Offensive snaps Game 8

[Fencer]

Snaps: Exploring Ridley's decline - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Notably:

• Gronkowksi sat quite a bit.
• Thompkins had 5th-most snaps among the WRs.
• Ridley had more snaps than Blount, but Bolden got the Faulk/Woodhead/Vereen reps and had about as many as Ridley/Blount combined.

 

[I am party]

What's going on with Thompkins? Is he getting outworked in practice? Is he not gelling with Brady? Is he not grasping the system? What gives?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

What's going on with Thompkins? Is he getting outworked in practice? Is he not gelling with Brady? Is he not grasping the system? What gives?

Brady's thought process…

I REALLY MISS BRANCH
I MISS WES MOST OF ALL
WAIT, HERE'S GRONK
THORW BALL TO GRONK
WHOOPS, GRONK TRIPLE COVERED
MAN AM I PISSED AT THOSE DAMN ROOKIES

 

[RIpats88]

Dobson seems to have beaten out thompkins

Also interesting amendola played very limited snaps as well

 

[I am party]

Brady's thought process…

I REALLY MISS BRANCH
I MISS WES MOST OF ALL
WAIT, HERE'S GRONK
THORW BALL TO GRONK
WHOOPS, GRONK TRIPLE COVERED
MAN AM I PISSED AT THOSE DAMN ROOKIES

lol

i guess what i'm really wondering is how dobson (50 of 65 snaps) has jumped so far ahead of thompkins (14 of 65 snaps).

 

[ctpatsfan77]

lol

i guess what i'm really wondering is how dobson (50 of 65 snaps) has jumped so far ahead of thompkins (14 of 65 snaps).

It could just be matchup-related. Thompkins played more than Dobson last week.

 

[Dagg]

What's going on with Thompkins? Is he getting outworked in practice? Is he not gelling with Brady? Is he not grasping the system? What gives?

He not grasping the ball....

 

[Ring 6]

What's going on with Thompkins? Is he getting outworked in practice? Is he not gelling with Brady? Is he not grasping the system? What gives?

He's not all that good?

 

[patsfan-1982]

Thompkins and Ridley stand out only 14 and 20 snaps, Ridley I would like to see get more touches but maybe they are just keeping him fresh but Thompkins I think has turned into a bottom of the roster WR we are starting to see why he went undrafted

 

[Deus Irae]

What's going on with Thompkins? Is he getting outworked in practice? Is he not gelling with Brady? Is he not grasping the system? What gives?

We were actually discussing this in the post-game thread. The last 4 games (at least) have seen Thompkins and Dobson switching off who's had the most snaps, and the differences have been pretty large.

From that line of talk:

Thompkins had a lot more than Dobson against the Jets (73 v. 44), which is why I mentioned the possibility that it was just a one game thing, but you're right about the Saints game (80 to 59 in favor of Dobson). There seems to be some volatility in terms of which rookie is getting the snaps right now (Thompkins 61-39 against the Bengals). Whether it's a question of matchups, or something else, is something I'm sure BB will give us the full scoop about come tomorrow.

 

[fumbrunner]

Neither Dobson nor Thompkins have seized the opportunity. If one does, I expect that we will see one with alot more opportunities than the other. But between Dobson's drops, and KT's bobbled catches, I think the Pats are still waiting for one to emerge.

 

[Harrisoned!]

Have liked more of what I have seen of Dobson lately, but not enough to quibble if Thompson gets more snaps next week. Like others have said, it may be just matchups and who played better during the week of practice leading up to the game.

 

[mgteich]

MANAGED REPS
Amendola
Gronkowski
Ridley

WIDE RECEIVER ROTATION
Thompkins is the odd man out. Collie is simply sharing slot reps with Amendola. Dobson seems to be the clear #1 WR. Maybe, by playoff time, we will folks who will reliably run the right route, get open and hold on to the ball. In any case, the situation is improved with Gronk and Amendola on the field.

There are plenty of reps for Dobson AND Thompkins if Thompkins improves. More likely is that Edelman will continue to get those reps.

RUNNING BACK BY COMMITTEE
Blount looked pretty good in the last touchdown drive. It seems that Bolden is the 3rd down back, protector and receiving back. Ridley looks good when he is in. To me, it seems that the rotation is tinkered with each week, and even in each half. It will be tinkered with again when Vereen is back. IMHO, the running game has been OK. In any case, I do't thin that this is a weakness.