Would you be surprised if WR Michael Jenkins doesn't make the team ?

[manxman2601]

Two names: Lawyer Milloy and Richard Seymour.

Nothing surprises me. Nothing.


Well, maybe cutting Brady.

Browns fans probably thought that about Bernie Kosar.

 

[Rob0729]

I think people are sleeping on Jenkins a bit. Granted he hasn't stood out at training camp thus far, but that could be partially because several other WRs including Amendola and Dobson have shined so far in camp.

I think he could be a very good #3 or #4 WR in this offense. Granted if others step up, he becomes expendable.

 

[dales804]

I won't be surprised at all.

 

[jmt57]

It's obviously way too early to make a determination, with only one day of practice with pads having been completed. However, at this moment in time at least one writer has Jenkins on the outside looking in at that WR roster spot.

New England Patriots wide receiver battle: Kenbrell Thompkins, Kamar Aiken pulling ahead | masslive.com

Top Tier

Kenbrell Thompkins

He very well could end up being the best receiver on the roster not named Amendola. Second-round pick Aaron Dobson has had his moments, but Thompkins, an undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati, has been just as good and maybe even more consistent. He’s received a considerable amount of first-team reps, lining up on the outside, where he’s flashed good hands and an ability to get deep. When discussing the rookie receiver, cornerback Aqib Talib commended Thompkins’ ability to get off jams at the line. “I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if its speed, quickness, strength. Either you got it or you don’t.”

Kamar Aiken

While Thompkins has received a lot of the attention lately, Aiken has been nearly as good. After spending last year on the practice squad, he’s appeared comfortable during camp, flashing good hands over the middle and the ability to get deep. He’s lined up both outside and in the slot, and appears to know how to use his size (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) and speed to his advantage. Coach Bill Belichick gave Aiken some praise earlier this week.

"I think he’s in a good competition with a lot of other players at his position. He has some experience last year from the practice squad at the end of the season, as you said. But this is his first training camp with the team and we’ll see how it all goes. He’s got a little bit of an edge experience-wise, but I don’t think that’s overly significant," he said.

Hanging around

Michael Jenkins

You could do better than Jenkins, and you could do worse than Jenkins. He’s smart, reliable and the Patriots could get by if he ends up making the roster, but he'd probably leave you wanting for more. His drops during Sunday’s practice were a bit concerning, and he lacks the speed you may desire from an outside receiver. At this point, it seems the only way he makes the roster is if some of the guys ahead of him fall off. But the Patriots continue to cycle him in for first-team reps, so it's too soon to count him out.​

 

[MTM558]

I think people are sleeping on Jenkins a bit. Granted he hasn't stood out at training camp thus far, but that could be partially because several other WRs including Amendola and Dobson have shined so far in camp.

I think he could be a very good #3 or #4 WR in this offense. Granted if others step up, he becomes expendable.

That's how I'm viewing Jenkins' status: If the Rookies show progress in camp and flash during preseason, he's gone. But if they struggle more than expected or prove too inconsistent, Jenkins will stay in the 2011 Deion Branch role - A starter on the outside (who shouldn't be starting) but will give you 40-60 catches with decent production. He won't win you games, and he won't lose you games. His biggest contribution to this team may be his mentorship, so for all we know he could "pull a hammy" and end the year on IR to stick around...

There are 5-6 Wide Receiver spots on this roster (I'm leaning 6 because of questions at Tight End). Of those 6, Amendola, Dobson, and Slater are the only locks. Boyce will probably make it because he's a high 4th round pick. That leaves 2 more spots. Edelman has yet to practice, and while he is familiar with the offense and is a dynamic punt returner, his durability is working against him now. Thompkins and Aiken are making strong cases...

 

[manxman2601]

I just know we'll regret this in time:

For what it's worth, Kevin Kolb on rookie receiver Robert Woods: "Stud. Legitimately a stud." Says he's relied on Woods a lot through camp.

https://twitter.com/SI_DougFarrar/status/361993822005243907

 

[tonyto3690]

Is it really necessary to call out fans making predictions on a fan-made internet forum? You signature is immature and ridiculous.

Pot... meet kettle.

Both quotes came from discussions I had with the posters. It wasn't arbitrarily picked quotes I disagreed with. If I'm wrong, I'll be wrong in full display. If they are wrong, they will be.

 

[tonyto3690]

I think people are sleeping on Jenkins a bit. Granted he hasn't stood out at training camp thus far, but that could be partially because several other WRs including Amendola and Dobson have shined so far in camp.

I think he could be a very good #3 or #4 WR in this offense. Granted if others step up, he becomes expendable.

I wouldn't be distraught over him being the 4th WR but this is the same talk we hear every year about WR vet x. Stallworth, Galloway, Holt, Gaffney, and so on. He's likely going to get cut unless the rookies show absolutely nothing and/or he completely lights it up; neither of which appear to be the case.

 

[ATippett56]

I just know we'll regret this in time:



https://twitter.com/SI_DougFarrar/status/361993822005243907

Hey!

Remember Markus Wheaton?

You dropped one of my two wide receiver binkies like a stone!

 

[manxman2601]

Hey!

Remember Markus Wheaton?

You dropped one of my two wide receiver binkies like a stone!

I never dropped Wheaton - we'll regret that one too. I just didn't think it realistic to go WR one and two and Woods' size gave him the edge. Wheaton was still my guy.

 

[Rob0729]

I just know we'll regret this in time:



https://twitter.com/SI_DougFarrar/status/361993822005243907

Well, if he can look like a stud with Kevin Kolb throwing to him, he may be a future HOFer.

 

[manxman2601]

Well, if he can look like a stud with Kevin Kolb throwing to him, he may be a future HOFer.

Kolb does know a WR stud though after time Larry Fitz.

 

[Rob0729]

Kolb does know a WR stud though after time Larry Fitz.

It is the first week of training camp and it is a QB talking up his teammate. Let's not go overboard. I mean Rex Ryan compared Vernon Gholston to Terrell Suggs one training camp.

 

[ATippett56]

It is the first week of training camp and it is a QB talking up his teammate. Let's not go overboard. I mean Rex Ryan compared Vernon Gholston to Terrell Suggs one training camp.

Meanwhile, Rex is still kissing Bill Belichick rings.

 

[supafly]

I never dropped Wheaton - we'll regret that one too. I just didn't think it realistic to go WR one and two and Woods' size gave him the edge. Wheaton was still my guy.

Just out of curiosity manx, how are you able to assess potential receivers as fits in this specific offense when trying to predict choices?

It would appear to be much more difficult than most of any of the other positions due to not fully knowing their cerebral skills or test results that may relate to being able to pick up this kind of system.

There are plenty of great receivers in the NFL who wouldn't look too good here at all. Passing on a great raw talented skill set such as Dez Bryant 3x in the first round comes to mind. Obviously he wasn't going to be a good fit here due to Oklahoma State reportedly dumbing down the offense for him, and even potentially his lack of smarts in other areas--but there are also many teams where he would do just fine on, including Dallas.

Guys like Woods and Wheaton could be on either end of the spectrum, or they could fall somewhere in the middle--but isn't it pretty difficult to try and assess their potential fits or lack thereof in a system and team like this? This could also point towards an explanation as to why it's a much harder position to judge than any of our others and why we've had a lot of failure in developing younger talent.

 

[Brady6]

I just know we'll regret this in time:



https://twitter.com/SI_DougFarrar/status/361993822005243907

Wood will not be stud on the Bills ever, and it won't even be his fault. They will probably roll with Kolb all of 2013, and it will take another 4-5 years on top of that before they finally come to the conclusion that Manuel isn't the answer.

 

[BradyBranch39]

I just know we'll regret this in time:



https://twitter.com/SI_DougFarrar/status/361993822005243907

Woods will be good, I agree. Hated us passing on him. But Dobson appears to be just as good, as of now.

 

[SONS_OF_BELICHICK]

Can we get a pick fpor jenkins ....or maybe a bag of balls

 

[manxman2601]

Just out of curiosity manx, how are you able to assess potential receivers as fits in this specific offense when trying to predict choices?

It would appear to be much more difficult than most of any of the other positions due to not fully knowing their cerebral skills or test results that may relate to being able to pick up this kind of system.

There are plenty of great receivers in the NFL who wouldn't look too good here at all. Passing on a great raw talented skill set such as Dez Bryant 3x in the first round comes to mind. Obviously he wasn't going to be a good fit here due to Oklahoma State reportedly dumbing down the offense for him, and even potentially his lack of smarts in other areas--but there are also many teams where he would do just fine on, including Dallas.

Guys like Woods and Wheaton could be on either end of the spectrum, or they could fall somewhere in the middle--but isn't it pretty difficult to try and assess their potential fits or lack thereof in a system and team like this? This could also point towards an explanation as to why it's a much harder position to judge than any of our others and why we've had a lot of failure in developing younger talent.

As I failed to predict both (although I very nearly had Josh Boyce* right), not very well. Without access to insider information or speaking to the prospects, you can't. So I look at what they've done in the past and tried to extrapolate from there. So for the Patriots, you're looking at leadership (which Wheaton had in spades), 3-cone (Wheaton, Boyce) and experience (Wheaton, Woods).


* In my final mock I had Josh Boyce in the 4th or 5th round but switched him out at the last minute for Marquess Wilson who I just loved to watch.

 

[ausbacker]

Kolb does know a WR stud though after time Larry Fitz.

He also knows how to drop stud WR production to a level lower than that of their rookie season.