WRs in lieu of TEs?

[Gumby]

so BB has finally found some tall WRs that he likes. At same time, he has lost all his experienced/trusted TEs.

Harry =6'4"
Thomas =6'3"
Gordon =6'3"

I was just wondering if he wouldn't see the opportunity to play some of these WRs as if they were tes. In the pats offense, all the players have to learn all the routes anyway. So the WRs have to know the te routes. The only question is, if you did that, how much would the blocking suffer or would you tip your hand of run vs pass if they are standing in the te spot rather than an Izzo/Lacosse.

Could bb even go so far as to release more TEs and keep more WRs as a result of having these tall guys and such wr depth?.

 

[PP2]

ILO = In Lieu Of?

Only other thing I can think of is International Labor Organization, Integrated Lights Out (inc), or Ilo, Peru?

 

[Gumby]

Yes, sorry. in lieu of was intended.

 

[luuked]

so BB has finally found some tall WRs that he likes. At same time, he has lost all his experienced/trusted TEs.

Harry =6'4"
Thomas =6'3"
Gordon =6'3"

I was just wondering if he wouldn't see the opportunity to play some of these WRs as if they were tes. In the pats offense, all the players have to learn all the routes anyway. So the WRs have to know the te routes. The only question is, if you did that, how much would the blocking suffer or would you tip your hand of run vs pass if they are standing in the te spot rather than an Izzo/Lacosse.

Could bb even go so far as to release more TEs and keep more WRs as a result of having these tall guys and such wr depth?.

Once you lose your elite hybrid TE to retirement I don't see any other way than reinventing some of the offense because the main way you were able to keep opponents guessing what's a run and what is a pass and then exploit whatever they committed to is gone now.

I think we will be looking at a lot more spread looks. Personally I think the couple of TE seam routes that we have been seeing the preseason are a red herring to keep the early opponents off balance and prepare for something that will not be on the menu.

At the same time most of the WRs have the necessary physique to block somewhat competently against nickel (or dime) so you can still kinda achieve some balance between run/pass while staying somewhat unpredictable.

 

[Deus Irae]

so BB has finally found some tall WRs that he likes. At same time, he has lost all his experienced/trusted TEs.

Harry =6'4"
Thomas =6'3"
Gordon =6'3"

I was just wondering if he wouldn't see the opportunity to play some of these WRs as if they were tes. In the pats offense, all the players have to learn all the routes anyway. So the WRs have to know the te routes. The only question is, if you did that, how much would the blocking suffer or would you tip your hand of run vs pass if they are standing in the te spot rather than an Izzo/Lacosse.

Could bb even go so far as to release more TEs and keep more WRs as a result of having these tall guys and such wr depth?.

Playing week one with just one TE on the roster, for blocking, then?

 

[Ring 6]

I don’t think it’s replacing TEs with WRs.
It more deemphasizing the TE position, because the talent lies elsewhere.

While gronk was a beast blocker, of course there is some drop off but the blocking responsibilities are still needed at TE and no way a tall Wr comes close to filling that.

In the passing game on obvious passing downs you will see more wr and/or RBs on the field and fewer TEs.

Where IMO the big change occurs is schematically.
Much like we revolutionized the 2 TE offense with gronk and the murderer by putting a run oriented personnel group that was scary to pass defense and making the defense choose its personnel poison, I think we will do the same with the no TE grouping.
A RB plus 4 WR or even a RB FB and 3 wide is going to force the defense to weaken itself in some way.
I can definitely see 4 Wr spread formation that we run out of. If they bring dbs into the box the 4 wides will be a handful to cover.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Once you lose your elite hybrid TE to retirement I don't see any other way than reinventing some of the offense because the main way you were able to keep opponents guessing what's a run and what is a pass and then exploit whatever they committed to is gone now.

I think we will be looking at a lot more spread looks. Personally I think the couple of TE seam routes that we have been seeing the preseason are a red herring to keep the early opponents off balance and prepare for something that will not be on the menu.

