Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

General talk about Dynasty Leagues.
TheOracle
Player of the Year
Player of the Year
Posts: 2237
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:10 am

Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

Postby TheOracle » Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:59 pm

I know I've been on record as saying that outside of Patterson and maybe Lacy I don't really like anybody in this draft, but that if a RB goes to GB or ATL, or if a WR goes to NE, they'd probably be my #2 or even #1 guy.

Today I was reminded of Chad Jackson. Jackson was a freak of an athlete- he submitted a combine performance that rivaled Julio's. I was in my first dynasty at the time and held the 10th pick. After Bush, Williams, Young, Addai, Maroney, Leinart, White, and Holmes were taken, I was getting ready to grab the super athletic Jackson, only to have him get snagged before me at #9. I had to settle for a some short running back who was stuck behind Fred Taylor.

What I remember about Jackson was that he was a physical freak, but more than that I was excited because the Patriot's had drafted him. This was a team with a great track record, a young QB who just led the league in passing yards (4,110 Yards!!!) and the best WR on the team (Branch) was about to be traded. It was the perfect situation and Jackson had all of the physical tools to capitalize on it. Of course, it never happened. Jackson never fit with the Patriots offense, wasn't a great football player, got hurt and got cut.

Maybe NE resigns Welker and keeps Lloyd and only drafts a project type guy in the 5th. But I suspect NE will take a WR in the first two rounds, and I'm guessing that guy will be a fixture in the top 3 of everybody's draft board. If and when that comes to fruition, we should probably remember Chad Jackson and that just going to NE is not a lock for success, before Da'Rick Rodgers or somebody is going way too high.
12 team//24 Man Roster//1QB,2RB,4WR,1TE,1RB/WR/TE/1K/1DST//0.5 point PPR//$350 Salary Cap (Salary per year/Years)
QB= Stafford (19/3), Luck (10/1), Locker (1/1),
RB= Forte (39/3), Murray (11/3), Mathews (34/3), Martin (10/1), Tate (11/3), Hunter (6/1), F. Jones (3/1)
WR= Green (21/3), Harvin (27/3), Maclin (33/3), Bowe (23/1) Thomas (11/3), Quick (5/1), Hill (10/1)
TE= Hernandez (19/1), Rudolph (8/1)

12 Team, non-PPR, All TDs 6, QB, 2 RB, 4 WR, TE, RB/WR/TE, DEF, K, 20 man rosters, cut to 14 for Rookie/FA Draft
QB: RG3, Newton, Wilson
RB: Richardson, Martin, Spiller, Charles, L. Miller, L. James,
WR: AJ Green, Julio Jones, Cruz, Marshall, Fitzgerald, Alexander, Hankerson,
TE: Gronk,

User avatar
henry1jg
Ring of Fame
Ring of Fame
Posts: 3849
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:04 pm
Location: MI

Re: Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

Postby henry1jg » Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:14 pm

Great point!
Barrow Snowmen- 14 team - 0.5 PPR, IDP - Yr 18
Jacksonville Jaguars - 32 team - Real GM - Yr 12
Jimmy Graham Cracker wrote:Don't let your recency bias affect your judgment.

Jimmy Graham Cracker
MVP
MVP
Posts: 2755
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:15 pm
Location: Vero Beach, FL

Re: Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

Postby Jimmy Graham Cracker » Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:55 pm

When was the last time that a WR drafted by New England actually did anything?

When was the last time they developed a WR?

I wouldn't hold my breath.

User avatar
mjreardon
Practice Squad
Practice Squad
Posts: 124
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 4:37 pm

Re: Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

Postby mjreardon » Sun Feb 17, 2013 4:50 pm

I'd be surprised if they took a WR in the first 3 rounds, it's pretty unusual. I think the only WR's they've taken in the 2nd round in the Belichick era have been Deion Branch, Bethel Johnson, and Chad Jackson. Branch was a great pick, the other two were raw prospects with off the chart physical skills that stayed raw prospects.

David Givens was a 6th or 7th I think, he was an awesome value.

PK Sam, Brandon Tate, Taylor Price were the other guys they took - I think Tate/Price were 3rd round, Sam was later.

Not a great track record, but not a huge sample size either. They just don't like spending top picks at WR. Probably because the passing game is very confusing, so they'd want someone who is coming out of college pretty polished.
M. Reardon, Member Corner Writer
Follow me on Twitter, always happy to talk fantasy (@mjreardon)

DallasN1213
Role Player
Role Player
Posts: 472
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2012 6:57 pm

Re: Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

Postby DallasN1213 » Sun Feb 17, 2013 5:28 pm

So hopefully Patterson goes to NE, and everyone stays away due to NE's track record.

ccj
Pro Bowler
Pro Bowler
Posts: 1264
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2012 6:46 pm

Re: Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

Postby ccj » Sun Feb 17, 2013 5:30 pm

NE is a very cap conscious team. Prior to rookie salary slotting they routinely traded out of the first round which IMO was a strategy to manage the risk of drafting an unknown (rookie) with a large attached salary. I would expect them to become more liberal in drafting skill position players higher in the draft than has been their typical strategy.

