Patriots Trade For Rams WR Greg Salas

[ATippett56]

You're approaching "never again taken seriously" territory.

On a more serious note:

Branch >>>>> Shiancoe

 

[mitsudriver]

Is there any way we could have a discussion only version of threads like this one, and then have a mirror thread for the arguments? I like a little back and forth but trying to sift through this string looking for observations and insights on Salas was like searching for a nanochip in a mile wide haystack.

I'm not kidding - it would be great to have mirror threads. People could pick away at each other endlessly in undecided heated debate, while those just looking for great posts like the one I read (page 22? - there are 36+ pages at this point on a minor trade that select group has turned into an I'm right, you're wrong, I'm more aware, you're missing point wrestlefest that is totally cool if that's what you want) could read about the topic uninterrupted by angst.

I've been on both sides. But I wish I had been able to find more of the cool info I did without scanning dozens of macho assertions in between. I'm not saying there's no place for that kind of juice and energy, I'm thinking it'd be cool to have two version of popular threads. One for gaining insight and details, and one for laying down the law!

I'm glad you mentioned this. Maybe it's just the offseason but it's like a bunch of old women in here at times. If there weren't thread titles you'd never be able to figure out what a thread was about because they just end up as pages of I'm right you're wrong pointless posts over and over. Of course now my post is off the topic of the thread so I guess I'm just as guilty

 

[FaninSoCal]

Just thought Id share this, my apologies if it has already been posted. I tried looking but didnt see it.


Salas Storyboard - YouTube

it shows every catch he made his rookie year

 

[The Scrizz]

Just thought Id share this, my apologies if it has already been posted. I tried looking but didnt see it.


Salas Storyboard - YouTube

it shows every catch he made his rookie year

Wow, first post and it's on topic. We will ruin you yet.

Welcome and thanks for the vid.

 

[FaninSoCal]

Wow, first post and it's on topic. We will ruin you yet.

Welcome and thanks for the vid.

Hehe, thank you for the welcome. Been lurking for a while and felt like sharing this wouldnt be a bad way to start posting.

 

[TyronePoole]

people immediately react that he's a Welker type but watching that video to me he looks like a spitting image of Hernandez albeit a tiny bit smaller obviously.

Watch this after, it's startling, he moves the exact same way and seems to run all the same patterns right down to those end around runs.

Aaron Hernandez Highlights - YouTube

 

[FaninSoCal]

people immediately react that he's a Welker type but watching that video to me he looks like a spitting image of Hernandez albeit a tiny bit smaller obviously.

Watch this after, it's startling, he moves the exact same way and seems to run all the same patterns right down to those end around runs.

Aaron Hernandez Highlights - YouTube

Wow...know how right you are about that? My son looked over and just asked me why the video of Salas looked so blurry. Runs like AH too.

 

[patfanken]

Your tone sounds like you feel his isn't at practice simply due to indifference.
Would you endorse cutting a player who is one of your best 53 because an injury is holding him back, even if he may miss a couple of weeks, just because missing practice requires being penalized?
I could take or leave the guy frankly, but I think the inference that he is able to practice but won't and therefore deserves to be punished is misplaced.

No I would never endorse cutting one of my best 53 players just be cause they were temporarily injured. But what makes you think that Tracy White has proven that he's still one of the best 53 players. Being a good special teams player and a bad LB does not entitle you to a roster spot based, on past production. You should have to earn your spot every year. I believe both Koutavidis and Tarpinian are better LB's that White and I find it hard to believe that White is THAT much better a special teams player. And if he were, he should have shown it on the field

Listen. This season certainly isn't tipping on which last LB/ST player makes the team. I just find it strange that White was given a pass. Usually that hasn't been the practice for lower roster players.

