Deus Irae

Right now, I'm guessing that it'll lineup with

McCourty
Butler
Wilhite (nickel)
Meriweather
Chung

but I'm wondering if this might not be a week where Sanders getting the start would be a better decision. It's the first game of the year and he's got the experience to help settle things down. That would leave Chung for substitutions and dime defenses.

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sbpatfan

Screw it, they need to start sometime. Throw them into the fire against aging superstar receivers and a washed up Carson Palmer.

KontradictioN

I'm basing this solely on preseason performances...

LCB: Butler
RCB: McCourty
NB: Wheatley, Wilhite
Safety: Chung, Meriweather

The Bengals SHOULD be attacking us more with their ground game, but I can also see them trying to spread us out going three or four wide at times. That's why I listed both Wheatley and Wilhite. I'm guessing that if they have three receivers, Wheatley will go in before Wilhite. If they go four wide, Wheatley and Wilhite will be in. I really can't see Meriweather playing corner much, if at all.

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CREDIT - Sicilian

Sicilian

I go with a 3rd safety:

McCourty and Butler as the outside corners. McCourty on TO (better physical matchup), Butler on Ocho.

Chung and Sanders as the "true" safeties.

Meriweather in there as the 3rd safety, either covering the 3rd WR (who doesn't really scare me), or in big sets covers Gresham. With 3 wide, one of the LBs moves to cover Gresham while Meriweather is essentially playing corner.

Big sets on running downs would see a base 3-4 with Meriweather and either Chung (short yardage) or Sanders (longer yardage) as the safeties. Same corners.

PATRIOTSFANINPA

McCourty and Butler will be starting according to Belichick today from what I read from Rappaport on Twitter

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Schmo

Can't see McCourty and Butler NOT starting. Butler will start for sure, and I can't see Wheatley or Wilhite being a better matchup against T.O. or C.O. than McCourty is.

Talk about trial by fire for these 2 young guys. How'd you like to cover one of those 2 recievers in your first game in the NFL?

Sicilian

Luckily I'm sure they've gotten plenty of work against Moss in camp. After him, TO and Ocho probably seem like par for the course

sbpatfan

Like that means much, everyone knows Moss is a dog faker that hates this team.

JackBauer

I think the question is, does Jarrad Page play and, if so, in what role?

kdels62

The only reason why McCourty wouldn't start would be because T.O. is a HOF receiver who would be able to take advantage of McCourty's lack of experience.

I'm noticing some people putting Meriwether at 3rd CB in this game. Why is that? He's played Safety his entire career and with the young CBs going up against two veteran receivers Meriwether, your best secondary player, is gonna have to help them out a lot.