Not that I'm projecting them to take a WR, I have no clue. Just speaking to how I think their philosophy has adjusted with the rules.

will6779
All Pro
All Pro
Posts: 1561
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:32 pm

Re: Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

Postby will6779 » Sun Feb 17, 2013 6:30 pm

Good point. Last season they traded up in the first.
12 team, ppr,idp league. 35 man roster, 5 ts.
Start- qb,2-3rb,3-4wr,1-2te,pk, 2-3 dl, 2-3 lb, 2-3 db
Scoring- all tds 6 pts, lb&db 2/t, 4/sack. Dl 3/t 5/ sack

QB- luck, tannehill, mallet
RB- spiller,sproles,mathews,ingram p thomas, woodhead, f jackson, k davis, freeman
WR- brandon marshall d thomas,cobb,amendola , bolden, landry, bryant, watkins, carter
TE- Olsen, reed, ertz, housler, escobar
PK- Vinatary
DL- , quinn, dunlap, hankins
LB- Kueckly, bowman, greenway, v miller , ogletree, bostic, kirksey
DB- Beathea, weddel

User avatar
thriftyrocker
Player of the Year
Player of the Year
Posts: 2223
Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2011 1:23 pm

Re: Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

Postby thriftyrocker » Sun Feb 17, 2013 7:03 pm

Another name to think of is Shane Vereen. Really Chad Jackson wasn't a stud prospect. He was a little raw, sort of a system player, not a great route runner. Got hurt a lot in the pros, which obviously hurt Vereen's PT too. Pats know they can win even if picks don't work out, so it does add risk.

User avatar
kellysheroes
Player of the Year
Player of the Year
Posts: 2097
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 4:58 pm

Re: Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

Postby kellysheroes » Mon Feb 18, 2013 5:47 am

Jimmy Graham Cracker wrote:When was the last time that a WR drafted by New England actually did anything?

When was the last time they developed a WR?

I wouldn't hold my breath.
they developed Gronk and Hernandez pretty good
Openings in Very Unique 16 Team IDP Salary Contract League
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=236246


Checkout My Gaming Channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzPbrOUsiJk

User avatar
Krang
Pro Bowler
Pro Bowler
Posts: 1168
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:12 pm

Re: Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

Postby Krang » Mon Feb 18, 2013 6:34 am

DallasN1213 wrote:So hopefully Patterson goes to NE, and everyone stays away due to NE's track record.
Patterson is projected to be a top 10 pick possibly. There is virtually no chance he's on the board when the Patriots pick unless they trade up, barring an unexpected tumble on draft day.

Jimmy Graham Cracker
MVP
MVP
Posts: 2755
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:15 pm
Location: Vero Beach, FL

Re: Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

Postby Jimmy Graham Cracker » Mon Feb 18, 2013 7:04 am

kellysheroes wrote:they developed Gronk and Hernandez pretty good
Pretty sure they're tight ends, played tight end in college, and were drafted as tight ends.

Nice try though.

kmbryant09
Ring of Fame
Ring of Fame
Posts: 3876
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:26 am

Re: Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

Postby kmbryant09 » Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:22 am

Just my $.02 -

Often times in hindsight, we look back at a promising player who disappointed and label him a bust. Conversely, we see someone relatively unknown emerge in the NFL as a legit starter, and we wonder how we let him slip through the cracks. I believe that not enough attention is given to the coaching staffs of these players & situations. Not just the HC, or offensive/defensive coordinators, but position coaches.

I truly believe there's a reason why the New York Giants consistently develop D-Line talent. Why the Patriots always have a great O-Line with a bunch of no-names. Why it seems that every DEF player drafted by the 49ers has become a stud. Why the Steelers always have stud LB's. It's also why the Patriots can't draft/develop a WR. Why the Colts could never defend the run in Manning's era. Why the Raiders generally just suck. Etc. Etc.

Obviously its not 100% on the coaches, and I don't have any statistical evidence to back this up. But just look at the last 5-10 years to develop a baseline of a player's impending situation in the NFL. WR's have been doing pretty well in New York (Nicks, Steve Smith, Cruz, and now Randle?). CB's do pretty well in Cincy (J. Joseph, L. Hall, and a resurgence from T. Newman/P. Jones). Young WR's do very well with Peyton Manning (Harrison, Wayne, Garcon, Collie). Baltimore seems to have a nose for getting the most out of their RB's (McGahee, Rice, maybe Pierce in the future?)

