Who could be candidates for surprise cuts this next month?

[PatsFan2]

Way off, no way we are trading Henderson.
Over 900 yards, over 5 yards a carry and 9 TDs as an experienced rookie, obv saw the enough holes to be incredibly productive while not playing much early in the season. He had one double digit carry game in the first 7 games of the season.
There is 0% chance he would be traded.
Sorry, but that is one of the worst takes I’ve ever heard.

I thought so too maybe Thelonious had a few before posting.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I thought so too maybe Thelonious had a few before posting.

I agree he left yards on the field, but 1100 combined yards, 10 combined TDS barely playing the first 7 weeks. You don’t trade that away. You improve the Oline and develop him into a 1500 combined yards player.

 

[n1997y]

I don't doubt that. WR, inline (TE-lite), ST. He is a great player to have.
but if they see a #2 TE in 2 years in Arkin, and a potential swing OT in 2 years in Crownover, and they like Williams year step jump, at some point, there is a roster crunch. Especially if Boutte forces keeping him with his play.
If Brown, Doubs, Boutte and Williams are all game day active, is Hollins active every game?

Williams really needs to step it up for us to be talking about whether he’s a game day active instead of whether he’s on the team at all. Just saying.

 

[n1997y]

Regarding Pop Douglas; if he figures out how to play the Slot he's a keeper. We have True #1 WR in AJB now.

How many years has Pop been on the team? And we’re still talking about *if* he learns to play the slot?

Thats why he would not be a total surprise cut or trade.

 

[n1997y]

Agree. Boutte is in the unfortunate situation of looking at possible diminished role and target share going into a contract year. It’s a tough spot and unfortunate. He is my kid’s favorite player.

But he has no leverage and acting like a diva would hurt his chances of the contract he’s looking for both with the pats or someone else.

I also think he’s done some maturing and is a class act. Be surprised if he’s a behavior problem.

Where do folks get the idea that Boutte has been acting like a dive? He’s just been keeping his mouth shut, sticking to business, doing his job, and just lighting camp up making stellar catches every day. Why does anyone think he would suddenly change his behavior to the polar opposite? SMH.

 

[mgteich]

the WR decisions could also boil down to Tanner Arkin forcing his way onto the roster with elite blocking.
Facts are that a healthy Brown, Doubs and Henry are going to gobble up a lot of targets. Mondre and Henderson would be good for another 50-60 targets combined in a McD offense. Raridon will be developed and offered some game day opportunities.
certainly all combined, makes Hollins, Boutte, Pop, Chism all question marks, regardless of their upside or last years production.

I agree with everything but the connection between keeping a blocking TE and keeping an excessive number of WR's. We can easily keep 3 TE's and 6 WR's if we choose.

 

[mgteich]

Read, Rinse, Repeat

There is little conflict between keeping 3 TE's (including a blocker) and keeping 6 WR's. That being said, I think that 5 WR's is enough.

One of Boutte or Douglas will likely be gone. And Chism is a PS option at best.

I'm fine with all 6 on the initial roster, at least for a week or two,

 

[PatsFan2]

Read, Rinse, Repeat

There is little conflict between keeping 3 TE's (including a blocker) and keeping 6 WR's. That being said, I think that 5 WR's is enough.

Name your Five WR's.

 

[mgteich]

Williams really needs to step it up for us to be talking about whether he’s a game day active instead of whether he’s on the team at all. Just saying.

Williams is a developmental player who is likely to be given another year to develop, even if he is the 5th or 6th WR, usually inactive.

 

[Grogan14]

How many years has Pop been on the team? And we’re still talking about *if* he learns to play the slot?

Thats why he would not be a total surprise cut or trade.

The pop douglas era should be over

 

[Water Boy]

The pop douglas era should be over

Yes. Let's roll with 5 x/z receivers and ditch our best man beater.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I think it possible Henderson may be traded. He's fast, but he hardly ever seems to know where to go when he runs: looks like a guy running with his eyes closed.