 

[patfanken]

And since I am catching up on this thread. A couple of more points

1. I don't think Shianco's situation is analogous at all to Tracy White's. I can easily see BB keeping a proven guy at a skill position even if he's temporarily hurt. I think its different than a guy who is a career special teamer and an emergency ILB. I was just hoping that we could have upgraded that situation into a guy who has at least "some" LB skills, even if I would hope to never have to see them.

2. There is NO offensive pass formation that is better with Gronk and Hernandez on the sideline. So if you are purposely adding a WR and redacting one of those 2 TE's, you just weakened the threat. Ergo there should never be a reason for having 4 WR's on the field at the same time other than injury or giving a TE a breather. There should be no reason to having 3 WR's on the field at the same time unless we are going "5 wide" (or there is an injury to a TE or they are giving him a breather).

To do do would be like taking Brady out for a Wildcat formation. You wouldn't take your HOF QB out under any situation, nor would you take one of your best receivers out of the game when you didn't have to.

3. Watching the tape of all of Salas' catches makes me understand why people look on him as strictly a slot receiver. Frankly I was disappointed. I was hopping for more than just slip screens and short underneath routes. I would hope our tallest receiver would be capable of some intermediate outside routes....and he very well could be.

Its good that he caught so many balls so early. Its good that he showed good hands and some YAC. He was just a 4th rounder without an off season whose season was cut to just 6 games. Hopefully he'll show more down field stuff here than he did there.

 

[resdubwhite]

Seems like a good signing.

Can't imagine he'll be in on too many plays this weekend but do hope he gets a catch or two.

This does settle the WR nerves for me a little bit anyway.
Of course next Monday is a new day. I'd expect to see Branch back.

 

[Finnishfan]

people immediately react that he's a Welker type but watching that video to me he looks like a spitting image of Hernandez albeit a tiny bit smaller obviously.

Watch this after, it's startling, he moves the exact same way and seems to run all the same patterns right down to those end around runs.

Aaron Hernandez Highlights - YouTube

Ah.. the thought of us landing a WR who matches AH in abilities and skills but knows the outside and inside WR fundamentals and techniques instead of TE ones.

That would be golden. Only thing that equasion is missing is "the link". That means on-field raport with Brady. Outside WRs have had difficulties creating "the link" over the years, but I hope Salas makes an exception.

EDIT: Althought I have to admit that O'Briens compulsive obsession for option routes and disguises might have been a reason why outside WRs struggled to connect with Brady. Option routes are always easier for inside WRs, becouse they read the coverages from relatively same angle as the QB so they are usually on the same page. Outside guys see the field from a different angle, so the QB might see something they dont or vice versa.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Do you feel better Ice. Was that cathartic. You just lambasted the team who has put together one of the best passing attacks in the league year in and year out for close to a decade. So I find it amazing that the Pats have been able to accomplish all that with such a lack of receiving talent.

I just had to note the irony of you calling anyone out for cathartic lambasting of this amazing team... Unless of course post draft and post season rants are different...

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Ah...the extremes here. Imagine getting the next coming of Welker meets Hernandez for the price of a 2015 conditional 6th round pick... The angst when he's inactive will be unbearable.

 

[Ring 6]

No I would never endorse cutting one of my best 53 players just be cause they were temporarily injured. But what makes you think that Tracy White has proven that he's still one of the best 53 players. Being a good special teams player and a bad LB does not entitle you to a roster spot based, on past production. You should have to earn your spot every year. I believe both Koutavidis and Tarpinian are better LB's that White and I find it hard to believe that White is THAT much better a special teams player. And if he were, he should have shown it on the field

Listen. This season certainly isn't tipping on which last LB/ST player makes the team. I just find it strange that White was given a pass. Usually that hasn't been the practice for lower roster players.

White has clearly been the best special teamer of that group.
I don't know how you want the guy who proved it on the game field to prove it on the practcie field while injured. You sound like Tippett. Do you really think White just hung out and refused to practice because he is lazy?
Tarp and Koutivides are not NFL caliber LBs anyway, so the entire decision is based on special teams.

