Aaron Dobson

[Oswlek]

I admit it didn't watch past the first two series last night so I missed many of his negative plays, but I think people are being too harsh on the guy. I still think he has shown enough to be the #3 or #4 WR as a outside/deep route specialist (sorta like Stallworth in 2007).

From the little I saw last night, Dobson was getting open outside and beating his guy fairly consistently there. Granted he wasn't thrown to in those drives. He has also been successful in passes in those areas during the preseason.

Yes. he has some very significant limitations at this point. He does need to work on his route running and his physicality. Both those points will limit he runs and exclude him from plays over the middle. He definitely won't be fighting for a starting job until he does.

I still think has the potential be what Torrey Smith was for the Ravens his first two years on a lesser scale (as a back up rather than a full time starter). Not saying Dobson will be as nearly as good as Smith in his rookie season, but both receivers came into the league playing soft and having a very limited route running tree (Granted those are still two knocks on Smith today three years later). Smith, his first year, just ran go routes for the most part all season. Unfortunately, that means that Dobson could be very hot and cold like Smith is and have an excellent game one week and pedestrian game for the next two.

Stallworth would probably be a better comparison in this offense, but I am trying to look for a player who had similar limitations as Dobson coming out of college who was at least moderately successful his rookie year. Torrey Smith is probably the best example since not only do they have the same limitations, they have similar speed (Smith ran a 4.41 at the combine while Dobson ran a 4.42) and strengths.

I was never expecting a huge year from Dobson to start. I thought he would win the starting job though which obviously won't happen (at least to start the season). But I think he could still get 500-600 yards and a handful of TDs as a route specialist off the bench.

Agreed. I don't know why so many people give him grief about "getting separation" when he seems to do that well enough. It is letting the defender regain position too easily where he has problems. But he has a usable skill set that NE can build a couple packages around.

 

[50-yard-line]

Something being overlooked so far in this thread - the guy can seriously block.

Every time they've shown a replay of him engaging a defender in the running game he's taken them right out of the play and leaving some nice holes for the runner.

Saw that a couple of times last night - on the Boyce bubble screen and an end around.

Same thing goes for Ballard, by the way. I don't know that he's caught a pass, but he's handling DEs like a tackle.

 

[Big-T]

Saw that a couple of times last night - on the Boyce bubble screen and an end around.

Same thing goes for Ballard, by the way. I don't know that he's caught a pass, but he's handling DEs like a tackle.

That's why I think Ballard sticks, his blocking is almost at the level of what Crumpler's was when he was in New England. Even if his knee isn't quite good enough for him to be the receiving threat he until the Pats get to the red zone, his blocking alone is valuable to the team.

Dobson's blocking makes his worth 3-fold in the red zone too: jump ball, spectacular catches and blocking.

 

[Patradomous]

Considering before the preseason you didn't know if this wide receiver group was as good as the 2006 Caldwell bunch. I think the future with this bunch is terrific. I don't think this offense misses a beat once Amendola and Gronk are on the field.
Overall I was pleasantly surprised with the new guys.At least they seem to be grasping the offense. Which seems to be half the battle.

 

[RIpats88]

So, after last nights performance do you think Boyce has passed Dobson in the depth chart? It seems he is a better route runner, can still go deep as well as be used for other offensive packages as a runner

 

[MTM558]

The biggest knocks on Dobson coming out of Marshall were that he was raw and that he played way above his competition level in college.

In the NFL, everyone is as big, as fast, and as strong, if not more so.

He's flashed a few times, he's had his downs. Take them for what they are and do not overblow them.

For all the bashing of Dobson, why not bash Boyce? Yea, he's fast, but outside of that TD he has done nothing all camp and preseason.

Amendola, Edelman, and the sudden emergences of Thompkins and Sudfeld will give these other rookies time to develop. It's a good thing.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

Don't set the bar too high for Dobson this year. He's a rookied receiver. They almost always struggle the first year. Next year should be his year. It doesn't matter if he's needed, they come along as fast as they develop. They don't develop any faster just because you want them to develop.

 

[Deus Irae]

...For all the bashing of Dobson, why not bash Boyce? Yea, he's fast, but outside of that TD he has done nothing all camp and preseason...

