Four Great Acquisitions

[mgteich]

Mayo, O'Neal, Lewis Sanders, and Jordan.

The patriots had needs. These players have stepped in, stepped up and filled the need.
===========

And there is still potentially more to come from Wheatley, Crable , O'Connell, Wilhite, Slater and Guyton. Some of these guys are playing special teams, as one would expect from backups.

 

[maverick4]

Lewis Sanders came out of nowhere, who is that guy?

 

[VJCPatriot]

We acquired Lewis Sanders the same day we signed Tank Williams.

The article below details more about Sanders who was previously playing for the Falcons in 2007. He was originally a 4th round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns.

Patriots sign CB Lewis Sanders and S Tank Williams

 

[patchick]

Mayo, O'Neal, Lewis Sanders, and Jordan.

Isn't it amazing how quickly the position we all fretted most about in the offseason has turned into an apparent area of strength? Hobbs, O'Neal, Sanders, Wheatley, Wilhite looks solid and deep.

Now the safeties...

 

[nepatz11]

Lewis Sanders has one fine moustache he looks like Billy Dee Williams

 

[BlitzFritz]

i honestly DONT GET IT

how can we acquire o'neal a week before the first game, and have him play a ton and look great? if its the SYSTEM, how does he learn it so fast?

if its not the system, how come he is available?

i guess there are certain "types of players" that we are looking for to play "within our system"

but geez, it sure looks like wizardry doesnt it, with everyone else shelling out $60-80MM to sign "lock down corners". WTF

 

[Leave No Doubt]

Mayo, O'Neal, Lewis Sanders, and Jordan.

The patriots had needs. These players have stepped in, stepped up and filled the need.
===========

And there is still potentially more to come from Wheatley, Crable , O'Connell, Wilhite, Slater and Guyton. Some of these guys are playing special teams, as one would expect from backups.

BB made a solid coup this year, he really did. I'm in awe sometimes All smart players who seemed to slip right in without a glitch and it's only week 2!

 

[xmarkd400x]

i honestly DONT GET IT

how can we acquire o'neal a week before the first game, and have him play a ton and look great? if its the SYSTEM, how does he learn it so fast?

if its not the system, how come he is available?

i guess there are certain "types of players" that we are looking for to play "within our system"

but geez, it sure looks like wizardry doesnt it, with everyone else shelling out $60-80MM to sign "lock down corners". WTF

I think it has to do with what players are expected to do in the system. I'd say there are a few different jobs a corner has to perform:

• Jam the receiver at the LOS
• Cover man to man
• Cover deep zones
• Disguise coverage

Now, most corners can not do all of these things. If the Pats like corners that are proficient in say disguising coverage and cover deep zones*, then the high priced man-to-man corner doesn't really have a place in the system.

*For example only. Don't crucify me for getting what the Pats look for in a corner wrong.

 

[cartmen]

i honestly DONT GET IT

how can we acquire o'neal a week before the first game, and have him play a ton and look great? if its the SYSTEM, how does he learn it so fast?

if its not the system, how come he is available?

i guess there are certain "types of players" that we are looking for to play "within our system"

but geez, it sure looks like wizardry doesnt it, with everyone else shelling out $60-80MM to sign "lock down corners". WTF

Its a little of column A and a lil from Column B

O'Neil is a talented guy very fast and has a good head on his shoulders.
Dom Capers is a genius with Dfense and he only has to worry about the D backs making his job more focused. DP is a great coordinator when he leaves here he might be considered better than RC. Relax I said might not will to all you Rac lovers out there

 

[Metaphors]

Mayo, O'Neal, Lewis Sanders, and Jordan.

The patriots had needs. These players have stepped in, stepped up and filled the need.
===========

And there is still potentially more to come from Wheatley, Crable , O'Connell, Wilhite, Slater and Guyton. Some of these guys are playing special teams, as one would expect from backups.

Mayo being able to play on every down is just amazing. There was no bigger cheerleader for the Pats drafting Mayo than me, but I didn't see this level of trust coming in his rookie year. Once he gains some more experience and does more reacting rather than thinking, I expect more big plays to follow.

O'Neal is a mixed bag at time, but overall is a good fit. He is a playmaker that will occasionally get caught out of position and plays like the Coles big-gainer will result. I'm more than willing to trade those plays for a more aggressive approach in coverage.

LSanders is a prime example of why you let people earn jobs in training camp and don't just hand out jobs based on past success. Sanders stepped up and has thrived in the new coverage schemes. He has had injury issues and played for horrible teams. This team and these coaches must be a breath of fresh air for him.

Jordan is just a man, proving once again that Oakland is a black hole for careers. I didn't understand how Jordan fit with the team, but it is becoming clearer now. A fresh Jordan in the 4th quarter against a tired defense is a mismatch that can be used to finish games.

You mentioned the bench guys as well and it is easy to be down on them not getting on the field. I'm actually happy to see them getting the opportunity to learn without taking live fire. They will see the field before long and will be counted on to deliver when the games really count. Sucks that Brady isn't a healthy part of this team but there are very positive signs looking forward.

