November 23rd, 2014
by Dakota Antelman
Patriots tight end Aaron Dobson was scratched from Sunday’s game vs the Detroit Lions after once again being beaten out by speedy pass catcher Brian Tyms. The absence from Sunday’s game marked the eighth time this season Dobson has been scratched. It also began to beg the question: is Dobson still of worth to the Patriots?
Drafted 59th overall in the 2013 NFL draft, Dobson was part of the controversial young receiving core of last year’s Patriots team. He, alongside Kenbrell Thompkins specifically earned starting level scrutiny but was up and down in his reliability throughout the year.
Most notably he caught some serious flack in his NFL debut when he caught just 3 of 7 passes in a Week Two Patriots win over the Jets. His second quarter drop of a potential touchdown catch solicited yells of anger from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady that soon spiraled into a national controversy.
While Dobson did eventually build some consistency and a little comfort with his quarterback, he was never given starting reps. Brady targeted him just 74 times in his rookie season with Dobson catching just 37 of those passes. He accounted for just over 500 yards of Patriots offence in 12 total starts.
From there things seemed awkward at best for the 200 pound tight end.
The Patriots brought in the likes of Brian Tyms this off-season and, in working hard in the rehab process, ensured that big bodied tight end Rob Gronkowski would be healthy for the regular season.
Before the season, it was clear that if Gronkowski could play well and if Tyms could find his place within the Patriots offence, Dobson’s place with the team could suddenly vanish.
Before the season, it was clear that if Gronkowski could play well and if Tyms could find his place within the Patriots offence, Dobson’s place with the team could suddenly vanish.
With almost three quarters of the season played it seems that that has happened. Gronkowski has already caught 54 passes for 734 yards and 9 touchdown passes. He has refined his blocking abilities and has reproven himself to Brady and his offensive coordinators. He is once again a reliable and ideal target in a wide array of potential passing plays.
Beyond Gronkowski, Tyms has been desirable this season. He caught a 43 yard catch in Week Five vs the Bills and has excelled in midweek practices on a regular basis.
Very simply, Aaron Dobson has done nothing this year that has helped separate him from his competitors. Thus the weekly decision to let him play or confine him to the bench is very quickly being made in favor of the latter.
Now theoretically, the weekly nature of this tight end competition would mean that Dobson would get an equal chance each week to prove his worth. But as the healthy scratches pile up, he is very quickly drifting towards a point where the coaching staff will automatically look over him.
If that is the case, Dobson could fall further than simply the bench. The Patriots have no use carrying the salary of a player who will not ever play.
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