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Pats Positional Previews: Wide Receivers

Fitzy and Hart continue to rip through our 2024 Pats Positional Previews. Next up, Wide Receivers.

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Duration:
21m
Broadcast on:
21 Jun 2024
Audio Format:
mp3

Fitzy and Hart continue to rip through our 2024 Pats Positional Previews. Next up, Wide Receivers.

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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That's linkedin.com/results. Terms and conditions apply. Linked in. The place to be. Hey, Fantasy Football owners. The road to winning your Fantasy Football Championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Co as we take a deep dive into the position that's going to make or break your Fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter are giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app, or wherever you get your podcasts. Each and every week on the podcast, Andy and I do something we call the Patriots positional preview. Very creative. It's very, it's literative. It's the PPP. Isn't that, wasn't that the loan? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Oh, it's also fast PP is the guy that, and the Celtics hits half-court shots. Oh, that's right. By the way, I shared a little, a fun little slow-mo video. I think it was either Seltice Unite or Celtics junkies put up on Twitter of Peyton Pritchard's shot from like a high up, almost drone-like angle. Obviously, I know it wasn't. It was just a big TV camera. It was slow-mo. And the entire comments section is people still marveling at the fact that he traveled on the play. Oh, absolutely. But it's the NBA. It took about 17 steps. Don't care. Like it would have affected the outcome. Right. It would have affected my joy if they wiped that out. Give us a highlight for the ages. It drained a 49 footer. So what if he traveled? There's a little travel. Everyone. Yeah. And Brady fumbled. Who cares? Was the longest shot in the NBA finals in like 10 years or something. It was cool. Love it. Love it. And then Dante Exum for them didn't even try it at the end of the first quarter. And I know that's this. Myers, Bob Myers, like shoot the shot. Right. Actually, Joe's got to shoot the ball. This is your first time in a court. Throw the ball towards the hoop. Every once in a while, it goes in. Just ask Joel Embiid, who the chucked in a 75 footer against the cell. Exactly. It didn't count. But it doesn't matter if it counts. Try. Right. Try. Like the old man used to say you hit 0% of the home runs. You don't take a swing at it. Yeah. And you probably hit 0% of home runs when you did swing. I did not hit any home runs. It was also very difficult for me to huff and puff my way around the bases as old. Daddy McGee. He said off the sprinkler is fatty, Fitzy. Jackass. How much longer do I have to deal with this? I think I'd rather be on the parade route right now. Anyway, like I said, Patriots positional previews each and every week on the podcast. We work our way around the roster to tell you exactly what we like about the room. What needs some work in the room? Who's the star? Who's got a long way to go? And basically just take a look at the depth before we get into training camp this coming summer. So far on the podcast, Andy, I believe we have done defensive line. We have not if you say so, I think we have we may have done cornerbacks. I believe we did cornerback. Yes. Okay. Tonight we're going to do wide receivers. Yeah. Stacked position. It is a stacked visit too many studs in the room. Stacked, jacked, locked and loaded. Yes. So the New England Patriots head into the 2024 season with a lot of wide receivers and no definitive number one. Now they did Randy Moss. They did draft Welker, Julian Edelman, Dion Branch. They did draft to wide receivers this year in the draft as well. And I have heard things about Cajon booty actually turning some heads. I bet you have. I have indeed. And I'm sure that'll show right up in your feed. You absolute filthmonger. I have heard good things about booty heading into training camp. But Andy, tell me right now, as we always begin this segment, pick an adjective to describe this room competitive. Oh, wow. I like it. I actually think it's very competitive. I didn't say it's high level competition. This is not the days of, as I said, Moss and Welker and number ones and all pros and future Hall of Famers. But I actually think there is quite a bit of jockeying for jobs and roles and who's going to be the number one is Juju back and healthy is DiMario Douglas going to have a breakout slot year. One of the rookies is going to be one of these impact rookies that we've lusted after with other teams. Feels like the last two or three years like, Hey, how come they can, they can draft a receiver and he comes in and he's good is rookie year and catches balls and helps the offense. I think there's a chance of that. There's a chance of bounce back rebound stories. I think we all like Kendrick Bourne. And whenever he gets healthy, I think people will be rooting for him. Jalen Rager has been catching balls and looks a little quicker to me in mini camp action. So a competitive position competitive would be the word to describe this room of 12. This dirty dozen right