Slow Your Roll on the Patriots WRs… There's a Long Way to Go

[Brady_to_Moss]

Harry not being on the field and getting the reps sucks. Not sure what his impact will be this year but I hate the track record of rookie WRs here. Hopefully he changes that. DT is past his prime and who knows what he will bring. Gordon could be gone any week. A lot of uncertainty.

Luckily this D can carry the team if injuries hit the WRs...which they already have

 

[Joey007]

Brady had a lot of trust in JM during joint practices.

Gotta have it in game, though.

 

[mgteich]

Yup

Belichick probably knows who will make the 53, although it is possible that health may change that choice over the next week.

For me, we should be able to list the few players on the 53 that will/should play, and it should be short: Gostkowski, Bailey, Cardona, Stidham, Hoyer, Bolden. So, yes, I would hold out the other 47 plus any that will be put on IR or NFI.

That leaves about 35 players who should get all the reps, and try to get picked up elsewhere.

Hold all 3 out. Give Gunner, Patterson and Davis some more playing time.

 

[IllegalContact]

no worries............why?

because we're going to run it down their f*cking throats

 

[Ring 6]

After last night, I definitely disagree with this now. It’s obvious Brady has much more trust with Dorsett at this point. No way he doesn’t make the roster. Myers just hasn’t clicked yet.

The WR5 doesn’t need to click in August.
What you are suggesting would add up to Meyers never seeing the field. If that were the case, why keep him?

 

[Joey007]

The WR5 doesn’t need to click in August.
What you are suggesting would add up to Meyers never seeing the field. If that were the case, why keep him?

I’m not implying he’ll never see the field. Just that Dorsett obviously has much more of a connection with Brady at this point.

 

[zydecochris]

no worries............why?

because we're going to run it down their f*cking throats

That, and I bet this year is a record for receptions by Patriot RBs. White is one of the best in the NFL, Michael now has had a training camp and some time to bond with Brady (and in college he had good receiving and solid pass blocking skills), and Harris has solid receiving skills and very good blocking skills (in college and in pre-season, the only question is if he has completely bonded with Brady). With White in for obvious passing downs and Michael and Harris available in the "the defense doesn't know if it is a run or pass" downs, I bet we have an absolute boatload of receptions by RBs.

 

[Ring 6]

I’m not implying he’ll never see the field. Just that Dorsett obviously has much more of a connection with Brady at this point.

I know but I am saying that’s the result.
Your position is that we need 6 WRs because Meyers can’t be trusted so we need dorsett who can be.
That would mean Meyers isn’t capable of being the 5 when the 5 isn’t even likely to see the field unless something goes wrong.

In other words we have
Edelman
Gordon
Thomas
Harry

there is probably a shortage of snake for them much less snaps available for whoever is WR5.
If one is hurt the other 3 would/could carry 95% of the load.
If 2 were hurt, you would need WR5.

If you cant trust Meyers to not screw up the offense in that role then you would never put him on the field.

if you keep both him and dorsett you have 2 guys unlikely to play one if whom would only see the field if there were 3 injuries. That’s a waste of a roster spot IMO.

 

[Joey007]

I know but I am saying that’s the result.
Your position is that we need 6 WRs because Meyers can’t be trusted so we need dorsett who can be.
That would mean Meyers isn’t capable of being the 5 when the 5 isn’t even likely to see the field unless something goes wrong.

In other words we have
Edelman
Gordon
Thomas
Harry

there is probably a shortage of snake for them much less snaps available for whoever is WR5.
If one is hurt the other 3 would/could carry 95% of the load.
If 2 were hurt, you would need WR5.

If you cant trust Meyers to not screw up the offense in that role then you would never put him on the field.

if you keep both him and dorsett you have 2 guys unlikely to play one if whom would only see the field if there were 3 injuries. That’s a waste of a roster spot IMO.

Problem I see is that Dorsett holds more present value. But Myers holds more potential future value.

It’s like keeping a 3rd QB, or redshirting a high draft pick due to waiting for further development in a sense.

Sometimes, a roster spot is held on to due to more future development rather than immediate need. After seeing Dorsett and the positive reps he got with Brady last night, I have a hard time seeing him getting cut. I also have a hard time envisioning Myers getting cut due to his performance this preseason.

