mgteich

There are many improving youngsters. How much is the need for more youngsters? I presume that we will still sign a couple of free agent veterans (say Bodden and Lew Sanders).

THE NINE MAN SECONDARY (no jag's this year)
CB: Hobbs, Springs, Wheatley, Wilhite, Bodden/fa
S: Meriweather, J. Sanders, L. Sanders/fa
ST/S: Ventrone

We also have Richardson and Spann who could make the squad as utility players or special teamers.

primetime

Best player in that group is Meriweather (I think he's on his way to being a Pro Bowler - he might not ever be Ed Reed, but he'll be in the discussion with him, Polamalu, Sanders, and Wilson as the best safeties in the NFL). Sanders is serviceable, though he could be upgraded. Still, not bad. Lewis Sanders was pretty quality depth last year.

Hobbs is a fine corner and hopefully Springs will stay healthy. Wilhite held his own last year and Wheatley flashed a lot of potential. Assuming he beats the injury bug, he could be a great player. If they signed Bodden, they'd be set. As it stands now, the corners are definitely better than last year (Spring + 1 year more of experience + healthy Wheatley).

There's a solid chance that both positions will receive an infusion of youth in the draft, maybe even in high rounds, too. I think they'll be as good if not better than last year.

patsfaninpa

Hard to evaluate until we see more of Wheatley and Wilhite. I'm sure they will be improved. We just don't know how much. Same with Meriweather. He should be better
too. I can see 2 youngsters added in the draft to the top 9. Just for arguments sake throw in Alphonso Smith and Patrick Chung. That would be a lot of young talent. Not a lot of
experience. But, talented for sure.

iapatsfan

If we do not improve the pass rush, the secondary is well below avg. If the Pats get LBs that can actually rush the passer, it's sufficient. Of all of the teams that are now running a 3-4, I would say the pats OLB position is near the bottom. That will put way too much pressure on the secondary as it currently stands. I am still trying to figure out why they resigned Sanders. I have no confidence in him as a cover guy or in the box.

mgteich

I agree that we will need to wait and see what we have in Wheately and Wilhite. Call them our developmental corners if you wish. I believe that Belichick has a good idea of what he has.

I think that we would be very solid without draft additions. I presume that Lew Sanders will be signed to a 3-year contract, giving us 3 solid safeties for the next three years. I think if we sign Bodden and Sanders that we will have the right mix of veterans and youth.

CB: Hobbs, Springs, Bodden
S: Meriweather, Sanders, Sanders
developmental corners: Wheatley and Wilhite

Surely Wheatley and Wilhite are at least as good as we should expect from a draftee in this draft, unless their injuries are lingering. Both now have some experience and seem to fit. The bottom line is that to start the season we wouldn't NEED to count on them for many reps at all.

To put it another way, presume that our corners were Hobbs, Spings, Bodden, with Lew Sanders as the dime back and backup corner. Would you be satisfied with quality of our corners? How much of a draft need whould you think we have. And then what if I told you that you could have Wheatlry and Wilhite to develop for the future? Would you be so anxious to draft yet another corner?

NE_Paddy

I'm sorry if this is slightly off topic, but I've been looking for a place to post this, and I can't start a new thread with my low post count.

But I haven't heard much around here about Sean Jones signing in Philly for 1 year at $3mm.

Seems to me like that would have really helped our secondary. I like Sanders, I love Meriweather. But Sean Jones sure would have looked good to me. And 1yr / $3mm. That sounds like an amount right in our price range.

Heck, I'm no personnel expert. Maybe there was something I didn't see in the guy that was off-putting to our coaching staff.

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JackBauer

I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell they'll be as bad as last year, considering O'Neal is gone.

The CBs don't have a ton of top end talent, but that's looking like a pretty deep group.

iapatsfan

I don't understand it either. I think if you ask any unbiased person, they would say Jones is a much better player than Sanders. I would have loved to see us let Sanders walk, and sign Jones.

JackBauer

Clearly the Eagles, Browns, and Patriots are all biased.

iapatsfan

Would you rather have signed Sanders or Jones? $$ was about the same.