Great post on that footage, eh?! Quite the heart. We need to finish the purge of the marginal residue and keep going in FA. Signings like this REALLY open up the draft, especially young depth on D and some OL help as well. I am loving the FO FA Dance card so far. These sound like guys I will be excited to watch, not just "required" to watch out of fan loyalty. The whole idea of a game that isn't three (or less!) and out and the defense gets stops . . . that would almost resemble football as played in the NFL. But it's this or curling for me.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
i think he has been somewhat inconsistent as a receiver. additionally, their top targets were moss and welker. for checkdowns, they had faulk as a receiving back. i think he just wasn't close to a primary target and it didn't appear a TE was that important in their scheme. he may not have wanted to return either. he's won his, now he probably wants to make as much as he can before he retires. just speculating on the last point.
Quote: The Browns acquisition of free agent TE Benjamin Watson is a perfect example of the effect Mike Holmgren is having already in Cleveland — and this team’s transition to the West Coast offense.
Sure, the QB situation is making headlines, and it started with the deal that brought Seneca Wallace to town. Derek Anderson was given his walking papers, and it looks like Brady Quinn will be the next to go.
Jake Delhomme? The former Carolina starter came in for a visit and there is a possibility that he could end up in Cleveland — maybe as the opening day starter.
But, in any West Coast system, the TE position is key to the offense. No matter who the Browns starter is in September, Cleveland needs an athletic TE who can win at the line of scrimmage and work the various route combinations in between the numbers — a player like Watson who can match up with any linebacker or strong safety in the NFL because of his size and speed.
We tend to overlook Watson because of the system he played in out in New England. He was in a system designed to push the ball down the field using a variety of personnel groupings and a variety of route combinations that will spread defenses across the field. He was a third option behind Wes Welker and Randy Moss.
In Cleveland, he will become a bigger part of the run game and will play more as a core TE instead of being used as an extra WR removed from the formation.
I like Watson’s game because he does have the physical size and athletic ability to beat defenders underneath and use his speed to get up field, and the West Coast system should allow him to become more of a conventional TE.
The NFP’s Michael Lombardi commented the other day that the trade for Seneca Wallace was a clear indicator that Holmgren was implementing his offense under head coach Eric Mangini. The Watson deal just reinforces his point.
Solid signing. Ben Watson has never reached what many thought was his potential and at this point likely never will. But, he is still a solid TE and addition to our team.
Quote: While I like the signing, Watson isn't as good as many are making him out to be. He is a great athlete and good blocker, but he drops some passes.
Heiden b/c of age Royal b/c he made us fans drink Crown Royal Gaines b/c he has 4th stringer written all over him or Moore b/c he can actually catch the darn ball
I'll bet on Moore being the casualty b/c he wouldn't fit right in
I know you were kinda kidding around,, but I'll give you a reasonable answer... how's that
Quote: so who goes?
Heiden b/c of age Royal b/c he made us fans drink Crown Royal Gaines b/c he has 4th stringer written all over him or Moore b/c he can actually catch the darn ball
I'm by no means an expert.. But I keep Moore, bring back Estandia and with Watson, we have some solid TE's to use.
Wouldn't hurt to have one waiting on the PS either.
I think a bunch of Heiden, but what good is a great player, if he's always on the DL..
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe." Damanshot
You made a parallel statement to what I said using one of the best tight ends in history. That insinuates a comparison, as there is no other reason to do it.
Don't worry daman, deep just likes to pretend he is almighty football guru, I got what you was saying. Even the best drop passes, just like the best qb's still throw picks, and the best running back fumbles, best blocker gives up a sack ect.......
That site shows the targets and receptions. He looks fine. Not exceptional, but fine.
The only year he was amazing was 2007 when the entire NE WR corps was blowing up big numbers. The only year he struggled was in 2008 with Cassel at QB and the entire NE WR corps receptions per target went down that year.
Never claimed he was as bad as Royal. But we have people acting like he's gonna make us forget Winslow. He had 300 yards this year, and his best season ever is 600.
