Which rookie makes the greatest immediate impact?

[Kontradiction]

It's tough call for me cuz Chung was my binky at 58 of the second rd, with maybe a move up to get him. So I was surprised, but not shocked to see him selected at 34....

don't forget about Tank Williams filling the role of SS in the box on running downs.... But we shall see come TC and the pre-season games....

Trust me, I won't ***** if he's ahead of the curve for rookies in general at DB!

Personally, I think Tank is released before the season starts. I just don't see any room for him on this roster anymore.

 

[Feep50]

Personally, I think Tank is released before the season starts. I just don't see any room for him on this roster anymore.

Well, we will have to wait and see..... Tank is a really good football player at the hybrid SS/LB spot. Time will tell if he can come back from his injury.....

 

[patsfan55]

I'm a little surprised we haven't gotten at least a single vote for McKenzie or Vollmer. Both could potentially be starting by the end of the year.

 

[Feep50]

I'm a little surprised we haven't gotten at least a single vote for McKenzie or Vollmer. Both could potentially be starting by the end of the year.

Starting? : No chance... Getting some playing time? : That would be tremendous! I would love to see that occur but it won't....I don't believe.

 

[TealSox]

Tell me which player will be needed in the starting line up first. Chung will be behind Sanders, but could be helpful on the coverage teams. Vollmer is behind the whole line and needs to learn the system from Dante. Brace comes in handy if Wilfork is on the shelf, but even then, you can't expect too much in the stat book from a NT. Tate was solid pick when you consider he is going to be put on IR before the season and save the roster spot for another guy (see Chargers pick of Bryd being done with the same mindset).

Butler isn't needed to start in Game 1, but the fact that Hobbs was traded means that something changed from the Friday before the draft and Sunday afternoon. That change had to be Butler. I'm sure he will see the field often enough and maybe start a couple games too.

 

[TealSox]

Well, we will have to wait and see..... Tank is a really good football player at the hybrid SS/LB spot. Time will tell if he can come back from his injury.....

Interesting.

Belichick must have some new defensive scheme involving the SS/LB hybrid. He signed Tank Williams and now has Chung, who figures to play that position/role on the Patriots like he did in Oregon. Williams getting hurt last pre-season killed the plan and now Bill has an insurance policy on him with Chung. John Clayton mentioned in his ESPN article that the SS/LB hybrid is a "dinosaur", but isn't Troy Polamalu and Bob Sanders in the same likeness?

10. In-the-box safeties are going the way of the dinosaur. During the past week, Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz said in-the-box safeties have been phased out of the league. They are safeties such as former Cowboy Roy L. Williams, who plays near the line of scrimmage to try to stop the run. From the looks of the Day 2 selections, the position seems extinct. By the end of the fifth round, only three strong safeties had been drafted. Patrick Chung of Oregon went to New England in the second round. The New Orleans Saints took Chip Vaughn of Wake Forest in the fourth. The Cowboys took Michael Hamlin in the fifth. Free safeties didn't fare better. Three free safeties went off the board the first day, and three more (Rashad Johnson to the Arizona Cardinals, David Bruton to the Denver Broncos and Chris Clemons to the Miami Dolphins) went in Rounds 3 through 5.

John Clayton on 10 things we learned from Day 2 of the 2009 NFL draft - ESPN

 

[PatsBoy12]

Interesting.

Belichick must have some new defensive scheme involving the SS/LB hybrid. He signed Tank Williams and now has Chung, who figures to play that position/role on the Patriots like he did in Oregon. Williams getting hurt last pre-season killed the plan and now Bill has an insurance policy on him with Chung. John Clayton mentioned in his ESPN article that the SS/LB hybrid is a "dinosaur", but isn't Troy Polamalu and Bob Sanders in the same likeness?



John Clayton on 10 things we learned from Day 2 of the 2009 NFL draft - ESPN

I certainly thought so, especially as it pertains to Sanders whose known weakness is his pass defense.

 

[muslimman]

I voted Chung...

Im surprised by the lack of love for Tate though. This guy is already pretty underrated I see, but then thats what getting injured for your senior year will do I guess.

