Cutdown Day: PATS DISCUSSION thread

[ivanvamp]

I have to think, check that, I have to PRAY that the team is bringing Gaffney back because Edelman is not a flanker and WR is generally a position where rookies have struggled to succeed in our offense. Further, I have doubts that we can bring in Vinny Gumbatz off the street and have him digest our playbook in enough time to be a factor at the beginning of the season.

As it stands right now, we are terribly thin at WR.

The WR/TE depth chart, at this moment, looks like what?

WR: Welker, Lloyd, Edelman, Ebert, Slater
TE: Gronkowski, Hernandez, Fells, Shiancoe

Assuming they play Hernandez at a WR spot most of the time (60%+ of the time he played wide or in the slot), it gives them three top-notch "WR" (note the quotes, Deus) options. I think Edelman is fine as a #4 receiver...not a guy you want as a starter though. Ebert? Who knows. Slater is a ST guy who happens to have the letters WR next to his name. But every team has some of those kinds of guys.

 

[Kontradiction]

The WR/TE depth chart, at this moment, looks like what?

WR: Welker, Lloyd, Edelman, Ebert, Slater
TE: Gronkowski, Hernandez, Fells, Shiancoe

Assuming they play Hernandez at a WR spot most of the time (60%+ of the time he played wide or in the slot), it gives them three top-notch "WR" (note the quotes, Deus) options. I think Edelman is fine as a #4 receiver...not a guy you want as a starter though. Ebert? Who knows. Slater is a ST guy who happens to have the letters WR next to his name. But every team has some of those kinds of guys.

We only have one true outside threat at WR. The rest are possession receivers. That doesn't concern you?

 

[JackBauer]

I've always wondered whether Ebert could get some play on the outside. He's got the wheels for it. He's also reportedly about 5'11" and 200 lbs, so he should have the size for it.

Jeremy Ebert = Jordy Nelson!

 

[VJCPatriot]

https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/statuses/241587095641145344

Dear Lord,

Please keep Tom Brady safe and healthy.

Hoyer cut is a big surprise to me. Mallet has more upside for sure. But Hoyer seemed a safer bet if the unthinkable happened. 1.9m salary isn't that much for a backup that knows the system. However in BB we trust. I wonder which guy on our roster caused Hoyer to be bumped off as we get down to the 53 mark?

With the cuts of Branch, Gaffney, and Stallworth the #3 WR position either just became WIDE OPEN or Julian Edelman has just proven something to our coaches and seized that spot for himself.

 

[BradyManny]

We only have one true outside threat at WR. The rest are possession receivers. That doesn't concern you?

Considering Belichick signed every conceivable receiver option going into the offseason, it's hard to imagine he is happy with the depth at receiver right now, considering it's no better than last year. I bold depth b/c I acknowledge that the 1's are better.

Belichick gutted the safeties last year without any contingency, and it might've been the first time I've ever truly scratched my head at something he did. If this doesn't play out differently in the next few weeks, I'll be feeling the same way.

 

[ATippett56]

He's just about the same size as David Givens.

David Givens was stout for a wide receiver:

David Givens | Notre Dame, WR : 2002 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

David Givens

Height: 6'-0", Weight: 217 pounds

Vertical: 40-1/2" (One of the best from the 2002 NFL Combine)

 

[Deus Irae]

Jeremy Ebert = Jordy Nelson!

If we could be so lucky........

 

[TheBeers]

As of right now we (reportedly) have 6 WR's - Brandon Lloyd, Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, Jeremy Ebert, Matthew Slater, Jesse Holley. Obviously this may change by the end of the day or by weeks 1-3 as some are suggesting. But we are not thin at WR if Bill thinks this is a better 6 than a 6 that includes Branch, Gaffney, and/or Stallworth. This is not the tail end of free agency where all the wr's are getting snarfed up and we're short on this position. Bill CUT these guys so obviously he likes what he has seen from the guys still here. Lets not forget it looks like we may be keeping more RB's/TE's than usual as well and looks like both those group's have some really good pass-catchers in them (aside from the obvious Gronknandez).

 

[BradyManny]

David Givens

Height: 6'-0", Weight: 217 pounds

Vertical: 40-1/2" (One of the best from the 2002 NFL Combine)

Givens was a beast.

 

[mgteich]

2011: #3 passing offense and overall offense in the nil
================
2012: LOSE: Branch, Ochocinco and Underwood
........ .ADD: Lloyd, Fells, and Shiancoe (and Ebert as the young developmental inactive)
==================
Q1) Is Lloyd an adequate replacement for Branch?

Q2) Do you expect less from Fells and Shiancoe than we got from Ocho and Underwood?

Q3) We will likely start the season with our usual inactive young developmental receiver? IIRC, it was Price last year.
====================
I would like a veteran backup, but I would not expect him to be active, although he could be depending on game plan.

We only have one true outside threat at WR. The rest are possession receivers. That doesn't concern you?

 

[ivanvamp]

We only have one true outside threat at WR. The rest are possession receivers. That doesn't concern you?

I didn't say it didn't concern me. I am surprised they cut Gaffney and Branch. I wonder what BB has up his sleeve. But I think this group can survive a couple of games as is. Long term, no.

I wonder what Ebert is really capable of. Kid ran a 4.38 in the 40, so he has terrific speed. Maybe he's better than we all think.

 

[ATippett56]

2011: #3 passing offense and overall offense in the nil

2012: LOSE: Branch, Ochocinco and Underwood
........ .ADD: Lloyd, Fells, and Shiancoe

LOL!

Shiancoe can't even find the practice field!

 

[jah]

Jeremy Ebert = Jordy Nelson!

Except Jordy Nelson is 6'3".

 

[JackBauer]

If we could be so lucky........

I have a Bear's fan friend who went to Northwestern and kept insisting that Ebert was going to be a huge find for us. Hopefully that comes to fruition.

 

[mrscruff]

OK, maybe I should start listening to myself.

In my cutdown projection, I said I viewed this initial cut to 53 as being first and foremost about PROTECTING TALENT. Balancing out positional depth at the end of the roster could come later.

Was Deion Branch a guy who required "protecting"? IMO he's worth more more to the Patriots than any other team. His physical skills are much diminished; his value is his precise routes and his mind-meld with Brady. Who's going to outbid NE for those qualities?

But that brings up the question: who are they protecting on the roster by cutting Branch, especially with Hoyer and Koppen freeing up roster spots?

https://twitter.com/Rich__Hill/status/241624661266419714

@Rich__Hill
My thought is the Patriots want more time to decide battles- Ebert/Holley/Taylor, Moore/Cole/Dennard, etc. Branch will wait, Work on depth.

 

[JackBauer]

Except Jordy Nelson is 6'3".

And 20 lbs heavier. However, I'm talking about production. And making the obligatory white receiver analogue comparison.

 

[ATippett56]

https://twitter.com/Rich__Hill/status/241624661266419714

Holley & Taylor ..........

You've got to be kidding?

 

[mgteich]

Do you believe that we will get less production in 2012 from Fells and Shiancoe than we did from Ocho and Underwood in 2012?

LOL!

Shiancoe can't even find the practice field!

 

[ATippett56]

And making the obligatory white receiver analogue comparison.

I thought with Welker and Edelman, the New England Patriots have already met their quota?

 

[Finnishfan]

Kerry Taylor still with us?