Do We Have Receivers (WR's RB's & TE's) capable of 378 Catches?

[mgteich]

We had 378 receptions last year, including one by Brady. 29% were by RB's, 55% by WR's and 16% by TE's. Let's look at this year's receivers. I see no reason to want to increase the number of receptions. We might want to have fewer, and rely more on the running game.

RUNNING BACKS (109 receptions in 2018)
Almost all were by White (87), with 14 by Burkhead, 7 by Michel and 1 by Hill. This year's group should be able to match that production.

TIGHT ENDS (62 receptions in 2018)
We cry and moan about this year's group not being able to match the past, looking for 30 or for 40 catches from the 2nd and 3rd TE's. That isn't all necessary. Gronk and Allan caught a TOTAL of 50. Watson and whoever should be able to match this result. Develin (our FB/TE) had 12 and this seems reasonable.

I'll repeat this for emphasis. Gronk and Allan caught 50 only passes in 2018, not a high abr at all.

WIDE RECEIVERS (206 in 2018)
Edelman had 74 and the rest was spread around among Gordon, Hogan, Dorsett and Patterson). Given that one of our top receivers is likely to miss a significant part of the season, we will likely have 5 significant contributors again, or even 6 if we start with say Edelman, Harry, Dorsett, Inman and Harris, and then have DT and Gordon coming in later in the season.

I do NOT think that we have an excess of receivers. If DT starts on PUP and Gordon on SUS, then we have 5 to start the season on the 53, although we may choose to have only 4 on the beginning 53.

I see the big battle being for the Practice Squad and for pre-season reps. We need someone to flash in pre-season. After all, this happens almost every preseason.

 

[Doctor DDS]

RB- suspect White's numbers will drop a bit but expect (hope) to see 20ish numbers from Burkhead, Michel and Harris. Would not be surprised to see more 2 back sets with one of them lined up in the slot. More RB receptions on 1st and 2nd down with White out of game should create some match up nightmares.

TE - really hard to say what role they will want out of this role. If the better talent ends up being at RB and/or WR I could see the Pats using this position more like they did late in the season and the total TE receptions are limited.

WR - feel good about this. Edelman will have a monster year if healthy. I can see Harry having 40-50 catches and I suspect that will get some 3rd WR production out of whoever wins that role between Dorsett/Iman/Harris. Am anticipating Gordon and Thomas coming back mid year and if healthy the Pats could have best group in years.

 

[Ivan]

We had 378 receptions last year, including one by Brady. 29% were by RB's, 55% by WR's and 16% by TE's. Let's look at this year's receivers. I see no reason to want to increase the number of receptions. We might want to have fewer, and rely more on the running game.

RUNNING BACKS (109 receptions in 2018)
Almost all were by White (87), with 14 by Bulkhead, 7 by Michel and 1 by Hill. This year's group should be able to match that production.

TIGHT ENDS (62 receptions in 2018)
We cry and moan about this year's group not being able to match the past, looking for 30 or for 40 catches from the 2nd and 3rd TE's. That isn't all necessary. Gronk and Allan caught a TOTAL of 50. Watson and whoever should be able to match this result. Develin (our FB/TE) had 12 and this seems reasonable.

I'll repeat this for emphasis. Gronk and Allan caught 50 only passes in 2018, not a high abr at all.

WIDE RECEIVERS (206 in 2018)
Edelman had 74 and the rest was spread around among Gordon, Hogan, Dorsett and Patterson). Given that one of our top receivers is likely to miss a significant part of the season, we will likely have 5 significant contributors again, or even 6 if we start with say Edelman, Harry, Dorsett, Inman and Harris, and then have DT and Gordon coming in later in the season.

I do NOT think that we have an excess of receivers. If DT starts on PUP and Gordon on SUS, then we have 5 to start the season on the 53, although we may choose to have only 4 on the beginning 53.

I see the big battle being for the Practice Squad and for pre-season reps. We need someone to flash in pre-season. After all, this happens almost every preseason.

Good post. I think we always get hung up on positional and unit talent, and don’t pay enough attention to roles and real production. Imo they have filled those roles so they will be better offensively in 2019 than they were in 2018.

 

[SBLIII]

The WRs and RBs will be better. Can the TE group match 709 yards and 3 TDs? I think so. There is no Gronk but right now we got 3 TEs on the roster who have a good chance of making the final roster who can all catch the football and make plays. And if we should add Kyle Rudolph to the mix I would say the TE group is significantly improved. As of right now a less heralded group but it consists of 2,3 players who can get it done and produce.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

We had 378 receptions last year, including one by Brady. 29% were by RB's, 55% by WR's and 16% by TE's. Let's look at this year's receivers. I see no reason to want to increase the number of receptions. We might want to have fewer, and rely more on the running game.

RUNNING BACKS (109 receptions in 2018)
Almost all were by White (87), with 14 by Bulkhead, 7 by Michel and 1 by Hill. This year's group should be able to match that production.

TIGHT ENDS (62 receptions in 2018)
We cry and moan about this year's group not being able to match the past, looking for 30 or for 40 catches from the 2nd and 3rd TE's. That isn't all necessary. Gronk and Allan caught a TOTAL of 50. Watson and whoever should be able to match this result. Develin (our FB/TE) had 12 and this seems reasonable.

I'll repeat this for emphasis. Gronk and Allan caught 50 only passes in 2018, not a high abr at all.

WIDE RECEIVERS (206 in 2018)
Edelman had 74 and the rest was spread around among Gordon, Hogan, Dorsett and Patterson). Given that one of our top receivers is likely to miss a significant part of the season, we will likely have 5 significant contributors again, or even 6 if we start with say Edelman, Harry, Dorsett, Inman and Harris, and then have DT and Gordon coming in later in the season.