Green Bay doesn't seem to develop RB's well. Ryan Grant had a brief run of elite numbers, but now that team is so focused on the pass, that I can't see even a 1st round talent (maybe Lacy as the exception) becoming a true stud in that offense. It appears that they devote so much of their time/resources to the passing game that they don't properly develop RB's. We've all seen potential from Alex Green, James Starks, Dujuan Harris, Brandon Jackson, etc. yet the Packers haven't been able to develop any of them into a passable starter in that explosive offense. Obviously none of those guys have 1st round talent, so I'm comparing apples to oranges, but hopefully my point sticks.

Often times teams & their coaching staffs are just as responsible for developing young talent as the player himself. Some just do it better than others.
10-team/.5 PPR/5 Pts per Passing TD. Start 1QB, 2RB, 3WR, 1TE, 2FLEX (rb/wr/te)
QB: J. Hurts, K. Murray
RB: Bi. Robinson, D. Henry, D. Achane, , J. Cook, Z. Charbonnet, T. Chandler, R. Johnson, K. Mitchell, J.K. Dobbins, T. Allgeier, J. McLaughlin, S. Tucker, T. Bigsby
WR: G. Wilson, B. Aiyuk, J. Waddle, T. Higgins,, Z. Flowers, Di. Johnson, K. Toney, A. Iosivas
TE: K. Pitts, E. Engram, C. Okonkwo, G. Dulcich

ericanadian
Legend
Legend
Posts: 6519
Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2012 12:13 pm

Re: Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

Postby ericanadian » Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:23 pm

I don't think it has anything to do with development. The Giants D-Line is consistently elite because they put a huge amount of focus there. Their WRs are solid, but guys like Smith just took advantage of the situation, they didn't develop. There is defintely something to be said for management's ability to find talent and a coach's ability to use talent, but I think development is generally found via stability and solid work ethic.
All I Der Is Win - 16 Team IDP League (Pass TD 6pts)

QB - Stafford, Stroud, Tune
RB - Swift, Hall, Penny, Bigsby, Ford
WR - Pittman, Olave, Di. Johnson, G. Wilson, J. Williams, Metchie, Robinson, M. Wilson
TE - Okonkwo, Schoonmaker
LB - Brooks, R. Smith, Phillips
DL - Crosby, Allen, Simmons
DB - D. James, Baker, Delpit
K - Just a stupid kicker

Cy23
Pro Bowler
Pro Bowler
Posts: 1127
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2012 2:58 pm

Re: Just a thought about NE drafting a WR

Postby Cy23 » Wed Feb 20, 2013 1:33 pm

TheOracle wrote:I know I've been on record as saying that outside of Patterson and maybe Lacy I don't really like anybody in this draft, but that if a RB goes to GB or ATL, or if a WR goes to NE, they'd probably be my #2 or even #1 guy.

Today I was reminded of Chad Jackson. Jackson was a freak of an athlete- he submitted a combine performance that rivaled Julio's. I was in my first dynasty at the time and held the 10th pick. After Bush, Williams, Young, Addai, Maroney, Leinart, White, and Holmes were taken, I was getting ready to grab the super athletic Jackson, only to have him get snagged before me at #9. I had to settle for a some short running back who was stuck behind Fred Taylor.

What I remember about Jackson was that he was a physical freak, but more than that I was excited because the Patriot's had drafted him. This was a team with a great track record, a young QB who just led the league in passing yards (4,110 Yards!!!) and the best WR on the team (Branch) was about to be traded. It was the perfect situation and Jackson had all of the physical tools to capitalize on it. Of course, it never happened. Jackson never fit with the Patriots offense, wasn't a great football player, got hurt and got cut.

Maybe NE resigns Welker and keeps Lloyd and only drafts a project type guy in the 5th. But I suspect NE will take a WR in the first two rounds, and I'm guessing that guy will be a fixture in the top 3 of everybody's draft board. If and when that comes to fruition, we should probably remember Chad Jackson and that just going to NE is not a lock for success, before Da'Rick Rodgers or somebody is going way too high.

As a Patriots fan, the worst part about the Chad Jackson draft pick was they traded with GB to move up, giving up the pick that GB used to draft Greg Jennings.

I loved Chad Jackson based on his measurables and thought he would become a stud. Never happened. No WR has been developed by NE since Deion Branch way back, and he wasn't that good.


I have no idea whether that will affect how good someone can be in the future, however. If NE drafted a stud WR like Julio Jones or AJ Green, they would still be good despite playing for NE. So it really comes down to whether the Patriots can find a smart WR who understands the system instead of going for measurables that don't make a good WR.

I'm holding out hope they grab someone like Hunter or Robert Woods (Patterson will be long gone by the time NE picks in the 1st, and I want defense first, so I am hoping a WR I like falls to the 2nd) and develop him slowly. However, they might be thrown into the fire if Lloyd and Welker leave.


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], RoyalPalmer and 28 guests