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Aaron Hernandez, TE, New England Patriots (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Jason Wood
- Start date
2012 snap count:Gronk 99%Hernandez 99%Welker 63%
Did you adjust for games missed last year? So far in 2012 it's like Gronk 99, Hern 99, Welker 64.
Hipple Long Ware & Peete
Footballguy
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/11/mcdaniels-says-game-plan-reduced-welkers-role/
Latest News & Rumors
me
McDaniels says game plan reduced Welker’s role
Posted by Josh Alper on September 11, 2012, 3:35 PM EDT On Monday, we made mention of the sharp decline in playing time for Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker.
There wasn’t any health reason for Welker to see about 25 percent less snaps than he saw on average last season, leading us to wonder if this was a sign of an overall shift in the Patriots’ offense or just a result of their specific game plan for the Titans. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels got asked that question during a Tuesday conference call and said it was the latter.
“We kind of decide those on a week-to-week basis. Certainly Wes had some opportunities in the game and made the most on a few of those. Then we had some other opportunities we didn’t quite hit,” McDaniels said. “Wes’ role is the same as we’ve always gone. We’ll go each week and try to do what we think is best to help us win. Sometimes that may include playing more multiple tight ends. Sometimes it might be playing a lot more receivers. We kind of try to feel that out as we go through our preparation and then make the decisions that go along with it.”
It’s something we’ve seen for years from the Patriots backfield, but it hasn’t been quite as big a part of the team’s approach to their receiving corps. Extending that thought process makes sense given the deeper pool of receiving targets than the Patriots have had in some recent years.
Having said that, Welker’s never really been a player who saw his role determined by the game plan since guys who catch more than a hundred balls have to be on the field almost all the time to pull that off. There are plenty of weeks left in the season and it will be interesting to see how Welker’s used in them.
Latest News & Rumors
me
McDaniels says game plan reduced Welker’s role
Posted by Josh Alper on September 11, 2012, 3:35 PM EDT On Monday, we made mention of the sharp decline in playing time for Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker.
There wasn’t any health reason for Welker to see about 25 percent less snaps than he saw on average last season, leading us to wonder if this was a sign of an overall shift in the Patriots’ offense or just a result of their specific game plan for the Titans. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels got asked that question during a Tuesday conference call and said it was the latter.
“We kind of decide those on a week-to-week basis. Certainly Wes had some opportunities in the game and made the most on a few of those. Then we had some other opportunities we didn’t quite hit,” McDaniels said. “Wes’ role is the same as we’ve always gone. We’ll go each week and try to do what we think is best to help us win. Sometimes that may include playing more multiple tight ends. Sometimes it might be playing a lot more receivers. We kind of try to feel that out as we go through our preparation and then make the decisions that go along with it.”
It’s something we’ve seen for years from the Patriots backfield, but it hasn’t been quite as big a part of the team’s approach to their receiving corps. Extending that thought process makes sense given the deeper pool of receiving targets than the Patriots have had in some recent years.
Having said that, Welker’s never really been a player who saw his role determined by the game plan since guys who catch more than a hundred balls have to be on the field almost all the time to pull that off. There are plenty of weeks left in the season and it will be interesting to see how Welker’s used in them.
Hipple Long Ware & Peete
Footballguy
Reiss speculates seller may have suffered a concussion in late august?
T U E S D A Y , S E P T E M B E R 1 1 , 2 0 1 2
Did Wes Welker suffer a concussion?
Mike Reiss, ESPNBoston:
"Something isn't adding up here, and, if I had to make an educated guess, it is tied to what kept him out of practice in Tampa on Thursday, Aug. 23. Welker made the trip to Tampa and was suited up for a full-pads practice Aug. 22, and I think something happened that day.
Other reports have noted that a personal issue Welker was dealing with (a death in the family) kept him out of preseason action, and that might have been the case for the Eagles game, but I think that was separate from what went down in Tampa (my educated guess is a concussion). My sense is that the Patriots were easing Welker back into the mix Sunday based on whatever went down in Tampa and how it affected Welker's preparation to assume a full-time load in the opener."
Ok, I get it. This is speculating on speculation. I don't want to blow Welker's one quiet game out of proportion, but it does make you wonder why his snaps were so down in this one game.
Reiss doesn't host a talk radio show, he isn't one to throw wild sensational speculation out there. The fact that he calls a concussion, or any type of injury, an educated guess has to get you thinking. At the same time, this was buried in a mailbag and not a blog post or article.
There has to be a good reason Welker saw such little playing time, and I'm not buying Josh McDaniel's excuse.
”I think the game plan each week is really different,” McDaniels said. ”We definitely had some personnel groupings. I don’t know the exact number of snaps, but we played quite a few snaps of three tight ends in the game at the same time, and then we played some two tight ends, with two running backs in the game at the same time. So I think each week here, I think we try to make the decision of what groupings, or what personnel matchups may give us a certain - whether it’s an advantage or not, we don’t know - we try to maybe quiet the game down a little bit, or take advantage of a situation we think we can take advantage of. We kind of decide those on a week-to-week basis. Certainly Wes had some opportunities in the game, and made the most of a few of those. Then we had some other opportunities we didn’t quite hit. But no, Wes’ role, it’s the same as we’ve always gone. We’ll go each week and try to do what’s best to help us win.
