2019 Pats: WR "Bust a Move" Sanu Watch

BigSoxFan

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I don’t think I’ve ever been as annoyed at a WR for consecutive plays not involving a dropped pass or a penalty before. Between the failure to extend his arms as he was going out of bounds on 3rd down and the complete non-effort on the block for Harry’s run on 4th-and-1, Sanu got under my skin in a whole new way today.

In his defense, there were one or two plays I noticed where Sanu actually got open, but Brady just missed him. Hopefully that means he’s getting healthier, if nothing else.
It was a brutal sequence and about as bad as a WR can have without a tipped pass pick 6 INT or something. My annoyance with Sanu is that since he’s not a burner, he needs to be proficient at everything else. That means catching anything close, getting the extra yard, making the good block. He is absolutely useless if he can’t do the little things like that.

In fairness, he did make a nice catch on that near INT but we need more out of him. Don’t even really care about the pick anymore. It’s gone. I just want Sanu giving us solid 5/50 type production.
 

Seels

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He also had the catch on the punt that should have been fair caught.

He just seems like a pretty stupid player that is neither athletic nor capable of making in game decisions.
 

DJnVa

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He also had the catch on the punt that should have been fair caught.

He just seems like a pretty stupid player that is neither athletic nor capable of making in game decisions.
He only had 3 returns--first one was 10 yards, then a 7 yard return. His last one was 0 yards, but he didn't catch it on fly. He was waving people away and it bounced directly at him, so he caught it and went down immediately.
 

kenneycb

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He only had 3 returns--first one was 10 yards, then a 7 yard return. His last one was 0 yards, but he didn't catch it on fly. He was waving people away and it bounced directly at him, so he caught it and went down immediately.
Which actually saved yards given it was going to keep bouncing the wrong way. Smart play to help with field position.
 

Old Fart Tree

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I didn’t think it was worth the risk to field that punt. Sure it saved maybe ten yards but he took it high up on his shoulder; huge fumble risk.

I am less down on Sanu than many here but his fuckups yesterday were visible and infuriating.
 

djbayko

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I didn’t think it was worth the risk to field that punt. Sure it saved maybe ten yards but he took it high up on his shoulder; huge fumble risk.

I am less down on Sanu than many here but his fuckups yesterday were visible and infuriating.
That punt pick up was scary as all hell.
 

Mystic Merlin

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I didn’t think it was worth the risk to field that punt. Sure it saved maybe ten yards but he took it high up on his shoulder; huge fumble risk.

I am less down on Sanu than many here but his fuckups yesterday were visible and infuriating.
Agreed, he has to fair catch that ball in the air or let it go. His initial fuckup was letting it hit the ground, and his next one was trying to field it off the ground with two defenders closing fast.

He’s not a natural returner, but they can’t stick Edelman or Chung - both of which are banged up and critical to the other units - back there unless they will literally fair catch or not field every punt. It’s not clear whether Burkhead, Harry, or some other skill player could give it a go; hard to know without any in game evidence.
 

( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)

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The only bar the guy had to clear to make the trade worthwhile was to play like an average quality NFL WR. He doesn’t have to be a difference maker or standout player. To help the offense he literally just needs to not suck and not make a negative impact. Right now he isn’t meeting what is a reasonable expectation from a player with his resume.

But because it’s the Pats and due to all of us hating him right now he will undoubtedly put up something like 12 catches for 110 yards and 2 TDs in the AFC Championship. That’s just how things kind of work out for the Pats.
 

Seels

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Which actually saved yards given it was going to keep bouncing the wrong way. Smart play to help with field position.
Sorry, but no. There's a ridiculously large chance to muff that given how close the defender was to him. Could literally see him channeling Cyrus Jones / Chris Harper. It worked, but it was a braindead decision.
 

Granite Sox

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Man... I agree. That was a Cyrus Jones/Chris Harper type of decision to field that punt. I sure hope there is a minor redemption arc in store for Sanu, because he most certainly does NOT have Patriot-like DNA. Drops, bad routes, missed blocks, bad decisions... he’s been a borderline disaster to this point, even if you cut him a little slack for the injury.
 

richgedman'sghost

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The only bar the guy had to clear to make the trade worthwhile was to play like an average quality NFL WR. He doesn’t have to be a difference maker or standout player. To help the offense he literally just needs to not suck and not make a negative impact. Right now he isn’t meeting what is a reasonable expectation from a player with his resume.

