What is Slater doing on this team??

[jeffbiologist]

I posted during draft time, not understanding this pick...a guy who basically had NO position in college besides a KR. Guys that are drafted as KRs usually have to do something special in camp to make the team. He didnt. I was comparing him to Quentin Demps, rookie with the Eagles who returned a kick for a TD in preseason and MADE the team. I was more than a little shocked that Slater made the team because he cant back up a position and his kick returns simply arent "special". With the rash of injuries at DB we certainly could have used depth there....
So today he boots the kickoff and basically gives Pitt a TD and the momentum that they used to win the game. If we are down by 3 their LBs dont have their ears pinned back and dont strip sack MC twice costing the game. Everyone that has defended him in the past please chime in to defend him, he has been active for every game but hasnt made a single big play(that was til tonite)~~~I would rather have another CB that cant tackle than a STer that blows games.

 

[BradyToMoss]

What is our coach doing putting him out there on a sleet/rain infested night in a big pressure packed game against the Pittsburgh Steelers to field a kickoff in a 13-10 game that is critical to making the playoffs? Never mind holding a roster spot for him and letting a Chad Jackson ride off into the sunset for the likes of Sam Aiken.

 

[JMarr]

I posted during draft time, not understanding this pick...a guy who basically had NO position in college besides a KR. Guys that are drafted as KRs usually have to do something special in camp to make the team. He didnt. I was comparing him to Quentin Demps, rookie with the Eagles who returned a kick for a TD in preseason and MADE the team. I was more than a little shocked that Slater made the team because he cant back up a position and his kick returns simply arent "special". With the rash of injuries at DB we certainly could have used depth there....

Agree with your post. They projected him to be sort of a Troy Brown-type 'Mr. Versatility,' guy--not just a pure returner. He's been bad all around thus far and done nothing to dispel the notion that he was a really questionable pick.

 

[blackglass3]

Agree with your post. They projected him to be sort of a Troy Brown-type 'Mr. Versatility,' guy--not just a pure returner. He's been bad all around thus far and done nothing to dispel the notion that he was a really questionable pick.

Yeah, I have to agree. The coaches must see something special in him, but we haven't seen it yet. Hopefully he comes around.

But then again, who got cut that we could have kept instead of him? The only person in the PS who I remember thinking might have played his way onto the team was CJ Jones. Or maybe we should have held onto Fernando Bryant.

Also, where was Hobbs or Faulk when that happened? Putting Slater out there was questionable at best.

 

[jeffbiologist]

What is our coach doing putting him out there on a sleet/rain infested night in a big pressure packed game against the Pittsburgh Steelers to field a kickoff in a 13-10 game that is critical to making the playoffs? Never mind holding a roster spot for him and letting a Chad Jackson ride off into the sunset for the likes of Sam Aiken.

This is NOT a CJ reference. Aiken was hurt to start the year and has made a BIG play(GOOD big play)with the 40+yd pass a few weeks ago. Slater was a 5th rd pick, we didnt trade up and use a #2 & #3 for him. Still, he has taken a game jersey each week and if he is a KR he should be returning EVERY kick IMHO saving Hobbs for defense. If he has a TD returning kicks we can say he is back to par on this fumble...but he hasnt. Not in preseason, not in regular season. He hasnt made an outstanding ST play, and he doesnt back up the ailing DBs. It was my contention at the draft that he was a "legacy" pick, seeing BB liked his father Jackie. If everything is equal, he is let go this week to be brought back to the practice squad...where a guy like this belongs. BB's first year we had Tony Gaiter on the PS, and he used to tease us and almost make it on the team.....Slater is no Tony Gaiter. Slater isnt a shadow of his father, what is he doing on this team?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

if he is a KR he should be returning EVERY kick IMHO saving Hobbs for defense. If he has a TD returning kicks we can say he is back to par on this fumble...but he hasnt. Not in preseason, not in regular season. He hasnt made an outstanding ST play, and he doesnt back up the ailing DBs.

Richard Seymour doesn't make as big an impact on the stat sheet as he does in games.

They didn't bring Slater in to be a KR, they brought him in to play STs.

As has been said many times before, the Patriots do not judge players on single plays, no matter how bad they may be.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

I think slater is solid.......he did not belong out there today......blame whoever put him in there

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Unless you watch the coaches tapes of every special team play this year its hard to make an assessment of this guy, you cant go by one bad play today, there were a few guys that made bad plays today, some veterans.

 

[jeffbiologist]

Richard Seymour doesn't make as big an impact on the stat sheet as he does in games.

They didn't bring Slater in to be a KR, they brought him in to play STs.

As has been said many times before, the Patriots do not judge players on single plays, no matter how bad they may be.

PLEASE tell me you didnt just compare Slater to Seymour!! You just ruined my impression of you,lol!

If a guys position is KR is college, and we DRAFT his as a KR, and he MAKES THE TEAM as a KR(other ST is a plus, he is no imitation of a young Izzo)then I EXPECT him to be there and return most if not every kick. You cant blame anyone for putting him in, THATS HIS ONLY JOB! If he isnt in there he has no position on the team, which brings me back to my original point....why is he still on the team? If he survives not being cut this week I will again state my case--legacy pick.

 

[ATippett56]

I would have preferred Jonathan Goff, LB from Vanderbilt in lieu of Slater.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

PLEASE tell me you didnt just compare Slater to Seymour!! You just ruined my impression of you,lol!

