Formula For Greatness As A Slot WR

[mgteich]

Play for one of the top passing teams in the NFL.

Play for one of the top quarterbacks in the history of the league.

Play for a team that rarely passes beyond intermediate range, and focuses on passes over the middle.

Be targeted 150 times.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

You forgot:

Be able to catch the ball.

Be able to read defenses and be on the same page as your quarterback.

Have the agility to get open enough for your QB to make the throw.

Be strong enough to fight for YAC.

 

[Brady6]

Play for one of the top passing teams in the NFL.

Play for one of the top quarterbacks in the history of the league.

Play for a team that rarely passes beyond intermediate range, and focuses on passes over the middle.

Be targeted 150 times.

Sweet all I need now is a tryout...:high5:

 

[patsinthesnow]

The Pats must not of been feeling this formula in 2006?

 

[Froob]

I kinda think the whole slot thing is overstated. Edelman runs a lot of outside routes. I was actually in favor of signing both Welker and Amendola. As good as Welker played, I feel like he slowed down quite a bit at the end of the year(part of it was injuries). I wouldn't want to pay him 6mil past next season.

 

[Brady6]

I will play for $150k so the Patriots can opt not to resign Edelman and cut Amendola, they’ll save a ton of money and I am ready I am going to hit up Planet Fitness right now to begin prepping for OTA's. Thankfully as MG pointed out this position is very easy and doesn’t require any coaching because Planet Fitness is a judgment free zone and the lunk alarm would be going off constantly if it was any of the other 52 roles on a NFL team.

 

[mgteich]

I agree that the patriots went too far in undervaluing the wider receiver position in 2006.

The Pats must not of been feeling this formula in 2006?

 

[letekro]

Pretty much. Gotta stay healthy though. Here's hoping Amendola can accomplish that next year.

 

[IcyPatriot]

I think you're forgetting you must be a good an effective blocker to keep the secondary guessing ... and you must be great at getting off the jam. I don't think just any quick short guy can do it ... you really need to be an elite athlete.

 

[supafly]

I think you're forgetting you must be a good an effective blocker to keep the secondary guessing ... and you must be great at getting off the jam. I don't think just any quick short guy can do it ... you really need to be an elite athlete.

Unless you're playing Denver like last week and they are more than happy to give you a totally free release

 

[supafly]

Play for one of the top passing teams in the NFL.

Play for one of the top quarterbacks in the history of the league.

Play for a team that rarely passes beyond intermediate range, and focuses on passes over the middle.

Be targeted 150 times.

These traits all certainly help the cause a lot, which is also one of the reasons why I'm much more concerned about our outside options again as opposed to our shorter, slot game; which is almost a guarantee to have someone see a ton of targets.

Not saying that anyone could do it, just that I think our weakness on the outside is a bigger priority. That said, I'd offer Edelman 3.5--4m per year and see where that takes us for sure. If not, the job will have to fall on Amendola, Boyce, Moe, or another player who we don't have yet. More likely it may be a combination of them.

 

[letekro]

I think you're forgetting you must be a good an effective blocker to keep the secondary guessing ... and you must be great at getting off the jam. I don't think just any quick short guy can do it ... you really need to be an elite athlete.

One of the primary advantages of playing in the slot is that you DONT have to get off the jam because you are off the line of scrimmage. The other main advantage is that a slot has a two way go. In other words the defender can't use the sideline as an extra defender. Finding guys who can get open on the outside are much more difficult to find than guys that can get open out of the slot.

 

[PittPatriot]

Play for one of the top passing teams in the NFL.

Play for one of the top quarterbacks in the history of the league.

Play for a team that rarely passes beyond intermediate range, and focuses on passes over the middle.

Be targeted 150 times.

If this true...do you think TJ Moe will come out and catch 60 balls for 750yds next season?

 

[mgteich]

Like everyone else, I would like to see Edelman back.

Collie would likely have a 100 receptions with 150 targets in the slot.

