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

[VJCPatriot]

With Kamar Aikens and Kenbrell Thomkins both big, young, hungry WR's who are having good camps, would you be shocked if Michael Jenkins doesn't make the final 53 ? I know it's early, but I would think both Aikens and Thompkins would add to special teams as well, whereas Jenkins is JUST a receiver. Whattya think ? You think either Aikens or Thompkins would make it to the practice squad without being claimed first ?

Nope. Wouldn't be surprised at all. BB runs a meritocracy. Besides there are some veteran receivers who never quite pick up the Pats offense - Ocho Cinco for example. And then there are others who run it like its second nature - Welker, Lloyd.

Dunno what would happen to Aikens or Thompkins making it to the PS but from what I'm hearing - Dobson, Amendola, and Thompkins are getting a lot of 1st team reps. This year's training camp is quite intriguing with all the youngsters we are integrating into the offense.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I just know we'll regret this in time:



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

It's #29 Robert Woods vs
#52 Jamie Collins LB
#83 Logan Ryan CB
#102 Josh Boyce WR
#229 Legarrete Blount (via trade)

4 players or 1 player?
I think you go for 4 players every time. Unless those 4 players turn out terrible, the depth helps your team more.

 

[ausbacker]

It's #29 Robert Woods vs
#52 Jamie Collins LB
#83 Logan Ryan CB
#102 Josh Boyce WR
#229 Legarrete Blount (via trade)

4 players or 1 player?
I think you go for 4 players every time. Unless those 4 players turn out terrible, the depth helps your team more.

Technically #29 was Cordarrelle Patterson. Robert Woods was #41. It could have been a host of receivers (or other players) for that matter taken with the pick the Patriots traded. Personally, I was happy with the trade and on face value, pleased with the outcome of that trade.

 

[manxman2601]

It's #29 Robert Woods vs
#52 Jamie Collins LB
#83 Logan Ryan CB
#102 Josh Boyce WR
#229 Legarrete Blount (via trade)

4 players or 1 player?
I think you go for 4 players every time. Unless those 4 players turn out terrible, the depth helps your team more.

Not necessarily. Woods wasn't picked at #29, he was picked at #41 so they could have traded back for those four picks and then used one to trade back up again for Woods.

Hopefully the performances of Dobson in particular and maybe Collins render the discussion moot but I still think Woods will be the better receiver over the course of a season.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

i can't believe how bad lloyd must have been last year off the field...becasue they could sure use him right now IMO

 

[manxman2601]

Not necessarily. Woods wasn't picked at #29, he was picked at #41 so they could have traded back for those four picks and then used one to trade back up again for Woods.

Hopefully the performances of Dobson in particular and maybe Collins render the discussion moot but I still think Woods will be the better receiver over the course of a season.

Edit: Meant career, not season. Last line should read "over the course of a career".

 

[supafly]

i can't believe how bad lloyd must have been last year off the field...becasue they could sure use him right now IMO

It wouldn't hurt to have Llyod's experience of the system and ability to offer something as a possession receiver, but he sure was limited in a lot of ways as a WR2 and the offense suffered from it.

We need to have more youth, speed, and ability to stretch the field + draw some occasional attention from opposing safeties; not only for more of a downfield attack, but also to help keep the underneath bread and butter timing routes free.

It seems like we will have some growing pains as expected, but just think of the potential of some of the guys like Dobson, Boyce, Amendola, and Thompkins when things start clicking--especially down the stretch of the season and into next year. Of course this thought has some optimistic hopes built into it, but should they not live up to expectations I'd expect additional players to be brought in again, maybe even finally on a larger free agent or trade scale.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

i just like lloyd becasue he knows the system and has above average hands..what if ammendola gets hurt like usual..ect ect

 

[supafly]

i just like lloyd becasue he knows the system and has above average hands..what if ammendola gets hurt like usual..ect ect

If Amendola gets hurt, I imagine that we'd be able to put Edelman in that role, but I do understand your general concern.

My guess is that Belichick would explore the option if he thought it were necessary, and at this point in time it doesn't appear that he feels it's necessary.

Either that or Llyod's negative locker room presence and/or character concerns were more than we know about, which is always a possibility.

