If Schuster Looks Good In Camp

[rkarp1]

JuJu, pre injury was a good to very good WR that was so, even though he was a step to a step and a half slow. he was that step slow coming out of school. he was able to get body on the defender, really good hands, meshed with Ben well.
post injury, JuJu is 2 steps slow. not sure anyone can overcome that.
the pods I listen to say he had not regained his explosiveness when they saw him (Catch 22, Bedard, Cattles, Giardi, Curran, Perry)
maybe he will. but to me, it seems extremely doubtful.

 

[rkarp1]

honestly, if JuJu is better than Boutte on Sept 1, I still want Boutte on the team getting practice reps, learning the offense, learning Maye. Boutte could have a shot in 2025. JuJu does not have that shot in 2025

 

[mgteich]

honestly, if JuJu is better than Boutte on Sept 1, I still want Boutte on the team getting practice reps, learning the offense, learning Maye. Boutte could have a shot in 2025. JuJu does not have that shot in 2025

OK. The reality is that neither them are likely to be on the 53.

 

[rkarp1]

OK. The reality is that neither them are likely to be on the 53.

agree
but until we see Bourne at 100% and we know Baker is not a knucklehead that needs constant babysitting, Boutte if healthy has some interesting upside

 

[n1997y]

agree
but until we see Bourne at 100% and we know Baker is not a knucklehead that needs constant babysitting, Boutte if healthy has some interesting upside

Have we seen that Boutte is not a knucklehead that needs babysitting?

 

[Fuzz]

Have we seen that Boutte is not a knucklehead that needs babysitting?

I think concerns about Boutte are mostly about coachability and motivation, but the concerns about Baker run deeper. Bedard seems to think he’s a ticking time bomb.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

Boutte should gets lots of playing time. After all, he's our 9th best WR and he had a fine freshman year in college.

LOL, compared to the rest of the WR crew last year he was worth a try. The freshman year you mention established Boutte as one of the top WR in college football with high NFL draft potential. The rest of his college career was not good, he got hurt and was never the same. Part of the issue was with the coaches. He was not the same after the injury so the Pats took a flyer on him with as a low risk high reward draft pick on him. Based on training camp he seemed good physically, he flashed pretty good in the pre season and actually got open and held onto the football in the first game. He must have been doing some things right to still be on the team so it is at least a bit baffling why he did get another chance. It may be as simple as the rookie doghouse.

 

[Triumph]

JuJu has never looked as good as his NFL Freshman and Sophomore years.

He needs a Star to play opposite of him to have any semblance of success.

2017
JuJu 79 targets 917 yards 7 TDs @ 73% catch rate.
AB 163 targets 1533 yards 9 TDs @ 62% catch rate.

2018
JuJu 166 targets 1426 yards 9 TDs @ 67% catch rate.
AB 168 targets 1297 yards 15 TDs @ 62% catch rate.

Big year with the Chiefs - I suppose - and a HOF QB tossing the ball his way opposite a HOF TE/WR hybrid.

 

[slash83]

The same Schuster that couldn’t separate from a LB that isn’t going to be on a NFL roster?

No chance he looks good.

 

[Brotherblues]

When Schuster has had scrubs throwing to him, he's looked terrible.

When Schuster has had HoF QBs throwing to him (Rapist, Kermit), his yards per target is through the roof. Really impressive overall success when the ball heads his way. As long as the QB is good and not Mac/Zappe/Rudolph/etc.

This is why I hesitate to simply write him off.

Part of me wants to go all-in with just the younger wideouts since we have a whopping 5 recently drafted WRs on rookie contracts. Then again Juju might already be what we hope some of those kids turn out to be. Plus, Kermit openly talked about how he really missed Juju last year. Can't help but think a healthy Juju would be a big help for Maye.

 

[mgteich]

LOL, compared to the rest of the WR crew last year he was worth a try. The freshman year you mention established Boutte as one of the top WR in college football with high NFL draft potential. The rest of his college career was not good, he got hurt and was never the same. Part of the issue was with the coaches. He was not the same after the injury so the Pats took a flyer on him with as a low risk high reward draft pick on him. Based on training camp he seemed good physically, he flashed pretty good in the pre season and actually got open and held onto the football in the first game. He must have been doing some things right to still be on the team so it is at least a bit baffling why he did get another chance. It may be as simple as the rookie doghouse.

Boutte (and Reagor) were definitely worth a try last year.

Thankfully, we are much, much better this year, having a passing game led by Osborn, Bourne, Douglas, Henry and Gibson.

