Amazing Rafi, blocking is now the determinant for who starts at Wr? Could be Cammy got the snaps because Ginn was a weak sister, now that BMarsh is here, his role is not as important, in fact if blocking is the issue then anyone of the UDFA's could shine, even RGM.
Of course the coaches consider blocking. Their level of analysis is a little more involved than "that guy is faster". And they also don't weigh snaps as a run blocker against his receiving totals. I think you're underestimating how difficult it is to be an NFL WR and just assuming any of these guys can contribute as much or more than Cam b/c they are faster.
I agree with this mostly. A coach has to evaluate his players on their full package, not just one attribute or one thing they do well. For example you might have a WR who is a beast at run blocking, but if he is a bad receiver it's not going to matter. The defense will key in on the fact he's used in mostly run situations, which impacts his effectiveness in that phase of the game. Or the reverse, you have a great receiver who can't block. It really negates your ability to run off tackle to that side because any decent corner will come blow the play up before he can take the edge. Sweeps even more so. You have to evaluate what each player can do in each phase of the game and weigh it against all your other players. THEN determine who will stay.
No, he's trying to explain to you why he was out on the field and how come you can't use his number of snaps against him...
Here's the point. We get rid of Cammy. He goes to New England and catches 80 a year the next 3 years and probably tears us a new ******* every time we play them. Moss, Welker, and Cam in a 3 WR set would be ridiculous. I'd much rather them keep struggling to find that 2nd outside receiver than to basically Chad Pennington it to them.
I honestly do not agree with you. I do not think that set would ridiculous. Even if Moss wasn't aging. Plus Julian Edelman is going to get scarier and scarier when he learns more about how to be a receiver in the NFL.
Edelman is talented but at this point he's a poor man's Welker. We'll see what he has in the beginning of the season while Welker heals. Had Cam not gotten injured in 2008 there's a very good chance Chad Pennington would've gotten him to 80 catches. The pass happy Patriots would love to secure their #3 WR (who starts) they've been shuffling guys in I think Aiken has been their best one and Cam is better than him. Him catching 80 balls in that offense with how much they pass and how reliable his hands are is not impossible. Randy Moss' production is still very high. Welker is a question mark because of his injury, but having said that, healthy Moss, Welker, and Cam would be VERY productive for the type of offense they run.
I do not know how good of a chance that would be. Also that is because of the poor state of the wide receiver corps and the amazing play of Pennington. With Bess's constant improvement I do not know if it was such a given that Cam would have had 80 catches. Edelman is a different type of wide receiver than Welker because Edelman has speed. Welker has insane quickness. Edelman is also just learning the position. Cam is a different beast than Aiken. Aiken is capable of a deep play every now and then. Cam is not. After that huge play against the Ravens he hasn't had a play over 40+ yards. The Patriots are better off with a Donte Stallworth type player in that position. A player who has good speed to push the safeties a little bit so Welker can work his underneath magic. Aiken isn't a good wide receiver however he did have 16.3 yards per completion. You do not just plug and play players. You have people who fit a system. Having Cam as a Patriot would really slow down the high octane offense that they have running there. I honestly think the Bears would be the team to pick him up on the off chance he did get released. Their receiving corps could use someone with the skill at catching the ball.
I just can't believe that Sam Aiken and all of his 326 yards is better than what Cam could bring. Welker and Moss get open on their own. Maybe a Stallworth type player would be better and they gave him a 5 mil a year contract that he didn't live up to. (off the field mostly if I remember right) But quality receivers just aren't out there for the picking unless you trade for one. Greg is a quality NFL receiver. It would be an instant upgrade and with Tom Brady as his QB, there's good reason his production might even go up. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/2009.htm Everyone on that list for receiving is low besides Welker and Moss. Edelman has even less YPC than Cam...yes he's young and I understand potential, but I think the Patriots want to win now considering Tom is getting into the twilight of his career. The guy came off an ACL less than a year before having the injury and played at worst decently well. There's also reason to believe he might be a little quicker this year based on that. I think you have to give the guy at least one more year. There'll always be more UDFA receivers next year lol.
