PATRIOTS TRAINING CAMP Training Camp Day 6 - July 29

[mgteich]

I only count 6 plus Chism.

plus Hollins

If he goes on PUP, we would expect him to come back.

 

[mgteich]

No ****ing way I'm keeping BOTH sloPolk AND halfBaked ahead of Chism. Hell until they show me otherwise when it Really counts, i.e. against dudes other than future teammates, I'm keeping Neither of them ahead of him, or ahead of Bourne either.

I think that you know that Polk will make the 53 and be given another year to prove himself to be worthy of being a #4 or #5 WR (or better).

For me, Polk is getting a pass for last year. I'm even OK with him being an inactive #6 WR.
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I agree with your not giving up on Bourne. If Williams isn't ready for prime time, it is not clear that Josh is ready to start Boutte. Boutte seems to be beating out Chism. Do you agree?

Diggs, Douglas, Williams, Polk, Bourne/Boutte with Hollins starting on PUP seems right. Bourne could be traded before the trade deadline if and when Williams is ready start (or if Josh is ready to start Boutte).

 

[Wozzy]

I remember Cre'von (sp?) LeBlanc. Who else?

Other notable cuts that ended up being players elsewhere…

Darius Butler became a good slot CB for the Colts. Hjalte Froholdt became a permanent starter at C/G for the Cardinals. Braxton Berrios became a decent slot WR.

 

[Ross12]

plus Hollins

If he goes on PUP, we would expect him to come back.

Not plus Hollins, because he’s on PUP.

When he returns after several weeks, if they still have 6 healthy guys rostered, they’d make an appropriate roster move.

 

[PatsFan2]

Not plus Hollins, because he’s on PUP.

When he returns after several weeks, if they still have 6 healthy guys rostered, they’d make an appropriate roster move.

IF Polk or Baker continues to improve Hollins is not Needed.

 

[Brandon_Cox]

IF Polk or Baker continues to improve Hollins is not Needed.

Hollins is 6'4'' and 225. Every team wants/needs at least one big-bodied receiver, especially in the red zone

 

[Wozzy]

Hollins is 6'4'' and 225. Every team wants/needs at least one big-bodied receiver, especially in the red zone

But they have to be good…

 

[PatsFan2]

Hollins is 6'4'' and 225. Every team wants/needs at least one big-bodied receiver, especially in the red zone

You are overrating him like so many other PatsFans. Hollins have been a 300yds WR average.

 

[mgteich]

You are overrating him like so many other PatsFans. Hollins have been a 300yds WR average.

OK, so you think that we don't need a veteran who know the league, is a good special teamer and can catch a couple of passes a game?

 

[Brandon_Cox]

You are overrating him like so many other PatsFans.

I'm not overrating him, I'm just looking at his 3.5 million guaranteed contract and his knowledge of Josh's offense. If enough receivers show up, I can see them leaving him on PUP until they need him.

 

[PatsFan2]

OK, so you think that we don't need a veteran who know the league, is a good special teamer and can catch a couple of passes a game?

We could do so much better than Hollins.

 

[mgteich]

Not plus Hollins, because he’s on PUP.

When he returns after several weeks, if they still have 6 healthy guys rostered, they’d make an appropriate roster move.

How many targets does Maye need in a game? Four active WR's is plenty plus one more inactive plus PS players. To be more clear, if Hollins is on PUP, I don't see the need for 6 WR's on the 53-man roster. Yes, if Hollins comes back, we could keep all FIVE plus Hollins (primarily a special teamer) or we could keep FIVE including Hollins, expecting him to contribute as the #4 or #5 WR (2-3 receptions a game seems right for that role).
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Let us presume that Williams is ready to start on Day One.

Our starters are then DIGGS, DOUGLAS and WILLIAMS. Henry and Henderson should be part of the 5 top targets. And then there are Hooper, Stevenson, the 4th active WR and a 3rd RB.
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Who are the FIVE if Hollins is on PUP
assuming that Williams is ready to start, MY list is
DIGGS
WILLIAMS
DOUGLAS
BOUTTE
POLK
gone: Bourne, Chism, Baker

I agree that there would be a decision to be made when and if Hollins comes back.

 

[Ross12]

How many targets does Maye need in a game? Four active WR's is plenty plus one more inactive plus PS players. To be more clear, if Hollins is on PUP, I don't see the need for 6 WR's on the 53-man roster. Yes, if Hollins comes back, we could keep all FIVE plus Hollins (primarily a special teamer) or we could keep FIVE including Hollins, expecting him to contribute as the #4 or #5 WR (2-3 receptions a game seems right for that role).
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Let us presume that Williams is ready to start on Day One.

Our starters are then DIGGS, DOUGLAS and WILLIAMS. Henry and Henderson should be part of the 5 top targets. And then there are Hooper, Stevenson, the 4th active WR and a 3rd RB.
=================
Who are the FIVE if Hollins is on PUP
assuming that Williams is ready to start, MY list is
DIGGS
WILLIAMS
DOUGLAS
BOUTTE
POLK
gone: Bourne, Chism, Baker

I agree that there would be a decision to be made when and if Hollins comes back.

