Gunner

[upstater1]

I hope Gunner does really well.

But, Julian has taken an incredible amount of hits and has stayed healthy for much of his career outside of the ACL, and by heatlhy I mean he can play an entire year and catch 100 balls even with broken ribs.

Hard to believe we'll ever see a guy who can take the punishment inside like him. There's a reason WRs don't like to mix it up where Julian lives. And it's because it shortens careers.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

This was his breakout game. Real happy for him. I liked his moxy and was concerned he was slipping off the roster earlier. Last wk had a return called back. This week 2 exclamation points. Nicely done.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

I think hes the next edelman

It may never happen because Edelman had a QB whose entire bread and butter was short quick middle of the field option route passes for 20 years. So it really depends on who the QB is.

.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

back to back pats ST potw?

 

[Jim Beankie]

People act like he was a stud before two weeks ago. He wasn’t. He was making bad decisions and wasn’t a great returner. Maybe something clicked or maybe Bill’s comments sparked something but he looks like a completely different player.

He wasn't a stud, but he was "6th" in yds/return in 2019 (min 20 returns - granted only 15 people were eligible). He just didn't crack a long one until last week. Just for fun, it's too bad he only has 9 returns so far this year, because his current Y/R (26.9) would set an all time season record (21.6) by 5 Y/R. He'd need to average 17 over the next 11 PRs (which is not going to happen given 1: don't think he's getting 11 punt returns in 4 games and 2: Hester's best year ever was 17.1). For a SB era record (18.9), he'd need to avg 12.4 for 11 returns.

Geez - the team had 9 punt returns coming into this game. I rewatched the Dolphins game earlier this week and saw the Byrd punt drop (off the first punt of the season - though he was bumped by his own guy) and went - oh that's probably part of the reason why he's not back there.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Funny that Gunner seems to catch punts really well, but a sports journalist (I do not remember where I heard it) said that he is poor at catching passes and that is why he does not get many snaps at receiver.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Funny that Gunner seems to catch punts really well, but a sports journalist (I do not remember where I heard it) said that he is poor at catching passes and that is why he does not get many snaps at receiver.

I dunno. He bobbled a lot earlier

 

[Marko]

Funny that Gunner seems to catch punts really well, but a sports journalist (I do not remember where I heard it) said that he is poor at catching passes and that is why he does not get many snaps at receiver.

Different styles, punts you are generally running toward, while passes you are running away from. This might be due to him being a DB and being used to facing the action

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Different styles, punts you are generally running toward, while passes you are running away from. This might be due to him being a DB and being used to facing the action

Good point. I read he was a fearless, good catcher in baseball, again facing the action.

 

[1960Pats]

I think hes the next edelman

I don't think he has anything close Edelman's evasiveness or toughness. JE's a rare find.

 

[NashuaPats]

 

[203Pat]

I don't think he has anything close Edelman's evasiveness or toughness. JE's a rare find.

I am glad to see Gunner doing well. Getting a spark on punt returns is a major bonus especially for this team that struggles offensively at times. With that being said I think people are discounting Edelman as a player saying that Gunner is the next Edelman.

 

[Uptown]

He had a TACKLE too!

 

[RIpats88]

I am glad to see Gunner doing well. Getting a spark on punt returns is a major bonus especially for this team that struggles offensively at times. With that being said I think people are discounting Edelman as a player saying that Gunner is the next Edelman.

Maybe, but it took 4 years until Edelman became the stud receiver he is.

I remember in 2012 people were pissed here when Edelman was getting more snaps than Welker prior to breaking his hand.

Then in 2013 many wanted him gone as we signed amendola. But he shined and became our #1 then the rest is history.

There still is a chance he becomes a solid slot receiver

 

[203Pat]

Maybe, but it took 4 years until Edelman became the stud receiver he is.

I remember in 2012 people were pissed here when Edelman was getting more snaps than Welker prior to breaking his hand.

Then in 2013 many wanted him gone as we signed amendola. But he shined and became our #1 then the rest is history.

There still is a chance he becomes a solid slot receiver

I agree with you that Gunner could still become a solid slot guy but to claim he will be the "the next Edelman" I feel like it discounts just how special Edelman is to say that we can just slide the next guy in there with the same results. I truly am happy for Gunner as he is a scrappy overachiever type that is easy to root for. I don't know what caused the lights to go on the last couple weeks but he is playing out of his mind in the punt return game right now.

 

[NashuaPats]

Gunner in his second year:

That is a football player’s neck. In a few years, he may begin to look like Takeo Spikes.

 

[PP2]

Maybe, but it took 4 years until Edelman became the stud receiver he is.

I remember in 2012 people were pissed here when Edelman was getting more snaps than Welker prior to breaking his hand.

Then in 2013 many wanted him gone as we signed amendola. But he shined and became our #1 then the rest is history.

There still is a chance he becomes a solid slot receiver

There were flashes of Edelman's greatness, though. He made some wicked difficult catches, some over the shoulder fade grabs, and tip toe catches.

 

[IcyPatriot]

IcyPatriot
May 24, 2019
Too skinny and not muscular ...
His only chance would be on offense and there's too much competition there.
Good story - but I'm not seeing it - needs lots of deer antler spray.

 

[signbabybrady]

I hope the Edelman comparisons are just to him as a PRer?

Edelman was great PRer for us before he finally found his way as a WR. He continued PR duties and is our all time best all due respect to Troy.

All Gunner has done so far is show that he might be the next great punt returner on this team. He has finally shown he is worth a roster spot as a returner and this will now give him a chance to become a slot receiver on this team but he's got a long way to go there and to compare him to Jules the WR is really foolish right now. Compare him to Jules the PRer is fair but even that's a little premature until he does it over a longer period of time.

 

[imahobgoblin]

Funny that Gunner seems to catch punts really well, but a sports journalist (I do not remember where I heard it) said that he is poor at catching passes and that is why he does not get many snaps at receiver.

I think its funny Cam had 69 passing yards yesterday for the whole game and somehow Gunner is poor at catching. Wouldn't we need a QB that throws the ball to really determine that? The evidence of Stid having 61 yards in one drive with Gunner having a TD is not a large enough sample size to determine anything. It was garbage time. Gunner doesn't get as many snaps at receiver because we run. He is raw and has taken huge leaps over last year. He will be fun to watch over the next year or two when we have a QB who actually throws the ball.