Britt released

[LaterGator]

Cooks was 5 of 8 for 26 yards v. the Chargers. He was 5 of 8 for 85 yards v. TBY 4 weeks earlier. Same catch rate. I have to think he was being used differently - different routes at different target depths - since YAC wasn't a major part of his game.

In the two Buffalo games, Cooks was barely targeted, compared to the rest of his games. Either the Bills focused on shutting him down, or the Pats offense had a different attack plan for the Bills defense - as in, the majority of their offensive plays were runs in both games (35 to 30 in the first meeting; 38 to 28 in the second).

He wasn't targeted vs the Bills because he was taken away rather easily. I was at the Chargers game, he was a virtual no show. When he caught the ball he fell like Ocho Stinko used to do. That's the game Hogan was croaked. Now that's a man who fought for it.

Point is Cooks production is more than replaced by Edelman's return. Hogan replaces DA's production and heart. ...Now find a guy to pick up the 4oo yards and 30 receptions you need from the 3rd WR option.

 

[LaterGator]

Put it to you this way the Texans arent losing sleep over Lucien Hogan and or Dorsett.
We have dropped the ball on this which so has Dorsett this preseason.

They should be concerned with White, Gronk and Hogan.

The OL is much improved. Last year they couldn't throw screens to save their lives. On Thursday they had a beautiful screen to Patterson which he almost scored on, and a 30 yard screen to White which he did score on. The screen is a great way to employ Patterson's talent and take the DEs out.

 

[Love The Drake]

They should be concerned with White, Gronk and Hogan.

The OL is much improved. Last year they couldn't throw screens to save their lives. On Thursday they had a beautiful screen to Patterson which he almost scored on, and a 30 yard screen to White which he did score on. The screen is a great way to employ Patterson's talent and take the DEs out.

We can't rely on those kind of plays against a defense like Jax you need to be able to threaten every part of the field.
Cooks won that game for us.
Trading him was the right move compensation and what he was asking for.
Having less than Jag level talent behind Edelman Hogan is a big mistake.
Relying on Dorsett and Britt big mistake.
Britt is already gone for whatever reason.
Matthews may or may not return for the no risk contract I'm guessing he's not back we didn't save mucg by releasing him vs waiting on him to recover.
Watching Ridley Moore Sutton Kirk all come off the board and then wait to draft Berrios.
As fans we have no idea what we have in him.
I love Pattersons potential but he's not a route runner.
We absolutely have dropped the ball.
We should be loading Tom up with weapons.
Not shopping at the Goodwill of receivers for him.

 

[Kontradiction]

New England Patriots wide receivers must separate from man coverage to separate from one another

Some highlights that echo my concerns with this position group...

On Wednesday afternoon, Kenny Britt became the third New England wideout to be released this summer. Before Britt was let go, the shallow group of pass catchers fell victim to injuries new and old in training camp. Two receivers signed after camp began, and now only three of the 10 rostered boast more than a year's experience in the system.

More than the collective talent level, though, the lack of experience should concern. Playing wideout in a New England uniform demands more than it does in most places. Depending on its reads, Patriots receivers tell MassLive they can be charged with making up to four or five decisions within the course of single play.

There is, however, a shortcut to a roster spot for the remaining wideouts: beating man coverage. Starting Friday at Carolina, if a New England wideout wins 1-on-1 outside, his stock will soar faster than any other player's currently on the bubble.

It'll soar because only two Patriots on the current roster -- Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan -- have a proven track record of separating, and this group know opponents will press them week in and week out. Beating up New England receivers is second only to pressuring Brady when it comes to best game-plan points to slow this offense.

Brady may not trust Patterson (whose history indicates he operates best within a simple route tree that doesn't fit in New England) entirely yet, but he understands his potential. In a league full of them, Patterson is a physical freak. No receiver recorded more highlight reel catches in training camp, going around over and through cornerbacks for receptions in man-on-man situations.