But because it’s the Pats and due to all of us hating him right now he will undoubtedly put up something like 12 catches for 110 yards and 2 TDs in the AFC Championship. That’s just how things kind of work out for the Pats.
[/QUOTE
Then in the Suoer Bowl, he will have the game winning catch but @Seels will still think of a reason to hate him
 

kenneycb

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Sorry, but no. There's a ridiculously large chance to muff that given how close the defender was to him. Could literally see him channeling Cyrus Jones / Chris Harper. It worked, but it was a braindead decision.
Sure. I’m also going to trust the guy that does this for a living with 400 receptions and more than one ST meeting over SoSH. I say this in the best way possible but the amount of people on this board who know what to do on punts are probably either 1 or 0. Regardless, it worked so it’s complaining for complaining sake. There are many things he did poorly yesterday. You don’t need to make up one to make the point
 

Ralphwiggum

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Sure. I’m also going to trust the guy that does this for a living with 400 receptions and more than one ST meeting over SoSH. I say this in the best way possible but the amount of people on this board who know what to do on punts are probably either 1 or 0. Regardless, it worked so it’s complaining for complaining sake. There are many things he did poorly yesterday. You don’t need to make up one to make the point
I don't think you have to be an NFL player to understand that was a high risk, low reward decision. It was poor situational football, even though it worked out.
 

ilol@u

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Sure. I’m also going to trust the guy that does this for a living over SoSH. I say this in the best way possible but the amount of people on this board who know what to do on punts are probably either 1 or 0. Regardless, it worked so it’s complaining for complaining sake.
All football players play football for a living. Not all football players make smart decisions. Sanu picking up that punt was not a good decision.

He has shown absolutely nothing to justify being better than Meyers or Harry on the depth chart. I'm guessing BB saw him as having a Danny Amendola role, but between his route running, his poor effort on blocks, his terrible hands, he's been an absolute bust.

Move over Ochocinco and Joey Galloway.
 

InstaFace

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I take Kenney's side, I think if it bounces straight to you, it's coming with some velocity meaning you're looking at another 10 yards of lost field position, and it's a 100% catch, you might as well grab it even if you go down immediately. If there are several players about to truck you into next week, maybe that changes the calculus, but in that case I didn't have a problem with him grabbing it - it really did just bounce right to his breadbasket, it wasn't awkward at all. Edelman and the challenged muffed-punt call in the AFCCG last year, that one I was apopletic over because he was indecisive. To my mind, that's the far worse sin there - you either go grab that thing or you avoid it like the plague, you don't "wait-and-see, maybe I'll get close and defer my choice". Fucking go or don't.
 

joe dokes

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I take Kenney's side, I think if it bounces straight to you, it's coming with some velocity meaning you're looking at another 10 yards of lost field position, and it's a 100% catch, you might as well grab it even if you go down immediately. If there are several players about to truck you into next week, maybe that changes the calculus, but in that case I didn't have a problem with him grabbing it - it really did just bounce right to his breadbasket, it wasn't awkward at all. Edelman and the challenged muffed-punt call in the AFCCG last year, that one I was apopletic over because he was indecisive. To my mind, that's the far worse sin there - you either go grab that thing or you avoid it like the plague, you don't "wait-and-see, maybe I'll get close and defer my choice". Fucking go or don't.
I think this is right, too. The easy play would have been to let it go and risk getting possession inside the 5. The play he made wasn't without risk, but it bounced hard and straight right at him. That play made me think "I'm glad I'm not a football player." The missed block made me think, "I wish *he* wasn't one."
 

Average Game James

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While acknowledging upfront that I’ve been disappointed in Sanu’s production... the question I have to ask is this: if he has been so awful and is making terrible decisions and mental mistakes, why does BB have him out there for 90%+ of the snaps when Dorsett, a guy that played meaningful football for this team in the playoffs last year, has been relegated to single digit snaps? Bill certainly understands sunk costs and isn’t one to keep a guy on the field just because he gave up a high draft pick to get him. The coaching staff must be seeing something that’s keeping him on the field nearly every down, even if it isn’t obvious to us watching on TV...
 