Unless we surprisingly cut Thomas or Gordon already gets suspended again, we appear to stand at 6 WR. It is what it is.

Maybe we’ll start off the year with only 2 TE’s on the roster until Watson returns. I don’t see great value in the likes of Stephen Anderson and Lance Kendricks if you’re referring to wasting a roster spot.

 

[Ring 6]

Problem I see is that Dorsett holds more present value. But Myers holds more potential future value.

Which are the decisions made at cutdown all the time. It’s about making choices not saying keep everyone. The 6th wr is farther from playing than pretty much any depth spot on a 53 man roster.

It’s like keeping a 3rd QB, or redshirting a high draft pick due to waiting for further development in a sense.

That’s because only 1 QBs can play and our #2 is old. It is very uncommon at any other position to keep a guy buried that deep. In other words if you are scared of him being WR5 he can’t be much of a prospect. players don’t go from a point where you are scared to use them to good players.

Sometimes, a roster spot is held on to due to more future development rather than immediate need.

The would be WR5

After seeing Dorsett and the positive reps he got with Brady last night, I have a hard time seeing him getting cut.

He would have to be ahead of one of Edelman Gordon Harry Thomas to be useful.
This is the issue, not Meyers. Let’s call Meyers developmental.
Why keep dorsett when we will never play
Your argument amounts to it’s worth keeping him all season inactive because god forbid we have 2 injuries and Meyers needs to play.
It’s not that dorsett doesn’t have value it’s that we have better players taking his job.

I also have a hard time envisioning Myers getting cut due to his performance this preseason.

Agree

Unless we surprisingly cut Thomas or Gordon already gets suspended again, we appear to stand at 6 WR. It is what it is.

Well that’s not “what it is”. That’s your opinion.

Maybe we’ll start off the year with only 2 TE’s on the roster until Watson returns. I don’t see great value in the likes of Stephen Anderson and Lance Kendricks if you’re referring to wasting a roster spot.

I think we start the year with 5 WR and 2 TE with one of each on the ps.

 

[Joey007]

Which are the decisions made at cutdown all the time. It’s about making choices not saying keep everyone. The 6th wr is farther from playing than pretty much any depth spot on a 53 man roster.


That’s because only 1 QBs can play and our #2 is old. It is very uncommon at any other position to keep a guy buried that deep. In other words if you are scared of him being WR5 he can’t be much of a prospect. players don’t go from a point where you are scared to use them to good players.


The would be WR5



He would have to be ahead of one of Edelman Gordon Harry Thomas to be useful.
This is the issue, not Meyers. Let’s call Meyers developmental.
Why keep dorsett when we will never play
Your argument amounts to it’s worth keeping him all season inactive because god forbid we have 2 injuries and Meyers needs to play.
It’s not that dorsett doesn’t have value it’s that we have better players taking his job.



Agree


Well that’s not “what it is”. That’s your opinion.


I think we start the year with 5 WR and 2 TE with one of each on the ps.

What position are you refusing to cut down upon if we don’t go 6 WR?

 

[Ring 6]

What position are you refusing to cut down upon if we don’t go 6 WR?

All of them.
What I am saying is the 53rd player is more useful elsewhere than as WR6.
I mean it’s not a hawt take idea, when have we ever kept 6?

 

[Scotty]

I can see both points here I guess if Dorsett/Myers is the 5th receiver then the "6th" would be unlikely to make the PS so we would need to be prepared to loose either of them

 

[Joey007]

All of them.
What I am saying is the 53rd player is more useful elsewhere than as WR6.
I mean it’s not a hawt take idea, when have we ever kept 6?

The “53rd player” won’t be typically active anyways, so I fail to see the point there.

When have we had a TE depth chart this thin in the BB era? Probably never. That’s another serious thing to factor.

For the record, 2008 would be an example of where we kept 6 (ex. Slater) on the opening day roster.

Keeping 6 has been rare, but this year’s situation is unique to years past, since we are now without Gronk for the first time in a decade.

 

[Ring 6]

The “53rd player” won’t be typically active anyways, so I fail to see the point there.

When have we had a TE depth chart this thin in the BB era? Probably never. That’s another serious thing to factor.

For the record, 2008 would be an example of where we kept 6 (ex. Slater) on the opening day roster.