Not surprised you're taking heat on this. Most people realize the Pats OL isn't very good at run blocking. Once we've established that, it's difficult to take seriously the Pats should trade their biggest play threat at RB who eclipsed over 1,000 total yards and almost 10 TD's when he wasn't the primary back until week 8.

In Josh's offense, there's a key spot for a third-down, change-of-pace receiving back, and I don't think Henderson is really the guy for that spot.

No, this has always been a Tom Brady thing. Much like the "Patriot Way", the "3rd down back" in the offense has been a fan/media creation.

 

[rkarp1]

I agree with everything but the connection between keeping a blocking TE and keeping an excessive number of WR's. We can easily keep 3 TE's and 6 WR's if we choose.

but can we keep 3 TE's, 7 WR's and 5 OT's?

 

[doesntmatter1]

Douglas is an easy candidate to suggest. For me, he doesn't have "it". An ideal slot destroys defenses when they are ignored or left covered from time to time by a safety or linebacker. Pop is short and consistently trips on the turf.

Diggs was a great slot. Pop has had a few seasons to establish himself in this role and it hasn't happened. I'm waiting to see in preseason who takes that position and runs with it. Most likely Romeo but maybe an udfa or Chism.

 

[mgteich]

but can we keep 3 TE's, 7 WR's and 5 OT's?

Sure, but I don't know anyone but you that would want to do so.

OFFENSE (25)
QB 2
WR 7
RB 4
OT 5
IOL 4
TE 3

You could even keep a 5th IOL or 3rd QB as the 26th man on Offense.

 

[mgteich]

The pop douglas era should be over

I would choose Douglas over Chism or one of the UDFA's as our 6th WR. And, certainly, I would choose Douglas over Chism as our WR #5 if Boutte is traded.

 

[Thelonious]

I think you're off on T Henderson he wasn't running behind a Great OL last year. Regarding Pop Douglas; if he figures out how to play the Slot he's a keeper. We have True #1 WR in AJB now.

You're right about the line, of course, but Henderson really doesn't have any sense of where and when to cut. He runs directly into defenders, sometimes into his own teammates. I was only one-third kidding when I said it looks as if he's got his eyes closed. I'd keep Pop over Chism, even though the latter is a cool story. I'd probably keep Boutte over Pop. Slot receivers are somewhat easier to find down the line, can generally be had for a lower pick, than X/outside guys, which is part of the reason for this preference. I also think Pop is what he is golng to be, whereas Boutte still seems to be getting steadily better. The whole thing is a pretty good problem to have: it's been a while since we have had more serviceable WR's than we can keep.

 

[Thelonious]

Way off, no way we are trading Henderson.
Over 900 yards, over 5 yards a carry and 9 TDs as an experienced rookie, obv saw the enough holes to be incredibly productive while not playing much early in the season. He had one double digit carry game in the first 7 games of the season.
There is 0% chance he would be traded.
Sorry, but that is one of the worst takes I’ve ever heard.

Uhhh. I think I am the idiot you should be deriding. I'll try to say even more idiotic things just to establish my nitwit bona fides a little more firmly.

Here ya go: "Why are we keeping Drake around when we could probably trade him straight up for Deshaun Watson?" Or,"I'd like to discuss that Vrabel/Russini thing a little more thoroughly." Or, "Felger thinks...."

 

[PatsFan2]

You're right about the line, of course, but Henderson really doesn't have any sense of where and when to cut. He runs directly into defenders, sometimes into his own teammates. I was only one-third kidding when I said it looks as if he's got his eyes closed. I'd keep Pop over Chism, even though the latter is a cool story. I'd probably keep Boutte over Pop. Slot receivers are somewhat easier to find down the line, can generally be had for a lower pick, than X/outside guys, which is part of the reason for this preference. I also think Pop is what he is golng to be, whereas Boutte still seems to be getting steadily better. The whole thing is a pretty good problem to have: it's been a while since we have had more serviceable WR's than we can keep.

We saw in the Bucs and Buffalo games last year. IF you give Henderson a little room: that's all she wrote off to the house.