BritPat

Nobody is talking about McKenzie. I know that technically he's not a rookie, but it will be his first year, and we know the coaches and specifically the HC love him.

I'd love to see some 4 man fronts with him, Mayo and Guyton playing downhill.

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Creator of the Pats must draft Jason Verrett in 2014 no matter the cost fanclub.

mgteich

We have Mayo and Guyton coming back. We have just added Spikes, who everyone is high on.

McKenzie may or may not have an impact. He seems to be the #4 ILB. I don't see that there are enough ILB reps for all the ILB's to have a major impact.

BTW, we also have Williams making his case for an ILB roster spot.

TBradyOwnsYou

I don't see how it isn't Hernandez. By all accounts he's the guy who can and will line up all over, creating options and depth for our offense which is greatly needed. I think just him being there creating those options makes the largest impact. While other players might have more individual impact in their position, I think Hernandez's impact on the entire offense will be greater than anyone else's individual impact.

FredFromDartmouth

I agree but I don't think it will last all season; defenses will figure out how to handle him. By then we will get to witness the ascendancy of McCourty.

I have a bad feeling that Gronk will get injured; I am guessing here (I need to review film) but I wonder if he is used to running over guys in college and he will need to learn how to protect his body in the pros. Too big a target for safeties and LBs.

Patspsycho

Gronk will start off slowly, after all he has missed an entire year. It will take him time to acquire.

It was written that Hernandez was all over the field in OTS, and while OTS doesn't really count for anything- it could be taken as an indication that Hernandez was the first out of the gate.

However, my money is on Price. We still need that alternate threat to force the backfield to stay true, and not cheat towards Moss. I believe that Price has the intangibles, especially the toughness.

woolster22

hernandez is going to walk all over defenses, and one of Spikes/McKenzie will be doing good things by the end of the year or it will be a very long season...

Taxed in Maine

Yes I think he will supplant Butler as a starter. McCourty is bigger taller and more physical, has the skillset of a boundary corner. Butler will be the slot/nickel back and Bodden & McCourty will man the outside.

That is my prediction and I 'm sticking to it.

sbpatfan

I think you might be underestimating Butler a bit.

PatsFan37

Spikes? I like this guy, but no, too much competition at ILB.

Cunningham? Probably not. Tough position to play, lots to know. While the competition isn't stellar, they're decent veterans. I don't think a rookie waltzes into it. But if he's good, by the end of the year he'll be a significant part of the rotation.

Price? With Moss and Edelman ahead of him and Welker most likely back in by week 7 or so, and solid competition from Tate, this doesn't seem like Price's year to shine. And that without mentioning an increased focus on TEs and maybe a more balanced running game.

Gronk or Hernandez? Maybe. Gronkowski has a more direct battle with Crumpler for playing time but he probably opens more holes and may get more TDs. Hernandez probably gets more snaps and more receptions. I think one of these guys has a bigger statistical impact than my choice for the real impact guy.

McCourty. Weakness against tough passing offenses like the Colts, especially on third down is where the nickel plays an important role, and I think he beats Wilhite for starting nickelback before the bye week. This guy has size and speed, and by all accounts he hits hard, covers well and isn't afraid to tackle a RB. While interceptions are nice, keeping guys from getting open is critical. I don't hate Wilhite, but he always seemed a step behind and the ball seemed to go to his man at all the wrong times.

I expect Butler and Bodden to start at L & RCB through the end of the year, but McCourty may see some time split wide on the bigger receivers and he's a nice option to play against clever TEs like Dallas Clark who can't be covered by LBs, jamming him at the line and then matching him stride for stride. It won't be flashy, and he won't get the INTs but I see this guy as having the biggest impact.

He'll get his playing time in many ways, taking it from Wilhite and the safeties. I sincerely hope, with everyone healthy, the nickel defense by the end of the year will be Meriweather, Chung, Bodden, Butler, and McCourty. And that is 50% of the snaps.

On top of that, as the media tells us, he'll be an absolute force on special teams.

signbabybrady

I see no reason why it shouldn't be McCourty. He obviously is the highest touted but that alone does not make him the obvious choice. Part 2 is opportunity and I think he has every opportunity to get some significant game reps because of where the CB position is. Because Butler has little experience and is McCourty only real challenge for a starting role and because Whilhite is McCourty's big comp for the nickle role it is really likely he ends up with one of the two roles.

To a slightly lesser degree the same could be said of Cunningham. He doesn't come as highly touted but he may have even less competition than McCourty for reps.

I know the TE and WRs seem like logical choices but the passing game will still run through Moss and Welker (when he returns) and there were other options brought in as well (Holt, Crumpler, & Patten). Reps wont be as easy to come by.

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