PATRIOTS NEWS Minicamp

[mgteich]

He can do kick returns or another another position. But yes, his best chance to make the roster is making himself useful outside of just being an offensive player just like every other WR fighting for the 5th or 6th slot on the roster.

I think that we should consider the situation if the four top WR's make the 53 and are the ones that are active each week. Diggs and Williams are our top 2. Douglas is our starter in the slot. Hollins is a change of pace receiver and our protector on special teams.
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QUESTIONS

1) So, who do we want to carry that we will likely be inactive in every game, absent injuries?

2) Who do we want to have inactive and capable of starting if someone is injured? Bourne, Boutte, Polk, Chism, Baker?

3) Do we want to carry a developmental #6 WR? Boutte, Polk, Chism, Baker?

 

[Clonamery]

8 active OL's plus two inactive backups is NOT too many.

It seems unlikely that we are carrying a 3rd QB.

At least the one we currently have.

 

[signbabybrady]

Bourne is expensive injury insurance against Diggs or Williams being injured. I have no doubt that he is one of our five best receivers. The open question is whether we carry that insurance past the end of camp, or whether we trade Bourne near the end of camp if there are no injuries.

I think it's a little more than just injury insurance. There's also the hope of returning to form now well over a year removed from ACL injury and back in a system he did well in. How realistic is that hope, along with injury insurance would seem to be worth that expense especially since most of it is sunk cost already.

Him and Boutte are in a funny spot because they are probably better than most of the kids right now but the kids represent a hope of their own too. I'm Probably not being entirely fair to lump Boutte in with Bourne because he's still young enough that he could overcome his perceived ceiling but my own opinion is last year was probably about what his ceiling is.

Polk and Baker are enigmas was last year true or should I still give them the benefit of their draft slots when compared to someone like Chism. For now I am but Chism keeps showing his potential and I'm pretty sure once I see it myself during TC and preseason it will be easy to join the hype train.

And lastly I'm admittedly being very unfair to Hollins because at best it's a short term answer so I'm basically pulling for everyone before him. Which Polk, Chism, and Baker should probably earn first. Williams too but he's not really a threat to be cut so I'm using a different lens for him.

 

[mgteich]

I think it's a little more than just injury insurance. There's also the hope of returning to form now well over a year removed from ACL injury and back in a system he did well in. How realistic is that hope, a long with injury insurance would seem to be worth that expense especially since most of it is sunk cost already.

Him and Boutte are in a funny spot because they are probably better than most of the kids right now but the kids represent a hope of their own too. I'm Probably not being entirely fair to lump Boutte in with Bourne because he's still young enough that he could overcome his perceived ceiling but my own opinion is last year was probably about what his ceiling is.

Polk and Baker are enigmas was last year true or should I still give them the benefit of their draft slots when compared to someone like Chism. For now I am but Chism keeps showing his potential and I'm pretty sure once I see it myself during TC and preseason it will be easy to join the hype train.

And lastly I'm admittedly being very unfair to Hollins because at best it's a short term answer so I'm basically pulling for everyone before him. Which Polk, Chism, and Baker should probably earn first. Williams too but he's not really a threat to be cut so I'm using a different lens for him.

If Diggs needs more time to recover, I don't think that Bourne is going anywhere. Josh is likely much more likely to be willing to depend on Bourne as a starter compared to Boutte. If that is the case, I see the rest competing for one developmental 6th WR roster spot.
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As far as Hollins, he seems to be perfect #4, able to be effective with few or many reps, and as a STer (protector for the punt returner).

I suspect that Josh and Maye will do just fine with these NINE as options in the passing game.
ACTIVE: Diggs/Bourne, Williams, Douglas, Hollins
ACTIVE: Henry, Hooper
ACTIVE: Henderson, Gibson
ACTIVE 3rd TE or FB

The question marks will be on the OL, not the receivers.

 

[signbabybrady]

If Diggs needs more time to recover, I don't think that Bourne is going anywhere. Josh is likely much more likely to be willing to depend on Bourne as a starter compared to Boutte. If that is the case, I see the rest competing for one developmental 6th WR roster spot.
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As far as Hollins, he seems to be perfect #4, able to be effective with few or many reps, and as a STer (protector for the punt returner).

I suspect that Josh and Maye will do just fine with these NINE as options in the passing game.
ACTIVE: Diggs/Bourne, Williams, Douglas, Hollins
ACTIVE: Henry, Hooper
ACTIVE: Henderson, Gibson
ACTIVE 3rd TE or FB

The question marks will be on the OL, not the receivers.

Some of those training videos had me thinking he was definitely going to be ready at start of training camp. A month a has passed and he was limited in yesterday's minicamp so I'm a little less sure. But I'm still pretty doubtful it will be something that plays into the final roster decisions. I'll be a little disappointed/surprised if he's on PUP/IR.

 

[Patsfan1645]

Some of those training videos had me thinking he was definitely going to be ready at start of training camp. A month a has passed and he was limited in yesterday's minicamp so I'm a little less sure. But I'm still pretty doubtful it will be something that plays into the final roster decisions. I'll be a little disappointed/surprised if he's on PUP/IR.

I think with TC being a month out they were just playing it safe with him. I suspect he will start camp limited as well and they will ease him back in but after a week or so I expect him to be fully participating.

 

[PP2]

I think with TC being a month out they were just playing it safe with him. I suspect he will start camp limited as well and they will ease him back in but after a week or so I expect him to be fully participating.

Teams do this all the time with veterans who are long in the tooth. Reduces wear and tear. SOP.

Nothing to see here, move on.. as they say.

 

[mike_usagisan]

 

[mike_usagisan]

 

[mike_usagisan]

 

[mike_usagisan]

 

[mike_usagisan]

 

[mike_usagisan]

 

[mike_usagisan]

 

[mike_usagisan]

 

[mike_usagisan]

 

[mike_usagisan]

Vrabel is live here, if anyone wants to watch:

LIVE: Head Coach Mike Vrabel, 12 PM

 

[Brotherblues]

I think that Boutte, unless he has a horrendous camp, will be on the final 53. I think Diggs, Douglas and Williams will be the top 3 and Boutte is #4. He had a good jump from year 1 to year 2, is a good route runner, and had good chemistry with Maye. He’s a good receiver who hopefully keeps improving.

It's crazy to see posts saying he'd clear waivers. Last year he proved to be a legit NFL WR who belongs on a 53. Many teams would likely jump at the chance to take on the last two years of his rookie 6th-round deal. Barring injury or some off-field incident, he is a lock to start the year on a 53-man roster.

 

[Steve102]

Not looking forwards to Hollins gaudy 300yds.

Of course you won't like this guy. He's a football player, not some princess that's contact averse. Fekk the fantasy numbers.

I cannot wait for the I told you so when he destroys some DB on a Henderson wheel route or levels some safety so Hunter can break one up the seam. You know, football stuff.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Hollins is the best blocker among our WRs. And he's a first-down machine with better length than most of our shrimps. Great fit for McDaniel's system.