I don't expect huge seasons from rookies, but Polk will certainly be given lots of chances, and Baker also, to a lesser degree.
=========
Thornton could be given another chance, especially if Baker doesn't show much in camp. Thornton is an inexpensive prospect under contract through 2025. Perhaps better coaching will help. He did work hard in the off-season. Also, he gained some weight.

As I have said, Schuster could be kept until the trade deadline, trying to get some kind of trade for him. Of course, we would pay most of his 2024 salary. If Schuster really looks good (unlikely), I suppose that he could stay instead of Osborn.

In any case, having Osborn, Bourne and Douglas as our top three should be a huge improvement.

 

[n1997y]

I think concerns about Boutte are mostly about coachability and motivation, but the concerns about Baker run deeper. Bedard seems to think he’s a ticking time bomb.

The gambling charges are no indicator of reason for concern?

 

[Fuzz]

The gambling charges are no indicator of reason for concern?

TBH that ranks pretty low on my scale for off-field transgressions. Besides, the charges got dropped.

 

[patman52]

The gambling charges are no indicator of reason for concern?

no, not at all.

 

[PatsFan2]

The story of Boutte (awful name) has got to be one of the weirdest we've seen. He doesn't toe tap in his first game as a pro, so he gets benched the entire season. He'll have a clean slate in camp along with Thornton (last chance). With the rule changes and how much easier it is for WR's, coaches are finding out very quickly whether they have it or not. After their 2nd year, if they don't get it by then, they never will.

Good post, saw a workout post with our our guys I have to say Thornton looks very good. His movements were very smooth for a tall guy and he's put on some needed weight. I can't wait for camp to hear the comp there. Regarding Juju if he Boutte or Thornton flashes I think Juju is Traded. I can't see them risk losing a young guy and keeping Juju.

 

[Triumph]

The gambling charges are no indicator of reason for concern?

It remains to be seen with Mayo as the NEP HC.

 

[PatsFan2]

Juju is our Big Bodied WR he's so much Bigger than the others almost like a TE compared to the rest. IF he looks like he's worth the $$$$ we might not be so quick to move him he's going to be 28 at years end still pretty young by WR standards. I think who connects with Maye is going to be key see who he has a good rapport with. IF Juju is among that bunch we will keep him the ultimate goal is to develop Maye you can do that with good WR's.

 

[rkarp1]

Juju is our Big Bodied WR he's so much Bigger than the others almost like a TE compared to the rest. IF he looks like he's worth the $$$$ we might not be so quick to move him he's going to be 28 at years end still pretty young by WR standards. I think who connects with Maye is going to be key see who he has a good rapport with. IF Juju is among that bunch we will keep him the ultimate goal is to develop Maye you can do that with good WR's.

do you agree that Polk, Baker and Pop have to get snaps?
Do you agree that Bourne is better than JuJu?
why keep JuJu to maybe be game day active, maybe not, taking away practice time for players who will be here next year and beyond?

 

[PatsFan2]

do you agree that Polk, Baker and Pop have to get snaps?
Do you agree that Bourne is better than JuJu?
why keep JuJu to maybe be game day active, maybe not, taking away practice time for players who will be here next year and beyond?

Let's stop kidding ourselves on paper Juju is our Best WR no WR on the current Roster have done what he has in this League Juju even have a SB Ring. I think Bourne is decent but a bit overrated here Juju is still younger and Better. Also coming off an ACL Bourne will not be ready to play I was little surprised we resigned him as early as we did given the circumstances.

 

[Wozzy]

Let's stop kidding ourselves on paper Juju is our Best WR no WR on the current Roster have done what he has in this League Juju even have a SB Ring. I think Bourne is decent but a bit overrated here Juju is still younger and Better. Also coming off an ACL Bourne will not ready to play I was little surprised we resigned him as early as we did given the circumstances.

This ^

It remains to be seen if Bourne will be ready, even if he is, he might be like Juju last year. Not strong enough in that rehabbing knee and less than Bourne of days past. He might not look like his old self until next season. The only good thing he has going for him was he got injured and had surgery way earlier than Juju. Juju played in the super bowl the year before last, was playing through the injury, he had to wait until the offseason to get surgery.

Polk, Baker… we have no clue what they will contribute. They also need a role model in front of them to show them the proper way to prepare and practice like a pro. “Cut Juju now” is pure stupidity. That’s a decision you make down the road when all the youngsters show they’re ready to contribute… not now. Even then you trade him, not cut him. Some fans have no clue how the cap or player development works.