Polk & Baker revival.

[Dec54]

Call me wrong or stupid (and I dare say some will) But I think Polk and Baker are going to have a break out season in 2025. Better coaching, top QB, growing pains over. They were not dragged in off the street to play, both were very good collage players. But for what ever reason, they both really struggled to make the transition. But now things have changed and they have a chance to really show us how good they can be.

Let the abuse begin......

 

[JayNM]

The optimistic view:


the negative view (there's "nt" missing there):

 

[BTTA]

Call me wrong or stupid (and I dare say some will) But I think Polk and Baker are going to have a break out season in 2025. Better coaching, top QB, growing pains over. They were not dragged in off the street to play, both were very good collage players. But for what ever reason, they both really struggled to make the transition. But now things have changed and they have a chance to really show us how good they can be.

Let the abuse begin......

Yeah, why not? This is one of the possible outcomes for one or both. No reason not to hope.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Call me wrong or stupid (and I dare say some will) But I think Polk and Baker are going to have a break out season in 2025. Better coaching, top QB, growing pains over. They were not dragged in off the street to play, both were very good collage players. But for what ever reason, they both really struggled to make the transition. But now things have changed and they have a chance to really show us how good they can be.

Let the abuse begin......

I'll go easy on you as I'm still on my first cup of coffee...

The main difference this year is they'll be in a structured program, better coached, and the quality of QB is much higher.

They have a clean slate.

 

[Username]

Over the past fortnight I've heard at least three different draft experts on different podcasts express absolute bewilderment at Polk and Baker's performance in the NFL thus far. Especially Polk, who was objectively bad, whereas Baker just didn't see any action.

They all seem to say the same thing, that Polk in the NFL was the complete opposite of Polk in college. His strongest attributes in college, ie his hands, route running and aggression at the catch point, were his weakest attributes in the NFL. It's really strange.

I don't know if either of them will have a redemption arc, but Polk massively underperformed relative to his ability

 

[Clonamery]

Call me wrong or stupid (and I dare say some will) But I think Polk and Baker are going to have a break out season in 2025. Better coaching, top QB, growing pains over. They were not dragged in off the street to play, both were very good collage players. But for what ever reason, they both really struggled to make the transition. But now things have changed and they have a chance to really show us how good they can be.

Let the abuse begin......

Wishful thinking isn't made for abuse.

Growing pains are about maturity. The team's relentless search and research for WR's are about their lack of just about everything.

 

[Patsfan1645]

Well they cant get any worse so if no real signs of improvement cut them and move on. Just a blip on the radar of bad wide receiver drafts.

 

[1960Pats]

Over the past fortnight I've heard at least three different draft experts on different podcasts express absolute bewilderment at Polk and Baker's performance in the NFL thus far. Especially Polk, who was objectively bad, whereas Baker just didn't see any action.

They all seem to say the same thing, that Polk in the NFL was the complete opposite of Polk in college. His strongest attributes in college, ie his hands, route running and aggression at the catch point, were his weakest attributes in the NFL. It's really strange.

I don't know if either of them will have a redemption arc, but Polk massively underperformed relative to his ability

I don't watch college but I heard a couple of former NFL players raving about Polk. That got me excited but made the letdown huge.

If I had to guess why Polk doesn't look like the same player I'd say he's shy about being hit.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Call me wrong or stupid (and I dare say some will) But I think Polk and Baker are going to have a break out season in 2025. Better coaching, top QB, growing pains over. They were not dragged in off the street to play, both were very good collage players. But for what ever reason, they both really struggled to make the transition. But now things have changed and they have a chance to really show us how good they can be.

Let the abuse begin......

I have more hope for Polk than Baker. Polk was one of the best players in camp last year, but when the season started he had a few drops, Mayo threw him under the bus, and he lost confidence and got injured. Baker, from the accounts I read, was never able to learn the playbook. Which to me spells big trouble going to MacDaniels offense.

 

[1960Pats]

I'll go easy on you as I'm still on my first cup of coffee...

The main difference this year is they'll be in a structured program, better coached, and the quality of QB is much higher.

They have a clean slate.

Teams can make improvements quickly but this team is very far behind.

My biggest concern going forward is if Maye is the real deal. He hasn't quite shown that yet.

 

[JayNM]

My question to the forum:

How long are YOU willing to go (as in, giving them a Roster spot) for them?

No right answer here obviously, im just curious

 

[RobertWeathers]

Teams can make improvements quickly but this team is very far behind.

My biggest concern going forward is if Maye is the real deal. He hasn't quite shown that yet.

Yep.

I think he's legitimately talented and has great potential.

That's as far as I'll go.

