Belichick Can't Have Much Faith In The Kids

[mgteich]

When we came into free agency the debate was Edelman, a downfield receiver, or just maybe Edelman PLUS a mid-level downfield receiver.

Well, we have Edelman, Amendola and LeFell all getting their bonuses this week (or in Danny's case his guarantee). OK, competition is good, and we now these three competing with the four kids. So, you would think that we have MORE than enough, especially when we have nine more needs.

Not according to Bill! He has receivers sneaking in. He has Britt in for an interview. He is looking around for more help.

One thought is that the kids maybe nowhere close to being ready for NFL prime time.

Another way of thinking about this is that Dobson is injured and questionable, and the rest are basically developmental receivers who may or may not ever amount to anything.

IMHO, Edelman, Amendola, LeFell and ONE of the kids stepping up would be plenty to have a better passing offense than in 2013, especially with some help from the TE position.

 

[mayoclinic]

Another possibility is simply that the FO/coaching staff views competition and depth as both good, and no one is going to have their job handed to them.

 

[cstjohn17]

Yes, it is so funny. I remember after the 2006 season being chastised for suggesting the WR core was not getting the job done. Same sort of noise this year "Just wait for Harmon and Moe to emerge", "Boyce is going to breakout", etc.

The Emperor has spoken, the time to win is now. I can still see a possibility of Thomkins or Boyce beating out LaFell. The Patriots track record with WRs is not great so kudos to them for identifying a weakness and letting competition decide the outcome.

 

[TonyTucker]

I feel better about Dobson/Boyce/Thompkins than I do about the TE's. How about bringing in some TE's for competition? Or are they content to roll with Gronk for his 6 to 8 games before he gets hurt again, and we're stuck with crap like Hooman/Mulligan and averaging 12 less ppg.

 

[PP2]

Five thoughts:

1) Due Diligence
2) Due Diligence
3) Due Diligence
4) Due Diligence
5) Due diligence

 

[shmessy]

Another possibility is simply that the FO/coaching staff views competition and depth as both good, and no one is going to have their job handed to them.

Exactly.

And a better question for the OP is this: BB so far has signed only one new WR. Take a look at what he has done in the secondary. Do you think he has no faith in Dennard and Ryan?

 

[unoriginal]

I feel better about Dobson/Boyce/Thompkins than I do about the TE's. How about bringing in some TE's for competition? Or are they content to roll with Gronk for his 6 to 8 games before he gets hurt again, and we're stuck with crap like Hooman/Mulligan and averaging 12 less ppg.

Given what they've got at each position (a bunch of vet TEs, three 2nd-year wide receivers) they likely feel a rookie TE would be better from a coaching and roster management standpoint than another young wide receiver.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Cant blame him after all those dropped passes last year

 

[Slagathor]

Dobson lacks a swagger most top receivers have. All the good ones have a little bit of cokciness. In Boyce's case, I think he will be a late bloomer. Game seems to be going to fast for him right now.

 

[shmessy]

I feel better about Dobson/Boyce/Thompkins than I do about the TE's. How about bringing in some TE's for competition? Or are they content to roll with Gronk for his 6 to 8 games before he gets hurt again, and we're stuck with crap like Hooman/Mulligan and averaging 12 less ppg.

Yup.

Always cracks me up when some posters feel that is was the rookie WR's who were the problem and not the $h/tsalad TE position (ex of 5 games of Gronk). Let them develop and CORRECT the TE deficit (largely affected by Hoodlumdez' arrest).

 

[Deus Irae]

a.) LaFaell and/or Edelman got a lovely Christmas gift

b.) Amendola's gone

c.) The team's going to carry at least 6 real WRs this year

d.) One or more of the kids is going to be S.O.L.



You decide

 

[BradyFTW!]

From what we saw last season, Dobson is the only one that I would be comfortable relying on any kind of production from if he was healthy, and he has ongoing foot issues. Thompkins didn't impress, and while I'm still optimistic about Boyce, he hasn't really shown anything on the field yet. And if Thompkins and/or Boyce are good enough to be worth counting on, then they should be able to beat out Kenny Britt anyway.

Considering that, due to injury or lack of track record, none of the three guys is a lock to give you much of anything, I think that Belichick's actions so far make plenty of sense. They're going to either earn their jobs or not have jobs.

 

[deters]

Dobson also had foot surgery recently, which is probably why bill is looking at so many other wr's. If dobson has further issues with his foot, he might never develop into the WR we need and Bill needs to have a backup plan.

 

[patfanken]

Wasn't it just a few seasons ago (IIRC 2011), the Pats brought in about a half dozen vet FA WR's receivers. And by mid season we were calling guys off the street to play the position. It was the year we cut Stallworth in September and had to bring him back later.

Edelman was brought back because of his ST's play and the fact, given he and DA's injury history, BB wanted to ensure he'll get a full season of play out of those 2 guys.

Lafell offers a skill set and size the Pats don't have beyond Dobson. Maybe the Pats felt they needed protection from that broken foot.

I think the only guy really at risk is Thomkins. It seemed he really hit the wall in the last third of the season.....literally. He was never the same after coming down on his hip making a great catch. At 26 and a UDFA contract he might bet most at risk. I don't think so, but a case can be made.

Not counting Slater, the Pats have room for 9 receivers. The only way the Pats keep 6 WR's is if the Pats decide to give LaFell some of the move TE snaps and only keep 3 TE's. If they are committed to playing a lot of 2TE formations this season, then they'll need 4 on the roster leaving on room for 5 WR's

MG. How many WR's and TE's we keep is going to be the longest running topic right up to the announcement of the final 53

 

[BradyFTW!]

I feel better about Dobson/Boyce/Thompkins than I do about the TE's. How about bringing in some TE's for competition? Or are they content to roll with Gronk for his 6 to 8 games before he gets hurt again, and we're stuck with crap like Hooman/Mulligan and averaging 12 less ppg.

Gronk's 6-8 games? In his 4 NFL seasons, he's played 16, 16, 11 and 7 games.

 

[Patsrock]

a.) LaFaell and/or Edelman got a lovely Christmas gift

b.) Amendola's gone

c.) The team's going to carry at least 6 real WRs this year

d.) One or more of the kids is going to be S.O.L.



You decide

D) I don't think Thompkins survives unless someone gets hurt(which is probably likely)

Leaving in no order

Dobson
Boyce
Amendola
Edelman
LaFell

ST
Slater

P.Squad
Harrison

Cut
Thompkins

 

[TonyTucker]

Gronk's 6-8 games? In his 4 NFL seasons, he's played 16, 16, 11 and 7 games.

And he was useless in SB46 and didn't play in the last two AFCCG's. The best bet is that he gets hurt early this season, misses the middle, and is back late for the playoffs. Cause he won't last the whole year.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

And he was useless in SB46 and didn't play in the last two AFCCG's. The best bet is that he gets hurt early this season, misses the middle, and is back late for the playoffs. Cause he won't last the whole year.

Should've waited til Week 12 to bring him back last year. Let him shake the cobwebs off and be ready for the playoffs.

but Nooooooo... Everyone had to make a big deal about why he wasn't playing.

 

[TBR]

Thompkins wouldn't be eligible to be put on the practice squad, right?

Perhaps Bill puts him on IR to keep him here?

 

[Nikolai]

And he was useless in SB46 and didn't play in the last two AFCCG's. The best bet is that he gets hurt early this season, misses the middle, and is back late for the playoffs. Cause he won't last the whole year.

Saving this quote for later use, just in case.