Boyce isn't ready, either. Fortunately, Thompkins looks as if he might be (as long as exhibition season performance translates to the regular season), and the Patriots may have their WR1-WR3 without the two drafted rookies, which will allow both Dobson and Boyce to develop without the pressure of needing to be ready now.

 

[PatsFan2]

For all the bashing of Dobson, why not bash Boyce? Yea, he's fast, but outside of that TD he has done nothing all camp and preseason.

Boyce's Speed and Separation ability will help him make a quick transition at the pro level.

 

[PatsFan2]

Boyce isn't ready, either. Fortunately, Thompkins looks as if he might be (as long as exhibition season performance translates to the regular season), and the Patriots may have their WR1-WR3 without the two drafted rookies, which will allow both Dobson and Boyce to develop without the pressure of needing to be ready now.

Well they might have to be in there sooner than we think D Armendola and Edelperson are not known for their durability.

 

[AzorianPats]

Thompkins has looked great....But I think the upside to Dobson (and Boyce) are greater.

 

[kennyb]

If Sims had been drafted and Dobson an UDFA, I wonder if Dobson woulud be cut and signed to the PS.

 

[ausbacker]

Boyce isn't ready, either. Fortunately, Thompkins looks as if he might be (as long as exhibition season performance translates to the regular season), and the Patriots may have their WR1-WR3 without the two drafted rookies, which will allow both Dobson and Boyce to develop without the pressure of needing to be ready now.

I have faith that McDaniels will put them in positions to succeed. If there's two things he knows how to do, that's to design plays that puts Wide Receivers in a strong position to succeed and how to develop Wide Receivers. That's strawberries and cream when combined with a Quarterback who can target a squirrel's behind.

 

[Rob0729]

I have faith that McDaniels will put them in positions to succeed. If there's two things he knows how to do, that's to design plays that puts Wide Receivers in a strong position to succeed and how to develop Wide Receivers. That's strawberries and cream when combined with a Quarterback who can target a squirrel's behind.

I think that there is enough to like from both receivers that McDaniels will be able to put them in packages as back ups. If they were asked to be starters, the "they aren't ready argument" is valid. Both seem plenty capable to be guys off the bench in certain situations. Which is the classic definition of most back up WR.

 

[Deus Irae]

I have faith that McDaniels will put them in positions to succeed. If there's two things he knows how to do, that's to design plays that puts Wide Receivers in a strong position to succeed and how to develop Wide Receivers. That's strawberries and cream when combined with a Quarterback who can target a squirrel's behind.

I look for Dobson/Boyce to get the 2010 Tate treatment of limited routes and responsibilities, with fewer starts and, probably, fewer snaps.*




*Unless/until there's an injury that forces them into more action.

 

[Kontradiction]

Caught up on most of the game when the UNC/SC game stopped due to lightning. I saw pretty much the same thing I've seen since the start of preseason: easy to re-route and jam at the LOS (isn't as fluid in his moves as Thompkins) and is shying away from contact in general. He has a long way to go. The good news, at least, is that it doesn't look like we'll have to rely on him too much this year so he should have time to get himself "NFL ready".

 

[ausbacker]

I look for Dobson/Boyce to get the 2010 Tate treatment of limited routes and responsibilities, with fewer starts and, probably, fewer snaps.*




*Unless/until there's an injury that forces them into more action.

I have no doubt that they will be brought along as slowly or quickly as their development dictates. I'm at ease with that approach.

It will be interesting to see what the Patriots do with Kenbrell Thompkins. Exhibition games or not, he's looked the part.

A healthy Gronkowski allays many fears.

 

[Sicilian]

If Sims had been drafted and Dobson an UDFA, I wonder if Dobson woulud be cut and signed to the PS.

Dobson played most of the preseason against starting and 2nd string defenses. Sims had a nice quarter and a half against 3rd string nobodies.

 

[Kontradiction]

My prediction is that Boyce leapfrogs Edelman at some point this year. He looks like he's "getting it" more quickly than Dobson is and his routes have been sharper and more polished. He was in perfect position on that first down play that Dobson was called for OPI on.

 

[Brady6]

Unless he has some great practices, he won't be active very much in the regular season. We have plenty of options with Amedola, Thompkins, Boyce, Edelman, Gronkowski, Sudfeld, Vereen and the rest.

I said I didn’t fall in love with, I didn’t say I never wanted to see him again :lol2: