Mike Reiss discusses diminished role of Danny Amendola
The Patriots offense, which sputtered through the first four games of the season, has found its groove in the past two weeks- returning to form with Tom Brady connecting with a variety of receivers and moving the ball with relative ease. One receiver, however, has been noticeably absent from the stat sheet: Danny Amendola.
The struggles of Amendola, and second year wideout Aaron Dobson, are puzzling. Both had decent seasons last year and looked to be in good position to improve in 2014. But the exact opposite has happened. Dobson can barely stay on the field. While #80 has generally been on the field, he has been largely invisible.
On Sunday in Buffalo, Brady connected with ten receivers for 27 total receptions. Amendola was on the receiving end of precisely zero of these completions. His stat line on the year is startlingly sparse. Through six games, he has been targetted just ten times, accumulating 4 grabs for a mere 23 yards. On Sunday, he was on the field for 24 of 74 offensive stats.
All of this leads to one big, overarching question: Why? Why has Amendola become increasingly invisible in this offense? Why is a guy who managed to rack up 54 receptions in 12 games played last year so incapable of having a role in 2014?
Does Tom Brady simply not trust Amendola enough to look in his direction? Is he still hobbled from his offseason groin surgery? Is he just not very good? All of these questions beg asking.
Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston weight in on the issue today. He believes that Amendola's decreased production is a result of the schematic approach of the offense so far this year:
DA's arrival in New England was a dramatic one. Within hours of Wes Welker signing in Denver, news broke that the Pats had inked Amendola, thought to be the heir-apparent to the "Super Slot" role played by Wes for so many years, to a five year, $28.5 million deal. The Patriots have indeed found a capable, and maybe even better version of Wes Welker, but that is Julian Edelman.
With each game passing and Amendola continuing to be less and less of a factor, it is hard to see him being on the roster next season, unless things start trending drastically in the other direction soon.
@LC_NEP
@PatriotsLife
The struggles of Amendola, and second year wideout Aaron Dobson, are puzzling. Both had decent seasons last year and looked to be in good position to improve in 2014. But the exact opposite has happened. Dobson can barely stay on the field. While #80 has generally been on the field, he has been largely invisible.
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| Jared Wickerham, Getty Images |
On Sunday in Buffalo, Brady connected with ten receivers for 27 total receptions. Amendola was on the receiving end of precisely zero of these completions. His stat line on the year is startlingly sparse. Through six games, he has been targetted just ten times, accumulating 4 grabs for a mere 23 yards. On Sunday, he was on the field for 24 of 74 offensive stats.
All of this leads to one big, overarching question: Why? Why has Amendola become increasingly invisible in this offense? Why is a guy who managed to rack up 54 receptions in 12 games played last year so incapable of having a role in 2014?
Does Tom Brady simply not trust Amendola enough to look in his direction? Is he still hobbled from his offseason groin surgery? Is he just not very good? All of these questions beg asking.
Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston weight in on the issue today. He believes that Amendola's decreased production is a result of the schematic approach of the offense so far this year:
"It comes down to a combo of role and matchups. Amendola is number three on the wide receiver depth chart, a pure slot option, and the Patriots simply aren't running a lot of 3 wide receiver packages, instead, they are trending towards more 2 and 3 tight end packages, as well as two back packages, so Amendola simply isn't having a good opportunity to get on the field."
DA's arrival in New England was a dramatic one. Within hours of Wes Welker signing in Denver, news broke that the Pats had inked Amendola, thought to be the heir-apparent to the "Super Slot" role played by Wes for so many years, to a five year, $28.5 million deal. The Patriots have indeed found a capable, and maybe even better version of Wes Welker, but that is Julian Edelman.
With each game passing and Amendola continuing to be less and less of a factor, it is hard to see him being on the roster next season, unless things start trending drastically in the other direction soon.
@LC_NEP
@PatriotsLife