here includes 12 angry men. Kat could very well be Kendrick Bourne Kendrick Osborne also known as KJ Osborne from Minnesota on a one year deal. Jalen Rager resigned. He, of course, of the kickoff return touchdown in the ever so forgettable New Year's Day finale in Buffalo. Kwan Baker who exactly tomorrow Douglas pop Douglas who everybody says can't be covered right now. Hopefully he can stay healthy enough for the breakout season or the double breakout season or the next great season that we all think he's capable of juju Smith's juicer. See you. Tyquan Thornton who's doing pull ups and eating lots egg whites this off season. We got David Wallace. And rookies Jalen Polk who made a great catch at the end of mini camp last week. J Vaughn Baker, my guy, K. Sean Butte and Jaquay Jackson. Those are your 12 wide receivers currently on the New England Patriots. Two questions for you heart. Number one, ultimately, how many wide receivers do you believe will be carried by the New England Patriots this season? And two, who among them will be the leading receiver? So how many they carry, it's usually in the five to six range, right? And sometimes there's crossover like his Jalen Rager, a kick returner. So does that help him get on the roster special teams value? Is it is valued as much on the new New England Patriots under drawed mayo's? It was under Bill Belichick. I don't think it is. I don't think you're going to see these core special teamers, the Cody Davis Brandon Bolden types or as many of them moving forward, you're obviously going to have your Brendan schooler. But the second question, I like what I see from tomorrow, Douglas, you mentioned it. If he can stay healthy, I think there's a legitimate opportunity here for tomorrow, Douglas to catch a significant number of footballs. You know, I don't know if we'll get back to the true old school West Welker days of he would roll out of bed and catch like 115 passes in that slot receiver roll with Tom Brady still somehow underrated to the day. Yeah, because you people stink. Hey, hey, hey, I don't I don't fault him for Super Bowl 46. That was a team loss. I didn't say just you. I said you people. It's too many people that blame Welker for the Super Bowl 46. You created those people. You're one of the people. No, no, some of them were just born impossible to please. But yeah, no, I think he could catch 85 falls if he has a good year and kind of what do I 85. I don't know how I want to go. See it. People won't listen to that though. I'm saying to Mario Douglas could catch 85 balls and be like, Yeah, you're the guy who said they're going to win zero games. Well, both could happen. He could catch 85 balls and they sure suck as a team. But yeah, I like him. Juju. I'm not really buying them 100%. I wasn't 100% last year. I played at 60%. I'm healthy. I'm not really buying into that. Does he make this even make the team? I don't think he makes the team. I'm not sure he makes the team. I'm not sure he's healthy enough to make the team, but then if he's not healthy, I don't think cut him. I mean, this ownership, excuse me, this new regime has shown that they are not to be beholden to any of the players that were signed by the former EVP of PP or head AC of a lot of them. Yes, but they they resigned who they chose, but it doesn't mean they're married to each and every one of them. No, but they resigned a lot of them. Anyway, so no, Juju, I think is fighting for a job. I think Taekwon Thornton is fighting for a job. If you made me pick between one of those two guys, I think I might take Taekwon Thornton over Juju. But I think KJ Osborne is going to make it lock. I think Damario Douglas is going to make it. That's two. I mean, the only way he's not on the active roster is if he's injured. He had 49 catches last year for 561 yards, no touchdown. So he's in that sort of who was it that couldn't didn't catch a touchdown? Kobe Myers, it took him like what? Two and a half seasons, but also the slot guys don't always catch a lot of touchdowns. You know, there were different errors when Moss and Gronk were kind of poaching those touchdowns. It changed things, but I think both rookies make it unless four. So that's four receivers right there. I don't see any Foxborough flew there. Now, how about Kendrick Bourne? Shouldn't he be five if he's healthy enough? Or does he start the season puffed? I'm feeling like he might start the season puffed, even though he's all jacked up and jazzed up on the internet, trying to, you know, earn captain's votes and talk himself up. Yeah, it'll be interesting to see if he is a PUP candidate or not. He's going to he's on the roster if he's not. And that's your five. In my opinion, did I leave anybody off? Well, so let's just say no. Okay. All right. So you all right. So you say if he's healthy, it's Kendrick Bourne, KJ Osborne, pop Douglas, Jalen Polk, J. Von Baker. Yeah. So that leaves. Tyquan Thorne Jalen Jalen Rager would then have to qualify from a special team's capacity, which is up, which is up for grabs, which is a possibility, uh, Kshan Butte, who's turned heads for the right reasons in this particular camp, not the end of last year when he was the parlay kid, uh, and Juju Smith, Schuster. Hmm. Interesting. That's why I say it's competitive because I think some people will be surprised