 

[Lansdowne]

There is definitely lots of room for improvement from both these young WR’s and that’s as optimistic as I can sound at this time. There still needs to be more key additions to this offense (specifically at LT and WR) before I feel remotely optimistic about their chances of being solid contributors, nevermind breakout performers. History is not on the side of rookie WRs who faceplant as much as these two did. There are outliers, but not many compared to those who didn’t make it. Also would’ve preferred a better choice of WR coach than Todd Downing, but Mike Vrabel loves the guy for some reason and it seemed inevitable he was getting some role on this team so I guess better that than wasting offensive coordinator on him.

 

[TomPatriot]

My question to the forum:

How long are YOU willing to go (as in, giving them a Roster spot) for them?

No right answer here obviously, im just curious

Training camp. They need to earn a spot. I’d also bring in two UDFAs, plus one more FA and/or draft pick to compete.

 

[Huckleberry1]

My question to the forum:

How long are YOU willing to go (as in, giving them a Roster spot) for them?

No right answer here obviously, im just curious

That depends upon who they bring in and what progress they have made in the offseason. Right now there are 2-3 guys who are in front of them. Douglas, Boutte, and Bourne if they keep him. Baker, in particular, is really in peril, as he doesn’t play special teams. Polk can return kicks, so he’s got more of an edge to make the roster. I expect them to draft at least 2 more receivers, so there’s going to be a battle to see who can stick. If they move on from Bourne to keep younger guys then I expect that Polk will be the one to survive, but he’s going to have to have really strong camps.

 

[Lansdowne]

My question to the forum:

How long are YOU willing to go (as in, giving them a Roster spot) for them?

No right answer here obviously, im just curious

The WR room right now:

1. Kayshon Boutte
2. DeMario Douglas
3. Kendrick Bourne
4. Mack Hollins
5. Ja’Lynn Polk
6. Javon Baker

Safe to say the team has to be adding more WR competition over the course of this offseason and hopefully names that fit immediately at the top of the depth chart. Bourne is keeping the seat warm until that name emerges. If the season began today he’d be a starter by virtue of his resume and seniority with the team. He and Hollins are the only two WRs with previous experience with Josh McDaniels. Bourne was basically in 2021 what Boutte was in 2024, the best WR by default (Douglas’ counting stats were marginally better but he played two more games than Boutte). But Bourne is on notice because I think he’s the first to go unless there is an injury to someone else ahead of him.

One way or another there are likely to be four WR’s ahead of these two and they’ll have to earn their way onto the field. Polk needs to show himself as not just the WR they hoped for when they drafted him but more than that if he’s going to climb back into the rotation. Because he was taken in the early 2nd round he’s going to get more opportunities to prove himself, it would be wasteful not to give him an extended look. The same can’t be said for Baker, where WRs taken in the 4th round or later are always considered dart throws from the start and historically aren’t given as much leash as WRs taken earlier. Factoring in for some rookies or veteran additions, it’s hard to see Baker making the Week 1 roster. There would need to be multiple injuries ahead of him on the depth chart to buy him additional time.

 

[BTTA]

Over the past fortnight I've heard at least three different draft experts on different podcasts express absolute bewilderment at Polk and Baker's performance in the NFL thus far. Especially Polk, who was objectively bad, whereas Baker just didn't see any action.

They all seem to say the same thing, that Polk in the NFL was the complete opposite of Polk in college. His strongest attributes in college, ie his hands, route running and aggression at the catch point, were his weakest attributes in the NFL. It's really strange.

I don't know if either of them will have a redemption arc, but Polk massively underperformed relative to his ability

That's helpful.
Also kudos for vocab use - "fortnight." Raising the quality of the joint.

 

[Clonamery]

I have more hope for Polk than Baker (there's some real evidence for that - see your comments below). Polk was one of the best players in camp last year (that often means nothing in MLB and the NFL), but when the season started he had a few drops (oh yeah, and for the self-proclaimed player with the best hands, that is embarrassing), Mayo threw him under the bus (not quite but people remember things differently), and he lost confidence (that's sad, it's your ****ing job) and got injured (everyone in the NFL does at some point). Baker, from the accounts I read, was never able to learn the playbook. Which to me spells big trouble going to MacDaniels offense (McYup).

 

[PatsFan2]

Call me wrong or stupid (and I dare say some will) But I think Polk and Baker are going to have a break out season in 2025. Better coaching, top QB, growing pains over. They were not dragged in off the street to play, both were very good collage players. But for what ever reason, they both really struggled to make the transition. But now things have changed and they have a chance to really show us how good they can be.

Let the abuse begin......

 

[PatsFan2]

Call me wrong or stupid (and I dare say some will) But I think Polk and Baker are going to have a break out season in 2025. Better coaching, top QB, growing pains over. They were not dragged in off the street to play, both were very good collage players. But for what ever reason, they both really struggled to make the transition. But now things have changed and they have a chance to really show us how good they can be.

Let the abuse begin......

IF Patsfans have a brick for Everytime we say that about a Young WR...we could build a Ten block Catholic Church by now. Don't jinx them.