I do NOT think that we have an excess of receivers. If DT starts on PUP and Gordon on SUS, then we have 5 to start the season on the 53, although we may choose to have only 4 on the beginning 53.

I see the big battle being for the Practice Squad and for pre-season reps. We need someone to flash in pre-season. After all, this happens almost every preseason.

Gronk is a big loss. He averaged a Gronk-like 9.5 yards per target and more importantly served to take in double teams and disguise run-pass plays. Having a TE like that, or someone who is a decent dual threat, is important.

As far as WR, I think last year’s group without Gordon was not very good anyway and think this could be an improvement, but so many question marks. Hogan was a very limited, situational player; Dorsett was still a last option; and Patterson was just a strange super athletic guy who provided value but wasn’t a real WR.

If running backs stay healthy, don’t see why this isn’t a better group this year.

 

[maust]

Healthy this RB group should exceed the production of last year's.

If the 1 & 2 TE's are Watson & Seferian-Jenkins, a reasonably sized if here in the 2nd week of May with Rudolph dangling out there, it's not a reach to think the quantity of catches from the position group may actually go up this season. The best QB that's ever thrown Seferian-Jenkins a pass was McCown and he totaled 50 receptions that season. So if anything with Brady tossing the rock Seferian-Jenkins will think he died and went to TE heaven. Watson was only targeted 46 times in NO last year as their offense had morphed away from the heavy targeting he saw there before he went to Baltimore. That said, he caught 35 of those 46. Just based on that simple a look it's not a reach the quantity of catches may well increase, it's the quality that's a question mark. As was already mentioned above Gronk received a great deal of attention from opposing D's that helped elsewhere, not to mention he blocked like a beast.

Even with the current questions at WR this is a better group than we started last season with, and by more than a little.

 

[Triumph]

The Pat's will be more of a run the ball and control the clock team thereby taking pressure off Brady. Brady is lethal in play action.

The proof is in the 2018 post season Chargers and Chiefs games. Opening 8 and 7 minute scoring drives that hung the SD and KC defenses out to dry. They were totally spent in the 4th quarter. Even the Rams game followed this pattern to some extent.

The Pat's can still throw it all over the yard and go hurry up offense, but the old school run and play defense still can win world championships

Furthermore, the OL likes to be on the giving end of delivering the hits instead of taking defensive positions.

 

[farn]

I don’t think the TEs currently on the roster will get to a combined 50 catches. It doesn’t bother me, as I am hoping the running game ressembles what it did post-Gordon.

Add me to the list of people thinking White will catch fewer passes, but others should get a few more.

 

[Deus Irae]

Too many unknowns to evaluate this at this time.

 

[Joey007]

lolol Bulkhead

 

[Uptown]

Slightly OT:

TB still money on the money down.

Brady makes a lot of big throws on 3rd down

 

[goheels22002]

Gronk will be missed for the attention he drew whether he stayed in to block or ran a route. Defenses can have more success in Cover 2 unless Seferian Jenkins proves to be a good read and react route runner.

 

[PatsDeb]

As long as we have a healthy TB12 at the helm, I say "hell yes!"

 

[PatsDeb]

Gronk will be missed for the attention he drew whether he stayed in to block or ran a route. Defenses can have more success in Cover 2 unless Seferian Jenkins proves to be a good read and react route runner.

The beauty of the Pats is that instead of lamenting what they've lost (and I am talking about myself only here), they have already made plans as to how they are going to maximize the guys they have on the roster this year. Even though we all expected a Gronk replacement (through a trade or the draft), with the guys they have chosen/signed, they appear to be going in a different direction and will keep their fans, and most importantly their opponents (who may have tailored their own rosters to counter Gronk or a Gronk-like replacement) guessing until the opening kick-off. Man I love the Pats!!

 

[Hyped]

RB: Same # of receptions overall with White still leading the group, but expect more from Michel (around 20-25 would be ideal).

TE: Same # of receptions overall. If we were to play a game today, I believe the distribution would be: Watson>ASJ>Izzo>LaCosse>Anderson

WR: I think more receptions this year. I expect defenses to load up vs. the run in an attempt to force Brady into more 3rd and longs than last year. I think the distribution will be (IF every player were available and healthy): Edelman>Gordon>Thomas>Harry>Dorsett/Inman/Harris.
I think we can hit 250 receptions this year with these tall guys and Brady's accuracy.

 

[stinkypete]

I like the look of the WR group now. Inman was a sneaky good signing. I would not be surprised if he emerges as WR #2 as Harry learns the playbook and catches 50 - 60 balls.

 

[signbabybrady]

Too many unknowns to evaluate this at this time.

That doesn't stop us the other 364 days.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Jules 80
Harry 50
All other WRs 50
White 60
Sony 30
Harris 15
Burk 20
TEs 50

Thats 355 and I think they will be pushing 500 rushing attempts for the season.

 

[ChessToCheckers]

IMO: Best off-season reloading in years! I think our offense will be a juggernaut! Excellent running game combined with big receivers passing game! Creating advantageous match ups will be easier than most years. Small quick defenses will be run on. Heavy defenses will be thrown on. We are a Defense's nightmare!

Speaking of Defense, ours might actually be better than 2018, based on the many analyses found on this board.

It should be fun to watch exactly how it all plays out. I'm really looking forward to this season!

If I'm one of the other 31, I know I wouldn't want to face us!

Go Pats!

 

[Deus Irae]

That doesn't stop us the other 364 days.

Maybe, but, in a season where we're not sure about the if/when of Thomas and Gordon getting on the field, I think Ellington getting cut only about a week ago makes my point.