Dowling ready for full offseason workouts - Page 8 - New England Patriots Forums

West Philly Patriot · 03-02-2012, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deus Irae

Why would you want to put the bigger injury risk at safety?

For one, I think his injury situation is becoming overstated. I also think if your putting Dowling at FS part-time when we are in Nickel or Dime he won't be making many plays at the LOS either.

The move is more about McCourty than it is Dowling honestly. McCourty helps this D a ton by getting back to his rookie level of play. He needs to be at CB 100% of the time to accomplish that imo.

West Philly Patriot · 03-02-2012, 11:41 AM

The real issue is that I believe safety will only improve marginally with what's out there. I expect a lower level signing and/or a rookie @ FS.

VJCPatriot · 03-02-2012, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goheels22002

I like this defensive backfield a lot. Excellent speed and good ball skills.

Were we watching the same secondary?

Quote:

Defensive backs need a few years to become competent in the NFL and start emerging as dependable and highly valued around age 25 and hit their primes at age 27 or so.

What research tells you that this is the case? I am quite puzzled by McCourty most of all though. 1st year he comes out gangbusters and looks like an all-pro his rookie season. 2nd year he is just simply AWFUL. Offenses picked on him on purpose. What happened to him, was McCourty playing with a hidden injury or what? Can anyone also tell me what happened to Bodden? The timing of when he got cut really puzzles me. Why would you dump a veteran CB down the stretch and be forced to stick in untested players like Molden and Moore?

Dowling has potential if healthy, but that's the key word there. Health. There are a number of other players I would have rather taken in the draft considering the limited production we got out of Dowling.

The Pats secondary needs a serious bolstering. FS and another CB are key adds on the offseason shopping list.

patsfaninpa · 03-02-2012, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VJCPatriot

Were we watching the same secondary?

What research tells you that this is the case? I am quite puzzled by McCourty most of all though. 1st year he comes out gangbusters and looks like an all-pro his rookie season. 2nd year he is just simply AWFUL. Offenses picked on him on purpose. What happened to him, was McCourty playing with a hidden injury or what? Can anyone also tell me what happened to Bodden? The timing of when he got cut really puzzles me. Why would you dump a veteran CB down the stretch and be forced to stick in untested players like Molden and Moore?

Dowling has potential if healthy, but that's the key word there. Health. There are a number of other players I would have rather taken in the draft considering the limited production we got out of Dowling.

The Pats secondary needs a serious bolstering. FS and another CB are key adds on the offseason shopping list.

Bodden was hurt. Needed surgery. No conspiracy.

Leigh Bodden - New England Patriots - 2012 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com

Joey007 · 03-02-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by West Philly Patriot

For one, I think his injury situation is becoming overstated. I also think if your putting Dowling at FS part-time when we are in Nickel or Dime he won't be making many plays at the LOS either.

The move is more about McCourty than it is Dowling honestly. McCourty helps this D a ton by getting back to his rookie level of play. He needs to be at CB 100% of the time to accomplish that imo.

I still blame the lockout on most of McCourty's struggles throughout last year, I think he needed that offseason to build off his last season. Hopefully, a full offseason will help him this year.