Watson Released; Pats' Fans Needlessly Up in Arms

The tight end position has been the focus of the New England Patriots' offense for so long that fans expect a certain level of performance out of that position - so it's no wonder that these same fans are mourning the loss of Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen and loathe the fact that the position has lost it's luster in the offensive game plan.

They pine for what those two brought to the offense over the past several years and are quick to criticize Bill Belichick for not properly addressing the position in the wake of their losses - so it's no secret why these fans are up in arms over the release of veteran tight end Benjamin Watson on Monday afternoon.

Watson came off of a four-game suspension last week and the team had until Monday at 4:00pm to activate him to the 53-man roster, but as the deadline approached, Watson had already cleared out his locker and expressed his disappointment via Twitter. Watson's popularity with fans is due partially to name recognition, but mostly due to desperation among the fans who think the position is in need of an overhaul.

When asked about the release of Watson, Belichick simply stated that he didn't have a roster spot available for him - which is true, as they would have to release another player to make room for him. Regardless, it's not sitting well with fans and the media, but they should have seen this coming.

In Sunday's throttling of the Washington Redskins, Belichick purposely displayed the potential of his young tight ends and determined that Watson wasn't a big enough upgrade over what he already has on the roster. Some of that probably has to do with the fact that Watson is nearing forty years of age, but it's mostly because Belichick has already accepted the fact that the position could no longer be the focus of his offense and has morphed it into a different entity - and has methodically been preparing for that eventuality over the past few seasons.

Talking heads have been bemoaning Belichick's supposed lack of foresight in the matter, but the truth is that Belichick saw that Gronkowski's career was on the downswing due to injury and that someone was eventually going to overpay for Allen's services in free agency - and since there is no replacing Gronkowski's beastly presence anyway, he simply shifted his focus away from the position.

Youngsters Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse are raw, but have expanded their skill set under Belichick's tutelage. Izzo, in particular, has flashed playmaking ability and a desire for run blocking - he's not there yet, but Belichick sees the potential in him and determined that he wanted Izzo's potential over Watson's. Same with LaCosse, who put up some numbers in Denver last season.

So in addition to Izzo and LaCosse, the Patriots have Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon, Phillip Dorsett and Jacoby Meyers at receiver, and Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead, James White, Brandon Bolden, Damien Harris and Jakob Johnson at running back. The four receivers are standard brand for the roster count, but the Patriots employ more running backs than any other team in the league - and that's for a reason.

Belichick has always said that the passing game is an extension of his running game, and given that the backfield population handles the ball on seven of every ten snaps - not to mention their excellence in the pattern - the running backs bring everything the team needs to be successful on offense.

Especially since offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has finally started calling Michel's number in the passing game, even splitting him out wide against the Redskins.

That is a staple of the Patriots' offense. White is one of the best receivers in the NFL regardless of position and he is regularly split wide or in the slot. Burkhead sees the slot at times and we saw last week that Bolden can play on the perimeter, catching a 30-yard scoring strike from Brady.

Hell, if McDaniels really wanted to, he could populate the offense in a five-wide formation with young veteran running backs and still keep a back in to block or take a handoff on the draw. That is unrealistic, given the talent at receiver, but whenever you see that five-wide stretch, there is invariably a back or two among the five.

Many are speculating that Watson was released to free up his cap dollars, which total around $2 million, in order to trade for a receiver. That may be, but then again, it may not. It is entirely possible that Belichick is saving up his cap dollars in order to have some flexibility when rookie pass catcher N'Keal Harry and left tackle are ready to come off  IR in a few weeks, which will give them yet another receiver and protection for quarterback Tom Brady's blind side.

Bottom line, the media and the fans are desperate, not Belichick. Media and the fans are reading between the lines when Brady speaks, and take his words as meaning that he's frustrated with a lack of options in the passing games. Maybe they will trade for a receiver before the trade deadline, but even if they do, it would just be gravy for their mashed potatoes.

That said, the Patriots are fine.

From Wynn To Izzo, Patriots Get Physical In 2018 Draft

I got one pick right.

One lousy pick - but in mock drafts, one shouldn't expect to be able to read the mind of a tenured NFL head coach, and especially not "Trader Bill" Belichick, who made exactly as many draft day trades as he did making actual selections - and my one and only success, wide receiver Braxton Berrios from the University of Miami, came in the sixth round, when I had him as an afterthought in the seventh.

But once again, Belichick proved that he knows more about his team and what kind of player he's looking for while the rest of us are speculative spectators with no clue.

FSU's Ryan Izzo

Instead of replacing what he had lost in the free agency period, he simply made moves that put his Patriots on course to morph into something other than what it was, proving once again the axiom that insanity is defined as doing something the same way over and over again, yet expecting different results.

The Patriots failed to achieve their goal last season, Belichick identified why and moved to correct it.

