Training Camp 8/11

[ashley]

Good to hear Dobson's back.

Do people really think Gibson has a shot at making the roster over him? I know injuries played a factor in some of those opinions, but even then I just don't see it.

I think it's Dobson's roster spot to lose. If he can stay healthy the rest of camp, I think he will make the team.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Good to hear Dobson's back.

Do people really think Gibson has a shot at making the roster over him? I know injuries played a factor in some of those opinions, but even then I just don't see it.

I believe that between Gibson, Boyce and Dobson, whichever two show more will make the team (and it sounds like Boyce is closing in on locking up his spot). Sure, that sounds like a self-evident statement, but it isn't always, especially when dealing with young players who were high picks. But I don't think Dobson doesn't get a leg up anymore just because he was drafted in the second round and is young. He's entering year 3, the age isn't a huge deal if you think his chances of seeing a second contract are low, and his draft position is definitely a sunk cost at this point.

So yeah, I think Gibson absolutely has a shot. I think it's entirely plausible that he outplays Dobson, especially if Dobson can't stay on the field. As much as I would like AD to show something, if he doesn't he doesn't. You can only wait on potential for so long. At a certain point, if a guy still hasn't shown much, then that's just the caliber of player he is.

 

[TommyD4207]

I think they both make the team, personally. If Dobson's healthy, that is. Don't forget that Gibson is one of Joshy's guys.

 

[Tom_Montana12]

I don't think there's any chance at all Boyce makes this team over Dobson, whether he's injured or not.

When factoring supply and demand as it related to their skill sets, Boyce's skill set is very redundant on this team whereas no other receiver outside of Lafell has the skills and measurables to be effective in our offense.

Not to mention that Boyce hasn't brought any value to our offense during a meaningful game. I'm rooting for him, but I have a lot of doubts.

 

[Oswlek]

Not to mention that Boyce hasn't brought any value to our offense during a meaningful game. I'm rooting for him, but I have a lot of doubts.

As do I. He plays much slower than his stated speed and I've yet to seem him run the crisp routes that slot duties depend on. There were similar reports last year (though perhaps less frequent) but it only took five minutes of preseason action to see he wasn't an NFL receiver. I'll be surprised if we don't follow a similar path this August.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Pretty sloppy conditions, though, probably the first time they've practiced in a mess since last year.

Also what people are not considering is the fact that almost all of the would-be "starting" wideouts are dealing with various injuries and Blount is in and out of the lineup. This team is nowhere near a finished product at this point, so I take all of these reports (good and bad) with a grain of salt.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

He hasn't played a game yet. I do think some caution is needed. Bradley Fletcher led the league in PBUs last season..

Part of that was a function of opportunity as he was thrown on...a lot.......a real lot...

 

[supafly]

Good to hear Dobson's back.

Do people really think Gibson has a shot at making the roster over him? I know injuries played a factor in some of those opinions, but even then I just don't see it.

When you consider the fact that the top 3 roles are set with Edelman, LaFell, and Amendola, it's safe to assume that the following players will be battling for the last spot or two :

--Dobson
--Gibson
--Boyce
--Tyms
--Harper

I would tend to agree with you that Dobson would almost certainly have a step or two up on a guy like Gibson, but Brandon Gibson was a free agent that many people wanted a couple of years ago, so he's not exactly the slouch that people are making him out to be. He's also been stated to be having a very good camp so far.

He's posted seasons where he caught 53 and 51 passes, prior to being wasted in Miami. As a matter of fact, prior to joining the Dolphins, he was targeted anywhere between about 70-90 times per year. He may not make the team, but he's definitely an improvement on the usual type of training camp WRs who are battling this time of year in N.England. We could be having the discussion about Michael Jenkins again!

 

[ALP]

i also liked gibson a few years ago...but i think dobson is better longterm right now

 

[manxman2601]

Part of that was a function of opportunity as he was thrown on...a lot.......a real lot...