if Tyquan Thorne or Juju gets cut or one of those guys. It was that was Butte actually was a was booty actually arrested. Let me see. It was he charged? I think he was charged with something. I forget exactly. Because it was fine. If only I had a super computer, the arrest of Kshan Butte and growing. Yes, he was arrested. Damn. Yes, that happened. Yeah. Arrested on a felony charge of computer fraud and one misdemeanor account of gambling prohibited for persons of come on Boston Herald, felony charge of computer fraud and one misdemeanor account of gambling prohibited for persons under 21 Louisiana state police announced back in January, 2024. Oh, just a felony? That's it. That's all just a felony. Um, and I'm surprised when the league, like the league could swoop in and be like, Hey, great camp. Maybe you'll actually work out and people will say, Yeah, we stole another one with a six rounder. But you know, you don't get to play this year because the commissioner dropped the hammer, but he didn't gamble on pro games. This only happened to him in college. It's not like he's one of these guys who was betting on his own team while he was playing. Right. But yeah, I don't know how that'll play out. I think they'll let it play out legally first and then probably drop whatever hammer they're going to drop or adjudicate however they want to do it. I think Mayo has just flat out said we're going to let it play itself out. Um, in regards to booty when he's got enough to worry about. Yeah. And but I think he's a long shot either way. I mean, I think with this roster, I think he's a little bit of a long shot. I know people got all excited when they grow up. He had 300 yards as a freshman. Oh my God. In one game. He was a long shot. Like his career was not great at LSU. He petered out. Well, there was the ankle injury. There was the disagreement with the coaching staff. We had some really good games. They're all these who's well, whatever the case. I'm just not presenting the factuals. That's all I'm saying. They're called excuses. We make plays, not excuses. And he didn't make enough plays. And now they have other guys that can make plays named Polk and Baker and those guys. So yeah, I'm sorry, opportunity lost. Now the other day, when you were filling in for Captain kidney stones, we had a six rings and football things podcast. And here for years, I've always said for you has no stones. I was wrong. He's got stones. All right. Wrong kind. Yeah. The bike doesn't have many more though. He's passed. They have since been factually passed them. But he would not. He would not be on the radio tomorrow if they were not dissolved or passed or but I thought he was just going to drug himself up. I don't think so. Concoction of morphine and toro and tequila and maybe some tequila to mix in the extra. Andrew Calhan from the Herald who had that great piece yesterday about going fishing with David Andrews, the nice little profile piece that he did. I highly recommend everybody give that a read if they haven't yet. Really, really, really great piece. And also must be fun and efficient, but it's six in the morning, crushing beers and doing McGillicuddy shots with some with a member of the Patriots offensive line, especially somebody as cool as bear Andrews. But Calahan told me that on this particular Patriots team, one thing he is certain of is that if it's going to come down to a veteran who could be on the last leg of his last, you know, last leg, last legs, if you will, or a young guy with his left side, even if he's not proven, they're going to go with the upside because they see this as a long game. This is a long play here. So if it's going to, let's say it comes down to type one Thornton or Cajon booty versus Juju Smith, Schuster. I think they're going to go with the young guy. Yeah. And that's why I just think unless there's a bunch of injuries or like the young guys just aren't ready, I think it's in, it's a long shot for Juju Smith, Schuster beyond the roster. Maybe you can trade him. Maybe you can get a couple pre-season games. Are you going to get an ideal for Juju Smith, Schuster? Something? Who's going to give you something for him? I don't know. Bag of balls. What do you want with that bag of balls? You got plenty of balls of your own? I do, but they might need more. I don't think that they need balls. And they certainly don't need the kind that they would get for Juju Smith, Schuster. All right. I asked you the one adjective to describe the room now. And you said competitive. Give me an adjective that you believe will describe the Patriots wide receiver room at the end of the season. Um. Unimpressive. I know I'll give you mine. Productive. I think this is going to ultimately be a productive. What's productive? Better than last year. But better than last year is too many words. So I just went with productive. Yeah. They think you're going to see some things out of Polk. I think you're going to see some things out of Baker. I think like you said, KJ Osborne might actually look to be more than just the number three receiver that he was in Minnesota. And yeah, you could see 75 80 catches out of your boy pop Douglas. Um, I'll they'll be better than last year. But again, are they going to get up to NFL standard? Are they going to have? I mean, they still could end