julian Edelman Now Holds NFL Record For Punt Return Average (13 yards) | Yardbarker.com

However, since you've declared that discussion off-limits here, I guess we'll have to save that for another time and another thread.

Now you're just being a smartass.

The purpose of the thread and the intent of the OP was the talk about Julian Edelman's production, downturn, etc as an offensive player/wide receiver. It had nothing to do with his punt returning skills, which are obvious and not up for debate from anyone whatsoever.

I wasn't "declaring anything off-limits," I was simply telling you what the intent of the thread and the discussion were about, nothing more. No one in their right mind would dispute his obvious importance as a punt returner. It's about his progression (or lack thereof) as an actual receiver, and the question was "why" he was seeing less reps and having less production than in the first month.

 

[Jackson 2]

Well, you'd be wrong with your dispute. Terribly, terribly wrong.

Normally when you're the active leader in NFL history for highest average on punt returns, most people realize that you're a great punt returner. On top of that, he's brought at least one punt return to the house for a TD in each of his last 3 seasons. His importance is more than obvious in this aspect.

Julian Edelman Now Holds NFL Record For Punt Return Average (13 yards) | Yardbarker.com



Now you're just being a smartass.

The purpose of the thread and the intent of the OP was the talk about Julian Edelman's production, downturn, etc as an offensive player/wide receiver. It had nothing to do with his punt returning skills, which are obvious and not up for debate from anyone whatsoever.

I wasn't "declaring anything off-limits," I was simply telling you what the intent of the thread and the discussion were about, nothing more. No one in their right mind would dispute his obvious importance as a punt returner. It's about his progression (or lack thereof) as an actual receiver, and the question was "why" he was seeing less reps and having less production than in the first month.

Smartass? Be careful. You'll be sanctioned for "name-calling." I've heard it's automatic.

 

[supafly]

Smartass? Be careful. You'll be sanctioned for "name-calling." I've heard it's automatic.

You don't have to worry too often about me crossing any lines, that's not really my thing. "Smartass" wasn't crossing any lines in my opinion, but apologies if it came across that way.

In the original post I would trying to be more factual than sarcastic, and it appears that you took it the wrong way. I was just stating that the posters in the thread weren't referring to Edelman's special teams play which is great, they were referring to positives/negatives with the receiving game--nothing more.

 

[RayClay]

Smartass? Be careful. You'll be sanctioned for "name-calling." I've heard it's automatic.

Don't be a bad sport. You made a crack without checking. I don't know how you can't call the best active punt returner a great punt returner.

 

[RayClay]

Smartass? Be careful. You'll be sanctioned for "name-calling." I've heard it's automatic.

If everyone was banned for something as tame as smartass, you'd be posting to your echo. Don't be so thin skinned.

 

[supafly]

At any rate, my opinion is that Edelman has progressed significantly in his receiving role; although his ceiling may not be much higher, but that is yet to be determined. It seems that he still is somewhat raw in his route running, and hasn't developed enough chemistry with Brady to be viewed as anything more than a WR3--which is fine; actually more than fine. He fills a role and does it well enough to justify his value at the receiving position.

Belichick views special teams play as a very important aspect in building his football teams, and in this case he is great at what he does. We saw the importance just a few days ago in the PIT game when Edelman swung the momentum back in our favor and the offense had great field position that they quickly parlayed into points.

I think that it's a no-brainer that Edelman should be retained in the offseason, especially since he can actually contribute to the offense, unlike Slater or most of the other "ST-only" players. The questions will be whether or not Belichick throws out a reasonable enough offer to Edelman's liking, and if any other teams decide they want to throw out more money to steal him away.

In the meantime, he probably could do better as a primary slot guy in the role of Welker (without Welker's talent or toughness), but it seems like the team wishes him to polish his outside receiving game more. My fear is that there are some limitations to his outside game, but he's still good enough to justify keeping him for his ST play and as a WR3. If he could improve on the receiving end a bit, we'd be in excellent position for sure with a much better WR3 than we've had in recent years. Hell, he's already a better WR3 than we've had in recent years. He is providing a good mixture of short and outside work, and he is finally staying healthy.

 

[Jackson 2]

You don't have to worry too often about me crossing any lines, that's not really my thing. "Smartass" wasn't crossing any lines in my opinion, but apologies if it came across that way.

In the original post I would trying to be more factual than sarcastic, and it appears that you took it the wrong way. I was just stating that the posters in the thread weren't referring to Edelman's special teams play which is great, they were referring to positives/negatives with the receiving game--nothing more.

Not a problem. For what it's worth, I'm certainly not one of those who might question Edelman's excellence as a punt returner. My point was that some people feel so negatively about him that they're reluctant to even acknowledge that excellence. My sense is that Edelman's recent lack of targets/receptions is due largely to the return of Gronk and Amendola, plus the emergence of Dobson.

 

[RayClay]

Not a problem. For what it's worth, I'm certainly not one of those who might question Edelman's excellence as a punt returner. My point was that some people feel so negatively about him that they're reluctant to even acknowledge that excellence. My sense is that Edelman's recent lack of targets/receptions is due largely to the return of Gronk and Amendola, plus the emergence of Dobson.

If I misunderstood your remark, I apologize. He's a great punt returner and a good utility player besides. Other receivers probably have more potential (IMO)and having him in reserve instead of on the injury list has benefits too.