 

[billdog3484]

Starting? : No chance... Getting some playing time? : That would be tremendous! I would love to see that occur but it won't....I don't believe.

i think you may be wrong about vollmer. if you look at the positions which players from college are more quickly able to make the transition, OL is one of those positions near the top. Vollmer seems like a big strong player, plus we arent exactly sporting an elite RT. I can see Vollmer starting at some points this year

i do think Chung may be effective as well, as I think he has much more athleticism and football instincts than Sanders. Plus, safeties are also able to transition more quickly than other positions.

 

[ausbacker]

I see Chung getting limited time on the field this year - BB will work him in very slowly and if you see Chung on the fiedl I would think it will be more for STs

I think with Hobbs being gone,Butler will be on the field more often and should show enough to make us happy with the draft selection,I dont think Butler will set the world on fire but he should be as capable as Hobbs was.

You kidding? I've already set my heart on seeing a safety blitz and Patrick coming down and "chunging" Trent Edwards for the sack, sprinting over to TO and pile driving him in the Bills end zone.

 

[Rob0729]

I think Chung will start sooner rather than later. Butler has a lot of players to fight for playing time. So I think the pick is Chung.

 

[patsfan55]

Starting? : No chance... Getting some playing time? : That would be tremendous! I would love to see that occur but it won't....I don't believe.

I would not at all be surprised to see McKenzie get some pt this yr with the regular defense

 

[italian pat patriot]

i voted for Chung but i think Butler and Mc Kenzie could be also involved sooner then later

 

[Feep50]

i think you may be wrong about vollmer. if you look at the positions which players from college are more quickly able to make the transition, OL is one of those positions near the top. Vollmer seems like a big strong player, plus we arent exactly sporting an elite RT. I can see Vollmer starting at some points this year

i do think Chung may be effective as well, as I think he has much more athleticism and football instincts than Sanders. Plus, safeties are also able to transition more quickly than other positions.

I won't root against this...... This would be an ideal scenario in fact

 

[BradyManny]

Now, I'm not asking which one becomes the best pro. I'm asking who impacts the team the most next year.

My vote is going to Chung, since not only is he going to be our best "in the box" safety. But, his addition also frees up Meriweather to not have to play inside the box, and I think we'll see a lot more big plays out of him this year.

I put down McKenzie. The depth at the secondary is now about as good as it could get. While I agree Chung could get some PT as the 3rd safety, or even compete with Sanders for more time, I think McKenzie, like Mayo & Guyton will be asked to help immediately. McKenzie is a tackling machine, he's older and mature and he's intelligent. If he grasps the system, stick him in there in the base Defense (keep Bruschi on the sidelines) and put Guyton in for the nickel.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Interesting.

Belichick must have some new defensive scheme involving the SS/LB hybrid. He signed Tank Williams and now has Chung, who figures to play that position/role on the Patriots like he did in Oregon. Williams getting hurt last pre-season killed the plan and now Bill has an insurance policy on him with Chung. John Clayton mentioned in his ESPN article that the SS/LB hybrid is a "dinosaur", but isn't Troy Polamalu and Bob Sanders in the same likeness?



John Clayton on 10 things we learned from Day 2 of the 2009 NFL draft - ESPN

Funny you mention that because Bill said something very similar pre draft which struck me as odd considering he then drafted Chung. Said the safety position was evolving towards the CB/S hybrid because of the coverage demands...

People also forget this was simply a weak draft at the position, too...

 

[RayClay]

Jake Ingram

Snow angels

 

[D-cleater]

I voted Chung...

Im surprised by the lack of love for Tate though. This guy is already pretty underrated I see, but then thats what getting injured for your senior year will do I guess.

I would bet money that Tate goes on IR before week one. there is no chance of him seeing the field unless something unspeakable happens to at least two of our starting receivers in training camp

 

[D-cleater]

I don't see any of these players beating out a starter out of camp except for the long snapper, which someone already pointed out.

The only thing that is certain is that a DB will be on IR before the end of camp. I think there is a better chance of this happening to Springs or Bodden than Sanders/Merriweather, so through attrition I see Butler beating one of Wheatly, Wilhite or Springs/Bodden for either the third or starting DB.

 

[RayClay]

I would bet money that Tate goes on IR before week one. there is no chance of him seeing the field unless something unspeakable happens to at least two of our starting receivers in training camp

I think that's the plan. Two ligament surgery effects skill position players more than one year.