Am I the only one nervous about the Patriots' End situation?
by MaPatsFan on Mar 9, 2010 8:35 PM EST
in Opinion/Analysis
30 comments
I love this picture, I really do. Taken after one of Benjamin Watson's touchdowns in the 2009 MNF season opener against the Buffalo Bills, the photographer captured the pure joy of a man who was "that close" to being cut from the team. 404 yards, 29 receptions, 13.9 YPC and 5 TDs on a team that doesn't really utilize tight ends for their reception abilities. Not too shabby. Benjamin, if 2009 was your last season as a Patriot, thanks for all the great memories. You've been good to us.
If Watson does end up heading for the door, what happens now? Chris Baker was cut, leaving Robbie Agnone and Rob Myers to fill the void (yeah, I had to look it up too, both FA-09 acquisitions from other teams who had cut them - not promising). Sure, this team doesn't necessarily value big men with big hands, but this has got me a little nervous. Have they got there eyes on some FA's? Maybe they saw someone at the combine that could be a good draft candidate. Who knows.
Moving on to defensive ends... Richard Seymour's trade to Oakland, at least to this blogger, no longer seems wise. Yeah, I know he was getting a little injury prone, but comparing his early seasons to his last few as a Patriot is a little unfair, dontcha think? I mean, the guy was in the Pro Bowl like 47 times early in his career. Guys are bound to lose a step as they get a bit older, but his value to the younger guys can't be denied.
IMO, we are hurtin' real bad at defensive end. Jarvis who? Like tight end, it's hard to know what Darth Hoodius has up his sleave. Free agency, draft, you name it. I have no idea what he's going to do. Yeah, Mike Wright has paid his dues and does what he's asked, but is he starter worthy? As The Hill points out, Myron Pryor and Ron Brace also need to step up, but are they capable of jumping in at defensive end? I always thought of them as interior defensive guys, but you never know; Vince "I'm a wealthy man!!" Wilfork showed it could be done this past year and he's gettin' paid for it.
Or is Hoodie, in this world of 3-4 alignments, thinking about 4-3 as a base defense? Wilfork, Pryor, Wright or Brace, and a premier pass rushing end. I can't see them abandoning the 3-4 when it seems to work for them, but what's a blogger to write about?
Yes, "The Ends" have me worried. As usual, we need to wait and see. Anything can happen and often does. No sense in getting worked up about it.
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TE
bc if Watson doesn’t sign w. us…we have to spent a 2nd rounder on a TE.
DE are fine as along as the Pats pick up Jared Ortick or the kid from Cal. Pryor did a good job as a 6th round rookie.
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.....159 mph is my top speed..will top that this spring
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
(formerly mathew.40)
hey do you still want to be part of the mock coming up.
we are trying to start this weekend idk how it will go though
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
by TheAngelsColts on Mar 9, 2010 8:42 PM EST up reply actions
when
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.....159 mph is my top speed..will top that this spring
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
(formerly mathew.40)
This saturday. I think I just sent you an email if you didn't get it then it is cause i no longer have your email. We would need BPA by friday
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
by TheAngelsColts on Mar 9, 2010 9:46 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed
TE is currently the spot that is the greatest need. But there aren’t any TEs worth taking in the first round, whereas Odrick should be a great fit and is worth the 22nd pick. I don’t think there are too many other guys I would say that about as 3-4 DEs.
By contrast, we can get Gresham, Gronkowski, or Hernandez in the second round, or trade one of those picks for Olson — a lot more options.
I'm still puzzled about the Baker release
He and his agent were confused, so it’s clear they didn’t ask for one. Baker wasn’t overly expensive, so it’s unlikely to be a salary-saving move. So for some reason the Pats decided they wanted to get rid of Baker outright… so I wonder if it was a move to keep Watson. “Sick of sharing snaps, Ben? We’ll get rid of the other guy if you promise to play nice in negotiations…”
I haven’t a clue, though. Hoodie’s never been without TEs – in fact, he’s usually had so many via the draft he’s had to cut some. I don’t get it, it’s the first time with a gap at starting-quality TE if Watson doesn’t come back.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
join the club
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.....159 mph is my top speed..will top that this spring
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
(formerly mathew.40)
I read it was a locker room issue
as rumors go , who really knows, but I read somewhere he was a bit of a nay sayer.
But they weren't really sharing snaps
They were both on the field over 60% of the time. So I doubt that’s it.
I think they just weren’t happy with Baker’s production. That I could understand, though it’s not entirely Baker’s fault — we didn’t use the TEs anywhere near enough.
You're right, but it made as much sense as cutting Baker for his lack of production...
You task the guy to be on the field 60% of the time and then make him block pretty much whenever he is there… and then drop him because he didn’t get catches? That doesn’t make sense, either.
