Belichick Can't Have Much Faith In The Kids

[hwc]

Side note on Dobson- Not many WRs in the NFL have his deep speed, he is a total burner. I don't really care about his foot injury, let him work on his upper body.

We'll all care if he pulls up lame on his first go route next year. Let's hope it heals well this time.

 

[strngplyr]

We'll all care if he pulls up lame on his first go route next year. Let's hope it heals well this time.

He's got just under 6 months until the season starts and a 2-3 month timetable for recovery. He should be just fine. I'm more worried about making sure he stays mentally in shape right now. The kids need to grow up quick, we need a big year 2 jump, not waiting til 3.

 

[Deus Irae]

Yeah. I don't think there's any doubt that Amendola, Edelman, and LaFell are proven starting caliber NFL receivers.

Actually, I'd put Dobson in that category, too, based on his rookie production. The question mark there is how he will recover from foot surgery and what kind of gains he sees in year 2.

Your definition of 'proven' is very generous.

 

[RIpats88]

The pats were in desperate need of some size in the receiving corp and I'm glad bill sees that with adding Lafell, and drafting Dobson last year and looking at guys like Britt. cant be throwing fade routes at Edelman/Amendola in the end-zone

personally I have high expectations for Dobson next year. we can point to his last six games when he was injured. but there was a point in the middle of the season where he became brady's go to guy and was finally getting on the same page hopefully he can get healthy and build on that in TC

if anyone is in danger of being cut, I see it being Thompkins..

 

[supafly]

Wondering if Britt's "blessed" comment on twitter has more to do with the fact that he has had 5-6+ teams interested in him, with many visits and opportunities, as opposed to anything specific about the NEP?

It's probably reasonable to assume that at one point in the reasonably near past, that wasn't such a definite thing for him or his agent.

On to Buffalo for a visit now tomorrow.

 

[DaBruinz]

As far as Lafell goes,his situation was completely different. And his numbers were still better. Not saying Lafell is gonna save this Corps but he is the better player and it isn't close.

Could you show everyone how LaFell's numbers were "still better" than Thompkins? And what is your criteria in saying that LaFell is a better player than Thompkins and it isn't even close?

Thompkins: 32 receptions, 466 yards- 4 TDs: 2.67 catches per game, 14.5625 Yards per catch, 1 TD every 3 games. 7 drops on 70 targets.

LaFell: 49 receptions, 629 yards, 5 TDs: 3.0625 catches per game, 12.84 Yards per catch, 1TD every 3.33 games. 6 drops on 85 targets.

 

[West Philly Patriot]

Could you show everyone how LaFell's numbers were "still better" than Thompkins? And what is your criteria in saying that LaFell is a better player than Thompkins and it isn't even close?



Thompkins: 32 receptions, 466 yards- 4 TDs: 2.67 catches per game, 14.5625 Yards per catch, 1 TD every 3 games. 7 drops on 70 targets.



LaFell: 49 receptions, 629 yards, 5 TDs: 3.0625 catches per game, 12.84 Yards per catch, 1TD every 3.33 games. 6 drops on 85 targets.

Maybe I was a little harsh on KT with the not even close comment but still...

BL's numbers are better on a significantly less productive, lower volume passing offense. There were games when the panthers passed it 23 times. More receptions, more yards, more TD's, more targets. That same top 5 passing offense that Thompkins was a 1st and 2nd option on for weeks didn't yield anything but a pedestrian output statistically. The fact that KT had lower targets considering the amount of passes being thrown and the other options at our disposal for the majority of the year isn't a good sign.

You can forget the stats honestly and just use the eye test. Thompkins wasn't very impressive even before the hip injury. After, he was invisible.

Also Lafell's drops were an outlier if you look at his career numbers. While
KT's sample size is smaller 7 drops in 70 targets is not good at all.

 

[LasVegasPatsFan]

Maybe I was a little harsh on KT with the not even close comment but still...

BL's numbers are better on a significantly less productive, lower volume passing offense. There were games when the panthers passed it 23 times. More receptions, more yards, more TD's, more targets. That same top 5 passing offense that Thompkins was a 1st and 2nd option on for weeks didn't yield anything but a pedestrian output statistically. The fact that KT had lower targets considering the amount of passes being thrown and the other options at our disposal for the majority of the year isn't a good sign.

You can forget the stats honestly and just use the eye test. Thompkins wasn't very impressive even before the hip injury. After, he was invisible.

Also Lafell's drops were an outlier if you look at his career numbers. While
KT's sample size is smaller 7 drops in 70 targets is not good at all.

The stats are not that far off considering Lafell has been in the league since 2010 whereas KT was a rookie. Just saying

 

[West Philly Patriot]

The stats are not that far off considering Lafell has been in the league since 2010 whereas KT was a rookie. Just saying

But the offenses and QB's they played on/for are polar opposites.

You can't underestimate the impact of how thin we were last year on a high volume passing offense and how much that inflated KT's usage and numbers.

 

[JMC00]

The stats are not that far off considering Lafell has been in the league since 2010 whereas KT was a rookie. Just saying

This again?

You don't think Thompkins was helped even a little by the fact that the guy throwing to him was Tom Brady and he was the #1 or #2 Outside WR for about half the season?

LaFell has had Jimmy Clausen, Matt Moore, and Cam Newton throwing to him. While mostly playing in the Slot. Which people have said LaFell's natural position is Outside WR not Slot WR.

Question is had Kenbrell Thompkins been in Carolina do you think he gets those numbers?

