It’s not about limiting Welker’s catches
Likely forgotten by Bills fans in the first meeting between the Buffalo and New England, because the Bills finally won, was the fact that Wes Welker was virtually unstoppable with 16 catches for over 200 yards and a touchdown. But as Chan Gailey sees it the second time around, it’s not going to be about limiting Welker’s receptions.
“You’d like to say just cover him tighter, but you do that and it opens up something else,” Gailey told Buffalobills.com. “What you want to do is limit his number of yards. I’m not as worried about the number of catches as I am the yards. If you can tackle him when he catches it in that four-yard range then we’re okay. It’s the yards after the catch that really burn you with Wes Welker.”
Welker leads the league in yards after the catch this season with 665 after 15 games.
Arrington, Light, Welker limited
Tags: Matt Light, Patriots injury report, Wes Welker
Here’s the Patriots official injury report for Sunday’s season finale with the Bills, with a few notable names on the non-practice and limited practice lists.
It had been reported by Boston reporters that Brady missed practice to get x-rays on his non-throwing shoulder, but on the injury report below it read not injury related.
Did not practice
QB Tom Brady – not injury related
G Logan Mankins – knee
OT Sebastian Vollmer – back/foot
Limited in practice
CB Kyle Arrington – foot
WR Deion Branch – groin
S Patrick Chung – foot
C Dan Connolly – groin
WR Julian Edelman – back
LB Dane Fletcher – thumb
S James Ihedigbo – shoulder
OT Matt Light -ankle
CB Devin McCourty – shoulder
LB Ron Ninkovich – hip
WR Matthew Slater – shoulder
LB Brandon Spikes - knee
RB Shane Vereen – hamstring
G Brian Waters – ankle
WR Wes Welker – knee
LB Tracy White – abdomen
Welker 1st WR sub 2 Pro Bowl
A lot of Bills fans were hoping that Stevie Johnson was a first alternate for the AFC Pro Bowl squad at wide receiver after his breakout season, but apparently that’s not the case.
That’s because New England’s Wes Welker is headed to the Pro Bowl to replace injured Houston receiver Andre Johnson. Johnson had been dealing with an ankle injury for the better part of the second half of the season and will have surgery now that the season is over for the Texans.
Welker had 86 catches for 848 yards this season and this will be his third Pro Bowl. Johnson had 82 catches for 1,073 yards and 10 TDs.
Johnson actually tweeted Wednesday when told he should go to the Pro Bowl that Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace should be going before him. One humble cat.
Welker is dressed
Tags: Wes Welker
Wes Welker is dressed for tonight’s game. How much he plays remains to be seen. Bill Belichick may choose to see how the offense operates without him, and if they’re sputtering may insert him at that point. Or Welker may have convinced Belichick he’s good enough to go. Gotta see how it plays out.
Pats 4th corner Terrence Wheatley is inactive with a knee injury. So if the Bills decide to spread things out offensively rookie Darius Butler will be on the field for New England.
Also inactive for Pats rookie Myron Pryor who backs up both Jarvis Green and Ty Warren. He also is the four defensive lineman they bring on the field for the team’s 4-3 front, so they may play less of that tonight with Pryor out of the lineup.
Welker warming up
Tags: Wes Welker
Wes Welker, who has been limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable is testing his ailing knee in warmups.
He’s running routes and catching passes, but is not going full speed. Cutting off that knee laterally is what he’s not doing at top speed. Stoping and starting doesn’t appear to be an issue.
He’s got his game pants and socks on. We’ll see if he’s active in about 15 minutes.
Taylor open to sign anywhere?
Free agent DE Jason Taylor, who apparently would like to play for the Patriots first and foremost, is reportedly open to the right offer just about anywhere. That according to the Palm BeachPost.
The report indicates that Taylor would even entertain a return to the Dolphins, though I would think that’s unlikely in light of the additions the Dolphins have already made at OLB (Cameron Wake).
Truthfully I can’t see Taylor being interested in coming to Buffalo in light of his post football aspirations, which includes a movie career. He has reportedly been more interested in playing in a bigger market to maximize his exposure for the silver screen down the line. So I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulls a Tony Gonzalez and says no thanks to any smaller market team.
The report also indicates that his former teammate Wes Welker has been recruiting him, with Welker quoted as saying, “I’m kind of nudging him a little bit.”
Welker defeating zone coverages
Tags: Wes Welker
Whenever the Bills have gone to a zone coverage call, Welker has hurt them with either a first down reception or a catch to set up 3rd and short. He’s already got 8 catches for 87 yards. He hasn’t killed Buffalo, but he’s extended drives for New England.
McGee on Moss, Greer on Welker
The Bills defensively have assigned McGee to Randy Moss and Jabari Greer to Wes Welker. They are following them all over the field. We’ll see if it continues, but I like this idea of matching up your two best against their two best.
Hopefully it works well for Buffalo defensively.
