Finally: an explanation for Ja'Lynn Polk's putrid rookie season

[One-If-By-Sea]

A WR with a 5¢ head? I'm shocked, shocked I tell you

We can recognize that quickly as we have lots of $0.05 posters on this board. The Pats should hire PatsFans to screen for idiocy.

 

[maust]

We can recognize that quickly as we have lots of $0.05 posters on this board. The Pats should hire PatsFans to screen for idiocy.

'If you start thinking like a fan, you'll end up sitting with them'

 

[TinhWoodhead]

The honest truth is that Wolf just screwed up. He was trying to trade up for Xavier Worthy, Xavier Legette or Keon Coleman. There was tons of movement ahead of them in the late 20s with Buffalo trading down with KC (they took Worthy) and then again with Carolina (they took Legette). Then Buffalo themselves took Coleman. So the Pats were left without options and traded down and took a bigger dice roll on Polk. They could’ve taken McConkey but seemed to not want to due to medicals. So far that also looks like a mistake. Wolf was too green and mishandled things.

you can fix medicals but cant fix stoopid

 

[turkeyneck]

The honest truth is that Wolf just screwed up. He was trying to trade up for Xavier Worthy, Xavier Legette or Keon Coleman. There was tons of movement ahead of them in the late 20s with Buffalo trading down with KC (they took Worthy) and then again with Carolina (they took Legette). Then Buffalo themselves took Coleman. So the Pats were left without options and traded down and took a bigger dice roll on Polk. They could’ve taken McConkey but seemed to not want to due to medicals. So far that also looks like a mistake. Wolf was too green and mishandled things.

Shows Wolf has about as much grip on the skills required for his job as does Mayo.

btw, I was perusing a Chiefs board recently looking for what their current thinking on BoneyT was. I came across an article that could have been written by one of us. Then I realized I was reading about BoneyX

Xavier Worthy Struggling in Expanded Role: Cause for Concern? (Week 9)

 

[PatsFan2]

IF Drake Maye ain't throwing to you it means you suck.

 

[Ross12]

In his scouting report, it was stated that he had concentration issues and mental lapses. That he also needed to do a better job of dealing with more than one defender on him. His route running also needed to be more refined. It also stated that he needed proper coaching and was basically a project with decent upside, but could be a legit #2 if he overcame his shortcomings. I guess these are the things that we're seeing, and more.

Yes, he was definitely a project selection. The problem is that Baker is also a project (probably an even bigger project) and both need a good amount of development. However, there were exactly zero quality veterans ahead of them to allow them time on the bench - Bourne was on PUP, Osborn and Thornton and Juju sucked. So one of the rookies had to get pushed into action early, and it was Polk. Thankfully Boutte was not also trash. Now that Bourne is back, healthy and knocked the rust off he has relegated Polk back to the bench, which is bothering Polk but in reality that’s where the kid should’ve started in the first place. He wasn’t 1st string even in college last year until Jalen McMillan ahead of him got hurt.

Many focus on Wolf’s efforts with the line but the mishandling of the WR room is probably as bad. They didn’t need to get that “true number 1” (even though they did try, with Ridley and then with Aiyuk) but having at least one more solid veteran number 2 would have stabilized things quite a bit. He probably thought that was Osborn, but he thought wrong.

The other issue with these two being projects is that they don’t have good coaches who can develop them and the locker room culture has been a loose “anything goes” mentality.

 

[Real fan 02]

He’s struggling mentally because his biggest weaknesses in college are resonating in the nfl

Lack of separation and lack of quick twitch speed

Feels like every WR on the roster not named pop.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I'm in the minority of this but I still think he has all the physical tools. He's been open a good amount, just hasn't made the catches. If he's in a funk and beating himself up for not being able to live up to his talk, that's recoverable. Hell, that might be the one thing that I think Mayo's coaching might be good for. I'd definitely give him an offseason working with Maye and another season to see if he can turn it around.

 

[1960Pats]

What's your explanation? You are standing behind the pick? Draft is a crapshoot? I knew he was a bust during OTAs when Juju coming off an injury made Polk look like he had concrete shoes. He is not an NFL tier athlete, knucklehead aside (his ridiculous ego just makes it worse).

They need someone who can recognize talent at WR. They haven't had that for years.

 

[Ross12]

I'm in the minority of this but I still think he has all the physical tools. He's been open a good amount, just hasn't made the catches. If he's in a funk and beating himself up for not being able to live up to his talk, that's recoverable. Hell, that might be the one thing that I think Mayo's coaching might be good for. I'd definitely give him an offseason working with Maye and another season to see if he can turn it around.

Yeah, he is definitely still recoverable. He has shown good things at times that just haven't translated to production. There's a decent chance he can get something going next year and still be an NFL wide receiver, but if he is still struggling at the same level midway into next year I'd be ready to cut bait.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Yeah, he is definitely still recoverable. He has shown good things at times that just haven't translated to production. There's a decent chance he can get something going next year and still be an NFL wide receiver, but if he is still struggling at the same level midway into next year I'd be ready to cut bait.

Well, hopefully the WR room will be so good next year that if he's not performing, it won't be a big loss to cut him. But if they go bargain bin shopping again this off season... who knows?

 

[turkeyneck]

Feels like every WR on the roster not named pop.

DD's got the twitch but other than that he's no great shakes either.

 

[Real fan 02]

DD's got the twitch but other than that he's no great shakes either.

He's a slot WR in the AVP offense it typically doesn't feature the slot WR.

 

[Thunderhead]

Fire Wolf and Groh

 

[RobertWeathers]

Fire Wolf and Groh

Wolf no. I'll give him one more year to fix the line, acquire good WRs and add more players to the defense.

Groh yes. We've seen enough.

 

[Real fan 02]

Wolf no. I'll give him one more year to fix the line, acquire good WRs and add more players to the defense.

Groh yes. We've seen enough.

Yeah agree.. groh needs to go! I believe wolf has a modern vision for the NFL groh just seems like a follower.

 

[Steve102]

Maybe BB was on to something when he would look for character and football intelligence in potential draftees. Obviously he had some big misses with that approach and seemed incapable of evaluating WRs, for example, but overall that seems like a good strategy.

Likely a reason for Bill's career choice. Get guys ready.

 

[reflexblue]

They need someone who can recognize talent at WR. They haven't had that for years.

This problem goes back to the eighties, the organization just doesn't seem to be able to draft decent wr talent. Ive posted before in jest that the pats fo should ask the steelers who they would draft.

 

[Real fan 02]

This problem goes back to the eighties, the organization just doesn't seem to be able to draft decent wr talent. Ive posted before in jest that the pats fo should ask the steelers who they would draft.

Terry Glenn and Malcom Mitchell for example could have been magical with brady had thier careers spanned on here. I believe bill for example knows what goes into drafting a WR just don't believe when he was here he put big value on WRs.

 

[Ring 6]

The honest truth is that Wolf just screwed up. He was trying to trade up for Xavier Worthy, Xavier Legette or Keon Coleman. There was tons of movement ahead of them in the late 20s with Buffalo trading down with KC (they took Worthy) and then again with Carolina (they took Legette). Then Buffalo themselves took Coleman. So the Pats were left without options and traded down and took a bigger dice roll on Polk. They could’ve taken McConkey but seemed to not want to due to medicals. So far that also looks like a mistake. Wolf was too green and mishandled things.

Why do you think he was trying to trade up? Rumor is Polk was his guy. Imagine if he had traded up to take him.