Player Signing C.J. Dippre added to 53. Saunders cut.

[Family]

 

[Family]

I like that they're adding rookies who have been here from the beginning as depth.

To really win this thing they need 67 Red Sox type of stuff.

On the other side it was a joke when people said Vrabel had his eye on Saunders for Duggers replacement when they went with a 52 roster for weeks.

I like taking a look at young players. Hopefully Dippre can be a surprising tight end and Hooper isn't hurt badly.

 

[Mack Herron]

I guess either Hooper is still a concern or Dippre has impressed. Big kid with intriguing potential.

 

[PatsFan2]

The Dip??

 

[Family]

I guess either Hooper is still a concern or Dippre has impressed. Big kid with intriguing potential.

Maybe teams are sniffing around that the Patriots aren't calling up some of their better young players, when it's obvious they're needed.

Have we been stashing these players?

 

[PatsFan2]

I like that they're adding rookies who have been here from the beginning as depth.

To really win this thing they need 67 Red Sox type of stuff.

On the other side it was a joke when people said Vrabel had his eye on Saunders for Duggers replacement when they went with a 52 roster for weeks.

I like taking a look at young players. Hopefully Dippre can be a surprising tight end and Hooper isn't hurt badly.

Interesting I thought C.J. Dippre would make it as our Blocking TE initially: but he was almost invisible in TC. We'll see if he can open some holes in the running game.

 

[DaBruinz]

Very interesting that they did this today and not Thursday or Friday , closer to the game.

Patriots also put Darius Harris on the IR while signing LB - Otis Reese. Reese entered the league with Vrabel's Titans in 2023. He was with the Bills Practice Squad earlier this season.

 

[Mack Herron]

Maybe teams are sniffing around that the Patriots aren't calling up some of their better young players, when it's obvious they're needed.

Have we been stashing these players?

Timing is consistent with a risk of losing the player. Coaching staff has been generally impressive in talent recognition and development. Let’s hope he contributes.

 

[n1997y]

Very interesting that they did this today and not Thursday or Friday , closer to the game.

Patriots also put Darius Harris on the IR while signing LB - Otis Reese. Reese entered the league with Vrabel's Titans in 2023. He was with the Bills Practice Squad earlier this season.

Harris was credited with two solo tackles against the Jets. I didn’t catch anything about his injury during the game, but maybe missed it. PS IR mirrors regular IR except he continues to get paid. He has to miss four games then is eligible for possible return.

 

[Zuma]

LB - Otis Reese. Reese​

Strengths​

• Very good size for the safety position.
• Works to maintain contain positioning.
• Bolts into backfield looking to disrupt run design.
• Shows ability to toggle between combo routes in zone.
• Rushes up and delivers punishing hits to pass-catchers.

Weaknesses​

• Limited versatility and scheme fits.
• Slides away from blockers, losing his run fits.
• Lacks consistency playing the run from the box.
• Below-average burst to close in coverage.
• Very little special teams production in his background.

 

[Ross12]

Hey, I like it... A lot of us were very high on Dippre in the offseason because of his size and blocking talent but he never really did anything in camp. Perhaps with two-thirds of a season's worth of practice squad reps and learning, he has a better grasp on the role and can get in there and do it now. They don't need him to go dominate anyone, but it would be nice to get some competent inline blocking so that Henry can be split out as the "move" TE and be used as more of a receiver.

Regarding Saunders, I am guessing Vrabel is high on what Pettus has been doing with his opportunities. He specifically called out Pettus in the locker room for his 4th down stop at the end of the game last week and said it would lead to "more opportunities".

 

[RobertWeathers]

Very interesting that they did this today and not Thursday or Friday , closer to the game.

Patriots also put Darius Harris on the IR while signing LB - Otis Reese. Reese entered the league with Vrabel's Titans in 2023. He was with the Bills Practice Squad earlier this season.

 

[Ross12]

Henry is 6'5", 249 lbs. Hooper is 6'4", 254 lbs. Dippre is 6'5" 262 lbs.

For a comparison point, Gronk was 6'6" 265 lbs.

 

[Toofy]

Let's recreate gronk again....

Dippre'owski ...

I looked at his highlights... Looks lumbering slow.

Gronk was a beast man... It's insane how he could run so fast and furiously . There could be only 1 gronk and we were lucky to have him.

 

[Family]

Gronk was a beast man... It's insane how he could run so fast and furiously . There could be only 1 gronk and we were lucky to have him.

Maybe the MVP of players who were not QB's since it became a passing league.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Possible that some other team was willing to sign Dippre off our practice squad and forced our hand.

They've also been using Tonga as a FB which might not be something they want to do if his workload at DT is increased with Williams out. The "true" FB Westover factors into the TE depth chart too, so that could be a factor here.

Even though he had the one long TD, Kyle Williams has continued to look lost the last few weeks overall with Boutte out. Before Boutte went down they were making all of Diggs/Boutte/Hollins/Douglas/Williams/Chism active on gameday. Maybe they're pulling the plug on Williams as a contributor this year which maybe means those limited snaps go to Hollins and they want to backfill his pseudo-blocking TE snaps with Dippre to help manage Hollins' workload. If Williams is a distant #5 on the WR depth chart (as it appears he should be) then that's not the best use of a gameday active spot considering he plays no STs, whereas a blocking TE could contribute.

Maybe they just felt he truly deserved it and they don't have playing time for him so he'll just be a gameday inactive but they still wanted to reward him.

 

[n1997y]

Interesting move with Dippre. Have to wonder if some other team was trying to sign him off our PS and Pats decided to match. Otherwise it’s not clear why they didn’t just leave him on the PS and bring him up as a game day elevation.

That aside I’d think this portends an emphasis on the running game against Cincinnati this weekend. They’ll need blocking and Hoop is still in concussion protocol iirc.

 

[TommyD4207]

Possible that some other team was willing to sign Dippre off our practice squad and forced our hand.

They've also been using Tonga as a FB which might not be something they want to do if his workload at DT is increased with Williams out. The "true" FB Westover factors into the TE depth chart too, so that could be a factor here.

 

[patfanken]

Dippre has been my biggest disappointment of this rookie class. Of all the UDFA's we signed he was my binky and favorite to be the guy who made an impact on the roster.

I didn't have any illusions that he'd be another Gronk. I just wanted him to be another Pharoah Brown, who was very effective as a part time blocking TE, who could catch a few passes along the way. I actually hoped they'd resign him to be the 3rd TE.

Dippre was the same size. So, I hoped he'd be as effective as Brown, only a lot younger. So maybe dreams DO come true

On the other side, I liked what I read about Saunders and thought he might get to the roster. Here's hoping no one poaches him and he gets back to the PS

 

[Patriot Missile]

Hey, I like it... A lot of us were very high on Dippre in the offseason because of his size and blocking talent but he never really did anything in camp. Perhaps with two-thirds of a season's worth of practice squad reps and learning, he has a better grasp on the role and can get in there and do it now. They don't need him to go dominate anyone, but it would be nice to get some competent inline blocking so that Henry can be split out as the "move" TE and be used as more of a receiver.

Oh, he needs to dominate.