Absolutely, but that might be why Roberts is getting so many PBUs. All I'm saying is that without context the stat is fairly meaningless. Now, because he was so good at getting his hands on the ball in college I'm hopeful he might be good in the pros but I'm just suggesting that we see him in a game or two before we get too excited.

 

[supafly]

i also liked gibson a few years ago...but i think dobson is better longterm right now

Oh, I'm sure that's the popular thought since Dobson has more upside.

As someone else pointed out, it's quite possible that they could both make it as the WR4 and WR5. One would have to think that Gibson would almost surely have the upper hand on Tyms and Harper, so it really could potentially come down to Gibson vs. Boyce for the last spot.

If that's the case, other ST battles will likely come into play as well.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Absolutely, but that might be why Roberts is getting so many PBUs. All I'm saying is that without context the stat is fairly meaningless. Now, because he was so good at getting his hands on the ball in college I'm hopeful he might be good in the pros but I'm just suggesting that we see him in a game or two before we get too excited.

Absolutely, a better stat would be %PBU that shows passes broken up/defensed as a percent of passes throw at a player. That would a better measure rather than an absolute number of breakups..

 

[signbabybrady]

Funny observation but when the board gushes about Malcolm there is inevitably a few posters who ask us to pump the brakes on our praise of Butler yet I don't see those same guys saying the about Roberts. Wat up with dat?

 

[Oswlek]

Funny observation but when the board gushes about Malcolm there is inevitably a few posters who ask us to pump the brakes on our praise of Butler yet I don't see those same guys saying the about Roberts. Wat up with dat?

Maybe they are pumping the brakes on the pump the brakes talk?

 

[Kontradiction]

One thing in JG's favor is that he's been consistently better in games than he has in practice. Another thing is I really believe that JG needs at least one more year sitting behind Brady before he's ready to play at a starting NFL QB's level. I will remind people that Aaron Rogers sat for 3 full years before he got his chance to start, and he came from a major college program which ran a pro style offense. Jimmie played at a division 1AA school (or whatever they call it now) playing mostly schools who's names started with East, North or West.

Lets not all panic after one bad practice in the rain.

The Packers needed to fix the awful mechanics that Cal instilled in Rodgers during his time there. That's why he went from being knocked for his lack of arm strength before that draft to suddenly being able to zip the ball on a frozen rope down the field. Garoppolo has no such issues with his mechanics. Comparing his situation to Rodgers does an injustice to JG.

 

[PatsFan2]

I don't think there's any chance at all Boyce makes this team over Dobson, whether he's injured or not.

When factoring supply and demand as it related to their skill sets, Boyce's skill set is very redundant on this team whereas no other receiver outside of Lafell has the skills and measurables to be effective in our offense.

Not to mention that Boyce hasn't brought any value to our offense during a meaningful game. I'm rooting for him, but I have a lot of doubts.

From all reports Josh Boyce is having a good camp he's been in there with the First Team alot which says something granted LaFell hasn't suited up and Dobson coming back from a minor tweak. I dissagree with you saying his skll set is redundant Boyce is the Fastest! WR on this Team he just have to put it together. I think he's going to shine in the preseason games. Boyce right now maybe much better than regarded.

 

[Nunchucks]

Could Harmon be on his way out? Seems like Wilson has overtaken him. How many DBs will the Patriots keep?

Safety:
McCourty
Chung
Wilson
Richards
---------
Harmon
Ebner

CB:
Butler
Ryan
Fletcher
Brown
McClain
Roberts
-----------

That is 10 DBs, unless they drop a corner.

 

[JackBauer]

Could Harmon be on his way out?

That seems extraordinarily unlikely.

 

[Nunchucks]

That seems extraordinarily unlikely.

Wilson seems to have moved ahead of Harmon. Harmon has been participating in the "opportunity" portions in practice. Do the patriots drop a CB from that list or do they keep 11 DBs?

 

[Oswlek]

Could Harmon be on his way out?

That seems extraordinarily unlikely.

Ditto. Harmon is a near lock.