You don't only keep starters... You rotate players, and you also keep guys that you want to develop.

Day 1 starters are likely Diggs, Douglas and Boutte. Williams backs up/rotates in for Boutte, and Polk backs up/rotates in for Diggs and Douglas.

Then, you can have a sixth player who is primarily a special teams player for now that you'd also like to develop long term. That player could be Baker, or Chism or someone else. Someone like Chism could be a starting returner for now, so he is still seeing regular snaps, just not yet at WR. Baker could be a gunner.

 

[PatsFan2]

How many targets does Maye need in a game? Four active WR's is plenty plus one more inactive plus PS players. To be more clear, if Hollins is on PUP, I don't see the need for 6 WR's on the 53-man roster. Yes, if Hollins comes back, we could keep all FIVE plus Hollins (primarily a special teamer) or we could keep FIVE including Hollins, expecting him to contribute as the #4 or #5 WR (2-3 receptions a game seems right for that role).
=======
Let us presume that Williams is ready to start on Day One.

Our starters are then DIGGS, DOUGLAS and WILLIAMS. Henry and Henderson should be part of the 5 top targets. And then there are Hooper, Stevenson, the 4th active WR and a 3rd RB.
=================
Who are the FIVE if Hollins is on PUP
assuming that Williams is ready to start, MY list is
DIGGS
WILLIAMS
DOUGLAS
BOUTTE
POLK
gone: Bourne, Chism, Baker

I agree that there would be a decision to be made when and if Hollins comes back.

It's funny I remember last year you had nothing but glowing things to say about K Boutte?? Now he's a Lock giving up so early on Baker?? Give peace a chance.

 

[The Gr8est]

Is the OL better with Wilson at C or LG? I believe C, but the team apparently has him at LG.

Which position is more difficult to fill?

 

[PatsFan2]

Is the OL better with Wilson at C or LG? I believe C, but the team apparently has him at LG.

Sounds like he has surpassed Cole Strange and C Wallace is getting run there too. I think Strange might be a Trade candidate: though we won't be getting much in return for that former First Rounder.

 

[mgteich]

You don't only keep starters... You rotate players, and you also keep guys that you want to develop.

Day 1 starters are likely Diggs, Douglas and Boutte. Williams backs up/rotates in for Boutte, and Polk backs up/rotates in for Diggs and Douglas.

FOUR developing youngsters is plenty for me. If we think that they are already key players, then extend Douglas and Boutte now, and the other two in the next off-season. This is the very thing that we are trying to develop. We should expect to always want to have a top veteran like Diggs on our roster, so it is a matter of developing the 3-4 around whoever that is in the future.
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Replacing one of best punt returners in the league so that so that Chism MIGHT replace one of the four youngsters in the future seems very, very wrong. I agree that we should consider acquiring another TOP punter if we don't want Jones being the punter. [or perhaps, we can acquire a nickel back and have Jones be a returner, play some defense and also play a bit of Offense].

Cutting one of our top gunners so that we can keep Baker also seems very wrong. My guess is that our #2 top gunner (after Schooler) is a better gunner than Baker, and perhaps could contribute at a position which Baker won't unless you are sitting 2 if the top 5 so that Baker can have WR reps.
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BOTTOM LINE
When you have a top WR and 4 other WR's that you think that we can rely on, the place for additional developing youngsters is on the Practice Squad.

BTW, that doesn't consider that we have two ADDITIONAL WR's who are capable of contributing when called upon (Bourne and Hollins). We have no need to go into the season with players that shouldn't be having any WR reps, even if there is an injury. If one of your four goes on a rapid decline, I'd keep Bourne in a heartbeat. Josh knows how to effectively use his skills.

 

[Mack Herron]

Which position is more difficult to fill?

Good question. My concern is that protection has been a limitation for Bradbury so his ceiling seems less than what Wilson may bring, and there are more guards than centers in camp.

 

[signbabybrady]

For me Bourne is making the WR evaluation kind of easy.

3 locks in Diggs, Pop, and Williams.

Bourne to me is the bar that the rest need to cross in order to make it. Bourne's salary might make it tough for him to make it without a restructure but so far Boutte is the only one I can say is playing better than him right now.

Polk has only 2 practices so far but in each he's shown a little and I think he'll make a run at passing Bourne.

If both Boutte and Polk pass Bourne it's a no brainer you have your 5 and Hollins can either be on the pup or a 6th wr with heavy STs play.

The scenarios that start to get tricky is if Bourne keeps his lead do you cut him due to salary anyway? Do you keep him and one of the young kids even if it could squeeze out Hollins? What if Chism passes Bourne too? And what if Hollins gets on the field soon and proves to be a better bar than Bourne?

 

[Zuma]

It's a good point, but I almost don't care.

I think the value of communication together from day one is more important, but it's difficult to say this is wrong.

If having a veteran is most important, get Wilson ready for center.

I want two rookies starting the entire season, if they are good enough.

Another very good practice today for Wilson at LG. I think you're right with starting the rooks on the left. Strange could backup C and G.