PATRIOT64

If you had to make a list of 10 Patriots players currently on this team,where would Asante Samuel rank ,if at all in the top 10 of most important players of the Patriots right now to help win games consistently?

In order I rank them as follows as being most important players for continued success in NE in 2007.

1) Brady
2) Seymour
3) Wilfork
4) Warren
5) Adalius Thomas (jury is still out without any play yet,although we expect him to be a very important player here)
6) Mike Vrabel
7) Rodney Harrison
8) Asante Samuel
9) Ellis Hobbs
10) Laurence Maroney

That puts my view of things as Asante 8th most important player on this team...The fact I don't have him in the top 5 means I think he can be replaced adequately over a short period of time.

I still think his 11 interceptions was a bit overated as Ints usually are anyways,He grabbed 3 from Rex and 2 from a rookie Vince Young - Thats half of his total all year...Asante is replaceable,By whom? - No one knows yet but 2007 season is not over if he leaves.

zarakotas5

If I trim your question down to just this, and think about it literally, I don't think he'd make my top-10 list. If the list was top-10 players, then yeah, he'd be in the 5-10 range. I think you raise a interesting point.

PS: Outta curiosity, where&why you putting Tedy?

PATRIOT64

I love Tedy like all of us do,but in terms of his play which obviously is taking a downward spiral fast I regret not being able to include him as a top ten important player anymore,He just is not the same as he was in his prime thus important figure drops as well.

I hope we can get a Bruschi clone in this years draft (Poluszny is closest comparison) to make his certain retirement in 2008 much easier to deal with.

PATRIOT64

I also did not include any receivers because after last year Brady has shown me he can take any scrap heap WR and make him productive in this system...Only a bonus getting top guys like Stallworth and Welker but not as critical as most players on my list who are on defense.

jbb9s

[QUOTE=PATRIOT64;394303]

1) Brady
2) Seymour
3) Wilfork
4) Warren
5) Adalius Thomas (jury is still out without any play yet,although we expect him to be a very important player here)
6) Mike Vrabel
7) Rodney Harrison
8) Asante Samuel
9) Ellis Hobbs
10) Laurence Maroney

QUOTE]

I dont know that you can put 3 defensive linemen #2-4 because since they are all so good, they could make it through if one was hurt or not playing. Plus Green is not that bad of a backup so the replacement isn't a huge drop off at DE at least at pass rush

PATRIOT64

[QUOTE=jbb9s;394329]I look at the past several years where our secondary is ALWAYS banged up with at least 2 starters out for a lengthly time,We can't just continue to plug players out there without paying the envitable price,Hopefully the injuries will not be so bad out there this year,but going by what has happened in that area I think we will need ALL 3 front line D guys to be there every game to help out in case our DBs are scrap heaps again,Yes Jarvis Green is an excellent player and can and has done the job well but I like to see a consistent Defensive Line which to me helps largely to win championships when all guys there play well consistently and together every week its better than anyone else coming in .

zarakotas5

I agree that he ain't what he usta be. But, in the scope of your original question, whatever play he does give us has direct bearing on the Pats' chances of winning. He is the QB of the defense, therefore making him important. Unfortunately, his decline is beginning to cast a shadow on his importance. In contrast to Samuel, Tedy wouldn't make my top-10 players skill/talent-wise, but would make my top-10 importance list, for better or for worse.

TomBrady'sGoat

Yeah, I had this thought when I saw a link titled "patriots star wants trade." I thought it was somewhat misleading when I could think of 5 guys off the top of my head who are better than he is.

I'd have to pretty much agree with your list, except for Ellis Hobbs somehow coming in at #9. I think you listen to too much Michael Holley.

mgteich

An excellent thread!

I think the performance of Maroney is critical to this team, especially with Dillon gone. I wouldn't put Thomas before Vrabel. My list.

The defensive backfield can survive OK performance by any one or two players, except that we are now depending on Hobbs as a anchor. The OL, WR and TE are not here not because they are not critical, but rather because those units ae units with great backup, and no one individual need be counted on as a playmaker.

In the end, we will probably need Samuel to be off the list. The replacement for now is probably Sanders. That seems so strange, to consider Sanders wore import to the 2007 success of the team than Samuel, but I suspect that this is indeed the case.

The other player that might be #10 is whover replaces Dillon; that is, whoever shares reps with Maroney and replacing him when he is out. Unfortunately, I don't know who tha player is.

1. Brady
2. Wilfork
3. Seymour
4. Warren
5. Maroney
6. Hobbs
7. Vrabel
8. Colvin
9. Thomas
10. Samuel

I am beyond counting on Bruschi, Harrison, and Wilson for our success in 2007. I expect them to be important, but we must be prepared for them not to be critical playmakers.

satz

Over the last 5 yrs we have a tradion of using 15 DB`s due to injurys.So When you rank him you have to give him a weight in the DB`s first and over the team.

As brushi is not even the list so is ty warran who have played more than asante .I value a players on how long he is on the field.Asante is high but then he plays one of the best front 7 with BB coaching.

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