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Welker actually likes change in umpire location 09.09.10 at 12:00 am ET
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Wes Welker may have lost one of his advantages this season with the movement of the umpire. (AP)

FOXBORO — Over the last three years, few slot receivers have done a better job at going over the middle than Wes Welker. Since arriving in Foxboro prior to the 2007 season, Welker has spent plenty of time operating in that five- to seven-yard range, hauling in pass after pass from Tom Brady and scooting upfield for yardage after the catch.

The numbers are hard to dispute — in 14 games last season, Welker led the NFL with 123 receptions and finished second in receiving yards with 1,348. Since joining the Patriots prior to the 2007 season, he’s caught 346 passes, more than anyone else in the league in that time.

But some of his critics believe Welker has been able to gain that separation using the umpire as a pick. The thinking is that Welker would seek out the umpire in an attempt to try and “rub off” the defender — with that little extra daylight, he would make the catch and then turn upfield, leaving the defender tangled with the official.

While Welker isn’t the first pass-catcher to be accused of doing it, one official even went on the record with his thoughts last year. NFL umpire Paul King told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette the Patriots “do it all the time with [Wes] Welker. … [New England] likes to use [the umpire] as a pick.”

This season, the NFL has decreed the umpire will move from behind the defensive line to behind the offense, with the new positioning going into effect at the start of this past preseason. The league decided to make the move after several umpires had been injured in recent years in collisions with players — there were more than 100 occasions last season when umpires were knocked down by players.

On Wednesday, Welker was asked if he noticed any change in his offensive style as a result. He said the change in the umpires’ location is actually a relief, because it was the umpires who were getting in his way, not the other way around.

“I mean, they’ve said it’s always going to be an advantage to me, but I always felt like he got in my way more than he got in the defender’s way, to me,” Welker said of the umpire. “I’m actually kind of excited to have him out of the way, and let me work that middle.

“I never really noticed him a lot of the time when he was there. Only when he was in the way. Like I said, I always felt like he was in my way more than the defenders. Every once and a while, I’d get a good pick from him, and I was able to do something with it.”

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  • a1d2j18

    The NFL is actually protecting the umps. I like it, too. Everyone just has to adjust. :)

  • dano_in_nj

    The change is right, for safety and function… it’s like moving the goalposts. Now the umpires have to get their a__es in place before the snap, or else they’ll be changing the game. Maybe the officials should audition more agile people to staff the position. If a 300-lb offensive lineman can get set for the snap, then an umpire can. The rules should be changed so that the snap can happen without the umpire. Let the umpire be responsible for getting into place in time!

  • dano_in_nj

    Yeh, the umpire was dead space in the middle. And people possibly used him for picks. Duh, calling Captain Obvious! Refreshing from Welker though, the guy admitted to the obvious, adding credibility to the refreshing comment that he likes it better NOW. Yeh, not having the umpire is really gonna affect his output. NOT!

  • http://www.1cheapcartierwatchesforsale.co.cc Dayton

    Please inform me it labored right? I dont desire to sumit it once more if i don’t need to! Either the blog glitced out or i am an idiot, the second choice doesnt surprise me lol. thanks for an awesome web site!

  • Joe

    I just don’t understand why anyone would criticize a receiver for using the ump as a pick! Doesn’t every good ball player use every part of the field to his advantage? The umps are part of the field – a moving part like any of the players – but a part. Sounds to me like the whole criticism really just confirms what we already know – Welker is a reaaaalllly smart player who knows where every element of the game is at all times. Good job, Wes!

  • Aashish

    The league and non-Pats fans just want to hate on Wes..They’ll make these excuses that he uses the downfield ref as a pick to gain space on a defender..That’s BS, and Welker will prove it after he fully recovers from his torn ACL (knowing him he’ll want to play opening day)..This is a guy who could easily be viewed as the best slot receiver in the NFL today..Nobody racks up yards after the catch like Welker..

  • Deebo

    Dayton, WTF are you talking about? Your second choice may have some merit….

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