There's no reason to have your best receiver play limited snaps as part of your game plan. How is anyone's offensive game plan to not put their number one threat at the receiver spot on the field? As per usual, there's something the Patriots aren't telling us and I'd tend to lean with Mike Reiss on this one.
Welker could've suffered an injury in training camp, and though he was fine for the opener (was not on the injury report they probably wanted to slowly wean him back in. Whether that injury is a concussion or not? We might never know.
That said, I fully expect Welker to play his normal compliment of snaps in Week 2.
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Shutout
Footballguy
I THINK the rule for the "Eligible to return" IR list is that the player has to be out 6 weeks (42 days) and then practice with the team for two weeks before returning. So, the fact that he has not been placed on the IR would suggest to me that, yes, it is a very good thing because the Patriots likely don't see him missing anywhere close to that amount of time.Overall, if it really is "just" a sprain (who ever knows with the Patriots?), then I think there is a good chance this turns out to be a 3 week injury. At 22 years of age, I think there is a decent chance he can miss three games (making it basically a 4 week recovery time) and return.
Macdaddy_2004
Footballguy
How do people feel about picking up Hernandez with a short bench? Somone dropped him in my league.
tombonneau
Footballguy
No Pats have Shianco on it. Doubt they'd have put him on it anyway in case he heals quickly.
Not an exact trade, but this week...
Hernandez/Matt Ryan/Greg Jennings
for
Lynch/Antonio Brown/Peyton
IMO
Ryan >> Peyton
Jennings > Brown (even with his recent injuries)
Lynch >>>>>>> Hernandez
I think I won the trade easily given I got a workhorse back.
In another league I was offered Jermaine Gresham but I turned that down. I'm starting Witten and will wait for Hern to be back around fantasy playoff time.
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ponchsox
Footballguy
Hopefully he's back in a couple of weeks and gets his slice of the Patriot's passing game. 
Aaron Hernandez (ankle) "briskly" walked through the locker room without a limp Wednesday.
Hernandez was wearing a soft black brace around his right ankle. Per beat writer Jeff Howe, his "maneuverability was improved today." We'll know more after the Patriots practice Wednesday afternoon.
Aaron Hernandez (ankle) "briskly" walked through the locker room without a limp Wednesday.
Hernandez was wearing a soft black brace around his right ankle. Per beat writer Jeff Howe, his "maneuverability was improved today." We'll know more after the Patriots practice Wednesday afternoon.
Depends on who you're dropping, obviously. But I'd do it. I'm trying to get him in a 2-for-1 trade in a shallow bench league where I'd have to drop either Maclin or Bush.
I would absolutely look to be acquiring him, even if I knew I'd be sitting him the next two weeks. I can't think of a scenario where I wouldn't want him even on a 4-bench league. His upside is massive, especially in PPR. That is assuming he comes back strong, though. Hern was a major focal point in the offense prior to getting hurt.
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
I can't imagine most owners have enough talent on their rosters to leave Hernandez on the wire. There has to be a QB2 or WR4 that is droppable. Far too much upside with Hernandez to not pick him up now.
paulbertini
Footballguy
I got Hermandez for Witten, Hillis, and Bilal Powell 2 weeks ago when all the Bilal hype was flying around. Owner also had Tony Gonzalez to replace Hernandez. I think it was a steal
ponchsox
Footballguy
Aaron Hernandez (ankle) made a surprising return to Patriots practice on Thursday.
Hernandez started practice with a limp, but looked more comfortable while running drills a few minutes later. He's clearly at less than peak agility. NFL Network's Albert Breer reported earlier in the day that Hernandez is a "virtual certainty" to sit out Sunday's game versus the Broncos. Even if that report is correct, Hernandez is at least on track to return next week versus the Seahawks.
Hernandez started practice with a limp, but looked more comfortable while running drills a few minutes later. He's clearly at less than peak agility. NFL Network's Albert Breer reported earlier in the day that Hernandez is a "virtual certainty" to sit out Sunday's game versus the Broncos. Even if that report is correct, Hernandez is at least on track to return next week versus the Seahawks.
Hipple Long Ware & Peete
Footballguy
Hernandez returns to practice
Aaron Hernandez, TE, NE
News: NFL Network reports Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who has been out since Week 3 with an ankle injury, is expected to sit out again Week 5 vs. Denver. However, he could be ready to return Week 6 at Seattle. Although, Hernandez returned to practice in a limited capacity Thursday.
Analysis: The Patriots don't give out a lot of injury information, so we don't have any idea about how Hernandez's recovery is going outside of injury reports and rumors. The latest rumor has Hernandez making a possible return Week 6, so now Fantasy owners are intrigued again. The fact he was practicing Thursday is big news. Hernandez is a viable Fantasy start in all formats when healthy, so continue to keep tabs on his progress.
Aaron Hernandez, TE, NE
News: NFL Network reports Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who has been out since Week 3 with an ankle injury, is expected to sit out again Week 5 vs. Denver. However, he could be ready to return Week 6 at Seattle. Although, Hernandez returned to practice in a limited capacity Thursday.
Analysis: The Patriots don't give out a lot of injury information, so we don't have any idea about how Hernandez's recovery is going outside of injury reports and rumors. The latest rumor has Hernandez making a possible return Week 6, so now Fantasy owners are intrigued again. The fact he was practicing Thursday is big news. Hernandez is a viable Fantasy start in all formats when healthy, so continue to keep tabs on his progress.
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