Patience for New England's offense is obviously now running out. Even if the Patriots throw more often to running backs and tight ends in their first four games, there will come a third-and-long when Rob Gronkowski is doubled and Hogan and James White are plastered in man coverage. An outside presence will be required to move the chains.

 

[primetime]

Good article. They must be counting on Dorsett.

Damiere Byrd may be on the bubble with the Panthers. I'd expect them to take a long look at him during tomorrow's game.

 

[Kontradiction]

Good article. They must be counting on Dorsett.

Damiere Byrd may be on the bubble with the Panthers. I'd expect them to take a long look at him during tomorrow's game.

Seems like they are. Hopefully this is the season he turns it around and is finally able to beat the press and make use of his speed.

 

[LaterGator]

We can't rely on those kind of plays against a defense like Jax you need to be able to threaten every part of the field.
Cooks won that game for us.
Trading him was the right move compensation and what he was asking for.
Having less than Jag level talent behind Edelman Hogan is a big mistake.
Relying on Dorsett and Britt big mistake.
Britt is already gone for whatever reason.
Matthews may or may not return for the no risk contract I'm guessing he's not back we didn't save mucg by releasing him vs waiting on him to recover.
Watching Ridley Moore Sutton Kirk all come off the board and then wait to draft Berrios.
As fans we have no idea what we have in him.
I love Pattersons potential but he's not a route runner.
We absolutely have dropped the ball.
We should be loading Tom up with weapons.
Not shopping at the Goodwill of receivers for him.

Honestly I don't know why they'd design an offense geared towards Jacksonville. Bortles had the game of his life vs them in the PO. They have a very tough schedule. It will be much tougher sledding for them to go deep in the playoffs this year.

As far as Patterson goes he's a guy you use on a limited bases in gadget type plays on O and KR. He's still very worthy of a roster spot and should contribute.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

You can't make the club from the tub.......

I think the first 4 games without Edleman (and against good teams) are critical. Pray nothing happens to the Gronk!

I wonder if the Pats would bring in Dez? Can't hurt to take a look, a motivated guy with a lot of talent and a penchant for coming down with contested throws.

Plus of course, the entertainment value....

 

[Kontradiction]

You can't make the club from the tub.......

I think the first 4 games without Edleman (and against good teams) are critical. Pray nothing happens to the Gronk!

I wonder if the Pats would bring in Dez? Can't hurt to take a look, a motivated guy with a lot of talent and a penchant for coming down with contested throws.

Plus of course, the entertainment value....

He's lost a few steps and is not a fit at all in this offense. He'd be a bigger disaster than Ochocinco.

 

[maineman209]

He wasn't targeted vs the Bills because he was taken away rather easily. I was at the Chargers game, he was a virtual no show. When he caught the ball he fell like Ocho Stinko used to do. That's the game Hogan was croaked. Now that's a man who fought for it.

Point is Cooks production is more than replaced by Edelman's return. Hogan replaces DA's production and heart. ...Now find a guy to pick up the 4oo yards and 30 receptions you need from the 3rd WR option.

I still don't understand how catching 5 of 8 against TBY is okay, but catching 5 of 8 against the Chargers = "he was a no-show".

Just to be clear, I don't think Cooks was "perfect" in any way, much less that he was worth a $16M APY to the Pats. However he WAS helpful and DID contribute 1,122 yards from scrimmage and 7 TDs in the regular season. Retrospectively nitpicking his performances game-by-game doesn't change that.

And ... he's history. I'm not sure how evaluating his 2017 performance is relevant to 2018.

 

[LaterGator]

I still don't understand how catching 5 of 8 against TBY is okay, but catching 5 of 8 against the Chargers = "he was a no-show".

Just to be clear, I don't think Cooks was "perfect" in any way, much less that he was worth a $16M APY to the Pats. However he WAS helpful and DID contribute 1,122 yards from scrimmage and 7 TDs in the regular season. Retrospectively nitpicking his performances game-by-game doesn't change that.

And ... he's history. I'm not sure how evaluating his 2017 performance is relevant to 2018.

