Likely Receiving core: What do you think?

[Mack Herron]

The addition of Sanders still would leave the WR group under-talented and undersized. Rationalizing that we can get away with less talent because we have such a good QB will satisfy only the most ardent optimists. When you have a QB who can make all the throws, you want WRs who can get open and make catches all over the field. The group as currently constituted cannot do that. I place WR at the top of the list of needs, and I expect come Sept there will be several new additions. If not, I fear we will once again find our passing game too easy to defend by the better defenses with the familiar lack of playoff scoring.

 

[ATippett56]

So, the starting WRs on the Patriots in your view would be Amendola and??? certainly not a rookie.

The New England Patriots started two rookie tight ends during the 2010 NFL Season.

Besides, the New England Patriots have the following wide receivers on the roster aside from Emmanuel Sanders:

Danny Amendola
Julian Edelman
Donald Jones

 

[tonyto3690]

The New England Patriots started two rookie tight ends during the 2010 NFL Season.

Besides, the New England Patriots have the following wide receivers on the roster aside from Emmanuel Sanders:

Danny Amendola
Julian Edelman
Donald Jones

We don't need 5 quality receivers.

With Ballard I think we can expect a lot of 3TE sets. BB loves that formation and has heavily run it whenever we could. Along with a RB that leaves only 1 WR on the field on those sets.

Having three quality receivers is all we need.

 

[Nunchucks]

The New England Patriots started two rookie tight ends during the 2010 NFL Season.

Besides, the New England Patriots have the following wide receivers on the roster aside from Emmanuel Sanders:

Danny Amendola
Julian Edelman
Donald Jones

Right, they got two extremely gifted TEs in that draft.

 

[voluntarysaftey]

We don't need 5 quality receivers.

With Ballard I think we can expect a lot of 3TE sets. BB loves that formation and has heavily run it whenever we could. Along with a RB that leaves only 1 WR on the field on those sets.

Having three quality receivers is all we need.

I dont think BB loves formations as much as he loves having the most talented people on the field.

If Gronk or Hernandez go down, I don't want to see a below-avg TE on the field in their place. I want to see an extra WR on the field.

Likewise when we had Corey Dillon, he ran 1600 yards -- not because BB likes having a single RB workhorse -- but because you give your best players the ball as much as possible.

Anyways, I'm happy with Amendola. Our outside WR could still use a huge upgrade. If Lloyd comes back and sanders is the #3 I'll be fine with that. If Sanders/Edelman are 2/3 that kind of sucks.

 

[ATippett56]

Right, they got two extremely gifted TEs in that draft.

It's about time the New England Patriots get two extremely gifted wide receivers in the draft.

 

[Brady2Moss]

We don't need 5 quality receivers.

With Ballard I think we can expect a lot of 3TE sets. BB loves that formation and has heavily run it whenever we could. Along with a RB that leaves only 1 WR on the field on those sets.

Having three quality receivers is all we need.

I really doubt we see a lot of 3 tight end sets because then you really really need a true outside receiver as the 1 receiver and since we don't have one of those on the roster it isn't going to happen as often as you think. Now if they draft a guy they think is Demaryius Thomas-like then you might see this but since you don't want to draft a receiver I'm unsure of how you think this kind of offense would function with sanders or amendola as the only true receiver on the field?

 

[Kontradiction]

So, the starting WRs on the Patriots in your view would be Amendola and??? certainly not a rookie.

Why not? Because the Pats missed in the past at it?

 

[Frezo]

If Sanders becomes a Pat, is it a likely lock that Amendola would be WR1 and Sanders WR2?

 

[Kontradiction]

Right, they got two extremely gifted TEs in that draft.

...that patrol the same level of the field. The idea behind a successful offense in the league and, more importantly, in the playoffs is to force the defense to respect every level of the field. Go back to all of the recent Super Bowl champions and you'll see that trend in full effect. The Patriots haven't been able to do that since 2010 in spite of having their super duper TE combination and only led at halftime in their last Super Bowl appearance due to their quarterback having to be lazer accurate through some of the tightest windows I've ever seen him throw through in his career.

 

[Deus Irae]

If Sanders becomes a Pat, is it a likely lock that Amendola would be WR1 and Sanders WR2?

Here's the wrinkle: Amendola and Sanders are slot WRs who sometimes bounce out wide. Edelman is an outside WR who sometimes drops down into the slot. Edelman also got a contract that's loaded with receptions related incentives.

My first guess is that Edelman will be given a fair shake to win a starting WR job this year, and that we're looking at Amendola/Sanders as a duo which would switch back and forth between the Welker/Branch roles.

And that's why I'm hoping for WRs being taken in the draft.

 

[ATippett56]

If Sanders becomes a Pat, is it a likely lock that Amendola would be WR1 and Sanders WR2?

Neither wide receiver are true split ends.

 

[Frezo]

Here's the wrinkle: Amendola and Sanders are slot WRs who sometimes bounce out wide. Edelman is an outside WR who sometimes drops down into the slot. Edelman also got a contract that's loaded with receptions related incentives.

My first guess is that Edelman will be given a fair shake to win a starting WR job this year, and that we're looking at Amendola/Sanders as a duo which would switch back and forth between the Welker/Branch roles.

And that's why I'm hoping for WRs being taken in the draft.

Thanks. I had Sanders pegged as primarily a wide out.

 

[Deus Irae]

Thanks. I had Sanders pegged as primarily a wide out.

While Pitt had him mostly in the slot, BB may agree with you. He may see Sanders as an outside guy who can drop down. I'm just looking at the past here. Time will tell, good sir, assuming Pitt doesn't match.

 

[JackBauer]

Having three quality receivers is all we need.

So if we get Sanders, that's 2/3.

 

[PatriotReign]

Draft Aaron Dobson and I'll be content.

 

[PatsFanStnfrd]

It's about time the New England Patriots get two extremely gifted wide receivers in the draft.

I second that. Go for 2 WRs in this draft -- tall, speedy WRs who can stretch the field. And don't ever draft a WR from a school like Ohio who has to miss traing camp due to late graduation.

 

[Brady6]

Jones? A breakout player? HA

Do you have any credentials to support being a talent evaluator other than trolling around in this forum posting negative comments and watching some games on Sundays that make you be able to laugh at my opinion? Just wondering because I followed Jones through college and all 3 years in the pro's. What are you basing your HA on?

 

[Kontradiction]

Look at his production in 12 games that had a QB who only threw for 3430 yards in run heavy offense and it wasn't so bad.

For one, you're overrating his production. For another, we're not in need of a "wasn't so bad" type of guy. We're in need of an improvement over what Lloyd gave us at the position. Now, if Jones wants to battle it out for Branch's position, then I'm fine with that. I said in the thread when he got announced here that he was at least an upgrade over Branch at this point. But we need more than Donald Jones when it comes to flanker.

 

[Brady6]

For one, you're overrating his production. For another, we're not in need of a "wasn't so bad" type of guy. We're in need of an improvement over what Lloyd gave us at the position. Now, if Jones wants to battle it out for Branch's position, then I'm fine with that. I said in the thread when he got announced here that he was at least an upgrade over Branch at this point. But we need more than Donald Jones when it comes to flanker.

Aside from his 2 games against the Patriots last year in which he caught 13 balls for 164 yards and 2 touchdowns what games of Jones have you watched? Because all I see is a guy who writes based on what he reads on espn.com and is clueless to his capabilities, talent level and his production based on opportunity.

I watched him in college and all 3 years of the pro's and watched 80% of his games, how about you?