I figured it might’ve been more likely that Watson and/or his agent had unreasonable expectations (a second TE? Psh, get out of here) than the Pats would cut a guy for doing exactly what they asked him to do…
Still haven’t got a better explanation, though. Hah.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Mar 10, 2010 7:05 PM EST up reply actions
DE
our defense struggled last year. we need to find someone to step in and step up. find some pass rushers and make our DB’s lives easier.
we can get any smoe to play TE all we really use them for is blocking and redzone plays anyways
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
im gonna be all up on you like a spider monkey!
"…traded as many times this summer as a bad hooker’s phone number at a Vegas convention of Proctologists ."
by remembering9ergods on Mar 9, 2010 9:14 PM EST reply actions
They could really use OL guys not startin to play TE
They’ve done it here and there. Why not do it all the time?
Very few OLs can catch reliably
If you don’t ever expect your TE to catch, that’s fine. But we were all complaining here — and I think we were right — that the TEs were underutilized in the passing game this year.
As tall as Vollmer is (6-8 I think), it would be fun to loft it to him. Who else could touch it?
When the 300+ lb lineman drops his shoulder the DBs will crap themselves.
It’d be good for comic relief.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Mar 10, 2010 7:06 PM EST up reply actions
If they were going to try something like that, they would have already
Vollmer was effectively our third OT this year, and there were several situations where all three were on the field with Vollmer lined up as an eligible receiver. If they were ever going to run Mike Vrabel’s play for him, I have to think they would have done it already — Lord knows it would have made more sense than letting Maroney try to push it in from the one yard line once he started fumbling all the time.
DE
mainly because our offense is effective without a TE to do the pass catching. And our defense needs help on the front seven.
I want a long look at...
…this guy as a potential DE for us. He may not have the ideal size to demand double teams, but he can stuff the run and will command SOME attention. He won’t be an every down end, but I can see a nice rotation with Pryor on pass plays and Edwards on run downs.
Oh yeah I looked at him.
He’s a pro DE. Guy is awesome.
Pryor and Wright are quality DEs
With TBC and a quality draft pick DE/OLB (like Kindle or Hughes) pass rusher on either side of these guys, the Pats should be able to get some pressure on the QBs.
There is a good crop of TEs waiting on the draft. We could use picks 53, 4th rounder, and 5th rounder (comp) to pick up TEs. I don’t think anyone is going to take a TE in the 1st round, just a hunch. So, the Pats could pick A Hernandez, or Rob Gronkowski, to have a quality hands guy, and someone on the roster next to our other G-kowski for balance. Why not, right? 4th round they could take D Pitta or D Dickerson (who at 6’2 225# projects more as a WR, esp with a 4.4 40). Looks like Belichick is bringing in someone at TE, more of a blocker type. Fells.
Picks 44 and 48 should be WRs for sure.
The jury is still out on Darryl Richards
but he could show up this year with a season on the practice squad under his belt.
WR is not really a concern. Tate and Edelman will be good.
I wouldn’t mind a TE in the second, but our main focus is to draft pass rushers, and a couple of OL. Maybe a WR, but I also want to have a RB with our first 2nd rounder(hopefully Mathews).
I think both situations will be solved via signing of veterns and drafting talented young rookies
Coach Belichick loves the University of Florida, so he will try to get Aaron Hernandez. And we are definitely going to draft a DE.
Hey not sure Ninja's response yet but if he can't is anyone else interested in picking for you team this saturday in the Mock draft?
we are doing 2 rounds or at least that is the plan and we would need a BPA list from you.
Co-Leader of yearly 7 round live mock draft at MtD
Ben Watson
You must be nuts. Ben Watson is terrible. He has horrible hands, and he isnt a good blocker. If he was good, the Pats would have already signed him. He is good at one thing- getting open. But he drops the ball, and he has a fumbling issue too. Good riddance Ben, a waste of a first round pick.
He had a total of *three* drops last season...
Alongside 5 TDs and 400+ yards in a season where he was primarily a blocker. And of the 29 receptions he snagged, 20 of them went for first-downs. He also didn’t fumble last year.
Yes. Terrible… (cough)
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Mar 10, 2010 7:37 PM EST up reply actions
He's also the best TE on the free agent market this year
Given that Owen Daniels isn’t going anywhere and wouldn’t be even if he wasn’t recovering from a knee injury, Watson is head and shoulders above anyone else. Who should we go out and sign if Watson is “terrible”?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not thrilled with him and would like an upgrade. But that’s just not possible on the free agent market, and I’m not entirely convinced it’s possible through the draft either.
If we pass to him more
I project him to be better than gates. If we use him like the colts use Clark(There’s a thought for a sometimes third WR), he would be one of our best offensive weapons on the field. He’s very underrated.
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