How he did: Statistically speaking, this was Watson's best season since 2006. Sure, he had a greater reception count in '07 and had 1 extra TD, but Watson got more yardage on fewer passes, while averaging a first down 2 out of every 3 reception. Watson saw 784 snaps, but only saw 40 passes come his way (on the other extreme, Washington's Chris Cooley saw 354 snaps and had 41 passes go in his direction). It's obvious that Watson wasn't utilized as much as he should have been in the passing game. In the pass blocking and run blocking game, the Patriots would often defer to Chris Baker (Baker blocked on almost 100 more plays than Watson).
Where he did well:
1. In our victories, Watson caught 18 passes for 286 yards and a 15.9 yards/reception. He also caught 4 of his 5 TDs in victories. 2. In the first 8 games of the season, Watson caught 19 receptions for 271 yards and 4 TDs. It's clear his production dropped as soon as injuries began to mount on the O-Line. (Week 8 is around the time Light, Kaczur and Neal all got injured and Watson had to help out Vollmer) 3. Contrary to the Patriots as a whole, Watson excelled in the 2nd half, receiving 16 for 212 yards and 4 TDs. 4. Great first down receiver, catching 15 for 261 yards. 5. Most productive out of 3 receiver sets, with 13 reception, 183 yards and 4 TDs. 6. 0 Fumbles!
Where he can improve:
1. While pass blocking, he allowed 5 QB Pressures and 1 Sack on 52 attempts. That means Brady was hurried every 11 plays Watson was blocking. 2. Was not utilized on 3rd and short or 3rd and long (as in 0 receptions) 3. Average in completion percentage of Tight Ends on 60% offensive play count (13th best completion rate out of 27) 4. 3rd to last out of the same Tight End pool in yards after catch (@ 2.9 YAC. Daniel Graham [remember him?] averaged 7.5 YAC) 5. When he had the ball, he only forced 1 tackler to miss. That's not good enough. 6. Only had 11 receptions, for 118 yards and 1 TD in our losses.
What does this mean?: Players on the Patriots will be resigned if they're multi-dimensional players who can participate and step up when asked to. Watson is unable to perform as a blocker, so when our O-line gets injured (as it will again), Watson will be rendered almost useless in our offense and our TEs are asked to block. I think we can say good-bye to Watson this off-season.
i understand you tried to temper expectations but no one even came close to expecting winslow production. the only thing that was said was by daman that even ozzie dropped some passes, something that was simply misunderstood.
for the most part, i think everyone sees this free agent class as a solid pick-up but they're not all-pros.
that said, watson also was never even close to the primary target. with welker and moss adding up to, what, 200 catchs a season, not many balls left to go around. hopefully he'll be more productive here but no matter what, he's an upgrade over what we currently have.
Quote: Never claimed he was as bad as Royal. But we have people acting like he's gonna make us forget Winslow. .
What we actually have here is you making a feeble attempt to make the guy look less than what he actually is by making a comment like, "he drops some passes".... EVERYONE DOES... SO WHAT?
Quote: He had 300 yards this year, and his best season ever is 600.
So what's that got to do with how many dropped passes he's had?
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe." Damanshot
The fact that people are pimping him up way too much.
I don't remember who said it, but someone said something along the lines of "If anyone is still against the Winslow trade, they are crazy." Watson is nothing close to Winslow. He has never had anywhere near the production, and is no where near the threat.
It was not a feeble attempt to make him look worse than he is. Ask any Pats fan. They will tell you that drops have been a problem for him. You are the one looking foolish by bringing up Ozzie.
Quote: If he only dropped them from time to time, I wouldn't have mentioned it. He has a problem with dropping balls.
Man Cleveland fans are indeed crazy. We got the best TE available and all we can do is point out his faults before he has even played one game. FYI alot of great TEs drop balls let alone those considered above average. I'm not saying that DA should have said his comments but man you can sure understand why he did.
Quote: You are the one looking foolish by bringing up Ozzie.
I disagree.
You are the one looking foolish by thinking he was comparing the two. He was simply saying that arguably the best TE ever had dropped passes, too. And that because you drop some passes doesn't mean you can't be a good TE. (Or WR for that matter: See TO).
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