Benjamin Watson

[bradyismygod]

With New Orleans possibly in tanking mode with another upcoming loss, is it possible we can pick this guy up? I've always liked him as a tight end, and he's also a very good blocker. It doesn't look like we're getting any production we were expecting from Scott Chandler. What do you guys think?

 

[ErniesPinkStripes]

Eh I'm happy with Chandler, I expect his production to increase as teams start to key on gronk more

 

[chasa]

I'd rather not waste the cap space.

 

[patchick]

Didn't the Saints just trade for Hooman? It would be a curious turnaround for them to start trading away TEs now.

 

[LJRomanoff]

Chandler is a better player and Sean Payton is not going to voluntarily "tank."

 

[RobertWeathers]

No interest.

 

[Oswlek]

 

[Deus Irae]

While he would probably be an upgrade at the TE2 spot, I don't see it happening for multiple reasons.

 

[zydecochris]

Chandler is a better player and Sean Payton is not going to voluntarily "tank."

Agreed, with the possible exception of the Colts in the "Suck for Luck" derby, I can't think of a coach voluntarily tanking, certainly not one like Sean Payton.

My interpretation of the Hicks trade was not that New Orleans was "tanking", it was that the team was doing everything in the short term to win, and throwing the long term to the wind (because people may be fired by then anyway). Hicks was struggling with the transition from the 4-3 to the 3-4 of Rob Ryan, the team needed wins, and they needed a TE. Thus, the Hicks - Hooman trade. Hicks was arguably more valuable, but he wasn't helping much in the short term, and the team needed another TE. I wouldn't think of it as tanking, but rather: "Who cares about down the road, who knows if we will be here anyway, let's just do something to get a few short term W's" .

 

[zydecochris]

While he would probably be an upgrade at the TE2 spot, I don't see it happening for multiple reasons.

I'm not trying to nitpick, but the fact that Williams had twice as many snaps as Chandler at Dallas can be interpreted not only as "Chandler has disappointed" but also "Williams is playing better than expected". However, even if Williams is challenging for the TE2 spot (far from clear), the team obviously needs a good receiving number 2 TE, and Williams is not that. Hopefully Chandler will get more catches as the season goes on.

 

[Deus Irae]

I'm not trying to nitpick, but the fact that Williams had twice as many snaps as Chandler at Dallas can be interpreted not only as "Chandler has disappointed" but also "Williams is playing better than expected". However, even if Williams is challenging for the TE2 spot (far from clear), the team obviously needs a good receiving number 2 TE, and Williams is not that. Hopefully Chandler will get more catches as the season goes on.

Williams is the better blocker, and Chandler is not a world beater as a receiver. Given how that game went down, it makes sense that Williams would get more snaps.

 

[Oswlek]

'm not trying to nitpick, but the fact that Williams had twice as many snaps as Chandler at Dallas can be interpreted not only as "Chandler has disappointed" but also "Williams is playing better than expected".

Until we see that trend continue, I'd say the most likely explanation is that Williams was a better fit for that particular game plan.

 

[OhExaulted1]

He'll be 35 in Dec. Liked him when he was here, but no thanks.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'm not trying to nitpick, but the fact that Williams had twice as many snaps as Chandler at Dallas can be interpreted not only as "Chandler has disappointed" but also "Williams is playing better than expected". However, even if Williams is challenging for the TE2 spot (far from clear), the team obviously needs a good receiving number 2 TE, and Williams is not that. Hopefully Chandler will get more catches as the season goes on.

Chandler is here in case Gronk goes down and provides a 4th or 5th option in the passing game. Anyone who though the was going to be the next AH was sorely mistaken.

Williams is the better pass & run blocker. The game plan called for him to play more.

 

[turkeyneck]

Watson's best catch ever was catching - and blowing up - Champ Bailey. Catching the ball, not so much.

 

[Froob]

Gronk, Chandler, and big Williams works for me.

 

[Froob]

Watson's best catch ever was catching - and blowing up - Champ Bailey. Catching the ball, not so much.

That's not fair, what about the two huge touchdown catches vs Buffalo? He was a perennial disappointment for what he should have been but he was still a good tight end.

 

[SONS_OF_BELICHICK]

No more Kool Aid for him....

 

[turkeyneck]

That's not fair, what about the two huge touchdown catches vs Buffalo? He was a perennial disappointment for what he should have been but he was still a good tight end.

I'm not saying he was Dr. Strangeglove bad. He did have some catches in his day. But no one ever saw a ball going Ben's way and thought 'money'.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Watson's best catch ever was catching - and blowing up - Champ Bailey. Catching the ball, not so much.

During that same playoff run in 2005 vs JAX he had a great catch in the flat, broke 2 or 3 tackles and outran DBs for the TD.