As I think back to the first day of training camp, one guy who is really stepping up is Jabar Gaffney. I was skeptical about Gaffney’s huge playoff performance, thinking it may have been a fluke. However, we need to remember that he was signed during the season and didn’t have the luxury of getting the training camp reps in the Patriots system. After seeing Caldwell today, I’m starting to change my opinion of him. I think his playoff production was more a product of him finally getting comfortable in the Patriots offense and that’s now extending to this year’s training camp. Gaffney looked comfortable out on the field and he’s a much better route runner than I originally gave him credit for being. I think Gaffney has really taken advantage of his opportunity and if he has a strong preseason, he may not just make the team, he could have a very productive season for the Patriots. He’s a guy I’ll be watching very closely for the remainder of training camp.
July 27, 2007 at 10:01 pm |
great self reflection Tom. Too bad Andy can’t do that
July 27, 2007 at 11:00 pm |
So, with the injuries and bad news comes some good. Cool. Thanks for keeping your fans up to date. I hate it when work gets in the way of football. But at least Tom keeps us updated.
July 28, 2007 at 12:09 am |
During the morning session, I noticed that Gaffney was lining up with Moss and Welker in 3 receiver sets. I would not be suprised if he ends up being the 2nd or 3rd receiver, ahead of Stallworth, Washington, and Caldwell, simply because he drops the ball less than the other three.
July 28, 2007 at 4:20 am |
glad you came to your senses because Gaffney salvaged the Patriot passing game last season and was clutch in the playoffs.How Houston let him go was beyond me!He is someone Brady will look for when the game is on the line….
July 28, 2007 at 6:21 am |
Thanks for the updates tom. Outstanding job as usual
July 28, 2007 at 8:09 am |
Good to hear that. we still may need gaffney and/or caldwell to start till moss/stallworth get used to pats system.
July 28, 2007 at 8:36 am |
Tom , I’m with you on this one! He got a late start in the system, but he looked really good in the pm session. I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion, however, he was were he was suppossed to be and he was catching everything thrown his way! On the other hand, Caldwell had a drop or two….Moss looked well, like Moss! The go to guy seemed to me to be Wes Welker, no drops ands an open alternative..
In the one on ones, (pm) I saw Mills push C. Brown around. Let’s just say I’m not shocked! Maroney didn’t make Bruschi look good in that drill. Looked like Rocky Balboa chasing a chicken…ha ha (not funny, really)
July 28, 2007 at 8:40 am |
I thnk Jabar will be the suprise guy to stick around..
July 28, 2007 at 10:28 am |
#10 will prove as reliable this season as both Welker and Moss!! This is THE GUY everyone wants on the field when the game is on the line-just ask Tom Brady……
July 28, 2007 at 10:43 am |
Let’s not forget that Stallworth hasn’t suited up yet. I love what Gaffney did down the stretch too, but I’m personally not ready to put him in ahead of a guy with as much potential as Stallworth who hasn’t had a chance to compete yet. But I see him making the cut. Things look gloomy for Washington and Caldwell. Too bad, I liked Caldwell too, people make too much of the couple untimely drops when he was solid almost every other play.
July 28, 2007 at 12:20 pm |
My belief is that Reche Caldwell will be the odd man out.He drops more passes when he is open then when not.I think Jabar will be the 4 receiver on the depth chart.By the way is Troy Brown gonna play offense or defense this season?
July 28, 2007 at 12:34 pm |
Alright then Tom, if the Pats keep 6 receivers who are the 6 if they had to make the final roster cut today? I think it would be R.M., D.S. (I know he’s on the PUP, but I think he makes it on potential), W.W., T.B., J.G., & R.C.. Or do you think K.W. sneaks in because of special team experience?
July 28, 2007 at 12:41 pm |
Houston seems to have a problem identifing Thier Problem. First Gaffney. then Carr (dont slip up Delhomme) two Good, not great players, are let go when it seems that the general consensus is thier Biggest problem is a crappy O-Line. I guess Andre Johnson will be the problem next. Thank God the Pats dont have thier front office.
Gaffney is a very capable reciever and we were lucky to get him last year. The more time he has with #12 the better he will be as is being shown.
July 28, 2007 at 2:26 pm |
To reply to mick I dont believe he will make the 2 or 3. 4 yes but none of the above those spots are already filled by Stallworth and Welker. Stallworth has a setback but still is an overall better player who can burn alot of corners. Welker well youve seen what he has done.
July 28, 2007 at 3:01 pm |
Gaffney’s established credibility-consistancy and reliability-since late last season.
Late last season, even before his breakout playoff performance, he was, at times, first-look in Brady’s passing progression to convert 3rd downs and to stretch (vertically) the field.
Had a knack, too, for producing catches in the back of the end zone, an elusive quality.
On Gaffney’s side of the ball: What is the vernacular for the offensive line schemes used by the Patriots? Only reference to NFL blocking schemes I’ve read regard Mike Shanahan’s success in implementing “zone blocking” in Denver.
But, what are the particulars of that “zone scheme”, I’ve wondered? So much NFL analysis and jargon; yet, so little of it is afforded to breathe life into, for fans, what really “makes things go”: well-choreographed and -executed line play.
And why has the Patriot running game been so lackluster for so long, if Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach Dante Scarnechhia, the team’s longest-tenured coach, has been lauded by Belichick as being singularly qualified, successful?
Steve Grogan’s offenses, of “John Hannah-Dr. Bill-Leon Gray-and company”, ran at will. Ran to setup the pass, as opposed to succeeding Patriot incarnations. Was their personnel superior to the current group, of which I’ve also read much lauding?
I’m hoping this year’s group generates consistent run-drives, without relying, as usual, on the four to five long runs per game to offset an otherwise plodding, predictable cattle-call.
Knowing some of the offensive intricacies would educate fans on the reasons for, or lack of, offensive (and game-winning) success.
July 28, 2007 at 4:52 pm |
at b
lack of offensive (and game-winning) success? what the hell? are you mistaking the patriots with the browns or what?
July 28, 2007 at 5:22 pm |
b-look -3 superbowls with lackluster running game who cares how good they need to be -they GET IT DONE [ best O-line's year-in year out due to Dante's tutleage is your answer].Chew on that…..O’Brien and McDaniels [ O-coordinators] will provide everyone with more than enough ” offensive intricacies” you talk about this season due to added personel-your head will spin prompting the question:How are opposing D’s gonna deal with the Patriots new-look O ?????…….
July 28, 2007 at 7:02 pm |
JABAR GAFFNEY WILL PROBALY LEAD THE PATRIOTS IN RECEPTIONS, REASON BEING BECAUSE HE IS THE X RECEIVER, WHICH USUALLY MEANS ON 90 PRECENT OF TEAMS THAT IS THE GO 2 GUY.
July 29, 2007 at 5:44 pm |
he weill not lead the pats in receptions, no chance
July 29, 2007 at 10:11 pm |
I don’t get the CAPS LOCK THING. Even the first letter of his last name is lower case, while everything else is uppercase. How on earth do you miss that? Is it a stylistic decision? Because i find it visually agitating. I also have no idea what JAMES wILLIAMS is basing this “x reciever” nonsense on. It sounds like Madden videogame terminology. Brady throws to the open man. If that’s Gaffney, good for him, but Tom will probably be looking to Moss and Stallworth first more often.