The Pats only have ONE WR

[Bostonian1962]

Andre Davis, Tim Dwight, Bethel Johnson, David Givens. One out of those receivers mattered AT ALL last year. We have added Reche Caldwell and Chad Jackson, a guy who most considered a #1 pick. I feel fine, but I guess adding one more vet - Dez White? - couldn't hurt. No need to worry.

Thanks PatSox23. I can always rely on you for a common sense, level headed response. Despite what alot of others are saying, our WR corp is a problem area. I crack up at how many like to ignore the obvious, or simply sugar coat things.

Losing Davis, Dwight, Johnson, and Givens, and replacing them with a player who's done NOTHING in this league, and another (whom I like by the way) who is a rookie, gives me less of a warm and fuzzy than alot of other folks around here.

 

[Bostonian1962]

We also have Dan Graham, Ben Watson, David Thomas, Garrett Mills, Kevin Faulk, and Patrick Pass... all very capable pass catchers.

A very good point. Still need another WR. I'm sure BB and Pioli will add another somehow, but right now, today, we've got a powerful receiving corp of:

Branch: Talented, but fragile and a possible camp holdout.
Caldwell: Oft-injured. Hasn't done squat yet.
Jackson: Going to be great in time, but is a rookie.
Childress: Couldn't even make the team last year.

Valid points on the other players though.

 

[Bostonian1962]

Brady has a history of injuries: how are we EVER going to live at QB?

Richard Seymour has a history of injuries: how are we EVER going to live at QB?



Any player can get hurt at any time. You can say the same you just did with the ENTIRE roster.

What are you talking about? Brady has a history of injuries? Since when? Seymour plays on the deepest defensive line in the NFL. You're comparing that to the WR situation? Dang man, take off the blinders.

 

[dhamz]

The question is can Jackson come in and fill in for Givens. If that is yes, the WR group is every bit as good as it has been the last few years. If it is no, then we will have to pick up the slack elsewhere on offesne whether it is the TE and backs catching more passes or improvement in the running game.

I'm not sure what any of this has to do with Bethel Johnson who clearly wasn't going to make the team and hasn't been even a thought at WR in either of the last 2 seasons.

 

[DaBruinz]

So, here's how I see things after sending BJ away.

Troy Brown is guaranteed to be injured at some point this season. He always has been, as his age has increased.

Caldwell has been plagued by injuries.

Last year was the first year we've seen Branch basically stay healthy.

As best I can see it, we are thus looking at a WR corp of:

Rookie Chad Jackson. Add Bam Childress by default and ladies and gentlemen that could be our WR unit at some point next season.

Alot of the above is tongue in cheek, but my point is we badly need another WR or two, and there doesn't appear to be alot available right now. I'm positive by nature, but is anybody besides me very worried about this????

Somebody convice me that we're in good shape at WR, because I don't see it, AT ALL.

Caldwell isn't injury prone. He tore his ACL in 2004 and spent last year trying to get back to his playing speed.

Also, Branch was only injured in 2004 because Neal fell on him. A fluky accident.

Also, I suggest you re-aquaint yourself with the 2001 season. Going into the season, the Pats only had 1 WR from the previous year and that was Troy Brown. They added David Patten, Charles Johnson, Torrence Small, Bert Emanuel, and Fred Coleman in the off-season. I don't believe that Emanuel made it through more than a few games. They also had Terry Glenn, though he only played 4 games for them.

At the time, the Pats only had Rod Rutledge and Jermaine Wiggins at TE. Everyone knew that Rutledge was just a blocking TE. And no one knew if Wiggins could catch consistently.

Out of the backfield, the Pats had a healthy Faulk, Marc Edwards and Pass.

Now, fast forward to 2006.
The Pats have Branch and Troy Brown. They also have Bam Childress (who impressed enough last year to earn a way onto the game rosters by the end of the year), Chad Jackson (rookie WR), Reche Caldwell (former starter in San Diego who was stuck behind 4 terrific receivers in Tomlinson, Gates, McCardell, and Parker. Lost his spot because of torn ACL). Also, they have a bunch of unknowns in Musinski, John Stone, Erik Davis, Michael McGrew, Zuriel Smith, Matt Shelton, and Jakari Wallace.

