Pioli is improving the team

[mgteich]

The question with regard to any transaction is whether the team was helped.

1) Signing Gabriel when Branch didn't appear help the team.

2) Signing an experienced kick and punt returner strenghened the team, even more than any loss of cutting Childress. I would note that Gabriel and Jackson will appear at some point, and that Kight is available from the Practice Squad.

 

[Willie55]

FWIW (which isn't much) Felger just said Gabriel is no better than a #4 receiver. He was on Sports Late Night.

 

[Kdo5]

FWIW (which isn't much) Felger just said Gabriel is no better than a #4 receiver. He was on Sports Late Night.

Felger is a negative clown, thats why.

 

[patsox23]

Felger couldn't be a bigger a-hole at this point. What a disappointment he's been. Talk about regression. How is Doug Gabriel a #4 WR when he was slated to be the starter opposite Moss or, at worst, the #3 after Moss and Porter?

 

[mgteich]

If he is a #4, then we gave a 5th for a #4 to replace Childress, our then current #4; a #4 that Pioli has more potential to be more than Childress.

FWIW (which isn't much) Felger just said Gabriel is no better than a #4 receiver. He was on Sports Late Night.

 

[Willie55]

Felger used to be objective. Now he just sucks.

And he really went out on a limb by saying the Pats are a contender if they remain injury free, but "we've seen how that has worked out the last couple years".

 

[PonyExpress]

All this bandwagon of negativity is going to make the first 19-0 season that much sweeter.

 

[Brady-To-Branch]

KC Joyner had positive things to say about Doug Gabriel in Scientific Football: 2006...

Successful Plays = completions + defensive penalties
YPA: Yards per pass attempt
Success% = Successful Plays / Pass Attempts
SYPA = YPA*Success%

Doug Gabriel will likely be the #3 WR going into the season. Here are Gabriel's 2005 metrics:

Attempts: 66
Successful Plays: 37
Yards: 581
YPA: 8.8
Success%: 56.1%
SYPA: 4.9

His SYPA rating is actually better than Moss or Porter and I wouldn't be surprised to see Oakland use him more in 2006.

More on Gabriel from CBS Sportsline

Fantasy Analysis
Consider Gabriel a huge sleeper now as potentially a top target for 25-plus TD QB Tom Brady. Gabriel is a downfield receiver with good hands, like Branch, but is 6-foot-2, 5 inches taller than Branch. Last year, he had career highs of 37 catches for 554 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games, two of them starts. Pick Gabriel up in any league in which he is available. He might not be a great player in Week 1, but he will improve as he gets acclimated to the system and Brady.
(Updated 09/02/2006).

More on Gabriel from Scouts, Inc. at ESPN...

Comment:
He is an excellent overall athlete for the position. He has very good speed - flashes some explosiveness in his game. He has shown a lot of big flair when given chances to make plays. He shows solid hands. He shows the ability to pluck quickly on timing routes. He has a wide catch radius - has long arms to extend and catch outside his frame. He shows the toughness to go over the middle - will come inside and catch on slant routes. Shows good hips to get out of his cuts - solid route runner that is very effective on double moves. Can leap and attempt to high point the ball down field - good body control. He gives solid blocking effort.

Based on early indications, this trade looks like a steal.

 

[jefmblrd]

Felger makes his living now as a contrarian. He's negative about almost everything regarding the Pats, so he can stir things up. I'm so glad he's no longer on the Big Show.

As for Gabriel, I don't know much about him, but all the things I'm reading are positive. He could be that big down the field threat or that 3rd down go-to guy to replace Givens. It looks like a great trade at this point.

Regarding Jonathan Smith, I hope this is a good move. I realize that he'll be a number 5 guy and potential kick/punt returner, but I was looking forward to seeing what Childress could do. I hope he makes it through waivers, so he can be PS'd. I have my doubts though.

 

[Joker]

Gabriel may be OK, maybe not...he's going to run slants and go's...our off ense is clearing out underneath and sure ahnds...Troy Brown. But when gabriel fakes inside and the flies the sideline...guess what..the safety eith commits or...well..THERE 4.4 Watson chump.slot middle post...oops..yuo guys watch

 

[Bostonian1962]

Felger couldn't be a bigger a-hole at this point. What a disappointment he's been. Talk about regression. How is Doug Gabriel a #4 WR when he was slated to be the starter opposite Moss or, at worst, the #3 after Moss and Porter?

I swear since Felger has started to hand out /do a show with Borges, the negative non-stop crap has rubbed off. It's unbelievable how far down in the toilet this baffoon has slipped.

The sky is falling. Glass half empty. Take a positive and make a negative.

Of course, he lead the bashing on replacing Adam V. with a rookie kicker, and already is admitting he may be wrong (see The Ghost not missing a kick yet, and Adam V. having a bad plant foot).

I'm sickened by the poor quality writers in this town. We use to be the best.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

FWIW (which isn't much) Felger just said Gabriel is no better than a #4 receiver. He was on Sports Late Night.

I don't know how he could be a #4 on our team at this point if he was starting on a receiver rich team, and had better numbers the last couple of years than just about anyone we've got.

When are Felger and Borges going to wake up to the fact that as fans we want positive/optimistic reports? Even when the glass is 3/4 full, they report the empty. It's not pleasant at all to read, especially when there's so much to be positive about with this team.

I'm glad Gost is kicking well, at least that shut up Felger for now about the loss of AV.

 

[shmessy]

Felger's new name: Little Ron

 

[Patriotic]

Felger's new name: Little Ron

Rike Borger

 

[PlattsFan]

Rike Borger

Mon Felges