If a guys position is KR is college, and we DRAFT his as a KR, and he MAKES THE TEAM as a KR(other ST is a plus, he is no imitation of a young Izzo)then I EXPECT him to be there and return most if not every kick. You cant blame anyone for putting him in, THATS HIS ONLY JOB! If he isnt in there he has no position on the team, which brings me back to my original point....why is he still on the team? If he survives not being cut this week I will again state my case--legacy pick.

How do you know they drafted Slater specifically for his KR skills? Quoting BB:

"We kind of saw him sliding in the fifth, and we felt like if we waited until the end of the round, that was kind of the range where those fast players were going, good special teams players, so rather than taking a chance on it, we moved up in the fifth and took him."

Last I checked, there's more to ST than the guy returning the kicks.

 

[Ian]

He was out there because according to reports after the game Hobbs was busy throwing up on the sidelines. I remember quite a few who were ready to boot Kevin Faulk out of town when he went through his struggles holding onto the football. They showed Slater after the game in the locker room and he looked pretty dejected and felt he "cost the team the game". As we've found out one game doesn't make a player, so I think it's better to reserve judgement just yet. - Ian

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

I remember quite a few who were ready to boot Kevin Faulk out of town when he went through his struggles holding onto the football.

and we all know how that turned out Kevin was a beast, and the only one who seemed to have his head in the game today. As for Slater, he's a rookie. sheeeet happens

 

[jeffbiologist]

He was out there because according to reports after the game Hobbs was busy throwing up on the sidelines. I remember quite a few who were ready to boot Kevin Faulk out of town when he went through his struggles holding onto the football. They showed Slater after the game in the locker room and he looked pretty dejected and felt he "cost the team the game". As we've found out one game doesn't make a player, so I think it's better to reserve judgement just yet. - Ian

Ian, I agree that any "starter" or "regular player" that has done something to WIN a game shouldnt be judged on his fault of losing a game. Slater doesnt fit either catagory. My point is(again)if he is on the team he should be out there and be making most if not every return(then Hobbs might not be getting sick?). He should have broken at least one beyond say 40 yds by this time in the season(and I am being OVERLY easy on this judgement), he hasnt. Its not like we have dressed someone else and he has been inactive, he has been active and has yet to make a impactful GOOD play to help us win a game. If we let every player in this catagory stay on the team and forgive them for losing a game....well, we wouldnt be winning super bowls. We learned this from CJ, or so I thought.

 

[thewaylifeshouldbe]

Hahaha, man, when Faulk was tossing up the pigskin so often we were all freaking out. I remember several times watching the game and just screaming at my TV.

I think the coaches took a chance with the kid. He obviously has some speed and maybe they figured the field conditions would make a tackle on him difficult. And as Ian said, Hobbs was puking.

Maybe next time the kid runs one back.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Nobody else has noticed when he makes a good play as a Gunner or on KO coverage? He does it consistently enough. Yeh, he wasn't my first choice as a KR with Hobbs out getting his sea legs back, but he is a more dynamic KR than Faulk, if not as reliable. Tradeoffs happen too, Slater is a decent addition to the team for a 5th round draft pick, and has anyone seen Jonathan Goff to tell us if he's on an NFL roster (and is he playing more than Special teams)?

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

I think this question should be answered by Bill.

while we're at it, why is Moss on this team? He sucked today.

I understand your question, biodude, but the kid is a rookie, and makes mistakes. He'll improve, or be gone. Bill clearly thinks the kid has special teams value, that we are not seeing. I tend to trust his eyes, more than mine

 

[jeffbiologist]

How do you know they drafted Slater specifically for his KR skills? Quoting BB:



Last I checked, there's more to ST than the guy returning the kicks.

Normally a rookie position player has to make the team through special teams contributions. Slater was a KR in college and if he didnt return kicks its safe to say he wouldnt be drafted(or is it,lol?). I dont know why you would defend the guy, I am unsure you are. But with our thin, thin thin DB offseason/history it sure would make more sense to let Wheatley return kicks(he did in college)and draft another DB....or keep one of the DBs we cut in camp. Maybe it was a bit of a salary cap move, but arent we like the 24th highest payroll this year? Truth is we could have fit A.Samuel under the cap, but I am not arguing for that at all. Wouldnt you be alot happier if the guy who cost you the game had an upside higher than what you have seen so far this year? This guy has NO upside, NONE.

 

[jeffbiologist]

Hahaha, man, when Faulk was tossing up the pigskin so often we were all freaking out. I remember several times watching the game and just screaming at my TV.

I think the coaches took a chance with the kid. He obviously has some speed and maybe they figured the field conditions would make a tackle on him difficult. And as Ian said, Hobbs was puking.

Maybe next time the kid runs one back.

Maybe he runs one back, but maybe he fumbles away another game. At this point, if I had money on it, I wouldnt want to be betting on the fumble.

 

[Deus Irae]

Ian, I agree that any "starter" or "regular player" that has done something to WIN a game shouldnt be judged on his fault of losing a game. Slater doesnt fit either catagory. My point is(again)if he is on the team he should be out there and be making most if not every return(then Hobbs might not be getting sick?). He should have broken at least one beyond say 40 yds by this time in the season(and I am being OVERLY easy on this judgement), he hasnt. Its not like we have dressed someone else and he has been inactive, he has been active and has yet to make a impactful GOOD play to help us win a game. If we let every player in this catagory stay on the team and forgive them for losing a game....well, we wouldnt be winning super bowls. We learned this from CJ, or so I thought.

Prior to this game, Slater had a total of 9 kick returns, with the longest being a 31 yarder. How does that translate into a failure because he has yet to break one for over 40 yards?