The Pats ALSO have 2 damn good receiving TEs in Daniel Graham and Ben Watson. They also added David Thomas, who will be the 3rd TE, but should see time if he progresses well, just so they can keep Graham and Watson fresh.

Out of the backfield, the Pats have injury prone Kevin Faulk, a much improved Patrick Pass, and Garrett Mills (a rookie who the Pats want to use as an H-back like Keith Byars).

I look at the situation and I am NOT worried. We are much better off right now than we were in 2001 at this time. Could it be better? Yep. But it could be a LOT worse.

 

[DaBruinz]

Thanks PatSox23. I can always rely on you for a common sense, level headed response. Despite what alot of others are saying, our WR corp is a problem area. I crack up at how many like to ignore the obvious, or simply sugar coat things.

Losing Davis, Dwight, Johnson, and Givens, and replacing them with a player who's done NOTHING in this league, and another (whom I like by the way) who is a rookie, gives me less of a warm and fuzzy than alot of other folks around here.

The problem with you, Bostonian, is that you don't view the ENTIRE situation.

Not to mention, this thread is an entire rehash of at least 4 others that happened months ago, though they included Bethel Johnson.

The fact is that Caldwell was a starting WR for the Chargers in his 3rd year. Another FACT is that the Chargers top 2 receiving threats that year were Antonio Gates and LaDanian Tomlinson. Because they are both better than Parker and Caldwell. That is NOT a slight against Caldwell. Tomlinson and Gates are both ALL-PRO caliber players. When Caldwell returned, he was the #3 WR behind McCardell and Parker, but he was the 5th receiving option behind Gates, Tomlinson, McCardell and Parker. And he caught 28 passes. That isn't bad for a 5th option. Not when the top 4 are getting 82% of the passes thrown to them.

The Pats offense spreads the ball around a LOT more. The Patriots top 5 receivers only had 61% of the receptions.

If Caldwell comes in and works the way he was doing in 2004, then I expect him to do well.

 

[DaBruinz]

A very good point. Still need another WR. I'm sure BB and Pioli will add another somehow, but right now, today, we've got a powerful receiving corp of:

Branch: Talented, but fragile and a possible camp holdout.
Caldwell: Oft-injured. Hasn't done squat yet.
Jackson: Going to be great in time, but is a rookie.
Childress: Couldn't even make the team last year.

Valid points on the other players though.

You have your facts wrong and you aren't being fair in your assessment.

Caldwell isn't Oft-injured.

Childress was a ROOKIE last season. Its pretty funny how you are willing to mention that for Jackson, but not for Childress. And, Childress DID make the team. He made enough of an impression to make the practice squad and was activated by the end of the season.

 

[shakadave]

The WR who is the deep threat to open it up for the underneath receivers; the guy who runs the flies and deep posts; who doesn't catch a lot of passes, but contributes.

That job description is now vacant with BJ's departure.

If all we need is a guy to go out there and run fast, we already had Chad Jackson to replace Bethel during the months when Chad Jackson is still learning the offense.

Bostonian you are right. Our WRs get injured a lot more than, say, the Colts' do (or Steelers', or Broncos') --- this has always frustrated me in recent years. If Branch is injured (as he so often is) in September, we're hurting. We probably need another body, unless Jackson progresses faster than I think (in which case we're golden!)

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

You have your facts wrong and you aren't being fair in your assessment.

Caldwell isn't Oft-injured.

Childress was a ROOKIE last season. Its pretty funny how you are willing to mention that for Jackson, but not for Childress. And, Childress DID make the team. He made enough of an impression to make the practice squad and was activated by the end of the season.

I thought Childress looked good last year. Givens started off slow too... took him a few years before he was really making an impact.