The Myth Of The Failed WR's Of 2013

[mgteich]

243 receptions 2858 yards 11.76 yards per reception
230 receptions 2708 yards 11.77 yards per reception

#1 receiver 118 catches #2-4 receivers 111 catches
#1 receiver 105 catches #2-4 receivers 123 catches

ISSUE ONE - OVERALL PRODUCTION
Can you tell which is 2012 and which is 2013? The wide receivers had MORE catches and yards in 2013 than in 2012. Please recall that we thought that we were depending too much on our passing game last year and should rely more on the run. Again we heavily relied on our #1 receiver.

ISSUE TWO - THE ROOKIES
Dobson 37 receptions 519 yards
Thompkins 32 receptions 466 yards
Boyce 9 receptions 121 yards
---------------- ----------
total 88 receptions 1106 yards

I think that the rookies did fine. Compare them with past patriot rookies. Compare them with all the other 2013 WR rookies in the league. How did they fare? Did they do terribly for a 2nd, 4th and UDFA? Did they do poorly simply as downfield WR's to replace Lloyd and Branch?

Rookie wide receivers often do very poorly. We had two that did very well indeed. We even have a third who got some game experience at WR and at KR.

RUNNING BACKS
Their production in the passing game was a bit better than in 2013. Vereen had about the same number of receptions and yards as Woodhead did the year before. Vereen and his backup Bolden did more than make up fro Woodhead.

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Production from the TE's in the passing game was way down from 2012. Hooman did a fine job as a blocking TE.

 

[BrickPat]

With the notable exception of Edelman the other WR's this season were largely underwhelming. As BB once said, stats are for losers, I go by what I see on the field.

I wish last Sunday was a myth...

 

[Ian]

243 receptions 2858 yards 11.76 yards per reception
230 receptions 2708 yards 11.77 yards per reception

#1 receiver 118 catches #2-4 receivers 111 catches
#1 receiver 105 catches #2-4 receivers 123 catches

ISSUE ONE - OVERALL PRODUCTION
Can you tell which is 2012 and which is 2013? The wide receivers had MORE catches and yards in 2013 than in 2012. Please recall that we thought that we were depending too much on our passing game last year and should rely more on the run. Again we heavily relied on our #1 receiver.

ISSUE TWO - THE ROOKIES
Dobson 37 receptions 519 yards
Thompkins 32 receptions 466 yards
Boyce 9 receptions 121 yards
---------------- ----------
total 88 receptions 1106 yards

I think that the rookies did fine. Compare them with past patriot rookies. Compare them with all the other 2013 WR rookies in the league. How did they fare? Did they do terribly for a 2nd, 4th and UDFA? Did they do poorly simply as downfield WR's to replace Lloyd and Branch?

Rookie wide receivers often do very poorly. We had two that did very well indeed. We even have a third who got some game experience at WR and at KR.

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Production from the TE's in the passing game was way down from 2012. Hooman did a fine job as a blocking TE.

The only problem I saw was the fact the rookie receivers ultimately hit the proverbial "rookie wall" and ran out of gas during a long NFL season. It happens with a lot of them, and I think between that and injuries, that's more or less what happened.

A lot of people want to write them off, but if you look at their body of work as you mentioned, it's tough not to appreciate what they did and I think all three will be better in 2014. Amendola also will be better when his groin is finally attached to his leg next season and having spent an entire year in this system. Lots of reason to be optimistic, although I'd be O.K. with an Emmanuel Sanders type of signing. Otherwise I don't think they need much else receiver-wise. Tight end is another story until we see how Gronk recovers.

 

[JMC00]

With the notable exception of Edelman the other WR's this season were largely underwhelming. As BB once said, stats are for losers, I go by what I see on the field.

I wish last Sunday was a myth...

Dobson and Thompkins combined for 32% of Brady's TDs.

In fact they are the reason the Pats had 2 wins. Thompkins' game winning TD catch against the Saints and Dobson's 40 yard TD against the Jets.

