Patriots TE snapshot

Mike, you said "Thomas missed all but two games last season after returning from a broken foot sustained in the offseason program, then sustaining another broken foot during the regular season." I had always thought, incorrectly, that he'd reinjured the one foot. He broke the other one?

Hi PatsFan37. I was never able to confirm it was the same foot that Thomas broke. I assume it was. It's sort of written loosely here to pass along the information that Thomas missed time due to two different broken foot injuries, but without the specifics that it was the same foot.
--Mike

Hi Mike, why do you think they kept Watson over Graham? I always thought Graham was more valuable (considering his blocking, and adequate skills/speed in receiving)...

Also, do you see the TE blocking improving a lot this year? As you said, we don't really have a Sam Gash at this position.

Hi dover1261. I do think they would have liked to keep both, but the Patriots would only go so far in negotiating a free-agent deal with Graham. Watson, on the other hand, is still playing under a more manageable rookie contract. As for the blocking improving at this posiiton this year, my initial thought would be no because Graham and Brady -- at their peak -- were top blockers. Perhaps someone in the current crop of tight ends will surprise us, but based on past performance, I don't see anyone with the blocking prowess of a Graham or Brady.
--Mike

Hey Mike,

Hope you enjoyed your time off.
Were you surprised that the Pat's didn't draft a TE?
It's been a staple of Belichick's drafts to grab one.
I think Watson has been a disapointment and Thomas gets an incomplete due to lack of playing time. It does look like it could be a huge hole if Thomas and Watson don't come back full strength. What's your take?

I'm extremely concerned about the right side of the Pats' OL, where oft injured RG Stephen Neal and the likely to be suspended, extremely medicre RT, Nick Kaczur, reside. Add to that the fact that the Pats will lack a dominating blocking TE, and that spells less time to throw for Tom Brady, and fewer holes for Laurence Maroney and company to run through.

How does signing the 36 year old Marcus Pollard help? Isn't Pollard noted as a "receiving" TE? Didn't his drop of a TD pass in Seattle's playoff loss to GB lead to his release from the seriously TE challenged Seahawks?

Look for the Pats to strongly address the OL and TE positions in the 2009 draft.

Mike don't you think the need for a power blocking TE will be diminished this year? Most offseason prep is going to focus on eliminating the Pats passing attack given last year's success. They'll probably be running against a lot of nickel coverage since they can't cover Welker with a safety. You have to figure defenses will take their chances going 4-2 up front, hoping the front four gets pressure and the 2 LBs and a safety coming up can contain the running game.

Pats have a couple of O-linemen that are mobile enough to go in motion to block from the tight end position. That tall guy from Alabama comes to mind. Some of these guys played tight end in college for a short stint. They could even catch 6-8 passes to screw up a defense. It's not much different from putting a D-linemen in at fullback near the goal line. Hochstein is another who could go in motion. He also played some TE, if I recall correctly. It is not ideal, but if you need power mostly out of the 3rd TE, then an athletic O-lineman is better than over paying for Graham or using a Brady past his prime.
I do think that using only Thomas and Watson will wear those non-durable types into the ground. Not good. We need their pass receiving skills, and we need them healthy.

Mike, I disagree about their desire to keep Graham. For whatever reason, they supposedly didn't approach him seriously the year before his contract expired (I recall the Graham camp saying they only offered him one year deals at that point). And they didn't really appear to be in the running when he became an UFA. Unlike guys like Givens, who they made serious attempts to resign before and after his contract expired, it didn't seem like they valued Graham very highly in their future plans. I've heard that it's mostly due to injury concerns -- ironically, Watson and Thomas have been injury nightmares.

Also, I've seen it mentioned a couple times now that the Pats weren't pleased with Brady's blocking, but I thought he did a great job in that department, especially in the first half of the season. Do we know for sure that that was the reason they didn't resign him?

Hey Mike, Welcome back from vacation. Will we see Watson, if he is healthy, running the deep seam route more this year in order to keep the over the top safety a bit more honest when doubling Moss?

Hi Mike,

I think a lot more will be expected from this group this season. This was a vacated part of the attack last year. They were invisible for the most part.

Hi pete d. Inititally I was surprised that the Patriots did not draft a tight end. But after speaking to one scout who studied the players a lot closer than I did, I was told that the tight end crop was short on solid players who also checked out off the field as well. So I think the talent pool was thin and once a few players were off the board (e.g. John Carlson, second round, Seahawks), there really were few more options. On Benjamin Watson, I think he's been productive, but perhaps hasn't matched the lofty expectations some of us in the media (me included) placed on him.

TexasPat, I agree on the right side of the line (we'll have the OL snapshot tomorrow and that is noted), and I'd say Pollard is no lock to make the roster.

patscomingback, in theory, i agree with the premise that a blocking tight end is not necessarily needed. But I do think one aspect that has made the Patriots successful in recent years is that they can morph into any style and beat a defense -- power running with 2 and 3 tight ends, passing out of the spread formation with 3 and 4 receivers, trick plays etc. So I'll be interested to see how it unfolds without a true "blocking" tight end.

MarkZ, on Graham, I do believe the Patriots were making offers right up until the end. But at that point, Graham figured 'why not test free agency?' If I recall, even earlier, it was a situation where the Patriots were negotiating with Dan Koppen, Daniel Graham and one other player on a possible extension (in 2006). On Brady, I think they elected to cut him based on a combination of performance and health (shoulder).

O Jones, when I read the question, it made me think of the Dallas game last year in Week 6. Watson on the seam route can put stress on a defense, and I'm sure that will be part of the plan.
--Mike