in a pan or directly on rack?

[HogCard]

What items do you smoke in a foil pan versus directly on rack?  May be dumb question but asking the experts!

[PorkRinds]

I do direct on rack for everything at the beginning of the cook.  I've never done any different.  I've heard some have success with a pan, but I've not tried it.  Now once I do a foil wrap, I'll place it in a pan if I'm doing a butt, that way it keeps some of the juices that I'll mix with the meat after it's pulled.  I think anything you're really worried about drying out can be put in a pan really though. 

[DeltaBoy]

I generally do the Weber off set method and have the meat on the rack and a pan under it.