Keeping 6 has been rare, but this year’s situation is unique to years past, since we are now without Gronk for the first time in a decade.

I don’t think TE depth or quality have anything to do with keeping a 6th WR. Why would it? The inactive WR isn’t solving anything. It’s like keeping 4 QBs because you have a weak running game.
I’m not sure where your list comes from but c j jones wasn’t on the 2008 roster, so the answer might be never.

Look I get your point, and I understand there is reasoning behind it, but I think it’s misplaced.
Put it this way. You would have a very strong argument for why we need 5 WRs. Which is why most, but not all, years we keep 5. But when you extend it to 6 you keep a guy who has no chance of contributing unless there are at least 2 injuries. All of the other inactive are injured or 1 injury away.
What you are illustrating is that cutdown are hard. Right choices have to be made and in a lot of cases it’s pluses and minuses on both sides that have to be weighted (bigger vs quicker; better vs the run or pass; reliable vs talented; youth vs experience; consistent vs upside, etc etc. Meyers vs Dorsett is just another example of a choice for the last available spot.

Now, with that in mind, there have been times BB cuts down to 51 or 52. It’s not crazy that feels for the first week or 2 since his top receivers have missed a lot practice and may be questionable that 2 could not be ready week 1 and temporarily he does keep 6 with 2 of the top 4 inactive week 1.
But long term I just don’t see it.

 

[Ring 6]

I can see both points here I guess if Dorsett/Myers is the 5th receiver then the "6th" would be unlikely to make the PS so we would need to be prepared to loose either of them

Sure but we need to be prepared to lose 37 guys and who is in front of them and how much you need them sometimes means more than how good they are.
For example if we keep DT5 instead of WR6 it doesn’t mean we were more willing to lose wr6 it means DT5 is more likely to be needed.

 

[IllegalContact]

That, and I bet this year is a record for receptions by Patriot RBs. White is one of the best in the NFL, Michael now has had a training camp and some time to bond with Brady (and in college he had good receiving and solid pass blocking skills), and Harris has solid receiving skills and very good blocking skills (in college and in pre-season, the only question is if he has completely bonded with Brady). With White in for obvious passing downs and Michael and Harris available in the "the defense doesn't know if it is a run or pass" downs, I bet we have an absolute boatload of receptions by RBs.

That, and I bet this year is a record for receptions by Patriot RBs. White is one of the best in the NFL, Michael now has had a training camp and some time to bond with Brady (and in college he had good receiving and solid pass blocking skills), and Harris has solid receiving skills and very good blocking skills (in college and in pre-season, the only question is if he has completely bonded with Brady). With White in for obvious passing downs and Michael and Harris available in the "the defense doesn't know if it is a run or pass" downs, I bet we have an absolute boatload of receptions by RBs.

Damned straight.....5 RB set

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Dorsett as of now is more reliable than anyone except JE. All the others have significant questions around them, with 2 rookies, a guy 8 months out from Achilles surgery, and a guy who hasn’t practiced yet and is at high risk of suspension. The bullets fly in 2 weeks. Dorsett is an ironclad lock. He’s WR2, not 5. He looked more like Deion Branch last night than a TC cut.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Does anyone else think the Dorsett or Myers or 6 WR discussion is a false choice? DT hasn't played a snap and hasn't had a chance to establish a rapport with Brady even in practice. I'm not sure why the Pats would pay him an extra $2+M to take a roster spot from someone who has earned it. Also, with Gordon on the NFI list, it's possible that the Pats give him time to work in the team facility and get into a good routine for 6 weeks before activating him.

FWIW, I expect to see JE, Harry, PD, Myers and Gordon on the cutdown day roster. That's a pretty solid group, although a bit light in ST contribution compared to most years.

 

[patman52]

I think the group is solid and that is all they have to be. While thomas has not been able to take part in team practices over the last few weeks I have little doubt that he and Brady have been playing together on the field. Damn they spend enough time on the sidelines together during the preseason broadcasts. I think the group is very deep also with Meredith and Harris most likely stashed. Another thing I see with this team is the opposing CBs being beat up in the 4th quarter with the running game, both being wore down by tackling and being blocked by some big guys playing wr. Never mind with such a good running game I think the play action is going to helped greatly