Answer I come up with is No.

 

[DaBruinz]

But the offenses and QB's they played on/for are polar opposites.

You can't underestimate the impact of how thin we were last year on a high volume passing offense and how much that inflated KT's usage and numbers.

So, you are penalizing Thompkins for not producing more than LaFell did despite the fact that LaFell played in more games than Thompkins. You're penalizing Thompkins because the Pats ran 200+ more offensive plays than the Panthers over the course of the season.

And you aren't taking into consideration that Thompkins was a rookie, while LaFell was a 4th year player.

 

[Deus Irae]

Is there really a LaFell v. Thompkins battle going on here?

LaFell - Got $3m to sign with the team
Thompkins - Might not make the team if the team goes with the traditional 5 receivers, regardless of who else is brought in. Had one game (Den) and one catch (NO) of note once September was in the rear view mirror


What's the argument?

 

[Stylez]

I hate to say this, cause he is who he is and I love him dearly. But Brady wasn't as accurate in 2013 as he has been in previous seasons. I know he had a swollen hand he played through (which is amazing all in its own). I feel like in catching up on the posts, everyone is sort of taking for granted that he's tom Brady. He is definitely the GOAT but he did have some struggles with accuracy.

But for you guys busting on Dobson who was the closest thing to a downfield threat, a good part of those passes he was lucky to get a hand on. I can remember a few where he was open clean, had beaten his cover and Brady didn't deliver it.

Im wondering if people know how complex the offense is cause if they do, probably some understand that more than just their 1st season is needed. Tom makes the offense go and he was very much looking for Dobson when he was on the field. That's what I use to see who is going to stick. Brady is the catalyst.

 

[Brady6]

So, you are penalizing Thompkins for not producing more than LaFell did despite the fact that LaFell played in more games than Thompkins. You're penalizing Thompkins because the Pats ran 200+ more offensive plays than the Panthers over the course of the season.

And you aren't taking into consideration that Thompkins was a rookie, while LaFell was a 4th year player.

Do you really think Thompkins is close to the type of player Brandon LaFell is? Personally, I do not, I think Thompkins was like other UDFA of the past such as Justin Francis who came into camp and worked extremely hard, and caught on quickly. Eventually the hard work is not enough and the talent limitations make them expendable. I will be very surprised if Thompkins makes the 2014 roster, I think he is a great story but I do not see what others see. Maybe I will be proven wrong, which would be great but right now, that is my opinion.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Could you show everyone how LaFell's numbers were "still better" than Thompkins? And what is your criteria in saying that LaFell is a better player than Thompkins and it isn't even close?



Thompkins: 32 receptions, 466 yards- 4 TDs: 2.67 catches per game, 14.5625 Yards per catch, 1 TD every 3 games. 7 drops on 70 targets.



LaFell: 49 receptions, 629 yards, 5 TDs: 3.0625 catches per game, 12.84 Yards per catch, 1TD every 3.33 games. 6 drops on 85 targets.

LaFell is better than Thompkins. The numbers that you just posted show it, and that's without weighting for quality of QB and the nature of the offenses they were playing in. Once that's accounted for, the gulf widens.

Thompkins is a great story, and he stepped up as best as he could last season. I still see his ceiling as a good WR3 or lower tier WR2. And that's a ceiling that he's nowhere near reaching. He needs to improve his hands and route running, since he'll never set himself apart with size, speed, or quickness.

 

[Stylez]

LaFell is better than Thompkins. The numbers that you just posted show it, and that's without weighting for quality of QB and the nature of the offenses they were playing in. Once that's accounted for, the gulf widens.

Thompkins is a great story, and he stepped up as best as he could last season. I still see his ceiling as a good WR3 or lower tier WR2. And that's a ceiling that he's nowhere near reaching. He needs to improve his hands and route running, since he'll never set himself apart with size, speed, or quickness.

Seriously? You put quickness in there for KT? Kid is amazingly quick off the line. One of the main reasons, I'm guessing, he actually made the roster. Hard to get hands on him.

I do think he's the odd man out with all the WR additions but the cat is quick. Debatable on the catches, at first he sucked with drops but then the catch in the NO game and that sick catch where he hurt his hip...have to see this year and how it pans out but everything else Id agree with.

 

[Stylez]

Lafell by far will be a better blocker. Thought KT and AD weren't very good and definitely will need to improve.

 

[All22PatsFan]

Seriously? You put quickness in there for KT? Kid is amazingly quick off the line. One of the main reasons, I'm guessing, he actually made the roster. Hard to get hands on him.

I do think he's the odd man out with all the WR additions but the cat is quick. Debatable on the catches, at first he sucked with drops but then the catch in the NO game and that sick catch where he hurt his hip...have to see this year and how it pans out but everything else Id agree with.

Dobson got open, KT didn't.

 

[JayNM]

I am very worried about Dobson and his foot. I think he could have used this time for improving his chemistry and ability in the offseason. I just hope he can improve. I don't know why, but i saw flashes of him becoming a very good WR. But he needs to be healthy


On KT, i think he's ok, but our roster have at least 5 guy better than him, so far.

 

[JoeSixPat]

There's no such thing as too much roster depth in March

Like every year, Belichick will foster competition and, within reason, the "kids" have every opportunity to claim their roster spots.

Belichick will not let his pride or ego stop him from cutting a 2nd year player and admitting a draft mistake - it happens all the time

He'll want the best 53 man roster he can assemble - and "kids" with practice squad eligibility can be stashed there as well