Seels

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Cause Dorsett sucks too. There have been half a dozen times in the last month that Dorsett ran some dumpster fire of a route that was obviously not what Brady was expecting.

These guys both seem like they have Chad Johnson syndrome.
 

BigSoxFan

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While acknowledging upfront that I’ve been disappointed in Sanu’s production... the question I have to ask is this: if he has been so awful and is making terrible decisions and mental mistakes, why does BB have him out there for 90%+ of the snaps when Dorsett, a guy that played meaningful football for this team in the playoffs last year, has been relegated to single digit snaps? Bill certainly understands sunk costs and isn’t one to keep a guy on the field just because he gave up a high draft pick to get him. The coaching staff must be seeing something that’s keeping him on the field nearly every down, even if it isn’t obvious to us watching on TV...
While your point is valid, what are the alternative options? Honestly, give me some Meyers over Sanu. Meyers is making more plays when he gets opportunities.
 

RetractableRoof

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To me Sanu is getting viewed by the "what we don't know" lens. I'm betting if this was week 2 he'd be inactive for 3 or 4 weeks. Asking a slot receiver to plant and/or pushoff an ankle that has been sprained is asking for a lot. Edleman is playing on bailing wire, spit, and cojones. Sanu is (IMO) manning up and taking the field when he has nothing because the threat/reputation of him is likely buying some space for others. He is pretty much fair catching punts or running straight up field. He is being used as a pair of hands. I'm not judging him until I know he's healthy.
 

Soxy

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To me Sanu is getting viewed by the "what we don't know" lens. I'm betting if this was week 2 he'd be inactive for 3 or 4 weeks. Asking a slot receiver to plant and/or pushoff an ankle that has been sprained is asking for a lot. Edleman is playing on bailing wire, spit, and cojones. Sanu is (IMO) manning up and taking the field when he has nothing because the threat/reputation of him is likely buying some space for others. He is pretty much fair catching punts or running straight up field. He is being used as a pair of hands. I'm not judging him until I know he's healthy.
This is a good point. Sanu's injury was initially reported as a high ankle sprain and that he would need to miss multiple weeks. Even if it ended up being not that serious, ankle sprains tend to linger. Especially when you're: a) not resting it; and b) doing the complete opposite of resting it.
 

tims4wins

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Sanu explains and takes responsibility. This makes sense as I commented that it looked like he didn’t even know the play call

"It was me, more than anything, trying to see if we were about to change a play or not. Then the ball was snapped and I was [surprised]," he explained of the play in which Bills cornerback Kevin Johnson was initially up on him before surging past him to the outside to tackle Harry. "I take full responsibility."
 

joe dokes

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CAn you imagine this team if they had decent receivers?
Then they'd be short (or shorter) somewhere else, like on defense. The ice is going to be thin *somewhere* every season. That's the trade-off for being a legitimate SB contender every single year. Throw in the unexpected losses to the running game -- Andrews, Develin, Johnson, much of Cannon and a long stretch of Wynn -- and it became much harder to paper over a thin receiving group. Maybe the last couple of weeks show the running game bouncing back, opening up some play action, and giving them a better chance to make this receiving group -- which also added Harry -- work well enough.
 

RedOctober3829

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The combination of his injury and a steep learning curve in this system has hampered Sanu. He just needs more time to get healthier and more comfortable in the offense. I believe when will look back on this season after we win another Super Bowl that there will be a game where we say Sanu made big plays to win it.
 

BigSoxFan

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The combination of his injury and a steep learning curve in this system has hampered Sanu. He just needs more time to get healthier and more comfortable in the offense. I believe when will look back on this season after we win another Super Bowl that there will be a game where we say Sanu made big plays to win it.
Also hampering Sanu is the fact that he sucks. Send him to the glue factory. Moar Meyers, please.
 

ilol@u

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The combination of his injury and a steep learning curve in this system has hampered Sanu. He just needs more time to get healthier and more comfortable in the offense. I believe when will look back on this season after we win another Super Bowl that there will be a game where we say Sanu made big plays to win it.
I swear I read the same post about Chad Ochocinco.