 

[mgteich]

If Edelman is back by then.

If Amendola gets hurt, I imagine that we'd be able to put Edelman in that role, but I do understand your general concern.

 

[Sciz]

How useful would Branch have been last season if he were seven inches taller, but lacked the strong rapport with Brady? Isn't that pretty much what Jenkins is?

 

[supafly]

If Edelman is back by then.

Yes sir, valid point.

One thing that I did notice was that he was at least on the sidelines in sweatpants yesterday, which was a change from the first couple/few days of camp. Not sure how much we can really read into that, but it could point to them just taking it easier with him coming off such a severe foot injury; after all, no reason to push him at this point in time.

 

[50-yard-line]

I wouldn't be surprised if jenkins doesn't make it, but it's really WAY early.

Right now, RIGHT NOW, on offense, from all I've read and seen (and in my gut, of course):

WR: Amendola, Dobson, Boyce, Thomkins, Edelman and Slater (st), with Jenkins and Hawkins on speed dial. Sims or Aiken or both to PS.

RB: Ridley, Vereen, Blount, Washington I've just got a bad feeling about Bolden after last year's PED, then suckage and the fact that he's off the field again.

TE: Gronk, Fells, Hoo-man, Ballard and Sudfield

OL: 8
QB: 3

Again, RIGHT NOW. Injuries and games will of course change it around!

 

[50-yard-line]

I like your WR, but I want to throw up at the thought of Fells being our #2 to start the season. This is what I'd like to have transpire (see below).

WR
X- Dobson, Thompkin
Z- Amendola, Edelman
Y- Boyce, Slater

TE
Y- Gronkowski, Ballard, Sudfeld
Joker/H-Back- Ford

Bye, Bye Fells and Hoomanawanui :wave:.

So, almost everyone's got either Fells or Hooman as the best so far in camp and you're cutting them both?

I just don't see it. Ballard will work himself to #2 behind Gronk, I think, but not before mid-year. I honestly see Fells and Hooman STARTING, depending on the set.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Either that or Llyod's negative locker room presence and/or character concerns were more than we know about, which is always a possibility.

they have to be more than we know of otherwise i think he would have been back by now IMO

 

[DarrylS]

Either that or Llyod's negative locker room presence and/or character concerns were more than we know about, which is always a possibility.

Have heard that from a couple of sources, that he along with Deaderick were poor locker room guys and that is the reason why they dumped them.

 

[Deus Irae]

Add Mike Reiss to the list of those who won't be surprised:

So if everyone's healthy, the receiver position would project to shake out this way: Amendola, Dobson, Boyce, Thompkins and Edelman.

Add in special-teamer Matthew Slater, who technically has the "WR" next to his name on the roster but is more of an emergency option than anything else, and the number spikes to six and probably ends there. ...Veteran Michael Jenkins and third-year man Kamar Aiken continue to compete but might need an injury to break through.

Big takeaway: WR corps in focus - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[Mack Herron]

So, almost everyone's got either Fells or Hooman as the best so far in camp and you're cutting them both?

I just don't see it. Ballard will work himself to #2 behind Gronk, I think, but not before mid-year. I honestly see Fells and Hooman STARTING, depending on the set.

Ballard is running a distant 4th at the moment and still nursing a bum knee that was operated on more than a year ago. There is a low probability of things changing significantly in the next few weeks.

 

[50-yard-line]

Ballard is running a distant 4th at the moment and still nursing a bum knee that was operated on more than a year ago. There is a low probability of things changing significantly in the next few weeks.

I've had brutal knee injuries - major operation in the mid-70's and my ACL was torn and they never even caught it...many injuries and surgeries have followed over the years. Listening to Ballard and watching him, I think his knee is probably better than his brain has yet realized.

Then again, he might just retire.

I still think he'll work himself to number 2, but we're talking mid-year. PUP for the first 6 weeks seems very possible.

 

[TB12_laser designator]

No it wouldn't suprise me at all, because the young talent looks to have passed him out. The only reason I could see him making it, is for a veteran prescence for Bill and nothing more. Even then it's not justified imo, he brings nothing to the team and would be a wasted roster spot.