Idle thoughts - Page 2 - New England Patriots Forums

***DaBruinz*** · 10-23-2008, 10:23 AM

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Originally Posted by captain stone

The NEP have not won a SB, since Rodney's arrival, without him in uniform. Would it have killed the HC to give Bubba Ventrone, or even the useless bust Matt Slater, some reps back there? And while I'm at it, Crable & Wheatley need to be on the game-day 45 - now. Mike effin Richardson ahead of our 2nd-round draft pick? What a joke.

And finally, I now have no sympathy for injured players whom I despise. I hope that Lord Farvequad, the Mannings, Rivers, LT, Ray Lewis, TO, Steve Smith & Ocho Cinco all suffer season-ending injuries on their very next snap. It's time to level the playing field.

1) Matt Slater is hardly useless. Maybe you should watch the kick-offs, kick returns, punt returns, and punt coverage instead of going to the kitchen and filling your face with Nachos and beer. How can you be so daft as to call him a bust?

2) Richardson had a stellar camp last year and was one of the last players cut this year. The Pats lucked out and were able to stash him on the practice squad. Richardson also plays on special teams. BB has explained it before that they have dressed Wilhite over Wheatley because Wheatley has primarily been seeing time in the slot while Wilhite was seeing time on the outside. The same is probably true for Richardson. He's been seeing time on the special teams coverage units while Wheatley hasn't.

***DaBruinz*** · 10-23-2008, 10:24 AM

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Originally Posted by captain stone

You don't draft someone in the 5th round just to play ST unless he's a returner. That's a foolish waste of resources. Larry Izzo went undrafted; this guy would've gone undrafted, too. And if someone else did take him? No loss.

You do if he's the best special teams player in the draft. Slater isn't JUST a returner. He also plays on both coverage units and on the punt return unit. Its called versatility. Slater also can line up as a WR or as a safety, though those are on an emergency basis.

chris_in_sunnyvale · 10-23-2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain stone

Has this question been posed by anybody else yet: WTF was Rodney doing on the field in a 34-7 blowout anyway? What a terrible, terrible way to lose such an important player. The NEP have not won a SB, since Rodney's arrival, without him in uniform. Would it have killed the HC to give Bubba Ventrone, or even the useless bust Matt Slater, some reps back there? And while I'm at it, Crable & Wheatley need to be on the game-day 45 - now. Mike effin Richardson ahead of our 2nd-round draft pick? What a joke.

He ruined his leg on a play where he went untouched. Absolute freak play. Normally we bemoan leaving in starters in a blowout to avoid exposing them to a contact-related injury or cheap shot. Are we now supposed to add "cleat caught in the turf" to those fears? I guess we could since such injuries aren't unheard of, but it does seem a bit much.

Regards,
Chris

Patriotic Fervor · 10-23-2008, 02:12 PM

Nice post, Ken. Lots of useful insights there to enjoy.

re:your comments on Cassel....there's a few things that still bother me about him.

He doesn't - can't or won't - see the whole field when he drops back to pass. Of course, we have been ruthlessly spoiled over the years by one Tom Brady, so that may color my perspective. Still...

He still has the bad, bad habit of following his receiver from snap to finish. He didn't have any picks Monday night, which of course is good, but they were playing the Denver Broncos, a vastly over-rated inflatable doll if there ever was one.

On the plus side, while 6 sacks is doubtless 6 too many, it is far better than 6 picks or 6 fumbles, or some combination thereof. So maybe he's getting better at this.

There's one thing that sticks out in Sunday's game with St. Loo, and that's containing the estimable Steven Jackson. I believe all else will flow from that.

Just my $.02....

***Box_O_Rocks*** · 10-23-2008, 02:12 PM

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