Welker hoping encore a grabber
FOXBOROUGH - Wes Welker still might be a little uncertain where to go when it comes to driving around Boston, where he chose to live - with some coaxing from teammate Larry Izzo - after joining the Patriots via trade last season, but he never needed a GPS to know where to go to get open in the Patriots offense.
The result was a franchise-record 112-catch season that turned Welker from plucky overachiever to archetypal NFL slot receiver. Welker set a career high in receptions, tying Bengals wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh for tops in the NFL, and had 1,175 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He was a key component in a Patriots attack that set the NFL record for points in a season (589).
With such a stellar first season with New England, the question is what can the 5-foot-9-inch, 185-pounder do for an encore? Welker, speaking after a session of the Patriots' offseason conditioning program last week, said he's not concerned about statistics.
"I don't feel any added pressure. It's just going out there and doing my job and making sure I'm coming through for those guys," said Welker.
Welker said during the offseason program he has studied film to determine ways he can improve, whether it's as a route-runner or as a blocker in the running game.
"There is always something. I don't care who you are, you can always improve," said Welker, who is entering his fifth NFL season. "Even Tom [Brady] will say he can improve."
Still, it seems unrealistic to expect Welker to top last year's production, especially with teams now aware of his ability. Jacksonville cornerback Rashean Mathis said before the Patriots' playoff meeting with the Jaguars that Welker is playing slot receiver better than anyone in the NFL.
That means teams are likely to try to take Brady's security blanket from him more this season.
"If that's how they want to play it, that's great," said Welker. "That's going to open us up and help us do some more things in other places."
That was the case in the Patriots' regular-season finale against the New York Giants, as the record-setting touchdown connection between Randy Moss and Brady that put the Patriots in the lead for good was set up when two defenders jumped an underneath route by Welker.
"I could care less how many catches it is [this season]. It really doesn't matter," said Welker. "It's about improving and getting better and helping the offense move down the field, and if that means catching 112 catches that is what it means. If it means blocking and running the ball 40 times a game then that is what it needs to be."
One of the rule changes passed at the NFL's annual meeting was the elimination of the force-out rule. Officials no longer will have to judge whether a receiver would have gotten both feet inbounds if he hadn't been pushed out.
Welker said it will be interesting to see how defensive backs try to take advantage of the rule change and whether they'll push receivers out before they come down with the ball. Welker said the rule change wouldn't alter his approach.
"No, if you've got to go get the ball, you've got to go get the ball," he said. "You're going to do everything you can, and once you get in that position, then worry about getting your feet down."
Mike Reiss of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