Could also be argued that Dobson's absence in the game in Miami lost the Pats the #1 seed. Unless you don't think having a 6'3 target at the end of that game would have helped.

The rookie receivers weren't the problem. It was not having that 2nd receiving TE threat. But there wasn't much they could do when Hernandez decided to murder someone.

 

[brdmaverick]

Two things..........

1.) The tight ends were a MUCH bigger part of our passing offense last year. We were using tight ends as receivers while that wasn't a reality when Gronk was out this year.

2.) The Rookies - I don't think many are saying the rookies didn't compare well to rookies of past years, I think the concern is that there were THREE rookies PERIOD!!! With all of Brady's familiar pass catchers going elsewhere or hurt, replacing them with three rookies was a big concern. Sure, they did 'ok', but the offense certainly wasn't nearly in sync as they were the year before.

 

[juny]

Your elephant in the room is the reason why the WR numbers didn't drop off so much. With the lack of TE behind Gronk, the passes were going to WR primarily. In fact with the lack of TEs and the heavy usage of them in the passing offense last year, the WR numbers should have gone up, if anything.

 

[mgteich]

We wanted total receptions to go down. They did.

And yes, WR production did go up a bit, both in total receptions and yards.

Your elephant in the room is the reason why the WR numbers didn't drop off so much. With the lack of TE behind Gronk, the passes were going to WR primarily. In fact with the lack of TEs and the heavy usage of them in the passing offense last year, the WR numbers should have gone up, if anything.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Rookie year:

Demaryius Thomas: 22 receptions 283 yards 2 TDs
Eric Decker: 6 receptions 106 yards 1 TD

Sophomore year:

Demaryius Thomas: 32 receptions 551 yards 4 TDs
Eric Decker: 44 receptions 612 yards 8 TDs

We'll know what we have with Dobson/KT/Boyce by year 3.

Now, can Dobson/KT become the next Thomas/Decker please?

 

[fnordcircle]

In fact with the lack of TEs and the heavy usage of them in the passing offense last year, the WR numbers should have gone up, if anything.

Things don't happen in a vacuum. There aren't a guaranteed number of receptions that will go to a WR if our top 2 TEs are gone.

We lost the two guys on our team who put pressure on the middle of the field. Doing that opens up things elsewhere. Without those two TEs to do that teams were better able to lock down our outside receivers.

 

[TriplecHamp]

We wanted total receptions to go down. They did.

And yes, WR production did go up a bit, both in total receptions and yards.

but for all the wrong reasons. Its like saying we want to run the ball more next season and it happens but its because Brady is out for the year. I don't think anybody would take the trade off.

 

[Deus Irae]

243 receptions 2858 yards 11.76 yards per reception
230 receptions 2708 yards 11.77 yards per reception

#1 receiver 118 catches #2-4 receivers 111 catches
#1 receiver 105 catches #2-4 receivers 123 catches

ISSUE ONE - OVERALL PRODUCTION
Can you tell which is 2012 and which is 2013? The wide receivers had MORE catches and yards in 2013 than in 2012. Please recall that we thought that we were depending too much on our passing game last year and should rely more on the run. Again we heavily relied on our #1 receiver.

ISSUE TWO - THE ROOKIES
Dobson 37 receptions 519 yards
Thompkins 32 receptions 466 yards
Boyce 9 receptions 121 yards
---------------- ----------
total 88 receptions 1106 yards

I think that the rookies did fine. Compare them with past patriot rookies. Compare them with all the other 2013 WR rookies in the league. How did they fare? Did they do terribly for a 2nd, 4th and UDFA? Did they do poorly simply as downfield WR's to replace Lloyd and Branch?

Rookie wide receivers often do very poorly. We had two that did very well indeed. We even have a third who got some game experience at WR and at KR.

RUNNING BACKS
Their production in the passing game was a bit better than in 2013. Vereen had about the same number of receptions and yards as Woodhead did the year before. Vereen and his backup Bolden did more than make up fro Woodhead.

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Production from the TE's in the passing game was way down from 2012. Hooman did a fine job as a blocking TE.