Some guys get it, and some don't. Mohammad Sanu is not a good fit for the Patriots.
 

NortheasternPJ

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I swear I read the same post about Chad Ochocinco.

Some guys get it, and some don't. Mohammad Sanu is not a good fit for the Patriots.
What doesn't Sanu get, outside of injury? Johnson with all the gifts in the world couldn't figure it out and was a mess. Sanu seems to just be hurt or not as talented. I wouldn't even compare the two. They may get the same production at the end of the day, but it's not because Sanu is a bad fit, he may just not be as good. Looking back at Sanu's career he's a good #2 nothing more. If he can be a good #2 that's a win. I do think the Pats overpaid for him though.
 

BigSoxFan

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What doesn't Sanu get, outside of injury? Johnson with all the gifts in the world couldn't figure it out and was a mess. Sanu seems to just be hurt or not as talented. I wouldn't even compare the two. They may get the same production at the end of the day, but it's not because Sanu is a bad fit, he may just not be as good. Looking back at Sanu's career he's a good #2 nothing more. If he can be a good #2 that's a win. I do think the Pats overpaid for him though.
Sanu’s injury had nothing to do with him running a 3rd and 4 route short of the sticks and then not reaching out for the first when he easily could have done, which every WR knows to do and which also led to his disastrous turnstile block the very next play. It’s situational awareness and he failed miserably both times.

I’m sure the injury has absolutely had an impact. He’s better than what he’s shown but he has still been a pretty big disappointment. Hopefully some redemption is coming. I don’t see how we beat KC and Baltimore without significant Sanu production.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Sanu’s injury had nothing to do with him running a 3rd and 4 route short of the sticks and then not reaching out for the first when he easily could have done, which every WR knows to do and which also led to his disastrous turnstile block the very next play. It’s situational awareness and he failed miserably both times.

I’m sure the injury has absolutely had an impact. He’s better than what he’s shown but he has still been a pretty big disappointment. Hopefully some redemption is coming. I don’t see how we beat KC and Baltimore without significant Sanu production.
By the O Line continuing to grow some chemistry and BB working up a scheme. It certainly isn't the best WR corps he's had and the TEs suck, but TB has done more with less.
 

BigSoxFan

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By the O Line continuing to grow some chemistry and BB working up a scheme. It certainly isn't the best WR corps he's had and the TEs suck, but TB has done more with less.
All true. This year, my primary concern is who makes those huge 3rd and 9 conversions outside of Edelman. Last year, we had Edelman, Gronk, and even Hogan. This is my main concern and where Sanu needs to rise up. I’m confident Josh will find a way to move the ball. Where I’m less confident is who steps up besides Edelman when it’s a key moment and we need a 3rd and long conversion. Someone in the Harry, Sanu, Meyers, Dorsett group needs to be option 1B.
 

Koufax

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Meyers had great hands in the pre-season, but he hasn't been as consistent in the regular season. If it's anyone, it would have to be Harry.
 

RedOctober3829

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I swear I read the same post about Chad Ochocinco.

Some guys get it, and some don't. Mohammad Sanu is not a good fit for the Patriots.
Ochocinco and Sanu couldn’t be more different cases. Ocho had a full training camp to learn the offense, build trust, and it just didn’t work out. Sanu got here mid season and had to try to learn the offense on the fly. He had to learn brand new terminology and the complex option routes that make up the Pats system are hard to pick up well during the year. Sanu finds himself thinking way too much instead of just playing instinctively. Having Sanders would’ve been an easier transition.

It doesn’t excuse the couple of effort mistakes he’s had however.
 

Captaincoop

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Haven't the Pats' coaches talked before about coaching guys to not reach the ball out at the first down marker to mitigate fumble risk?

I feel like I've heard guys talk about that in the past. There's a bunch of other Sanu-related complaints, but that particular one seems wrong.
 

tims4wins

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Haven't the Pats' coaches talked before about coaching guys to not reach the ball out at the first down marker to mitigate fumble risk?