The first thing he did was to address a lack of physicality in his offensive line by both drafting an offensive tackle who says he's a "lovable guy" but sure doesn't look like it on the field, and then trading away a third round pick to San Francisco to acquire a huge mountain of a man who is considered one of the best strong-side pass protectors in the game...

...adding a talented inline tight end who thrives for contact and was one of the best pure blocking tight ends in the class, though he does have some usefulness in the pattern as well - The toughness on offense wasn't all unique to the offensive line, as the Patriots selected a tough runner and a traditional garden gnome sized slot man who reminds many of a clutch playoff performer who now resides in Miami.

The brutality acquired wasn't solely destined for the offensive side of the ball as Belichick drafted a set of interior linebackers custom made to play alongside each other, suggesting an emphasis on run defense - but also took a couple of corners who look to be potential replacements for two recently-departed veteran corners.

Most of the selections were for players who were admittedly under the radar of the more well-known college athletes, but as usual, Belichik worked the draft board and selected players in positions where he got the greatest value for them, and ended up with a solid draft that improved the team's physicality, something that was sorely needed.

Here's a look at the Patriots' draft class (plus a major pick up via trade):


Isaiah "Ike" Wynn, Offensive Tackle, Georgia
6' 3", 313 lbs

New England's zone blocking scheme requires linemen with quick feet and good lateral movement, and in the past has sacrificed size for dexterity. In Wynn, the Patriots get all of the above without sacrificing anything.

A tackle in a guard's body, Wynn was initially listed as a guard in most draft profiles simply because college tackles his size usually make the switch inside where their shorter stature gains them better leverage against bigger defenders - but the Patriots made sure that the world knew that they were selecting him as a tackle.

A breakfast chef in the running game, Wynn serves up pancakes to defensive ends and tackles and has the athleticism to make sure he gets to the second level to give linebackers a taste as well. So dominating was he at tackle that he earned AP Second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC honors - and considering the competition, that is indeed high praise.

Because he is so versatile - he has the ability to play every spot on the offensive line - what his selection does is give Belichick some intriguing options. At left tackle, there is no guarantee that 2017 draft pick Antonio Garcia will have completely recovered from a bout of blood clots in his lungs, a malady that caused the already thin Division II product to lose 40 pounds - and at guard he is a clear upgrade over third-year man Joe Thuney, so instead of pigeon-holing Wynn at one position, we should just let Belichick and Dante Scarnecchia figure out to best use him...

Sony Michel, Running Back, Georgia
5' 11", 214 lbs

The first that stands out about Michel is his excellence in pass protection. Perhaps the best back in the class at picking up the blitz, his determination and willingness to put himself in harm's way also factors into his no-nonsense running style, where he displays an angular, jerky approach in setting up his blocks, with elite accelleration once he sees the hole.

He plays faster than his timed speed would indicate as he frequently gained corners against some of the best edge setters the SEC had to offer, and his balance and finishing toughness served him well in running between the tackles.

His production, running style and pass production mirrors what veteran Patriots' runner James White's did coming out of college, excelling both through the air and on the ground, but while White earns his bones as a passing back, the slightly bigger Michel will be in the mix for the lead back role in the Patriots' offense.

Trenton Brown, Offensive Tackle, Acquired from San Francisco
6' 8", 359lbs

Just hours prior to the second day of the NFL Draft, Belichick traded the 95th overall pick to San Francisco for Brown, who Denver Broncos' defensive end Von Miller proclaimed is "The best right tackle in the National Football League. There's not another tackle in the league who is that tall, that big, and can move the way he does."

That assertion was in response to a question from a reporter who asked Miller to name the blocker who gave him the most trouble - high praise for a kid that no one outside of the bay area had ever heard of, but who is very familiar to opposing pass rushers and is more of a natural athlete than incumbent right tackle, former All-Pro Marcus Cannon, who was shelved most of 2017 with a bum ankle.

The move for Brown coupled with the draft capital given up in exchange for him suggests that something may be up with Cannon, who may be relegated to swing tackle duties, for which he has shown a penchant for.

Duke Dawson, Cornerback/Safety, Florida
5' 11", 197lbs

Dawson is an assertive, aggressive slot corner who will try to intimidate opposing receivers with his strength and leverage in tight quarters when assigned in man coverage, and brings a ball hawking, head-hunting philosophy when responsible for an area in zone coverage - which makes sense as he is a safety-turned-corner who brings the same dimensions to the position as former Patriot Logan Ryan did.

In 19 games started as a slot corner, Dawson recorded 23 passes defensed and picked off six balls, three of which he returned for scores - but most impressively, he shuts down premier slot talent and allowed opposing quarterbacks a lowly passer rating of just 41 when targeted.

Given his aggressive style and experience at safety, Dawson could potentially be given strong safety duties in the Patriots' Big Nickel alignment at times to spell veteran greybeard Patrick Chung, as his coverage on running backs and his willingness to go nose to nose with them in the ground game are both part of his charm.

