Patriots starting WR's

Am I the only one that thinks Caldwell is not going to get it done as a starter? He just didnt look promising in the pre-season. If I had my druthers...I would try:

Doug Gabriel - starter
Bam Childress - starter
Troy Brown - slot
Chad Jackson - 4th
Reche Caldwell - 5th

The lack of pre-season and regular season experience drops Chad down to fourth...for now. His injury hasnt helped either. And Troy is still very good in the slot.

I don't really know but I do think that group has more upside than last year's :

Branch
Givens
An. Davis
Troy
Dwight

Not nearly as proven, of course.

Zuma said:

Am I the only one that thinks Caldwell is not going to get it done as a starter? He just didnt look promising in the pre-season. If I had my druthers...I would try:

Doug Gabriel - starter
Bam Childress - starter
Troy Brown - slot
Chad Jackson - 4th
Reche Caldwell - 5th

The lack of pre-season and regular season experience drops Chad down to fourth...for now. His injury hasnt helped either. And Troy is still very good in the slot.

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I'm not sure how the groupings will work out exactly, and I'm sure injury will play it's part, but for what it's worth, I can't imagine that if we only have two WRs on the field that Brown would not be one of them.

Chad Rice and Doug Taylor as starters, with Troy and Reche as 3rd and 4th receivers or slot guys.

.

Preseason may have been a little rough for Caldwell but he got a little better each game. I'll give up on him if he starts doing terrible in the reg. season.

Caldwell & Gabriel will be the starters or Gabriel & Brown, or Caldwell & Brown.

maverick4 said:

Chad Rice and Doug Taylor as starters...

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Rumor out of Canton is their in on 1st ballot...

Kdo5 said:

Preseason may have been a little rough for Caldwell but he got a little better each game. I'll give up on him if he starts doing terrible in the reg. season.

Caldwell & Gabriel will be the starters or Gabriel & Brown, or Caldwell & Brown.

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I respectfully disagree. Caldwell does not have solid hands, he doesn't reach out to catch balls.

http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2006/07/doug-gabriel-raiders110706.html

"In 2004, it took all but one week for Gabriel to become a potent member of the Raiders' offense. In the team's season-opening meeting with Pittsburgh, Gabriel streaked down the field for a 58-yard touchdown reception, exiting Week One with 81 receiving yards. For the remainder of the season, Gabriel would continue to contribute on both special teams and offense. Starting in five regular season games, No. 85 hoarded 33 catches for 551 yards and a pair of touchdowns in limited offensive action. Additionally, Gabriel returned 53 kickoffs for 1,140 yards, including four returns over 40 yards".

I'd really like to see what he can do starting opposite Bam or Troy.

If Gab moves up the Starter (A chance he really didnt have in Oakland) Looks for a 1000 yards and 10 TDs..... *Runs and picks him up in FF Leagues*

BelichickFan said:

I don't really know but I do think that group has more upside than last year's :

Branch
Givens
An. Davis
Troy
Dwight

Not nearly as proven, of course.

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This is a joke, right?

The starting Wide-outs will be Caldwell and Brown. Childress and Jackson (whenever he gets better) and Gabriel (until he actually proves something) will be 3, 4, 5 (in any order).

Now, sorry for being objective, you think Caldwell and Brown are better than Branch and Givens? Yeesh, when did that party at your house start and why weren't we invited?

Ok maybe i am missing something but we should have Troy Brown and Doug Gabriel starting in my opinion.

Why is everyone against Troy starting..

I do realize he is old.
But he has shown he still can play.

I say we keep him out there. Everytime Troy is on the field good things happen.

Garbanza said:

This is a joke, right?

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Nope. Troy is the same. Dwight and Davis are JAGs. I know we're way unproven but Gabriel, Jackson, Caldwell have some really good potential. I can honestly say they have more potential than Branch, Givens, Davis - and a lot more risk too.

Garbanza said:

This is a joke, right?

The starting Wide-outs will be Caldwell and Brown. Childress and Jackson (whenever he gets better) and Gabriel (until he actually proves something) will be 3, 4, 5 (in any order).

Now, sorry for being objective, you think Caldwell and Brown are better than Branch and Givens? Yeesh, when did that party at your house start and why weren't we invited?

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I never said for game one this year. Talk me me this time next year and we'll see which group you'd prefer.

BelichickFan said:

Nope. Troy is the same. Dwight and Davis are JAGs. I know we're way unproven but Gabriel, Jackson, Caldwell have some really good potential. I can honestly say they have more potential than Branch, Givens, Davis - and a lot more risk too.

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Wow. Gabriel/Caldwell/Jackson better than Branch/Givens. Sure.....

Caldwell has been a bust. Caldwell will always be a bust. I wish someone would explain to me why he has "potential." I know nothing about Gabriel, I'll reserve judgement. But you have to wonder why they would rid themselves of a receiver with such potential when their #1 is so disgruntled (Porter). Jackson - sure, he has potential. He's unproven.

BelichickFan said:

Nope. Troy is the same. Dwight and Davis are JAGs. I know we're way unproven but Gabriel, Jackson, Caldwell have some really good potential. I can honestly say they have more potential than Branch, Givens, Davis - and a lot more risk too.

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Huh. Well...I'd like to think Gabriel can produce as much as Givens would have for us...this year. But I just don't see anyone on the roster producing as much as Branch...this year. When is "potential" realized to match the production of Branch? IMO....not this year.

We'll see, guys. I'm in the middle on the "does Brady make the WR" thing. Of course, I don't think you can put John Stone and Kelvin Kight out there and do great. But I do think that WR with actual talent, like Jackson and Gabriel will do just fine with Brady throwing to them. Just fine.

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Moss is their # 1

Garbanza said:

This is a joke, right?

The starting Wide-outs will be Caldwell and Brown. Childress and Jackson (whenever he gets better) and Gabriel (until he actually proves something) will be 3, 4, 5 (in any order).

Now, sorry for being objective, you think Caldwell and Brown are better than Branch and Givens? Yeesh, when did that party at your house start and why weren't we invited?

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I think Gabriel can be better than Givens.

BelichickFan said:

We'll see, guys. I'm in the middle on the "does Brady make the WR" thing. Of course, I don't think you can put John Stone and Kelvin Kight out there and do great. But I do think that WR with actual talent, like Jackson and Gabriel will do just fine with Brady throwing to them. Just fine.

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I'm not dumping on you chick, since I've been defending Branch all day. But, come on. Jackson? At this point, I'm not sure he will even play this year. He's done nothing, not even preseason games and he's a rookie. One rumor has it he's not "getting the playbook". And every time someone mentions "the system" in terms of the receiver catching the ball, the image in my mind is of Branch ripping that pass out of the Pittsburgh defenders hands. Just giving Branch his due, and until someone comes in here and shows clutch grabs with the game on the line, they are no Deion Branch. I hope Gabriel is the real deal, he could be. I would be much more comfortable with last years receivers.

Guys, I said MORE UPSIDE. And I stand by it. I didn't say more for sure. I didn't say I'd prefer this group. But they do have more upside. And, yes, more downside.