Is there any Ben Watson Kool-Aid left? (1 Viewer)

[The Swarm]

Like many here, I bought into the Watson hype whole hog. In my league, Watson has put up games of 5, 3, and 6 (soon to be 5) points, making him the 14th best TE under guys like Chris Baker, Owen Daniels, Bo Scaife, and even Eric Johnson. Will this continue?

Few thoughts here from the NEP/DEN game. Here are Watson's targets for the game:

+ 1-10-NE13 (9:11) T.Brady pass short right to B.Watson to NE 18 for 5 yards (DJ.Williams) [K.Lang].

+ 1-10-NE33 (5:44) T.Brady pass deep left to B.Watson to 50 for 17 yards (N.Ferguson).

X 1-10-NE46 30) (Shotgun) T.Brady pass incomplete deep middle to B.Watson [E.Ekuban].

X 1-10-NE36 (6:04) T.Brady pass incomplete deep left to B.Watson [DJ.Williams].

+ 1-10-DEN49 (11:25) (No Huddle, Shotgun) T.Brady pass short left to B.Watson to DEN 41 for 8 yards.

X 1-10-NE8 (5:33) (Shotgun) T.Brady pass incomplete deep middle to B.Watson.

+ 3-8-NE22 (3:00) (No Huddle, Shotgun) T.Brady pass short left to B.Watson to NE 30 for 8 yards (K.Lang).

+ 1-10-NE43 (2:00) (Shotgun) T.Brady pass short left to B.Watson pushed ob at DEN 41 for 16 yards

X 1-10-DEN41 (1:53) (No Huddle, Shotgun) T.Brady pass incomplete short left to B.Watson.

X 2-10-DEN29 (1:19) (No Huddle, Shotgun) T.Brady pass incomplete short left to B.Watson (DJ.Williams).

It seems like the NEP scheme for that game was "Go deep to Watson on first down." As a Watson owner, I'm pleased that he is so obviously being integrated into the offensive game plan, a plan they stuck with for the whole game. I like that not only is their plan "throw to Watson," but "throw DEEP to Watson."

Other side of the coin:

On those long bombs, Watson typically had beaten the coverage and was open. Sometimes wide open, sometimes barely open, but impressively open when he needed to be. And Brady, though lackluster, was hitting Watson in the hands or between the numbers. And Watson was dropping them. I'm talking about standing alone with the end zone in sight, the ball spiraling neatly between his hands and his 84, and the ball ending up in the dirt.

I'm hoping for some insight from others who watched this game. Are the Pats going to move away from their "throw it deep to Watson" strategem given the drops he had in this game when wide open? Or was it an off game and the Brady/Watson connection is going to light up like a Christmas tree?

 

[The Swarm]

No one else has thoughts on this game?

 

[Borat]

Neither. They aren't going to stop going to Watson, but he's also not even going to come close to the ridiculous numbers that some people around here are predicting for him.

 

[Sack-Religious]

I think not having any WR's around may be hurting Watson right now as opposing defences can roll coverages to him. In the Pats games I've watched I haven't seen Watson WIDE open very much.

Should Gabriel's learning curve continue as it has and Jackson's hammy get healthy, those two threats may help increase Watson's numbers. He may see less overall targets, but do more with what he gets.

 

[Rushmore]

Neither. They aren't going to stop going to Watson, but he's also not even going to come close to the ridiculous numbers that some people around here are predicting for him.

I think Watson would be a very good "buy low" right now in mandatory TE leagues.

 

[massraider]

Neither. They aren't going to stop going to Watson, but he's also not even going to come close to the ridiculous numbers that some people around here are predicting for him.

Pretty much. He'll do well, but it's still a spread-it-around offense. And not a very potent one at that. Just going by the first three games, it wouldn't surprise me to see BB run the ball even more than they have in recent years.

 

[mrspree15]

On those long bombs, Watson typically had beaten the coverage and was open. Sometimes wide open, sometimes barely open, but impressively open when he needed to be. And Brady, though lackluster, was hitting Watson in the hands or between the numbers. And Watson was dropping them. I'm talking about standing alone with the end zone in sight, the ball spiraling neatly between his hands and his 84, and the ball ending up in the dirt.

I don't remember that happening at all. I remember Brady overthrowing him on a deep ball. I remember Watson dropping some outs. I do not remember Watson dropping sure TDs. I think I would remember being incredibly mad at Watson costing me points on multiple occasions. Am I having a brain fart here?

 

[PatsWillWin]

On those long bombs, Watson typically had beaten the coverage and was open. Sometimes wide open, sometimes barely open, but impressively open when he needed to be. And Brady, though lackluster, was hitting Watson in the hands or between the numbers. And Watson was dropping them. I'm talking about standing alone with the end zone in sight, the ball spiraling neatly between his hands and his 84, and the ball ending up in the dirt.

I don't remember that happening at all. I remember Brady overthrowing him on a deep ball. I remember Watson dropping some outs. I do not remember Watson dropping sure TDs. I think I would remember being incredibly mad at Watson costing me points on multiple occasions. Am I having a brain fart here?

I also do not remember this. Patriots barely sniffed the end zone anyway.

 

[shims3]

I wish Watson wore #82 and got credited with that 12 yd catch they took away from him.

Other than my bitterness right now, I think not having a go to WR is hurting him. Defenses are keying on him, since he is the passing threat for NE. I hope he does better, but not looking good.

 

[The Swarm]

I don't remember that happening at all. I remember Brady overthrowing him on a deep ball. I remember Watson dropping some outs. I do not remember Watson dropping sure TDs. I think I would remember being incredibly mad at Watson costing me points on multiple occasions. Am I having a brain fart here?

I also do not remember this. Patriots barely sniffed the end zone anyway.

Well, that actually makes me feel better, and is one of the main reasons I posted this. I saw two deep passes that were right in Watson's hands and popped out. It looked like on-the-money passes. If I was overestimating the catchability of those passes, then I feel better about Watson's confidence going forward.

 

[Lauryn]

I wish Watson wore #82 and got credited with that 12 yd catch they took away from him.