Pats WRs in the playoffs and who sits.

[RayClay]

Maybe if you count slater but even then I doubt it was often. We rarely have 6 on the 53.

I've been watching the Pats a long time, but what I said was "Many teams have 5 or 6 WRs active." I believe that's true. Having only 4 receivers on the roster is unusual. the Patriots under Belichick have used more TEs and RBs as receivers than most, but my initial statement was true, I believe. Having 5 receivers active in a game would not be unusual in the NFL IMO.

 

[n1997y]

Dola and not even a question.

Mitchell and Floyd both bring too much to the table.

Disagreeing, about Dola not about Mitchell and Floyd. That part is true, but one thing Dola brings to the table that's pretty special is his ST play. I'd figure his value in the return game counts for a lot. Given what Mitchell and Floyd can do I figure Hogan might be the most likely inactive WR.

Definitely a first world problem.

 

[patfanken]

This is easy. You dress them all. The bottom 3 all have different skill sets and situations that make them unique.

Amendola - has caught more impact balls per target than any other receiver on the team. He and he's necessary for depth.

Mitchell - getting better, a great run blocker, and more and more involved in the offense. You don't sit him

Floyd - Think of all the Gronk situations that don't involve in line blocking. Those are the plays he is replacing to some degree. Gronk was the guy who was too big for the DB and too fast for the LB. Floyd will never see a LB, which opens up room for Bennett. Think of the jump ball and sideline fade potential.

Don't worry about Slater, there are plenty of ST'ers like Coleman or Boldin that could be inactive in their place without a drop off.

 

[TheBeers]

If they are all healthy I think they all play. Amendola is also a solid return man. Think they probably deactivate Lengel.

This is a good problem to have. Even with Gronk out this team is loaded on offense. And they are like a Swiss Army knife, they can throw anything at you.

 

[Tuck]

Dressing all 5 and Slater puts you in a bad spot. You can only dress 46 guys.

Do you only dress Bennett and sit Lengel? You could but then you are light there.

I think what the Op is saying, is who is the healthy scratch?

 

[n1997y]

I think what the Op is saying, is who is the healthy scratch?

depends on the opponent. duh.

 

[doesntmatter1]

I think st would be okay without Justin Coleman, Cyrus and maybe Richards. 4 more....Waddle, Foster, Brissett. Can't decide on the last one.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

outaide of the obvious discussion about matchup specific needs, the most important information is based on health.

You won't be able to make your game day roster in a vacuum since much of the health at receiver has been in question. Hogan has been on and off the injury report all season, amendola has/had a significant ankle injury, and Mitchell was drafted with Kleenex for knees. That's not talking about Edelman who gets hit hard every game, and had major surgery twice last season/spring.

If you dress only 4 receivers now without that information in hand, you are gambling on a few players that might not play a full game and leave you completely undermanned.

All that to say, with the team moving away from 12 personnel, having healthy receivers is a must. With health in question, the next best thing is depth, and we have plenty of depth to stay competitive and not upset other positional groups.

 

[SuperStang83]

How can anyone suggest Amendola? That guy has had more clutch catches in important games than anyone in the past few years. He's money when it counts!

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I think what the Op is saying, is who is the healthy scratch?

Thats what I thought, out of the 3.

Danny is a gamer but those 2 are too dangerous.

 

[RayClay]

I think what the Op is saying, is who is the healthy scratch?

Anyone on the team. It doesn't have to be a WR.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Since we only have two tight ends, we have to have all 5 wr's active for the first playoff game.

Floyd can either make your day or break your heart, but bb has to chance it and keep him active.

 

[edkk323]

How can anyone suggest Amendola? That guy has had more clutch catches in important games than anyone in the past few years. He's money when it counts!

Amendola, if healthy, should returns punts. He is the only slot receiver after Jules. Yeah, No one has more clutch catches than Amendola. Literally, no one.

 

[stinkypete]

Why does a WR have to sit? Edelman, Hogan and Mitchell are locks, and Floyd may be close based on his performance yesterday. Amendola is far too valuable as a punt returner and backup slot WR to sit. Slater is a ST, not a WR.

Only 7 players sit for a given game.
QB Brissett
CB C. Jones
RB Foster
DL Grissom
DB Richards
OL Waddle

This leaves one spot. Coleman or Mingo could both be candidates, or you let the injury report dictate who else sits.

 

[italian pat patriot]

i am thrilled with Floyd...a lot...i have to admit it...
he looked so great yesterday...
let's go # 14 !!!

 

[jah]

Dress all the WRs, sit either Lengel or some defensive guy.

 

[Bill Lee]

Why does a WR have to sit? Edelman, Hogan and Mitchell are locks, and Floyd may be close based on his performance yesterday. Amendola is far too valuable as a punt returner and backup slot WR to sit. Slater is a ST, not a WR.

Only 7 players sit for a given game.
QB Brissett
CB C. Jones
RB Foster
DL Grissom
DB Richards
OL Waddle

This leaves one spot. Coleman or Mingo could both be candidates, or you let the injury report dictate who else sits.

I think they had a plan for Floyd when they picked him up, and he's right where one would project he would be given when he was acquired. Given that they stuck their necks out to get him and they're paying him a lot I think he's a lock, presuming he doesn't have any setbacks.

It's a cool kind of problem to have. The only thing that would be better would be if Gronk was still in the mix.

 

[Ring 6]

I've been watching the Pats a long time, but what I said was "Many teams have 5 or 6 WRs active." I believe that's true. Having only 4 receivers on the roster is unusual. the Patriots under Belichick have used more TEs and RBs as receivers than most, but my initial statement was true, I believe. Having 5 receivers active in a game would not be unusual in the NFL IMO.

Just for the heck if it I picked 8 random teams 1 from each division randomly and added up games played for WRs. I used 5 receptions as the minimum to consider them really a wr.
4 active per game would be 64
5 would be 80
So having 6 active for even 1/4 of the games would mean 84+

Jets 75
Bengals 65
Texans. 75
Raiders. 64
Giants. 60
Packers. 71
Bucs. 72
Cardinals 78

So it looks like everyone but the giants always have 4 active and the others have a 5th in 0,1,7,8,11,11,14 games and none have 6 active WRs. Not a complete analysis but pretty consistent wth what I expected

 

[Ian]

Where I disagreed with you was your claim of Mitchell passing Amendola on the depth chart. They have different roles.

I agree. All you need to do is go back to 2014 to remember Amendola's value to this team. He gave them that third receiver who could beat one-on-one coverage in the playoffs and his impact was huge, and he and Brady have also one of the highest completion percentages among all Patriots receivers. Factor in his ability in the return game, and there's no way he doesn't play in the postseason.

 

[n1997y]

Since we only have two tight ends, we have to have all 5 wr's active for the first playoff game.

Floyd can either make your day or break your heart, but bb has to chance it and keep him active.

Floyd hasn't caused any heartbreak here, so why do you single him out for that?