2020 Pats: WRs and TEs...Enough?

Captaincoop

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I had almost forgotten how good Edelman can be. It felt like he was unlocked immediately once Cam showed that he's willing to spread the ball around a little bit.
 

BaseballJones

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I had almost forgotten how good Edelman can be. It felt like he was unlocked immediately once Cam showed that he's willing to spread the ball around a little bit.
Yep. If you can find ways to get Edelman one-on-one matchups all day, he's going to kill defenses. And the only way to do that is to throw to other guys, which Cam did very well this past week. They're getting Gunner back too, and hopefully James White as well, so the offense should be fully loaded soon.
 

BigSoxFan

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When is the last time that Edelman has looked healthy? I feel like he grimaces after every single catch. And he still does what he does. Really hope he can stay healthy and rack up another 1,000+ yard season that he’ll need for his HoF resume.
 

Jimbodandy

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When is the last time that Edelman has looked healthy? I feel like he grimaces after every single catch. And he still does what he does. Really hope he can stay healthy and rack up another 1,000+ yard season that he’ll need for his HoF resume.
Yeah he gets crushed constantly. I worry about him.
 

BigSoxFan

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To make the HOF he will need three or four more, but I take your point.
Yeah, it’s too bad he has suffered these injuries because he would have 6 straight 1000 yard seasons right now, excluding the missed 2017 season. And he’s on track so far this year as well. His injuries have cost him about 2,000 yards based on his 2013-2020 run rate. He should have about 7,500-7,700 at the end of this year. 10,000 yards seems like a realistic target although I’m guessing he may fall short due to injuries.
 

RedOctober3829

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Yeah, it’s too bad he has suffered these injuries because he would have 6 straight 1000 yard seasons right now, excluding the missed 2017 season. And he’s on track so far this year as well. His injuries have cost him about 2,000 yards based on his 2013-2020 run rate. He should have about 7,500-7,700 at the end of this year. 10,000 yards seems like a realistic target although I’m guessing he may fall short due to injuries.
This year, I'm hoping they can get all the other WRs involved in the early part of the game then when it really matters feed Edelman. He doesn't need to be playing 85-90% of the snaps at this stage of his career. If Harry/Byrd/Meyers can improve enough to do this, then that's great.
 

tims4wins

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This year, I'm hoping they can get all the other WRs involved in the early part of the game then when it really matters feed Edelman. He doesn't need to be playing 85-90% of the snaps at this stage of his career. If Harry/Byrd/Meyers can improve enough to do this, then that's great.
That seems to be the plan based on snap counts in the first two games.

Also, I think his first catch on Sunday night wasn't until like 6:30 to go in the first half.
 

Shelterdog

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To make the HOF he will need three or four more, but I take your point.
This is silly season but, especially if he has another spectacular postseason (particularly if the Pats make or win a superbowl) I could imagine him getting the lynn swann/paul hornung treatment and getting in just because of his post season, his association with the Pats, and--oddly enough-the fairly small number of candidates from the patriots dynasty.

It ends up being a surprisingly small number of players who make it. Brady, Gronk, probably AV and Seymour, Ty Law (but only for a couple of years), a couple great players like Moss and Harrison and Revis who really aren't in for their Patriots legacy and who else? Wilfork and Light and Mankins and McGinest and Bruschi just aren't going to make it. I guess if Gilmore plays better than he did Sunday for a couple more years he might. So 5 or 6 long term Pats for an incredible 20 year run, when the 70s steelers had about ten and the late 50s/60s packers had a dozen? You could imagine a marginal hall of famer who was great in the playoffs (and is charismatic and is going to be doing games or the NFl show or whatever after his career) getting the nod.
 

SMU_Sox

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I looked at Byrd over the past two games. He's been getting separation and has been open a lot. He didn't get a target in game 1 but got 9 in game 2. I think the rest of the year is going to be closer to game 2 so at least 5+ targets a game. He runs good routes - he has sharp breaks. He isn't much after the catch and his blocking is frustratingly bad but he can run basic X routes well and that actually means something because we've had 2 years where that has not been the case minus Edelman.
 

RedOctober3829

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I looked at Byrd over the past two games. He's been getting separation and has been open a lot. He didn't get a target in game 1 but got 9 in game 2. I think the rest of the year is going to be closer to game 2 so at least 5+ targets a game. He runs good routes - he has sharp breaks. He isn't much after the catch and his blocking is frustratingly bad but he can run basic X routes well and that actually means something because we've had 2 years where that has not been the case minus Edelman.
With his speed and route running ability, it opens up double moves down the line.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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I looked at Byrd over the past two games. He's been getting separation and has been open a lot. He didn't get a target in game 1 but got 9 in game 2. I think the rest of the year is going to be closer to game 2 so at least 5+ targets a game. He runs good routes - he has sharp breaks. He isn't much after the catch and his blocking is frustratingly bad but he can run basic X routes well and that actually means something because we've had 2 years where that has not been the case minus Edelman.
What the difference between someone like Dorsett, who was also billed as a fast guy who can separate, and Byrd?
 

SMU_Sox

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What the difference between someone like Dorsett, who was also billed as a fast guy who can separate, and Byrd?
Stealing some of this from Phil Perry and some is mine. Byrd can actually beat press and work as an X. Dorsett was really only useful as a vertical slot option or as a slot in general. Phil seems to think Dorsett was a more or less linear athlete. Byrd has some sharpness to his breaks.

Neither are brilliant route runners but I’d give Byrd the edge there. Dorsett could not get off of press even with his speed. I feel that Dorsett is a fairly one dimensional player. I would have put him on Seattle or Tampa Bay as someone to work the vertical routes from the slot in an offense that would explicitly use his skill set.
 

SMU_Sox

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Well, good call, Dorsett is on the Seahawks.
Right - sorry I just meant that those two teams seemed to be a good fit for him. Eagles would have been another one. Not trying to take credit for a total JAG. Just saying that there are teams that are better fits for his skills. In retrospect I could have phrased that better. Apologies.
 

Mystic Merlin

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Right - sorry I just meant that those two teams seemed to be a good fit for him. Eagles would have been another one. Not trying to take credit for a total JAG. Just saying that there are teams that are better fits for his skills. In retrospect I could have phrased that better. Apologies.
Oh, I thought you didn’t know that (wasn’t exactly a high profile signing), soI was impressed by that scheme fit call.

All good!
 

BaseballJones

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Isn't 8.5 yards per catch significantly worse than "not great".
Depends on what they’re asking him to do. He has a very good catch rate and a high volume of catches. Clearly they’re using him currently on a lot of short passes.
 

Jimbodandy

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Depends on what they’re asking him to do. He has a very good catch rate and a high volume of catches. Clearly they’re using him currently on a lot of short passes.
Yeah he's still a work in progress. Even "meh" is an improvement over last year. Also he won't likely average 15 as a Z even if everything breaks right.
 

SMU_Sox

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Yeah one of the traits I look for in a Z is someone who can really dance, shake, make guys miss, break tackles, etc. in the open field. Someone who probably has a good deal of either power or, more likely, elusiveness or a combination of both. That’s something I thought he showed in college and haven’t given up on materializing this year. The returns have been better than last year for sure and I am glad they are using him differently but the results have been below what you want from a guy like him. Still a huge improvement from last year and looking forward to seeing him develop more as he becomes both more competent and more confident.
 

Cellar-Door

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amusingly the player whose 2019 Harry is most closely approximating through 3 games.......

Forever trade target Larry Fitz.