 

[JSn]

You mentioned the bench guys as well and it is easy to be down on them not getting on the field. I'm actually happy to see them getting the opportunity to learn without taking live fire. They will see the field before long and will be counted on to deliver when the games really count. Sucks that Brady isn't a healthy part of this team but there are very positive signs looking forward.

I've been thinking maybe we'll see a bench guy get activated for Miami. Probably the best team to try an untested corner against since the deep ball is going to be happening very often (at least in theory). Thoughts? Maybe Wilhite gets some PT? Crable?

Maybe not Crable, but I think it's possible. Likely Chad will get sacked early and often. I'm expecting BM to get another pic and the rumblings of "the next Asante to kick in". A good corner, unlike an MVP QB, may very well be a product of the system...

 

[mgteich]

How soon we forget. You might check to see how many CB's were in camp. There were a lot. Bryant and Webster stand out. We were very lucky O'Neal was available in the last series of cuts. Kudos to Pioli for signing him, but we signed a lot, and were still looking during the final cuts. We were looking at Law and Shepherd, and O'Neal was there!

Pioli's strategy was keep being in veterans until we found a couple who could play, and oh yeah we drafted a couple (Wheatley and Wilhite), and brought back a couple from last year to compete for the open spots (Richardson and Spann). Sanders was the lone survivor from the free agents, until we signed O'Neal.

BB made a solid coup this year, he really did. I'm in awe sometimes All smart players who seemed to slip right in without a glitch and it's only week 2!

 

[Leave No Doubt]

How soon we forget. You might check to see how many CB's were in camp. There were a lot. Bryant and Webster stand out. We were very lucky O'Neal was available in the last series of cuts. Kudos to Pioli for signing him, but we signed a lot, and were still looking during the final cuts. We were looking at Law and Shepherd, and O'Neal was there!

Pioli's strategy was keep being in veterans until we found a couple who could play, and oh yeah we drafted a couple (Wheatley and Wilhite), and brought back a couple from last year to compete for the open spots (Richardson and Spann). Sanders was the lone survivor from the free agents, until we signed O'Neal.

Right,all I basically said was we made some great acquisitions lol.

 

[mgteich]

.........

Right,all I basically said was we made some great acquisitions lol.

 

[ClevTrev]

Good post and solid point on the acquisitions for the 2008 roster. It amazes me how we debate minutia ad nauseum questioning the team's draft or FA signings, considering the Pats have assembled a record of sterling player acquisitions since 2000 and have maintained the team as a competitive force when so many others in the same position lost players due to success and were unable to re-tool. This is why I am so impressed about the NEP organizational approach in general.

Yep, they seem to have done it again this season.

 

[Real World]

The Jets dropped a lot of balls yesterday. I still see the defensive backfield as a real liability.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

How soon we forget. You might check to see how many CB's were in camp. There were a lot. Bryant and Webster stand out. We were very lucky O'Neal was available in the last series of cuts. Kudos to Pioli for signing him, but we signed a lot, and were still looking during the final cuts. We were looking at Law and Shepherd, and O'Neal was there!

Pioli's strategy was keep being in veterans until we found a couple who could play, and oh yeah we drafted a couple (Wheatley and Wilhite), and brought back a couple from last year to compete for the open spots (Richardson and Spann). Sanders was the lone survivor from the free agents, until we signed O'Neal.

If ONeil hadn't become available, we probably would have had to pay Law the money he wanted. I think in either way, we would have been fine. Only this way, we save money. Bryant and Webster not panning out was a step back, but Pioli had a plan B... that's all I'm saying.

We made some great pickups this offseason and the strategy between drafting and FA was very, very good.

 

[Krugman]

Agreed with the four,and how about that geriatric LB we picked up last year who threw two Jets players around the backfield like a couple of rag dolls?

 

[DaBruinz]

Just before the start of the season, someone made a post about how BB and Co had missed on all of their FA acquisitions over the past three-years and that included this year.

I forger who it was, but its clear that person needs to be eating crow right now.

And yes, I've eaten my fair share of crow on Beisel, Bryant and Starks..

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

O'Neal is a mixed bag at time, but overall is a good fit. He is a playmaker that will occasionally get caught out of position and plays like the Coles big-gainer will result. I'm more than willing to trade those plays for a more aggressive approach in coverage.

I must protest! I consider Coles an elite WR, he's burned our DBs on many occasions and that catch was a great example of his body control, reacting to Favre's flat-footed, scrambling throw and using it to spin out of the coverage and back outside for the big gain. The Pats secondary was lucky he wasn't 100% and had so little time to work with Lord Favre. BB was able to take Cotchery away, Coles did his usual damage, but it was limited because his QB was limited - game two will be a bigger challenge for the secondary.

O'Neal was close to having two picks yesterday, the Cotchery offensive PI, and Favre putting his throw to the flat in the dirt (possibly intentionally when he saw the O'Neal coming).