shmessy

From Chris Gasper in today's Globe:

http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal...d_deal/?page=2

The secondary was the least hurt/injured of any Pats secondary over the past 7 years, yet played a laissez faire zone coverage much of the time and allowed "legends" such as AJ Feeley, Kyle Boller and Dave Garrard to have highlight film games.

Gasper's report makes some sense.

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richpats

Great, maybe we won't see as many 8-yard cushions on 3rd-and-5.

MrBigglesWorth

Merriweather did come around at the end of the season. I guess we won't know if this was a major factor until he gets replaced. But if he does the Pats will likely lose Asante so it will be hard to assess.

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richpats

What kills me is teams with mediocre secondaries like the Giants can get away with playing press coverage against MOSS, WELKER AND STALLWORTH and we can't even do that with average receivers. Guess if we had a good pass rush we could press.

Keegs

merriweather needs to catch 400 balls thrown at his face a day.

all his dropped interceptions would have sealed games.

He would be a hero on this board if he could have caught those.

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aluminum seats

I won't claim to know much about this guy, but it does bring up an obvious, but still sometimes forgotten point, that coaching really matters. The Pats had a patchwork secondary for large stretches of their Super Bowl runs--Troy Brown, Earthwind Morland, et all--and maanged well, with Mangini running the show. Let's not forget before we all hated him that he was an excellent secondary coach.

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GostkowSKI

According to the article he came along in 2005, after the patch-work job with Troy, Earthwind, etc.

GostkowSKI

Whoops my mistake, just re-read your post Aluminum. I apologize.

MoLewisrocks

That spin sorta flies in the face of his team generated bio...

"In 2006, Collier's secondary contributed to a defense that set the franchise record in points allowed per game (14.81) and the defensive backfield was key in surrendering the fewest touchdown passes in the league (10). Patriots' opposing quarterbacks had the second lowest cumulative passer rating (66.1) in the league and lowest inside the 30-yard line (50.8). Collier's work with cornerback Asante Samuel helped him tie for the league lead in interceptions with 10 in 2006.

In 2005, Collier helped the secondary improve down the stretch after losing six players to season-ending injuries. In New England's last seven regular-season and playoff games, opponents averaged just 188 passing yards per game while throwing for a total of only five touchdowns. In those final seven contests, opposing teams were held to fewer than 200 total passing yards five times. The synergy that the group achieved was remarkable considering that 13 different starters were utilized during the season, including six starters at strong safety over an eight-week midseason span. Collier's tutelage helped cornerbacks Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs tie for the team lead with three interceptions apiece while combining to produce a total of 30 passes defensed."

Maybe he just got a better offer. Position coaches coach technique, they don't determine the scheme or personnel. We were playing the same drive the fans nuts soft zone with enormous cushions scheme in 2005 when Mangenius was the DC, although it was reported down the stretch that BB and he were butting heads over something and Bill appeared to take on a larger defensive presence down the stretch. Some wondered if that was partly why Eric decided to take that first HC job when it was offered. Of course Hawkins and Hobbs replaced the revolving door at safety and Starks down the stretch that year too...a year when we had a lot of issues at LB as I recall...

cornhuskers_2002

Amen