Let me begin by wishing the best to Matt Clement.
The WR's & TE's COULD be an area of strength and depth for the Pats offensively. It may also turn out to be the weakness because there are a lot of question marks. I'm going to go against most of what I've heard about these two positions. I'll try to present the facts, what the 'experts' say and then let you know my take.
The #1 wide receiver without question is Deion Branch. With his quickness and great hands, not to mention coming off a super bowl MVP season, he is ready to take his place among the leagues elite players. Most of the writers will tell you that this is the year that Branch emerges as a pro bowler. As fast as he is, as good as he is getting open, he is of no use if he can't stay on the field. Big question marks here for me. I see no evidence that this guy is a durable, reliable receiver that will play 16 games and have 80-100 catches. I sincerely hope he proves me wrong.
Givens is slated as the #2 guy and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Normally that bodes well, as guys playing for a contract have career years. It should be an interesting season for he and the Pats. If you remember, he complained last year that the Pats were intentionally taking him out and not using him as much because he was going to be a restricted free agent, accusing the team of trying to drive his price down. Who knows what really happened, but watch for Givens to walk at the end of this season no matter what.
The battle in camp will be to for the #3 and #4 spot, then to make the team as the 5th receiver. Inside edge to be the #3 or 'slot ' receiver has to go to Troy Brown. Why wouldn't it. He knows the offense, Brady has the utmost confidence in him and his most productive years came as the slot receiver. Many of the talkshow guys have been high on David Terrell and expect him to be the slot guy. However, the guys that have been to the minicamps will tell you that Terrell looks slow running his routes, just plodding along. As much as Brady would like to re-connect with his former college teammate, if the guy is too slow to get open, Brady won't throw to him. Tim Dwight and Bethel Johnson are the same player. Both are very fast and have punt and kick return ability. Both were just placed on the 'PUP' list (Physically Unable to Perform) so they are both injured to some degree. It was thought that Dwight was just brought in to push Bethel to his potential by puttin ghis job on the line and the Dwight would be the easiest to cut from a salsry cap standpoint. Hard to say what will happen with them now that they are on the PUP. Second year player PK Sam from Florida State should be kept in kind. Everything I read about him says he's matured and learned a lot since missing his entire rookie season and has been electric on the field. I think this guy will play the role everyone expects of Terrell and will end up as the 2 or 3 receiver by the end of the season. Just a hunch.
With the tight ends again come the injury concerns. As great as I think Watson will be, he has to get on the field. As good as Graham has been he missed a few games last year as well. The hope is that Watson will push Graham and Graham will have fewer drops this season. You know, I really had a negative mindset about Graham coming off last season, but when I recently watched the 2004 season highlights on NFL network, he had a pretty damn good year and played an integral role in the teams success. IF Graham and Watson can stay healthy this offense could be VERY scary. The FAT guy from 790 the score said that the Pats might have the highest scoring offense in the league! wow.
Word out of Foxborough is that barring injury, they will keep only 3 tight ends. Christian Fauria is the fan favorite to be the 3rd guy, but people in the know have Jed Weaver penciled in as the 3rd TE because Belichick likes his size. Oh yeah, Mr Irrelevant, the last pick in this years NFL draft is also a TE, but really, what are the odds for that kid?
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