Bedard: Patriots' young WRs better make most of chances because, hopefully, they'll be coming to an end

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — I'm pretty patient when it comes to the Patriots and their talent, especially on the offensive of the ball. I've seen too much over the years and have too much respect for their coaches not to. Their collective resumes speak for themselves.

If something isn't good enough, they'll figure out a way to make it work if given time.

That's basically the way I've approached some of the deficiencies at the offensive skill positions. It's how I've fended off our spirited members in each of our long-lasting member Q&As.

Yeah, it doesn't look good right now, but between Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels, Tom Brady, Dante Scarnecchia and Ivan Fears, they'll figure out a way to score the points they need at some point.

But, to be honest, I'm having a harder time staying patient during this training camp — especially after the joint practices with the Lions.

Basically, here's where I am at this point: the Patriots' young receivers should take advantage of all the reps they'll get against the Lions and next week against the Titans. Because I really hope help is on the way before the season because right now, with this group, Brady is being forced to work with what is objectively a junior varsity set of weapons.

I mean, in comparison, Matthew Stafford was throwing to the 2000 Greatest Show On Turf Rams.

When Stafford was taking aim at the Patriots' vaunted — for good reason — defense, he had Kenny Golladay (1,053 yards last year in second season - Patriots could have had him instead of Antonio Garcia, oops) on one side, Marvin Jones (1,000 yards in 2017) with Danny Amendola (yeah, we know him) in the slot with Jermaine Kearse (65 catches in final Seattle season two years ago) as an add-on. Nevermind that speedster Tommylee Lewis was just activated off of PUP.

At tight end, Stafford has newly signed Jesse James from the Steelers and T.J. Hockenson, who was the eighth overall pick in this year's draft and the highest tight end drafted since Vernon Davis sixth overall in 2006.

Not surprisingly, that group had very good Tuesday against the Patriots' defense.

Then you compare that to the popgun group Brady was throwing to in red-zone drills on the far field in the corner.

Brady interception forcing a ball to Matt LaCosse.
Brady throwing short to Dontrelle Inman.
Brady incomplete to N'Keal Harry.

Brady finished that drill 1 of 5 overall with an interception.

Then they went to situational work: Ball on own 45-yard line, 1:35 left, need a touchdown.

Stafford complete to Amendola against Jonathan Jones.
Stafford complete to Amendola against Jason McCourty.
Stafford complete to Andy Jones (who?) against Stephon Gilmore.
Stafford touchdown to Hockenson over Patrick Chung.

Four plays. Four completions. Touchdown.

Brady got a touchdown of his own, but it was like swimming upstream.

Brady incomplete to Phillip Dorsett on a near interception.
Brady incomplete to Berrios, but coaches gave the Patriots the play.
Brady up top touchdown on a nice touch pass to Dorsett.

Brady better get used to it, at least for the preseason. He and they will have to grind for everything.

That's what you get when you're throwing to a starter set while watching a Rolls Royce — and the Lions aren't even that good.

It's really nothing against the players the Patriots have out there right now. They're good prospects. But that's all they are.

Harry is obviously the best of the bunch, but he's a rookie and should really be the fourth option. Instead, he's the No. 1 X right now over Maurice Harris (for some reason).

Jakobi Meyers has basically been the best player, and he's a great story, but he's an undrafted free agent.

Braxton Berrios had a really nice day on Tuesday, his best of camp, but he should be running with the second or third team.

The Patriots wouldn't even play Dorsett last year when they needed help, which should tell you everything. Dontrelle Inman has a long ways to go. Ben Watson came out of retirement, and the other tight ends — Matt LaCosse, Ryan Izzo and Stephen Anderson — pale in comparison to James and Hockenson.

What I'm saying is: I really hope the Patriots' real weapons are coming back soon, because this is no way to pass the ball for an NFL club, especially the Patriots.

Hopefully, Josh Gordon will come off suspension at some point. Hopefully, Demaryius Thomas, Cam Meredith and Julian Edelman get healthy and come off of PUP/NFI relatively soon.

Add Harry, Meyers and, maybe, Berrios behind those guys — in addition to the running backs — and, yes, that's a legitimate set of NFL weapons for Brady to work with (it is what it is at tight end, right Tom?). What the Patriots are practicing with right now ... just aren't.

The preseason games are about to start, and the Patriots' lesser-than weapons are about to get a ton of snaps and targets. That should be great for their development, and maybe one or two pop.

But two or three exhibitions are about the extent we should be seeing of some of these guys. If the Patriots are to climb that mountain once again, Brady and the team need their real weapons back. The sooner, the better.