Three Weeks Until Training Camp

[Brady_to_Moss]

TOMORROW

 

[Kontradiction]

TOMORROW

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

WOOO

 

[Kontradiction]

WOOO

This news gets me...

 

[wrangler]

See how things shake out and go from there. Could be some interesting releases coming up.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Considering that Amendola, Gronk, and Vereen were unavailable to him, and that time was quickly winding down on the clock in dramatic fashion, I'm guessing that Brady went to the guy who gave him the best pre-snap read, or just basically took a shot and heaved it in the back of the endzone hoping that he'd come down with it.

The options were extremely limited. While it's impressive that Thompkins made the catch (to say the least), I'm not sure that it had much to do with Brady developing some great amount of trust as you are insinuating.

While we're at it, this was pretty much the last time we saw much of Kenbrell Thompkins---as 3 more months of the season wound down....

If he ends up contributing to this team, we'll all be very happy--but you're taking this to a whole new level. Perhaps he comes out like Superman in the regular season as you are suggesting. It'd be a great thing to see.

May I suggest a wager? Nothing except bragging rights. Who will have the best season: KT or AD?

 

[supafly]

May I suggest a wager? Nothing except bragging rights. Who will have the best season: KT or AD?

Sorry, Mike. I'm not feeling super confident about either one of them at this particular moment, especially with Dobson's injury.

I do believe that Thompkins' production will coincide with Dobson's injury situation, since that would be his greatest chance of seeing the field.

I just don't see how you can feel so confident about Thompkins when he will be battling with Boyce to be the WR4 at best, but perhaps you are right and he'll see increased snaps with a Dobson injury situation.

 

[captain stone]

But if Brandon We Could've Had James Jones For The Same Price LaFell keeps dropping passes and
Aaron Dobson keeps not showing up, then WR3 all of a sudden is at stake.

 

[mgteich]

But if Brandon We Could've Had James Jones For The Same Price LaFell keeps dropping passes and
Aaron Dobson keeps not showing up, then WR3 all of a sudden is at stake.

Yes, if LeFell and Dobson don't perform, then the #3 WR position is at stake. Is this news? I understand that many would be horrified to go into the season with Amendola, Edelman, KT and Boyce (with Collie on speed dial), waiting for Dobson and LeFell to get healthy and/or learn the system.

I would think that our passing game would be at least as good on offense as last year. After all, we expect more from the TE and RB positions.

 

[supafly]

But if Brandon We Could've Had James Jones For The Same Price LaFell keeps dropping passes and
Aaron Dobson keeps not showing up, then WR3 all of a sudden is at stake.

I'd be much more concerned about him not getting the playbook than I would him having some drops at the moment, but yes--your point is taken.

I think there were a fair amount of drops today though, as I know that Thompkins dropped 2 passes as well, and leveled off from his good initial 2 practices earlier in the week.

I'm sure things will sort themselves out in the coming month or so. If Thompkins wants to guarantee himself some chances, he's certainly on the right track so far.

 

[supafly]

Yes, if LeFell and Dobson don't perform, then the #3 WR position is at stake. Is this news? I understand that many would be horrified to go into the season with Amendola, Edelman, KT and Boyce (with Collie on speed dial), waiting for Dobson and LeFell to get healthy and/or learn the system.

I think he was just responding to my thoughts that Thompkins may have a difficult time seeing the field with the (assumed) players of Amendola, Edelman, Dobson, and LaFell ahead of him, that's all.

While my comment was the popular thought going into TC (and still is for many), it may have been premature. It's certainly possible for Thompkins to show more than others and win himself more playing time ahead of LaFell. Of course, that also wouldn't mean that it'd definitely stay that way, as you point out.

 

[Deus Irae]

...After all, we expect more from the TE and RB positions.

No, "we" don't. "We" expect the same thing out of both positions. Reading forums, listening to radio, watching TV... they all demonstrate that. Why?

Because "We" expect Gronk and Vereen to be capable and effective, as long as they can remain healthy, and "we" are unsure, and currently not confident, of what would happen at the respective positions should those players go down. That's the same thing "we" expected last year.

 

[captain stone]

I think he was just responding to my thoughts that Thompkins may have a difficult time seeing the field with the (assumed) players of Amendola, Edelman, Dobson, and LaFell ahead of him, that's all.

While my comment was the popular thought going into TC (and still is for many), it may have been premature. It's certainly possible for Thompkins to show more than others and win himself more playing time ahead of LaFell. Of course, that also wouldn't mean that it'd definitely stay that way, as you point out.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Right now, only MiniTron & ToughGlass are fairly assured of starters'
snaps. Everybody else is competing for #3. Unfortunately, WRs #1 & 2 play the same position and are
therefore redundant. If football were played only inside the hash marks, we would win the SB.

 

[supafly]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Right now, only MiniTron & ToughGlass are fairly assured of starters'
snaps. Everybody else is competing for #3. Unfortunately, WRs #1 & 2 play the same position and are
therefore redundant. If football were played only inside the hash marks, we would win the SB.

I definitely agree with your desire to see an outside threat, and hopefully we can see that a little more this year from one or both of Dobson/Thompkins.

