TE Michael Roberts

Given the uncertainty at tackle, I think a blocking-first TE is a necessity.
No Gronk, no Dwayne Allen.
Watson, LaCosse, Izzo, Beck all measured in the 250-pound range at their combines; Anderson was 230. Roberts was 270, and is noted as a blocker first, and basically only.
Note that there were no 270-pound TE's in the draft - Trevon Wesco was the biggest at 6-3.4 267. He went in the fourth round. So maybe the Patriots were interested but he went earlier than they were willing to go.
This guy cost a conditional 7th rounder.

There's been some interesting discussion about using a third tackle more frequently, which is a possibility.
However, having an agile 270-pound blocker against smaller DE's offers a different capability.
Right now, the third tackle is Cole Croston at 314 pounds and 5.29 40. Roberts offers a different skill set when facing a 260 pound quick, agile, explosive rushing end.

I don't know if this guy makes the Patriots roster. But I think he certainly has the profile of a player type they need.

Elijah said:

With Roberts as the blocker and LaCosse as the receiver, our TE group is shaping up to be underwhelming yet functional nonetheless. Watson should add a more complete element after a month too.

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Deus Irae said:

You misspelled "hot garbage for at least the first four weeks of the season".

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You say to-may-toe, he says to-mah-toe.

Correct either way. I do prefer Elijah’s way of talking about our guys; Deus’ phrasing seems more appropriate for the JETEs and I don’t think even this will get close to their level.

Deus Irae said:

The offensive personnel packages for weeks 1-4 should be very interesting.

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Good point, and not just personnel packages, also the play calling, how those personnel are used.

robertweathers said:

Garbage won't make it out of training camp.

Role players who can do something well will.

The question is their "something" good enough.

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Has been for going on twenty years.

There’s not much different overall talent wise year to year. Some years it’s guys who have been in a better situation to shine in the past, some years it’s guys who have not yet had as good an opportunity. Not talking the freaks like Gronkowski, thinking Nink or VanNoy types. Tagged as JAGs and turn out to seize their opportunity to show they are more than that. Hopefully this Roberts turns out to be one of them.

And remember, in 2000 this board would’ve been saying the same thing about an undistinguished rookie, based on the numbers including his 199 draft position.

robertweathers said:

I had a tape measure on my desk and I measured my hand and noticed how freaking huge 11 1/2 is.

At the combine, do they measure from thumb to pinkie or base of the wrist to tip of middle finger? I assume the former?

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Ras-IR Dowling said:

Great example of how one word (in bold) can change the entire paragraph.

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I had to doublecheck that Fnord wasn’t involved in any way...

n6249c said:

Hopefully this Roberts turns out to be one of them.

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Thats the key question. We don't know if he can here

Patriots seem to be throwing a lot of **** up on the wall and hoping some sticks.

robertweathers said:

Thats the key question. We don't know if he can here

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Don’t remember exact source, but I have a recollection of a quote or interview with BB a few years ago that boiled down to him saying we give the player an opportunity, and what they do with it determines what opportunities they are given in the future. To me that’s the essential piece of the Patriots Way. Wash rinse repeat, on a fast cycle. Churn the roster, let the cream rise and flush those who don’t step up to meet the challenge. No binkies, just results.

We will see how Roberts steps up, just as we saw how Nink and Ocho did/didn’t. Fun to watch.

Assuming everything goes right with Roberts including health and hands, Dwayne Allen is a great comparison despite Roberts weighing a little more. If he blocks and catches to his potential, he'll still look like he's running in quicksand, just like Allen did when he caught a pass.

Right now Dwayne Allen would be a welcome addition to this TE unit, so I'm hoping he works out.

Deus Irae said:

Just for the sake of having some TE discussion, and opening it up to everyone:

The Patriots play the Steelers in week one. Over the past, say, 8 seasons, how have the Patriots generally attacked that Steelers defense?

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Since when does the history matter with BB? He doesn't do things the way he used to do them just for the sake of nostalgia. We had a certain team makeup that favored heavy use of the TE. So we used the TE. Now we don't, and our probable best unit is our RB corps, so we're probably going to go with heavy runs that require a more supporting style of TE play, run blocking and solid protection to disguise play actions and screens is going to be more important than pass catching for a little while. and lo and behold, they find a good value on a player whose calling card is blocking, and bring him in. This is the least surprising offseason move (to me) because I saw BB looking to move in this direction from the moment Gronk retired.

If we find a TE that can catch, or Watson's up to the task, so much the better. A less dominant, more supportive TE group isn't the end of the world either way. Our coaching will handle the adjustment like they always have.

SBLIII said:

And this could actually go for the full receiving group over the full season if Harry isn't a hit. Doesn't inspire a ton of confidence.

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Wow. I actually really like this group.

He was likely to get cut by the Lions, so now instead of waiting for him to be cut and giving him a shot to make the team in the week before the opener, NE spent a conditional 7th now, which lets him go through all of training camp, learning the system.

This trade makes lots of sense, even if he fails to make the team (like most 7th rounders fail to make the team).

Simpelton said:

Since when does the history matter with BB?

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Well, if you listen to him speak, you realize that the answer to your question is "Probably since before he turned 10".

Simpelton said:

He doesn't do things the way he used to do them just for the sake of nostalgia. We had a certain team makeup that favored heavy use of the TE. So we used the TE. Now we don't, and our probable best unit is our RB corps, so we're probably going to go with heavy runs that require a more supporting style of TE play, run blocking and solid protection to disguise play actions and screens is going to be more important than pass catching for a little while. and lo and behold, they find a good value on a player whose calling card is blocking, and bring him in. This is the least surprising offseason move (to me) because I saw BB looking to move in this direction from the moment Gronk retired.

If we find a TE that can catch, or Watson's up to the task, so much the better. A less dominant, more supportive TE group isn't the end of the world either way. Our coaching will handle the adjustment like they always have.

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Literally nothing you wrote here does anything to refute what I'd posted.

IllegalContact said:

Better [WR depth chart] than this time a year ago.

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Perhaps, but that's damning with faint praise.

A tremendous blow for all of the big Roberts boosters.

Definite Pats HOF candidate

Trade fell through!

Probably failed the physical or something:

New record.

Don’t you see what this means.... GRONK IS COMING BACK BABY!!!!!!!!