When available and healthy, Gordon >>>>>> Cooks

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

It is not even close.

 

[TB_Helmet]

I think Brady loves Gordon.

From what I can tell reading the quotes and anecdotes, Gordon might love being on the Patriots.

 

[Angelpats]

You can see the trust and Chemistry building.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Gordon is a receiver. Cooks is a sprinter.

 

[RayClay]

He seems real uncomfortable in the press conference. Hope he can find a little peace through Pats and Brady.

 

[luuked]

Cooks at least figured out how to connect on comebacks with Brady. I hope Gordon figures this out at some point because it is getting annoying seeing him run the route deeper than necessary again and again.

Apart from that the most impressive thing to me is how cleanly he catches the ball.

 

[Maho Hiyajo]

Would have caught that bomb near the pylon if the DB didn't commit DPI, too.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Cooks at least figured out how to connect on comebacks with Brady. I hope Gordon figures this out at some point because it is getting annoying seeing him run the route deeper than necessary again and again.

Apart from that the most impressive thing to me is how cleanly he catches the ball.

With his body control and hands, I have very little doubt he’ll figure it out.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Moss

Branch
Cooks
2014 Lafell

Lloyd
2016 Hogan

2011 Branch
Caldwell
Thompkins

If Gordon falls between the 2nd & 3rd group for the team’s primary outside WR, he’s great. If he falls between Moss & the 2nd group he’ll be an absolute steal. I’m not sure he’s better than Cooks but he plays so far like a more physically gifted Lafell (probably a better fit for our offense than Cooks).

 

[Maho Hiyajo]

I’m not sure he’s better than Cooks but he plays so far like a more physically gifted Lafell (probably a better fit for our offense than Cooks).

I keep harping this, but Gordon's a great blocker. Should be obvious given his size, but seeing it on the field is something else. The offense looks a lot more versatile when he's out there comparatively to Cooks.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Kdo5]

The most encouraging thing to me is the way Brady talks about him. While there is still some miscues, it is obvious that Brady is confident in Gordon. And the coaching staff seems to agree as they started him and sent Dorsett down to the bottom of the depth chart.

 

[TheBeers]

We all already knew this but physically he’s elite. Rumors from the team are he’s a genuinely good, and smart dude. I had no idea about his personality but given how quickly he’s producing and making key plays I’ll buy it. I’m glad he’s here... also his hands are ridiculous.

 

[TBR]

Pats would've hung 50+ points if Gordon and Brady were on the same page.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

Im starting to love Josh Gordon.

Just stay off the drugs and you have a home.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

We'll see if Gordon will choose to outrun a linebacker on an end around sweep, or if he'll instead attempt to leap over him in a spectacular fail.

 

[BradytoMosstoGronk]

Gordon’s so close to a massive breakout. Health is coming around, getting this system down, Brady’s favoring him now.

Cooks was excellent, no doubt. But Gordon has that added bonus of size and has more ability to win if he has to fight for the ball. I’m taking Gordon over Cooks 10/10 times. He’s complete in every receiver metric.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Theory vs fact.
Theory: Gordon 2018 will be better/more productive for the Patriots than Cooks 2017 (productivity being the only virtue here, no?).
Fact: That's not yet even remotely close to being a functional or statistical reality.

He's done it before and he appears to have the tools. Now that he appears to be healthy (he was in a lot of snaps last night) let's see him start making DBs look bad, put up the numbers, and I'll be happy to board the Gordon wagon. But if it takes Gordon a couple more weeks to get to full functional healthy and hit peak >Cooks productivity level? I can wait

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Theory vs fact.
Theory: Gordon 2018 will be better/more productive for the Patriots than Cooks 2017 (productivity being the only virtue here, no?).
Fact: That's not yet even remotely close to being a functional or statistical reality.

He's done it before and he appears to have the tools. Now that he appears to be healthy (he was in a lot of snaps last night) let's see him start making DBs look bad, put up the numbers, and I'll be happy to board the Gordon wagon. But if it takes Gordon a couple more weeks to get to full functional healthy and hit peak >Cooks productivity level? I can wait

I'll give you that this is more theoretical based on skills and not yet fully realized, but not everything is measured in receiving yards either. Gordon is a great blocker, is dangerous in short, mid, and deep, has great hands, and is a big, physical receiver who is hard to tackle. All of those attributes are superior to Cooks. So yes, the question is can he stay healthy and available, and in particular, can he master the route running? One thing to remember is that Cooks maddeningly did not master it, though he still may a lot of big plays.

Most importantly, Gordon was clearly the number one option tonight without a Gronk or Edelman playing at a superstar level, and he performed very well Go take a look at last year's Miami game to see how Cooks performed when he was the first option in the offense with Gronkowski out. Granted, the run game was much better in this game so it isn't apples to apples, but Gordon is arguably already better than Cooks because isn't a one-trick pony, makes difficult catches, and can beat you in different ways. You can tell Brady already likes Gordon better based on his comments about Gordon and his comments about Cooks leaving (he reportedly said something along the lines of "meh.")

 

[supafly]

We'll see if Gordon will choose to outrun a linebacker on an end around sweep, or if he'll instead attempt to leap over him in a spectacular fail.

We’ll see whether or not he tries to jam his penis in the opposing defender’s face mask. I’m guessing that it’s a no.