 

[The-Hooded-One]

Watching that video it's clear that McD likes getting the ball in his hands and letting him run with it. Lots of WR screens to this guy.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Just thought Id share this, my apologies if it has already been posted. I tried looking but didnt see it.


Salas Storyboard - YouTube

it shows every catch he made his rookie year

I especially like the play around 4:00 where he just trucks the DB for a couple of extra yards.

And I agree with the folks who see something of a mini-Hernandez in Salas.

 

[patfanken]

White has clearly been the best special teamer of that group.
I don't know how you want the guy who proved it on the game field to prove it on the practcie field while injured. You sound like Tippett. Do you really think White just hung out and refused to practice because he is lazy?
Tarp and Koutivides are not NFL caliber LBs anyway, so the entire decision is based on special teams.

IF the major reason for White being retained is just special teams, then keeping him makes sense. I was hoping for more LBing skill out of that last "emergency" ILB. I though Tarpanian, Koutavidis, and Rivera all played very well in the Giant game, certainly better that I ever saw White play LB But that's just my anecdotal observations

Just a thought for your input. Given that KO returns are down about 50% because of the shorter kick, doesn't that less the importance of a great KO cover man like White to a certain degree? And since the number of plays that he now can impact has been significantly limited, doesn't that mean he needs to add more value to the other parts of his game? Just a thought

 

[Ring 6]

IF the major reason for White being retained is just special teams, then keeping him makes sense. I was hoping for more LBing skill out of that last "emergency" ILB. I though Tarpanian, Koutavidis, and Rivera all played very well in the Giant game, certainly better that I ever saw White play LB But that's just my anecdotal observations

Just a thought for your input. Given that KO returns are down about 50% because of the shorter kick, doesn't that less the importance of a great KO cover man like White to a certain degree? And since the number of plays that he now can impact has been significantly limited, doesn't that mean he needs to add more value to the other parts of his game? Just a thought

His role has always been 99% special teams.
If we have enough injuries that Tracy White is playing LB, it wouldn't matter if its him Tarpanian or Koutivides because none of the 3 belong on the field for anything other than s/ts

 

[BBass]

Ah.. the thought of us landing a WR who matches AH in abilities and skills but knows the outside and inside WR fundamentals and techniques instead of TE ones.

That would be golden. Only thing that equasion is missing is "the link". That means on-field raport with Brady. Outside WRs have had difficulties creating "the link" over the years, but I hope Salas makes an exception.

EDIT: Althought I have to admit that O'Briens compulsive obsession for option routes and disguises might have been a reason why outside WRs struggled to connect with Brady. Option routes are always easier for inside WRs, becouse they read the coverages from relatively same angle as the QB so they are usually on the same page. Outside guys see the field from a different angle, so the QB might see something they dont or vice versa.

Coming out of college he was actually drawing comparisons to more physical receivers like Ward and Boldin.

Jeff Fisher likes to run the ball and mix in PA passes. That is why they were so willing to unload Salas to us, I think Salas is going to be a great fit lining up outside but running slants, and crossing patterns. I do not see him playing in the slot position like Welker/Edelman.

Greg Salas Scouting Report - With the First Pick - NFL Scouting Reports, College Football, and the 2013 NFL Draft

 

[condon84]

Just thought Id share this, my apologies if it has already been posted. I tried looking but didnt see it.


Salas Storyboard - YouTube

it shows every catch he made his rookie year

Thanks.

Doesn't really seem to have the quickness or top end speed. He looks fearless going through the middle though.

As someone else posted, he reminds me of Hernandez. But not quick, fast, or have the running ability after the catch. WHich begs the question, why did we trade for him? We already have Welker, Hernandez, and Gronk operating in the middle of the field. Was it necessary to trade for this guy? Don't we need another outside receiver to spell Brandon or be his backup? If Salas is mainly going to play outside, we would have been better off with Branch or Gaffney. At least those guys showed a bit more quickness.