At the same time most of the WRs have the necessary physique to block efficiently so you can still kinda achieve some balance between run/pass while staying somewhat unpredictable.

Respectively, we aren't reinventing anything. The offense has always been abt attacking parts of the field. We'll just attack elsewhere & add variations like we do every year.

Not trying to get caught up in one word btw.

Side note here in general. Route running is extremely important to NE but we win by attacking space w different option routes. Chemistry, timing, trust is valued more imo. You can be the greatest rr in the world but if you're not understanding coverage & where Tom wants to go rr isnt worth much in this offense.

Also Harry is 6'2

 

[SBLIII]

I can see Michel RB, Edelman WR, Harry WR, Thomas WR, Gordon WR vs the Steelers. They won't be ready for it.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I think they carry two tightends and carry Gunner as their 7th wr serving as the punt returner. They will kind of carry 3 with Watson suspended. I think the other two are izzo and lacosse. And lacosse likely released when Watson comes back

6 other wr

Gordon
Thomas
Harry
Edelman
Dorsett
Myers

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I can see Michel RB, Edelman WR, Harry WR, Thomas WR, Gordon WR vs the Steelers. They won't be ready for it.

Harry won't be ready for it either

 

[SBLIII]

Harry won't be ready for it either

why not?

 

[Gumby]

Respectively, we aren't reinventing anything. The offense has always been abt attacking parts of the field. We'll just attack elsewhere & add variations like we do every year.

. . .

Also Harry is 6'2

Maybe he grew since the combine!
Patriots.com roster page says 6'4"

"N'Keal Harry
8 WR 6-4 225 21 R Arizona State"

New England Patriots

 

[Uptown]

Maybe he grew since the combine!
Patriots.com roster page says 6'4"

"N'Keal Harry
8 WR 6-4 225 21 R Arizona State"

New England Patriots

Yeah, he looks a lot bigger on the field.

 

[SBLIII]

Yeah,

Yeah, I told you guys Harry isn’t 6’2. Can’t be. He’s at least 6’3/ 6’4.

Looks to be the same size as Gordon

 

[luuked]

Respectively, we aren't reinventing anything. The offense has always been abt attacking parts of the field. We'll just attack elsewhere & add variations like we do every year.

Not trying to get caught up in one word btw.

Yeah, reinventing was maybe the wrong word.

With Gronk we were running a lot of packages that checked at what point opponents switch between their small (pass) and bigger (run) defenses (i.e. what are the keys they perceive to be tell signs for pass or run) and tried to exploit that and attack mismatches in coverage.

This year I expect us to do kinda the same but with multiple WR that are capable blockers against smaller defenses (nickel or even dime).

I chose reinvent because for the first time in a while TEs won't be at the center of how Josh will attack.

 

[IcyPatriot]

ILO = In Lieu Of?

Only other thing I can think of is International Labor Organization, Integrated Lights Out (inc), or Ilo, Peru?

Perhaps ... Wide Receivers Et Al ...

 

[PatsFan2]

6'3 WR's = guys with better catch radius. Brady won't have to make perfect throws anymore. Going to be a welcome sight not throwing to midgets only. Also having the Fade and Backshoulder throws in our playbook it's been a very long time.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

You know what? Some of these tall guys pass my test too...

 

[Ring 6]

Respectively, we aren't reinventing anything. The offense has always been abt attacking parts of the field. We'll just attack elsewhere & add variations like we do every year.

Not trying to get caught up in one word btw.

Side note here in general. Route running is extremely important to NE but we win by attacking space w different option routes. Chemistry, timing, trust is valued more imo. You can be the greatest rr in the world but if you're not understanding coverage & where Tom wants to go rr isnt worth much in this offense.

Also Harry is 6'2

Good points. We won’t be inventing anything new. The packages and plays are all there, we will just be using more of some and less of others.
Example, when woodhead was the “passing game rb” we used that group to run the ball a lot more than with vereen or white.

 

[reflexblue]

You know what? Some of these tall guys pass my test too...

And they're Quicker than TEs usually are.