I'll Chat Today At 2 ET

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 5:54 am

Tom,

Kevin Walter, Greg Little or Winslow at flex this week?

Also, any word on your boy Daniel Thomas?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 6:04 am

Originally posted by Diesel:
Tom,

Kevin Walter, Greg Little or Winslow at flex this week?

Also, any word on your boy Daniel Thomas? I think we'll find out more about Thomas the next two days since they play Monday night.

I'd go Little, Walter, Winslow. I think Little could settle in nicely as a WR3 going forward.

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 6:23 am

Thanks Tom. Man, it seems like Daniel Thomas can be a solid start if he can ever stay healthy. And I agree on Little...He's got some serious potential. I don't watch college at all, so I'm not sure what he's done before, but he looks like he is going to make some noise in this league. Hopefully sooner than later.

SS · Post by SS » Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:38 am

Tom, is Steve Ridley a viable start this week with the Law Firm being out with an injury, at least today he is. Thanks!

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:51 am

Originally posted by SS:
Tom, is Steve Ridley a viable start this week with the Law Firm being out with an injury, at least today he is. Thanks! I think he's worth a look as a RB3 if BJGE is out but the Cowboys, on paper anyway, are a tough matchup. We'll see what happens with Law Firm at practice tomorrow. If he sits, I'd be surprised if he played Sunday. Keep in mind, though, this is a late game, it's Belichick (meaning there's no way to know how injured someone is or isn't) and Woodhead is also back at practice this week, albeit in limited fashion the past two days.

Should BJGE sit and Woodhead is active, the Patriots could decide to go pass-heavy which would reduce Ridley's value considerably. So I'd not just pay attention to BJGE's status but Woodhead's too. Ultimately, it comes down to your options. If Ridley starts, I'd probably rank him in the 25-30 range among RBs this week - similar to Delone Carter.

Again, we'll know more tomorrow.

[ October 13, 2011, 03:52 PM: Message edited by: Tom Kessenich ]

renman · Post by **renman** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 12:02 pm

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:
quote:Originally posted by Renman:

Next football question. Why can't other teams do what Brady and Welker do?Tom Brady is a Top 10 all-time QB. Maybe Top 5. Guys as good as him simply don't come around very often. And I said weeks ago that Wes Welker was an elite WR. Some people scoffed. Well, I'll go even further now and say he's starting to put together a Hall of Fame career. The guy is damn good. He may very well be the greatest slot WR in NFL history.

So why can't teams emulate what the Patriots are doing? Because most teams don't have players anywhere near as good as Brady and Welker. [/QUOTE]Tom,

I am a bit slow in replying. But I will respectfully disagree on one point (though I agree with most of what you are saying).

You think Wes Welker puts up those numbers on another team? What did he do before coming to the Patriots? I wonder what the Pats spent to get him. I think Welker is a great football player. A great pure football player. Tough, talented, works hard, etc. But his production (to me) is a product of his system and circumstance. If you remove him from that situation, I can't see the same production or anything close. Which would result in him not being a hall of famer. I knowbthis can be said about tons of hall of famers who played in perfect circumstances.

I honestly think it (their incredible numbers) is because Welker and Brady are in sync on a level no other QB/WR tandem are. I think they read the same things and it is all dictated by coverage. I bet a large percentage of their plays are not scripted and are based on both seeing the same thing and Welker going to the right spot while Brady sees the same thing and throws it to that spot.

I just can't understand why other teams cannot do 70% of what they do from the slot.

[ October 14, 2011, 09:05 PM: Message edited by: Renman ]

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 4:51 am

Renman, I disagree. Welker went from 29 receptions in 2005 to 69 receptions in 2006 with the Dolphins. He was scoring enough double digit fantasy games that I remember wondering why the Dolphins would let him go. Welker was really starting to shine and grow,, and it was a HUGE mistake by the Dolphins and a GREAT decision by the Patriots to sign him.

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:33 am

Originally posted by Renman:
You think Wes Welker puts up those numbers on another team? What did he do before coming to the Patriots? I wonder what the Pats spent to get him. The Pats paid a 2nd and 7th rounder. They obviously saw something in him. Still, obviously a price well-spent.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:48 am

Originally posted by Glenneration X:
quote:Originally posted by Renman:
You think Wes Welker puts up those numbers on another team? What did he do before coming to the Patriots? I wonder what the Pats spent to get him. The Pats paid a 2nd and 7th rounder. They obviously saw something in him. Still, obviously a price well-spent. [/QUOTE]I remember when the Patriots acquired Randy Moss in 2007, my thought was "Wow, they only gave up a 4th rounder for Moss -- Welker cost them a 2nd!" Turns out, BOTH were excellent deals.

renman · Post by **renman** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 8:45 am

Deisel,

We will agree to disagree. I beleive if Welker were traded to any other team in the NFL to start next season he would not sniff the production we see now. Would he be a good WR? Sure... because he is a good/great WR. I just think his staggering numbers now are directly related to his unique situation.

I am just amazed other NFL teams cannot do the same or even similar thing from the slot.