jeffbiologist

I posted during draft time, not understanding this pick...a guy who basically had NO position in college besides a KR. Guys that are drafted as KRs usually have to do something special in camp to make the team. He didnt. I was comparing him to Quentin Demps, rookie with the Eagles who returned a kick for a TD in preseason and MADE the team. I was more than a little shocked that Slater made the team because he cant back up a position and his kick returns simply arent "special". With the rash of injuries at DB we certainly could have used depth there....
So today he boots the kickoff and basically gives Pitt a TD and the momentum that they used to win the game. If we are down by 3 their LBs dont have their ears pinned back and dont strip sack MC twice costing the game. Everyone that has defended him in the past please chime in to defend him, he has been active for every game but hasnt made a single big play(that was til tonite)~~~I would rather have another CB that cant tackle than a STer that blows games.

BradyToMoss

What is our coach doing putting him out there on a sleet/rain infested night in a big pressure packed game against the Pittsburgh Steelers to field a kickoff in a 13-10 game that is critical to making the playoffs? Never mind holding a roster spot for him and letting a Chad Jackson ride off into the sunset for the likes of Sam Aiken.

JMarr

Agree with your post. They projected him to be sort of a Troy Brown-type 'Mr. Versatility,' guy--not just a pure returner. He's been bad all around thus far and done nothing to dispel the notion that he was a really questionable pick.

blackglass3

Yeah, I have to agree. The coaches must see something special in him, but we haven't seen it yet. Hopefully he comes around.

But then again, who got cut that we could have kept instead of him? The only person in the PS who I remember thinking might have played his way onto the team was CJ Jones. Or maybe we should have held onto Fernando Bryant.

Also, where was Hobbs or Faulk when that happened? Putting Slater out there was questionable at best.

jeffbiologist

This is NOT a CJ reference. Aiken was hurt to start the year and has made a BIG play(GOOD big play)with the 40+yd pass a few weeks ago. Slater was a 5th rd pick, we didnt trade up and use a #2 & #3 for him. Still, he has taken a game jersey each week and if he is a KR he should be returning EVERY kick IMHO saving Hobbs for defense. If he has a TD returning kicks we can say he is back to par on this fumble...but he hasnt. Not in preseason, not in regular season. He hasnt made an outstanding ST play, and he doesnt back up the ailing DBs. It was my contention at the draft that he was a "legacy" pick, seeing BB liked his father Jackie. If everything is equal, he is let go this week to be brought back to the practice squad...where a guy like this belongs. BB's first year we had Tony Gaiter on the PS, and he used to tease us and almost make it on the team.....Slater is no Tony Gaiter. Slater isnt a shadow of his father, what is he doing on this team?

ctpatsfan77

Richard Seymour doesn't make as big an impact on the stat sheet as he does in games.

They didn't bring Slater in to be a KR, they brought him in to play STs.

As has been said many times before, the Patriots do not judge players on single plays, no matter how bad they may be.

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"Momentum was quickly snatched away by New England, who once again proved that any Patriot, at any moment, can make a play." —Inside the NFL, Packers v. Patriots

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tanked_as_usual

I think slater is solid.......he did not belong out there today......blame whoever put him in there

cmasspatsfan

Unless you watch the coaches tapes of every special team play this year its hard to make an assessment of this guy, you cant go by one bad play today, there were a few guys that made bad plays today, some veterans.

jeffbiologist

PLEASE tell me you didnt just compare Slater to Seymour!! You just ruined my impression of you,lol!

If a guys position is KR is college, and we DRAFT his as a KR, and he MAKES THE TEAM as a KR(other ST is a plus, he is no imitation of a young Izzo)then I EXPECT him to be there and return most if not every kick. You cant blame anyone for putting him in, THATS HIS ONLY JOB! If he isnt in there he has no position on the team, which brings me back to my original point....why is he still on the team? If he survives not being cut this week I will again state my case--legacy pick.

ATippett56

I would have preferred Jonathan Goff, LB from Vanderbilt in lieu of Slater.

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