Gunner Olszewski

[TomPatriot]

He's our PR...and I believe he plays on other core ST units...not sure which...

KO Cover, maybe punt cover, but I'm not sure.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I'm honestly not sure why he's on the roster. Bill must see something worth trying to develop a la Julian Edelman. Gunner certainly isn't here for his current skillset which is pretty unimpressive

I do think Edelman is probably the closest thing we have to a good comp, and that's why expectations really need to be tempered. Edelman wasn't much of an NFL WR until his 5th year in the league, I assume in large part because he had to learn the position much like Gunner now has to.

That said, I like him as a PR and think his skillset can slide well into numerous other ST roles. Which is enough to keep him on the team while he develops as a player. But yeah, I think it'll be a couple years before the full value of having him around can be realized. He has the requisite athleticism to be a real, impactful NFL receiver, something that Braxton Berrios and Riley McCaron lacked. It remains to be seen whether he'll capitalize on that to anywhere near the degree that Edelman has, but at least the opportunity is there. I do think returning punts is a fairly good barometer for the toughness required to play slot receiver, and Gunner has shown he has it by taking the 10 yard returns that come with big hits at the end.

 

[PatsFan2]

I'm honestly not sure why he's on the roster. Bill must see something worth trying to develop a la Julian Edelman. Gunner certainly isn't here for his current skillset which is pretty unimpressive

Other than the one Drop the Gunner have shown he can catch a punt.

 

[Ring 6]

He needs to sit down for a week

 

[BradyFTW!]

Other than the one Drop the Gunner have shown he can catch a punt.

Yeah, I've noticed some people in GDTs giving him crap for the number of fair catches, but none of them were clearly the wrong call. I'd rather the PR call for a fair catch if it's even arguably justified. As long as he takes advantage of line-drive punts by taking the free 5-15 yards that come with them--which Gunner does--I'm happy.

 

[bresna]

People seem to forget how the Patriots brought Edelman along.
2009 11 games 37 rec 359 yds & 6 punt returns for 63 yds
2010 15 games 7 rec 86 yds & 21 punt returns for 321 yds
2011 13 games 4 rec 34 yds & 28 punt returns for 296 yds
2012 9 games 21 rec 235 yds & 17 punt returns for 263 yds

So why did we keep Edelman again?

 

[RobertWeathers]

People seem to forget how the Patriots brought Edelman along.
2009 11 games 37 rec 359 yds & 6 punt returns for 63 yds
2010 15 games 7 rec 86 yds & 21 punt returns for 321 yds
2011 13 games 4 rec 34 yds & 28 punt returns for 296 yds
2012 9 games 21 rec 235 yds & 17 punt returns for 263 yds

So why did we keep Edelman again?

....and from 09-12 Welker averaged 118 catches, 1300yds and 7TDs a year.

JE was not getting time over WW.

 

[bresna]

....and from 09-12 Welker averaged 118 catches, 1300yds and 7TDs a year.

JE was not getting time over WW.

Without a doubt. But we do have a blueprint for how they're developing Gunner. After all, in 2009, when Edelman was drafted, Welker was only 28. By the time Edelman started getting catches, Welker was 31 years old and gone to Denver the next year.

Edelman is 33. It's not a stretch to think that they are grooming Gunner to man the slot.

 

[PatsFan2]

People seem to forget how the Patriots brought Edelman along.
2009 11 games 37 rec 359 yds & 6 punt returns for 63 yds
2010 15 games 7 rec 86 yds & 21 punt returns for 321 yds
2011 13 games 4 rec 34 yds & 28 punt returns for 296 yds
2012 9 games 21 rec 235 yds & 17 punt returns for 263 yds

So why did we keep Edelman again?

The Giants didn't sign him on a certain FA Visit many moons ago. Hmmmmm the what IF's on both sides.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Without a doubt. But we do have a blueprint for how they're developing Gunner. After all, in 2009, when Edelman was drafted, Welker was only 28. By the time Edelman started getting catches, Welker was 31 years old and gone to Denver the next year.

Edelman is 33. It's not a stretch to think that they are grooming Gunner to man the slot.

I don't think we know that yet. Maybe but maybe not.

JE had 37 catches his rookie year including 8 in his 1st game as a pro. He showed something early in games. His issue was he was behind the most prolific slot receiver in NFL history.

We have no idea what Gun can do as a WR in games.

 

[Clonamery]

Yeah, I've noticed some people in GDTs giving him crap for the number of fair catches, but none of them were clearly the wrong call. I'd rather the PR call for a fair catch if it's even arguably justified. As long as he takes advantage of line-drive punts by taking the free 5-15 yards that come with them--which Gunner does--I'm happy.

People in the GDT only see the open space in front of the returner but have no idea if the blocking is there or not.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Last I checked he is a rookie from a small college learning the game and getting stronger.

I gave him no chance in the summer ... happy to admit my error.

 

[Oswlek]

Without a doubt. But we do have a blueprint for how they're developing Gunner. After all, in 2009, when Edelman was drafted, Welker was only 28. By the time Edelman started getting catches, Welker was 31 years old and gone to Denver the next year.

Edelman is 33. It's not a stretch to think that they are grooming Gunner to man the slot.

I think Guner flashed more than expected, but Julian - despite taking a few years to develop - was further along as a WR. Further along as a PR as well.

 

[Clonamery]

Last I checked he is a rookie from a small college learning the game and getting stronger.

I gave him no chance in the summer ... happy to admit my error.

Thus far, you are forgiven.

 

[Triumph]

He should be on the punt coverage unit as a gunner.

 

[Double TE]

He was a defensive POY in his conf. (D II) so he can tackle.

 

[PScottman]

Gunner is pretty useless...aside from his reckless punt returns and his insane ability to fair catch punts with no defenders within 5 yards...

Another in a looooong line of commentary unable to separate the strategic from the tactical.

Why is Belichick a great coach? Because he rarely sacrifices the greater strategy for a quick tactical win, unless that tactical win is at a strategic moment. He will bring in a back of the roster player for a week to maximize the scout team ability to emulate an opponent as an example.

He absolutely will have specific role players if they exhibit potential to be more in a couple years - especially rookies because their cap hit is so low. This is contrary to "everyone is a Swiss army knife" the media portrays which is true for some, and also a cap saver, but not true for all Patriot players (although could you see Gunner suit up as a CB if injuries ravaged that part of the roster...possibly). That's an exhibition of wanting to have a good team every year...knowing he can't just "free agent" his way to that end because of the cap.

Too many posters want the cocaine high of getting rid every player who isn't a "star", have no clue in regards to overall cap management, and have no confidence in how the entire roster is built despite year after year the Patriots trotting out a winning team (not statistical fantasy leaders). They also have zero appreciation of special teams and will always sacrifice one third of the game for those same fantasy statistics.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

He's the PR and is a bargain basement cost, in NFL terms, on a team that is forcing a lot of punts (with one error so far), I believe plays other STs, and meanwhile is developing potential for ???. At this point I'm not sure what's not to like.

 

[tasmlab]

How the hell is his name pronounced "Oh-shef-ski"?

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

How the hell is his name pronounced "Oh-shef-ski"?

You would have to be able to make a Pierogi to understand