Patriots Offseason

[threrf23]

I like Aaron Dobson based partially on what I read, partially on the grounds that he put up nice numbers '10-12 as a 19/20 year old WR on a team with iffy QB play.

A friend of mine thinks Jamie Collins was a really good pick. I have no clue about the two guys from Rutgers.

[Joselo16]

Thanks for the input threrf. Do you see Dobson developing as a deep playmaking threat or just another piece in the machine a la Edelmen?! Im not looking for a Randy Moss HoF player...just someone to open up the field regularly, for both Aaron and Rob to beast. I know our draft record hasn't been nice with wideouts, but the odds eventually have to be with us soon:D

That said I was looking for a playmaker on defense, but lost hope as soon as we traded down, yet again...Jone's was phenomenal, and Im sure he'll continue to be, but when we won our rings, we had a defense full of multi playmakers on all levels. Wilfork and Jones as playmakers, with some (really) solid hits by Spikes. Hoping for Talib to produce, but that's pretty much it. I like Mayo, but he's just a tackling machine, and it always seems that most of his tackles are after five yard gains...Ninkovic looked to be more capable at making things happen, but hoping someone pushes him out of the edge position, as our rush wasn't consistent, and Cunningham just doesn't look to be that guy either. Where's Dwight Freeny at?! LoL!

[Celtics_Champs]

I guess in this case, Joselo, drafting for need wasn't bad. They really needed a WR! So if he pans out, then that is the best possible pick they could have made. Even if a guy like Matthiu turns out to be an all-pro.

[Joselo16]

I hear you Champs. Question though, are we to expect this guy to play game one, or this season at all, or is it something in the Taylor Price area?! I seriously have no clue on college football.

That said we all know our WR will be complimentary pieces of the offense, as it will most likely run through our TE's, but here's hoping we hit on some of these picks!

[threrf23]

Thanks for the input threrf. Do you see Dobson developing as a deep playmaking threat or just another piece in the machine a la Edelmen?! Im not looking for a Randy Moss HoF player...just someone to open up the field regularly, for both Aaron and Rob to beast. I know our draft record hasn't been nice with wideouts, but the odds eventually have to be with us soon:D

I am not the one to ask about specifics. I follow college football as a bettor but I didn't know the name Aaron Dobson before the draft. I do know that the guy is 6'3, and that until this season when Marshall's passing game suddenly sort of exploded under 2nd year QB Rakeem Cato, Marshall's offense (and team) wasn't looking so great and their passing game was at best nothing special. So I presume that Dobson would have put up better numbers within a better offense. I have also found that when you look at younger NFL players, at least offensive players, who have emerged as players, and you go back and look at their college stats, one thing they often have in common is they produced @ the college level before hitting 21 y/o. After coming on late in his Freshman year, during his Soph/Junior seasons he took in about 670 receiving yards per season with about 15 yards per reception, and his junior year in particular he caught 12 TD passes. His numbers senior year were nothing special given that he had turned 21 and Marshall had a better QB, but maybe there is an easy explanation and/or maybe that made him slightly under the radar.

Actually, this page here explains his lack of production last season (and overall I feel it casts him in a nice light) -

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/ds ... &genpos=WR

[Celtics_Champs]

I hear you Champs. Question though, are we to expect this guy to play game one, or this season at all, or is it something in the Taylor Price area?! I seriously have no clue on college football.

That said we all know our WR will be complimentary pieces of the offense, as it will most likely run through our TE's, but here's hoping we hit on some of these picks!

Well I'd hope he line up as WR 2 the first game, cause I'm not a fan of our WR's besides Amendola and Edelman. Agreed on the last part!

[Geoffrey P]

Demps and #229 for Lagarrette Blount who put up 1,007 and then 781 yards before Martin came in. He had 151 yards in 2012.

[Joselo16]

Thanks for the read and info guys! They must have really loved that Rutgers team, as we have 3 guys, kinda like a few years ago with Gators in Hernandez, Spikes, and Cunningham....hope we get similar results.