My main argument is having Edelman back 2018 replaces his production in 2017

 

[maineman209]

This could very easily become true if a few things don't go our way. Should have kept Dola over keeping Allen at 5 mill.

I suppose that, if Dola was 27 instead of 32, and a great in-line blocker for the ground game, that trade-off would make some sense.

 

[Froob]

I suppose that, if Dola was 27 instead of 32, and a great in-line blocker for the ground game, that trade-off would make some sense.

Is a pure blocking tight end really worth 5 mill? Was anybody else going to pay him that much? I want Allen on the team don't get me wrong, but that number outta at least be cut in half.

 

[maineman209]

My main argument is having Edelman back 2018 replaces his production in 2017

So, you're expecting Edelman - 32 years old and coming off an ACL - to average 94 yards from scrimmage/game and score 7 TDs during the 12 games he's active?

That seems a tad optimistic, especially looking at Edelman's best previous seasons.

 

[maineman209]

Honestly I don't know why they'd design an offense geared towards Jacksonville. Bortles had the game of his life vs them in the PO. They have a very tough schedule. It will be much tougher sledding for them to go deep in the playoffs this year.

As far as Patterson goes he's a guy you use on a limited bases in gadget type plays on O and KR. He's still very worthy of a roster spot and should contribute.

I didn't realize that WR screens and short throws underneath are "gadget plays".

 

[RobertWeathers]

I still don't understand how catching 5 of 8 against TBY is okay, but catching 5 of 8 against the Chargers = "he was a no-show".

Just to be clear, I don't think Cooks was "perfect" in any way, much less that he was worth a $16M APY to the Pats. However he WAS helpful and DID contribute 1,122 yards from scrimmage and 7 TDs in the regular season. Retrospectively nitpicking his performances game-by-game doesn't change that.

And ... he's history. I'm not sure how evaluating his 2017 performance is relevant to 2018.

It's called bias.

 

[Love The Drake]

Maybe we can dangle Dwayne Allen to go towards a receiver.
Dwayne Allen and a 4th for Golden Tate?
Detroit would have a gross run game with Allen sealing the edge.

 

[Sciz]

Is a pure blocking tight end really worth 5 mill? Was anybody else going to pay him that much? I want Allen on the team don't get me wrong, but that number outta at least be cut in half.

It’s excessive for a 10 catch blocking TE, but not really out of line for a blocking tight end who gets into the 400ish yard range, which Allen has done in half of his NFL seasons. It depends which version they think they’ll be getting, but camp reports were generally positive.

 

[maineman209]

Is a pure blocking tight end really worth 5 mill? Was anybody else going to pay him that much? I want Allen on the team don't get me wrong, but that number outta at least be cut in half.

First of all, he was only a "pure blocking TE" last season with the Pats. During his five (six?) seasons with the Colts, he was a more than adequate receiver (when healthy) - in addition to being among the top 3 or 4 blocking TEs in the league.

Secondly, his elite blocking was critical to the success of the Pats ground game last season.

We really don't know yet how much, or how little, he's been able to harness his previous receiving skills within the Pats offensive scheme. If not, you'd have to ask the Pats if his blocking skills are worth $5M. So far, it seems that way.

Even if he's exactly the same guy we saw in 2017, TEs who can block that well are in relatively short supply. As many (good) college draft scouts will tell you, most college TEs who are great receivers aren't used for blocking at all anymore and, thus, need to start from scratch learning the basics of blocking when the get to the NFL (e.g., Hollister). Many never get it.

Izzo is actually a bit of a rarity. A good blocker in college who, apparently, can catch a little. Maybe he's good enough at blocking to beat out Allen for a roster spot. Maybe not. We'll see. Either way, the Pats need at least one solid blocker at TE besides Gronk.

 

[maineman209]

Maybe we can dangle Dwayne Allen to go towards a receiver.
Dwayne Allen and a 4th for Golden Tate?
Detroit would have a gross run game with Allen sealing the edge.

Tate's 2018 cap hit for the Pats would be $7M. He just turned 30.