Ja'whaun Bentley, "Mike" Linebacker, Purdue
6' 2", 260lbs

An old-school tough linebacker who would be more at home on a 1970's era Patriots' squad, Bentley thrives on contact and has plus anticipation skills - which goes to figure because one look at his tape shows him to be an excellent "Mike" linebacker in a 3-4 alignment, whose primary responsibility is to take on blockers and occupying them, allowing the weak side linebacker, commonly referred to as a "Will" linebacker, to flow to the football.

Bentley most commonly lines up a guard or center looking to move to the second level and uncoils on them, more often than not standing them up in their tracks, much like what a defensive tackle is supposed to do but with a head of steam that makes the blockers remember playing him.

A bigger, more powerful version of Elandon Roberts, he isn't much for lateral agility and cannot be trusted with man coverage on runners, but he defends the middle zone like a bulldozer and lets receivers coming across the middle know that they have to earn entry.

Christian Sam, "Will" Linebacker, Arizona State
6' 2", 245lbs

The perfect compliment to Bentley on the inside of a 3-4 alignment, Sam is a natural for the weak side interior position, where he flows to the ball and makes the tough stops - and is a three-down player who can mirror the footwork of most backs and can also hang with most tight ends crossing the middle.

So sound are his coverage techniques that the previous staff at Arizona State considered moving him to cornerback before determining that he and they would be best served by bulking him up and turning him loose underneath.

Not considered a "practice player", Sam is a gamer that does his best work on the stage - and while that kind of attitude tests Belichick's ire, the Patriots' strength and conditioning staff will make sure that he is up to the task.

Braxton Berrios, Wide Reciver, University of Miami
5' 9", 185 lbs.

A slot man in New England is different than it is elsewhere, as Belichick's offensive philosophy calls on the slot as his bread and butter, chain-moving entity, which requires instant separation, laser focus and precise route running with the ability to make body adjustments to reach balls thrown to slight openings.

Berrios possesses all of these traits and is considered one of the premier punt returners in the class. He was buried on the Hurricanes' depth chart until his senior season, when he broke out as the top pass catcher on the team, averaging over 12 yards per catch. Most compare him to Danny Amendola, and if he proves to be anything like the recently departed clutch receiver, then New England got a steal in the sixth round.

Danny Etling, Quarterback, LSU
6' 3", 225lbs

If anyone was expecting a quarterback drafted by New England to be an NFL-ready signal caller, they will be disappointed with Etling. If those same people were expecting a developmental prospect with a live arm, quick release and in need of mechanical coaching behind the greatest quarterback who ever played the game, then Etling would be everything they expected.

Has the arm talent to be a top passer and can make all of the throws on the route tree, but his footwork and impatience in the pocket are in need of professional coaching. He keeps his arm cocked at all times and has an quick release, but doesn't tie his eyes to his feet, meaning that he isn't always in the proper position to fire the football - even so, his completion percentage (60%) and his touchdown to interception ratio (8-1) are on par.

If the Patriots can improve his mechanical flaws and if Etling can improve his pocket awareness and get rid of his paranoia about phantom pressure off the edge, he could be a nice project as a backup with starter potential - if not, he's a practice squad candidate.

Keion Crossen, CB, Western Carolina
5' 10", 180 lbs

An off-man coverage maven with springs for legs and a willing run defender, Crossen should be a developmental project who could be ready to contribute after some time with strength and conditioning staff.

The Patriots' worked out Crossen an the Wake Forest Pro Day and was the fastest player on the field, running a stunning 4.33 forty yard dash and his game tape shows that he has solid fundamentals, with the ability to keep his man on radar when he turns to look for the football - something that really can't be taught - and his anticipation to high point the ball and to go get it are plus-sized.

If the Patriots can bulk him up a bit, they have a good prospect on their hands who could compete for a roster spot in the wake of injuries to both Cyrus and Jonathan Jones last season.

Ryan Izzo, Tight End, Florida State
6' 5", 255 lbs

Another old-school prospect, Izzo is a mean-tempered inline blocker who gives as good as he gets, especially on the wham blocks that Rob Gronkowski does so well. Notice that I said "prospect" and not "project", as Izzo is nearly ready to contribute as a pure blocking option in Foxborough, adding yet another degree of size and toughness to a blocking unit that was heavily upgraded in this draft.

Has soft hands and runs sharp routes, but there's not a lot of film on him as a receiver - but what there is shows a guy who catches well with his hands and looks to dish out punishment in order to gain yards after the catch - and in pass pro, he frequently served as an edge protector from the offset position from the tackle box, and mirrored speed rushers and bull rushers alike.

He will seriously jeopardize roster spots held currently by veterans as a low-cost, late-round gem.