[Celtics_Champs]

I love the blount trade. I can't believe we actually got anything for a guy who wants to split time between track and football. Who isn't even proven anything. Who can't even get on the field!!

Can't wait to see the PA TD passes to gronk from the goaline when they think Blounts gonna pound it in.

[Havlicek17]

I was hoping the Pats would draft Dobson since last season ended and I started looking forward to the Draft. Ask yourself what skills you would want in a WR to potentially take the top off of a defense, and Dobson fits that bill 100%. He's smart, tall (6'3"), big (218 lbs), fast (4.4 40), strong (can get past CB's at the line), has excellent body control, and has great hands!

The kid has highlight catches all over the internet. His behind the back, one handed catch his junior year against ECU is one of the most unbelievable catches I think I have ever seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCdFFFAxLz0

AND that's not the only difficult catch he has made, there's plenty more on the web.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8kMOfhYrOM

They say he did not have a single drop his senior year, and the scouts were buzzing about him since his pro day just a week or so before the draft. It was 20 degrees, windy, and he caught everything thrown near him.

Talk about a catch radius...this kid is Gronkesque...

Mark my words, this kid is special.

[Geoffrey P]

I don't think I've see any positive things said about getting Harmon. He was a projected 6th/7th round pick and they got him in the 3rd? I'm already skeptical enough about their ability to draft these guys.

[Celtics_Champs]

I don't think I've see any positive things said about getting Harmon. He was a projected 6th/7th round pick and they got him in the 3rd? I'm already skeptical enough about their ability to draft these guys.

Yep. Harmon was a douche pick. At least last year with the rugby player (who did contribute) it was a late round pick and we could use the special teamer. Harmon doesn't fit anywhere and we took him over valuable guys.

[Geoffrey P]

Pats release Brian Waters.

There are far too many reports including the word Patriots and the name Tebow for my liking.

[Celtics_Champs]

If he agreed to be anything but QB except emergency QB then I'd dig it. But he won't do that.

Dudes dumb, woulda been a fine TE in this league. Now he's getting offers from indoor teams.


Waters was expected. What's up with Abraham?

[Geoffrey P]

Great. Now he probably needs back surgery along with forearm.

[sunshinekids99]

Really surprised the Pats cut Love. Players have played with his illness before, not something I'm understanding on that front.

[Geoffrey P]

I don't get that either. I mean, Cannon has non-Hodgkin lymphoma which they found out during the combine. I'm guessing that had more to do with him falling something like 4 rounds because of that though.

[Celtics_Champs]

Tim Tebow signs with the Patriots.

HAH! What?

[alwayslovetheceltics]

some brief notes from the eagles game. please add your notes/takeaways as well.

1. Harmon looked like he could cover a lot of ground. If he builds on this experience- i could see him taking Gregory's role.

2. I would really like to see Dowling come back- I want to see what he's got. I had high hopes for him.

3. Tebow looked awful. That said- he may make the squad solely on his ability to run the scout team as a read option qb. Also- his one first down run was pretty awesome.

4. I had been hearing that Hooman had a strong offseason. During the game- he sucked. I could see Fells/Ballard and Suds/S[t]udfeld (what nickname are we going with?) sticking over him. While I can see us carrying 4 TE (even though that's a lot, and in the four I am counting Gronk) I have no idea how we could keep 5- so one of these guys has to get cut. While Ballard has been struggling- I would like to see him stick as I think he will help us over the long season.

5. While I was a Tavon supporter last year- he sucked on Friday. Hits hard in run support but just looked lost in coverage. I am hoping we find a way to give him a linebacker type role to limit his weak points being exploited.

6. Kelly and Wilfork combination- awesome.

7. Back up right guard situation-looked really bad. We need Connolly and Cannon health. Svitek looks serviceable.

8. Solder looks like he is about to make the "leap."

9. Tom F'n Brady is still the best QB in the NFL.

10. no huddle with Vereen at RB, Gronk at TE, Dobson, Thompkins and DA- yes please. Vereen and Thompkins together will help us forget that cat from Bristol.