I also understand your comment regarding the redundancy of Edelman/Amendola, but they actually are on the field for a lot of the reps together since Edelman has been playing on the outside and Amendola in the slot. The degree of his effectiveness in that role (speaking specifically as an outside threat) can certainly be open for debate. He obviously proved to be quite effective for the shorter to intermediate routes, as seen last year. I don't think any of us would consider him to be keeping opposing DCs up at night in terms of posing as a deep threat, however. Some will say that we don't really "need" a deeper, outside threat, and while I'd agree on some level, it sure would be great to have!

It would be nice to see someone step up to help to attract some double coverage or safety help at times in one-on-one battles in an attempt to allow us for more big plays, along with helping to open up the underneath routes even more effectively. Of course the fact that we've made the AFCGG or better in 3 straight years could say that we're fairly effective as is, but my concern is what happens in the months of January/February.

 

[mgteich]

I was not referring to what we expected last year, but then, you knew that.

I believe that many, if not most of us, expect more passing game production from the TE and RB position than we got last year. Perhaps you disagree. I apologize. I certainly never attempt to state your positions.

No, "we" don't. "We" expect the same thing out of both positions. Reading forums, listening to radio, watching TV... they all demonstrate that. Why?

Because "We" expect Gronk and Vereen to be capable and effective, as long as they can remain healthy, and "we" are unsure, and currently not confident, of what would happen at the respective positions should those players go down. That's the same thing "we" expected last year.

 

[Deus Irae]

I was not referring to what we expected last year, but then, you knew that.

I believe that many, if not most of us, expect more passing game production from the TE and RB position than we got last year. Perhaps you disagree. I apologize. I certainly never attempt to state your positions.

You were referring, in all likelihood, to the hope that Gronk and Vereen will remain healthy, but you called it an expectation, which is unfairly misleading. I was pointing out that inconsistency. If Gronk goes down tomorrow, you'll likely be "expecting" godawful play from the TE position, for example.

To date, there's been no measurable change to the positive in the RB/TE situations. Blount is gone, replaced by rookies, and the TE position was not really addressed. Unless/until the rookies (or Williams at TE) show signs of being real players, this team is actually weaker overall at TE&RB than it was last season.

 

[mgteich]

You were referring, in all likelihood, to the hope that Gronk and Vereen will remain healthy, but you called it an expectation, which is unfairly misleading. I was pointing out that inconsistency. If Gronk goes down tomorrow, you'll likely be "expecting" godawful play from the TE position, for example.

To date, there's been no measurable change to the positive in the RB/TE situations. Blount is gone, replaced by rookies, and the TE position was not really addressed. Unless/until the rookies (or Williams at TE) show signs of being real players, this team is actually weaker overall at TE&RB than it was last season.

PASSING GAME - RUNNING BACK
Blount is gone; I wish he were here. However, as far as the passing game, White should be an improvement over Blount. So, I expect more from the RB position in the passing game, even if Vereen doesn't play a full season.

PASSING GAME - TIGHT END
We are indeed expecting Gronk to play more late season games than in the past few years. I agree that we have not addressed having a plan in case he is injured yet again.

AN ASIDE
I do NOT expect Vereen and Gronk to be healthy all year. I think that White can do better than Bolden when Vereen is out. I think that Williams (or perhaps one of the UDFA's or a new signed) can do better than Mulligan if Gronk is out. Is that an unreasonable expectation?

BOTTOM LINE
We were discussing the passing game as a whole. In that context, I expect more production from TE/RB positions as a total than we got last year. This could happen with additional healthy games from Vereen and/or Gronk. It could happen with productive games from White. It could happen with some production from Hooman, Williams, a UDFA or another TE still to be signed.

So, I "expect" more production from these two positions. I think that it more likely than not. Obviously, there are no guarantees. And yes, I would see a 3rd TE who can produce of needed.

 

[AzPatsFan]

You were referring, in all likelihood, to the hope that Gronk and Vereen will remain healthy, but you called it an expectation, which is unfairly misleading. I was pointing out that inconsistency. If Gronk goes down tomorrow, you'll likely be "expecting" godawful play from the TE position, for example.

To date, there's been no measurable change to the positive in the RB/TE situations. Blount is gone, replaced by rookies, and the TE position was not really addressed. Unless/until the rookies (or Williams at TE) show signs of being real players, this team is actually weaker overall at TE&RB than it was last season.

Deus,

Neither Gronk nor Vereen were available for half a season or more, last year. To say the currently healthy pair are no better than when injured last season, is a disengenuous assumption on your part.

I suppose you can have an assumption that the Team plane might crash, a la` the Marshall football team disaster of a few decades ago, and the probability is certainly not zero, but approaches it.

I'd ask you to stop being so pedantic, even if you think it's fun to bust balls.

 

[Deus Irae]

PASSING GAME - RUNNING BACK
Blount is gone; I wish he were here. However, as far as the passing game, White should be an improvement over Blount.

Had to stop there. I couldn't stop laughing at the idea that the later round rookie who's never taken a snap "should" be an improvement over the team's RB1 from last year.

 

[Deus Irae]

Deus,

Neither Gronk nor Vereen were available for half a season or more, last year. To say the currently healthy pair are no better than when injured last season, is a disengenuous assumption on your part.

I suppose you can have an assumption that the Team plane might crash, a la` the Marshall football team disaster of a few decades ago, and the probability is certainly not zero, but approaches it.

I'd ask you to stop being so pedantic, even if you think it's fun to bust balls.

There was nothing.... absolutely nothing.... disingenuous about my post.

Perhaps you didn't read my first response to Mgteich.