patchick

Good stuff, that distribution is mighty interesting. Though I wonder if the cumulative totals might be a little misleading? My impression is that Butler's snaps have been steadily increasing as the rookie learns the ropes, so the counts for games 1-3 could look very different from 5-7.

Regardless, take that 4-man CB corps and the safety group of Meriweather, McGowan, Chung and Sanders, and you have a tremendously deep secondary that's one of the team's real strengths. 180-degree turnaround from last year. Pioli who?

JSn

If I had to guess I'd say you're right about the snaps shift over a few games. However, it might also be that with the younger players getting better and having a couple of games against poorer teams, maybe that skews the stats a bit too, making it easier to test run some guys. The only thing is how that doesn't explain Wheatley's low snap count.

Technically a 5-Man CB corps... but agreed; If these guys all stay on course and avoid injuries this might well become the NFL's best secondary by December. Trips to Indy and NO will say a lot. Hold those teams to 14 and I'd be willing bet the farm on this team going to the SB.

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PATSYLICIOUS

I wonder if Springs is being conserved for the playoffs. He has been better than Wilhite IMO.

This depth is what seperates this defense from the '07 version. Really opens up alot of options especially with McGowan at safety. Our best secondary since '03.

mystrymaster

So I haven't seen many pats games and admittedly I do not know the roster very well but is there really no fall off in all four of these guys are they becoming situational corners?

Are any of them better in run support on first and 3rd and short? Are any of them better at bump and run?

Is there a trend in the snaps they are playing?

JSn

Other guys will have better reads on this, but really, our corner rotation is "unscary" this year. The drop-off to even our number 5 guys is less than it was from #1 to #2 last year, imo.

These boys do seem physical, but Springs and Bodden jump out at me as the guys who can ruin WR's routes at the line.

When the Pats are on D, passing is getting to be very risky business. The instincts and closing speed of the young guys makes up for their inexperience and the experienced guys are just excellent thus far.

Our #6 corner is major low point though...

Also, if ANY of your guys have fumble-itis, watch out for the Brandon's at safety. They are LOVING to blow guys up this year.

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Patspsycho

Since the corp is deep, we have the luxury of doing game-specific matchups so you will see plenty of Springs in one game, then almost none in another- not because of where he is on the charts, or for lack of effort, but because his skills aren't suited to the opponent we are playing.

That being said, expect him to be active this Sunday.

unoriginal

Posted by Synovia in last week's Defensive Snaps thread:

mgteich

If we had a shutdown corner and another clear NFL starter, the numbers of our top two would be closer to 100%. I think that it is a credit to Belichick that he had developed a fine rotation that takes advantage and uses all four of our corners. And yes, I am aware that we have a 5th developmental corner who apparently still not good enough to be active.