up being one of the lower end wide receiver rooms in the NFL. Correct? They can't. They can't be worse than they were last year. So you could go with improving perhaps improved. Okay. Uh, I'll just stick with competitive. Just gonna say I'm competitive to start because I don't think they're going to miss, you know, tomorrow Douglas will be the closest thing they have to a number one option in terms of production and consistency. But I don't think anybody's necessarily going to fear tomorrow Douglas. I think you'll just get your five catches for 45 yards or whatever it is and everybody will be like, yeah, that's fine. You caught the ball. You do that regularly, but it's not leading to big plays and winning and scoring. Um, I think they're just going to be painfully obvious that they don't have a number one receiver. And that's why Patriots fans, you should hope that they have a relatively bad record. So they can take a number one receiver early in the draft or a tackle. Ah, all right. And final question here in our Patriots positional preview as part of the six rings power hour on the rich Keith show between Jalen Polk and I was taking the second round 37th overall and J. Vaughn Baker taking 110th overall. Who do you think has the more impressive rookie season? Uh, split decision because I think we're going to the card on this one, huh? Yeah, I think Polk will have more catches and more playing time. And I think Baker will have more memorable plays. You're going to remember a couple one offs like, Oh my God, that play. Remember when he did that thing, whatever highlight real type plays five catches 132 yards and two touchdowns against Buffalo, but then he gets held catchless the next week. Yeah. But I think Polk will be around more often than not for a couple catches, a couple possession type plays, a first down here, first down there. So I think Polk will be the more consistently contributing player and Baker will say, huh, you know, if he can put that together more consistently, he's going to be a stud kind of guy if they could only exactly. And Polk did make the catch that capped off minicamp last week, which brought us into Brady night as well. You've seen a lot of the and you've seen, would you believe you've seen at OTA's in minicamp, many of the reasons why the Patriots chose an obviously in deficit of talent at the receiver position. Have you seen enough yet to validate why they went and chose him 37th overall? Um, yeah, I think he's a, I think he is in a weird world. He's a second round talent. Truly. Mm hmm. The problem is I feel like in recent years, there's been a number of receivers lower that are obviously better than their draft spot. You know what I mean? Like, I think he's a second round talent. He's not going to wow you. He's not like an elite talent playmaker guy, but I think people have these visions of every second round receiver is elite is a pro bowler because so many of them in the last few years have turned out second third round to be really good players. And like Puka Nakua, like he broke every freaking rookie receiving record last season. So he should have been a first round pick. Like he shouldn't be a fifth round pick. I think Polk is a true second round pick. I think his ceiling is second round pick. I think his floor is second round pick. I think he's a good solid player. Nothing wrong with that. And I know many people said that J. Von Baker was being comp to or so I had read that he could be the next Puka Nakua. I doubt he's going to even come close to the stats he put up last year. It's just more to the point of here's a dynamic talent that could slip to the middle or late rounds that people may one day soon say, how the hell did we let J. Von Baker go 110 to the Patriots? He could very well look like a third a second or even a late first round talent. If given the time, obviously the the reps a quarterback and the line, you know, just a couple of those things that you need to make for a part of offense. Just those things. Okay. Perfect. All right. So competitive is your choice. I say improved or improving productive. If not maybe to describe them. We gave our pick for the six wide receivers as well. What do you guys say? 617-779-7937. You want to weigh in on the wide receiver room? You can always listen to the six rings in football things podcast. Where every week we break out more new fun things to talk about related to the New England Patriots. We have a what if Wednesday a brand new speculative podcast each and every week. Mike do so from Patriots.com. Nice enough to join us for yesterday's What if Wednesday? What if Bill Belichick? We're still coaching the Patriots this year? How would things look that way? That was a fun little chat we had yesterday Andy. Well, you blew the radio. Why you booing? I don't know. It was time. Yeah, honest to God. Can't you really just can't can't please all the people or any of the people. None of the people any of the time. All star closer. Ken Lee Janssen. We have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? This boy isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago. It is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod. There is another fact. So jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. 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