It's not a myth. The WR play was down significantly, and that's reflected in both the stats and in areas that we don't see the stats, but were easy for our eyes to see all year long (Brady having to hold the ball longer and being sacked much more being one obvious example). When you try comparing the WR numbers only, you ignore the reality of the change in emphasis.

 

[SalemPats]

Rookie year:

Demaryius Thomas: 22 receptions 283 yards 2 TDs
Eric Decker: 6 receptions 106 yards 1 TD

Sophomore year:

Demaryius Thomas: 32 receptions 551 yards 4 TDs
Eric Decker: 44 receptions 612 yards 8 TDs

We'll know what we have with Dobson/KT/Boyce by year 3.

Now, can Dobson/KT become the next Thomas/Decker please?

Seriously? the difference is Orton/Tebow(worst QB of all-time) and Peyton

 

[brdmaverick]

Seriously? the difference is Orton/Tebow(worst QB of all-time) and Peyton

Also, that's a dangerous game to play because there are far MORE situations of WR's having less than stellar rookie years who stayed "less than stellar".


Chad Jackson's rookie year: 13 rec 152 yards and 3 TDs so he should be better than Eric Decker right?

 

[The_Riddler]

Your elephant in the room is the reason why the WR numbers didn't drop off so much. With the lack of TE behind Gronk, the passes were going to WR primarily. In fact with the lack of TEs and the heavy usage of them in the passing offense last year, the WR numbers should have gone up, if anything.

We got Bingo !

 

[Deus Irae]

Seriously? the difference is Orton/Tebow(worst QB of all-time) and Peyton

Thomas had a significant foot injury all through year one and lingering in year two, and and both players had their rookie seasons with Orton as the QB for 13 games. Decker had a huge increase in production under Tebow, as a matter of fact.

Tebow wasn't the issue with those two or, at least, he wasn't the issue with Decker.

 

[SalemPats]

Thomas had a significant foot injury all through year one and lingering in year two, and and both players had their rookie seasons with Orton as the QB for 13 games. Decker had a huge increase in production under Tebow, as a matter of fact.

Tebow wasn't the issue with those two or, at least, he wasn't the issue with Decker.

If you can put up semi-decent numbers with Tebow then you are great. Mr Fake is the worst QB of all-time

 

[mosi]

This team lives and dies with Gronk. With Gronk, we win. Without Gronk we loose. Need more Gronks!

 

[mgteich]

THE PASSING GAME
The WR production was about the same.
The RB production was up.
Gronk was down a bit (down 16 catches and down about 200 yards)

WE DID NOT REPLACE HERNANDEZ and his production. We paraded a dozen or more tight ends through camp and the preseason. In the end, the difference between the passing game last year and this year was the failure to replace the production of Hernandez.

If this failure is a failure of the wide receivers not stepping up, then fine. I don't believe that this is the case. I think the solution is simpler. I think that the front office failed in having a adequate #2 tight end on the team.

It's not a myth. The WR play was down significantly, and that's reflected in both the stats and in areas that we don't see the stats, but were easy for our eyes to see all year long (Brady having to hold the ball longer and being sacked much more being one obvious example). When you try comparing the WR numbers only, you ignore the reality of the change in emphasis.

 

[Deus Irae]

THE PASSING GAME
The WR production was about the same.
The RB production was up.
Gronk was down a bit (down 16 catches and down about 200 yards)

WE DID NOT REPLACE HERNANDEZ and his production. We paraded a dozen or more tight ends through camp and the preseason. In the end, the difference between the passing game last year and this year was the failure to replace the production of Hernandez.

The WR production was NOT the same, because you're pretending 1:1 comparisons that aren't valid, and you have to know this because you've been around for both seasons. Are you tabulating the snaps where Hernandez, who was a hybrid as opposed to a pure TE, set up as a wideout for the purposes of your data, for example?

 

[upstater1]

I don't think anyone here is saying last year's WRs were better, are they?

What I'm hearing is that we had no one to threaten on the outside either year. I find that to be true.