Amendola would likely have 100 receptions with 150 targets in the slot.

And yes, both enough skills to get open enough to be targeted 150 times, and the hands to catch 100 balls.

I will play for $150k so the Patriots can opt not to resign Edelman and cut Amendola, they’ll save a ton of money and I am ready I am going to hit up Planet Fitness right now to begin prepping for OTA's. Thankfully as MG pointed out this position is very easy and doesn’t require any coaching because Planet Fitness is a judgment free zone and the lunk alarm would be going off constantly if it was any of the other 52 roles on a NFL team.

 

[mgteich]

First one needs to have NFL skills, have some experience in the NFL, and know the patriots system.

Amendola and Collie clearly qualify.

Less so for Boyce and Moe.

However, if Moe were the #1 slot receiver and thrown to 150 times, I'm sure that he would catch 60 balls.

If this true...do you think TJ Moe will come out and catch 60 balls for 750yds next season?

 

[mgteich]

Yes, I am fine with offering Edelman $3.5-4M a year,.

I agree that we need someone as our #3 receiver. However, that guy could be almost anyone. for example, Collie could be our slot receiver, playing in 3 receiver sets (with Amendola and Dobson).

IMHO, Thompkins has as much chance as Moe or Boyce. There's also Harrison. Receivers often aren't productive until their second or third year.

And yes, there's the best of whoever we sign as a free agent. Obviously that free agent could be Edelman, or not.

In the end, the passing game was a top 5 passing game with Welker and Lloyd having almost all the receptions by a WR (Branch had almost none). The team has replaced those two with Amendola and Dobson. Collie/Thompkins/Moe/Harrison/Boyce should add as much as Branch.

AS YOU SAY, the key to improvement is better production from downfield receivers. Alternatively, we can simply re-sign Edelman and not have as much punch downfield. Sure, we'd all like to see Edelman back AND see us pick up a productive downfield receiver, AND have Dobson be a top receiver. That seems a lot to ask.

These traits all certainly help the cause a lot, which is also one of the reasons why I'm much more concerned about our outside options again as opposed to our shorter, slot game; which is almost a guarantee to have someone see a ton of targets.

Not saying that anyone could do it, just that I think our weakness on the outside is a bigger priority. That said, I'd offer Edelman 3.5--4m per year and see where that takes us for sure. If not, the job will have to fall on Amendola, Boyce, Moe, or another player who we don't have yet. More likely it may be a combination of them.

 

[SalemPats]

People don't realize that to play the slot you have to have big balls. They are going down the middle of the field and get hit a lot. Collie and Amendola aren't tough enough to do that. It's why there are few elite slot guys.

 

[manxman2601]

If this true...do you think TJ Moe will come out and catch 60 balls for 750yds next season?

It is interesting that if you compare their pro days, TJ Moe and Edelman are very very similar. Moe might just be a factor in the question of whether Edelman gets re-signed.

Julian Edelman | Kent State, WR : 2009 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

T.J. Moe | Missouri, WR : 2013 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

 

[Brady6]

Like everyone else, I would like to see Edelman back.



Collie would likely have a 100 receptions with 150 targets in the slot.



Amendola would likely have 100 receptions with 150 targets in the slot.



And yes, both enough skills to get open enough to be targeted 150 times, and the hands to catch 100 balls.

I just got up to 3.5 with a 1.0 incline on the treadmill so if anyone will be catching passes in the slot it will be Brady6 wearing the #6.

 

[Brady6]

It is interesting that if you compare their pro days, TJ Moe and Edelman are very very similar. Moe might just be a factor in the question of whether Edelman gets re-signed.



Julian Edelman*|*Kent State,*WR*:*2009 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile



T.J. Moe*|*Missouri,*WR*:*2013 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

Personally my obsession has been this kid ever since you opened the thread on him earlier this year.

Reggie Dunn:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=92774&draftyear=2013&genpos=WR