varjao
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Or it could be that, despite still being very efficient without gronk, they might want to fully ensure they can threaten a defense in different ways if he's unavailable, ya know.Or it could be not having gronk, ya know.
Every year, we have people here who insist that the team doesn't need WR help.
Every year, BB looks for WR help.
This is a lather, rinse, repeat scenario.
Who is insisting they don't need a WR? I'm just a little curious why we would be interested in giving up a top corner for help at a position we are alright at.
I think a value free agent signing or a draft pick is the typical Belichick move here.
Says who? Diana russini?
Butler For Cooks Deal Being Hashed Out Between NE-NO
Steve Balestrieri
Now comes the news that the Patriots are talking a trade with New Orleans with Malcolm Butler and Brandin Cooks being dealt straight up.
Continue reading...
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Getting a rookie WR is always a crap shoot, as we have seen in the past. Being able to obtain a top flight speed wr that can score from anywhere on the field and who has excelled in a complicated offense is very difficult. Corners can generally come in and play as rookies.....WRs not so much.
Patriots have an aging group.
Would not be surprised to see Edlemen take less snaps this season. Cooks in the slot with MM on the outside. Hogan would then be brought in in certain packages or spell Edlemen on the outside. They probably will also draft a guy.
The draft is supposedly deep in CB as well.
Just wanted to expand on the talk of the offense being tough for a rookie WR. It absolutely is. But, we've also seen it be difficult for veterans to pick up. Ochocinco, Galloway, Wayne .... I know Cooks is more gifted than those guys at the stage we had them but buying into the culture and playbook is hard for everyone. Not just rookies. Each WR we look at and bring aboard is a special case. I also know we picked up Moss and Welker that clicked. Just saying it's not always as easy as vet vs rook.
To me cooks sounds like hes an outside speed guy, thats not edelman or amendola.Just because there r media reports doesn't mean belichick thinks there's a need.... But Edelman, amendola, at or nearing 30....need that next slot guy
Bear in mind that BB has had close looks at Cooks in joint practices.
Patriots slot guys need elite agility - short shuttle under 4.00 seconds and 3-cone under 6.80 seconds. Edelman has those numbers, but no elite long speed. Cooks has those numbers PLUS elite long speed. Having elite long speed doesn't disqualify Cooks from working out of the slot.To me cooks sounds like hes an outside speed guy, thats not edelman or amendola.
Usage over the past three seasons:Very true, and something I am aware of.
While that gives you a little more insight than you might get for another player that didn't have that opportunity, I don't think it justifies the value. I'm sure Bill likes Cooks. You don't have to be as smart as Bill to see what he brings. But, it also doesn't guarantee he buys into having a game plan that doesn't feature him every week. He's complained in NO and he's caught 160 balls the last 2 years. With our group of receivers, tight ends, and versatile RB's, there's no guarantee he reaches 80 catches or X number of targets per game. He'll be heavily involved, but it certainly won't be more than he is in NO imo. Bill seeing him in practice also doesn't guarantee he can pick up our playbook. That's not saying there are questions about Cook's intelligence, it's just that we've seen vet receivers struggle that you wouldn't have expected to.
I am a big Cooks fan and think his speed would bring an element we dont have. I just do not like the value it looks like wed have to give up, if rumors are true.
Keep Butler and reassess him next year. Go with a potentially dominant secondary on the March for anot her title. Draft a kid in the third to try and develop with Edelman and/or Amendola.
Usage over the past three seasons:
Cooks (32 games active) = 9.9 tgts/game, 6.7 receptions /game
Edelman (35 games active) = 10.9 tgts/game, 7.2 rec/game
Their catch rates are roughly the same ... +/- 67%.
Cooks' legit deep speed makes him more versatile than Edelman, so he could conceivably be targeted even a bit more than Edelman has been.