I feel like I've heard guys talk about that in the past. There's a bunch of other Sanu-related complaints, but that particular one seems wrong.
At the goal line yes due to the risk of touchback. Not sure it applies to the rest of the field.
 

Preacher

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At the goal line yes due to the risk of touchback. Not sure it applies to the rest of the field.
But once the ball crosses the plane, the play is over and it’s a TD. The problem is reaching for the first down in the middle of the field where the runner’s knee isn’t down yet/forward progress not stopped, and the ball gets punched out. Seems a lot less risky with the Sanu play, going out of bounds, and no defender in front of him punching at the ball.

Unless you’re talking about the reaching for the pylon thing where there is a possibility of bobbling and then fumbling out of bounds. Then that totally makes sense as well. Anyways, the Sanu play makes total sense to reach for it.
 

Marciano490

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Sanu has been a football player his whole life. Unless Belichick is Yoda, he’s not adapting the Pats one-arm-reach philosophy during game action after a few weeks with the team.
 

NomarsFool

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I'm assuming the ankle injury has really impacted him for 2 reasons. #1) The Patriots scouted him. I know they probably felt desperate, but if he was playing like he's been playing for them as of late, they never would have traded for him. #2) The Falcons had him on their team. They knew what kind of player he was. If he was playing for them, like he's been playing for us as of late, they would've been looking to unload him for a 7th rounder just to clear the salary.

Hopefully, that means the best is yet to come - which I think he tweeted or something today.
 

RetractableRoof

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Relatively new to the team, knows BB's reputation. In that moment all that was likely going through his head was "do not fumble"... I'm betting BB is alright with that play as it played out - with him not risking the turnover by stretching through tacklers for the first.
 

nighthob

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What doesn't Sanu get, outside of injury? Johnson with all the gifts in the world couldn't figure it out and was a mess.
Johnson’s gifts were long gone by the time he got to New England. There’s a reason he couldn’t make the Dolphins the next year, and it’s not because Miami’s offense was too complicated for him. His speed and quickness were gone.
 

Devizier

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Johnson’s gifts were long gone by the time he got to New England. There’s a reason he couldn’t make the Dolphins the next year, and it’s not because Miami’s offense was too complicated for him. His speed and quickness were gone.
It really is as simple as that, the Patriots have a long history of taking flyers on washed receivers: Galloway, Holt, Ochocinco, etc. Sanu is 30; are we sure he’s going to bounce back?
 
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I refuse to believe that the same Sanu who was such an excellent fit and player with the Falcons, and who was doing just fine this season prior to the trade, deserves most of the ridicule I see in this thread. He wasn't washed up prior to his current injury. He's probably needed some time to adjust to the Belichick system. And in due course - next season, if his injuries don't clear up this season - there's a very good chance you'll see him flourish.
 

joe dokes

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I guessing the ankle injury is continuing to nag and that the team doctors wont force him to take the career-threatening pain meds until the playoffs start.
 

Average Game James

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To some extent, I’m wondering if expectations on Sanu were just too high at the outset? He’s been a good player throughout his career, but at the same time he’s never topped 850 yards in a season while playing on some good offenses. He could be putting up career average numbers and my guess is that many would still be calling him a bust.
 

BigSoxFan

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To some extent, I’m wondering if expectations on Sanu were just too high at the outset? He’s been a good player throughout his career, but at the same time he’s never topped 850 yards in a season while playing on some good offenses. He could be putting up career average numbers and my guess is that many would still be calling him a bust.
He has 172 yards in 7 games. He’s been awful. Only question is how much slack you want to give him for the injury.
 

scottyno

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He has 172 yards in 7 games. He’s been awful. Only question is how much slack you want to give him for the injury.
He's basically put up worse production in the last 5 games combined since the injury than he did in the one full game he played before it, I think it's fair to say he's been significantly hampered
 

BigSoxFan

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He's basically put up worse production in the last 5 games combined since the injury than he did in the one full game he played before it, I think it's fair to say he's been significantly hampered
Edelman’s entire body is basically broken, yet, he still produces. Sanu’s injury has absolutely played a role but that doesn’t completely excuse his poor play.

I hope that this thread is laughed at in a few weeks. We need him. Badly.