No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the secondary?

[PATRIOT64]

One of my concerns this upcoming season seems to be that in the secondary where we will probably not have Harrison back,we lost Hobbs and Samuel is 2 years removed so that leaves us with mostly players of less than 2 years experience in this league or veterans that are spending thier first year here after coming over from teams with much different and less complicated defensive schemes.

I thought that it was Hobbs job this year as the leader and senior of the backfield to get this secondary ready and unified but now that he is gone it appears to me that James Sanders has to step it up big time and take Rodney's place and show leadership in the backfield,it seems when the team has no one to show this,they struggle during the season to get organized when it came time to become a solid unit such as when Rodney got injured and when Ty Law left.

Is Merriweather or Bodden and Springs ready to take ahold of this area of defense or do we rely on Sanders or will Bruschi and/or Seymour have to pick up the entire unit to work cohesively?. - Someone needs to step forward and take the reigns from #37 back there who definately was the heart and soul of success when he was calling the shots

Who do you think is up to it in 2009 to be our leader on defense?

 

[JSn]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

I think leadership is one of the most unrecognized traits of James Sanders, and something Bill has mentioned a lot. He and Meri will anchor the secondary, and I think Springs will provide the Vet "glint in the eye" out there.

Gonna be a-ok.

 

[maverick4]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

This is the same secondary that this past year:
- Was 31st in red zone defense
- Last or near last on 3rd down defense
- Last or near last on 3rd-and-long defense

I'm okay with Hobbs, Vrabel, Harrison, and whoever else gone.

 

[muslimman]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

Yeah as soon as I read the title of this thread I thought of James Sanders. Im positive that he will become a good leader for the secondary in 2009.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

From a leadership standpoint, Harrison is the only one that matters. Hobbs and Samuel were all about themselves and their wallets; they were never leaders. Sanders will have to make the defensive calls, I would think, and I hope Chung is a quick learner in the leadership arena, his scouting reports suggest he will be.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

Yeah as soon as I read the title of this thread I thought of James Sanders. Im positive that he will become a good leader for the secondary in 2009.

Here lies the problem ....

If its true and James Sanders is not playing well as many expect here and Patrick Chung takes over his spot by midseason,then how can Sanders assume this role if he is spending half the game on the sidelines?

Sanders has a lot on his shoulders this season - Not only does he have to have the best year of his career in 09 but he has to take over leadership as well - Thats a lot on the plate for a guy to handle,hope he can,the defense and its success .. or failure may very well depend on his performance this season.

 

[wdkantro2]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

Here lies the problem ....

If its true and James Sanders is not playing well as many expect here and Patrick Chung takes over his spot by midseason,then how can Sanders assume this role if he is spending half the game on the sidelines?

Sanders has a lot on his shoulders this season - Not only does he have to have the best year of his career in 09 but he has to take over leadership as well - Thats a lot on the plate for a guy to handle,hope he can,the defense and its success .. or failure may very well depend on his performance this season.

It's never that simple. Everyone will get time. Chung won't "take over" anyone's spot.

 

[mgteich]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

James Sanders

He called the plays last year.

Hobbs was not the leader last year.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

James Sanders

He called the plays last year.

Hobbs was not the leader last year.

Ayup.

 

[TheBaronPatriot]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

I recall an interview with Rodney talking about Merriweather and how he was yelling the signals out to Rodney and Rodney who knew the call was like RELAX man I know the call.

So I think our former first round pick Merriweather is going to be the guy.

 

[ALP]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

i would also side w/ meriweather...i love the guy, and its his third year, so hes not going to be seen like THAT young

but i also believe sanders would help him

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

James Sanders

He called the plays last year.

Hobbs was not the leader last year.

Don't know, don't care. I'm sure there'll be at least one person who steps up, and I expect that it'll be probably 3 players who do so.

 

[efin98]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

It's Merriwether's secondary. Springs and Bodden will have a huge impact on the young CBs but it's Merriwether's secondary.

 

[holyredeemer]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

BB has praised James Sanders leadership abilities many times, and I remember reading even more so of it, although it was from Sanders, on the reasons he resigned.

I dont have the article with me, but if I remember correctly, he (Sanders) stated that BB liked the leadership he provided. Not to mention, Meriweather is not a guy known to stay quiet, and Im sure his leadership skills will only be improved this season after the experiences thru other players injuries last yr.

Im not worried about it at all. The leadership will be fine.

 

[Schmo]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

Good question... we still have great leaders in our LBs and DL, so there is less pressure on a single person in the secondary. That said, I agree with the popular opinion that it will be either Meriweather or Sanders (or both). My bet is with my boy from Fresno. Sanders has 2 more years experience than Meriweather and is still only 25 (that blows my mind every time I see his age). There is a reason why a 4th round pick with only above-average physical ability has seen so much of the field.

As far as Hobbs goes, although his play was questionable, I will miss the passion with which he played. He had the "knock-you-out-of-your-cleats" kind of attitude that we will be missing if Rodney leaves. This is where I think Chung can come in and make an immediate impact.

 

[capetide]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

One of my concerns this upcoming season seems to be that in the secondary where we will probably not have Harrison back,we lost Hobbs and Samuel is 2 years removed so that leaves us with mostly players of less than 2 years experience in this league or veterans that are spending thier first year here after coming over from teams with much different and less complicated defensive schemes.

I thought that it was Hobbs job this year as the leader and senior of the backfield to get this secondary ready and unified but now that he is gone it appears to me that James Sanders has to step it up big time and take Rodney's place and show leadership in the backfield,it seems when the team has no one to show this,they struggle during the season to get organized when it came time to become a solid unit such as when Rodney got injured and when Ty Law left.

Is Merriweather or Bodden and Springs ready to take ahold of this area of defense or do we rely on Sanders or will Bruschi and/or Seymour have to pick up the entire unit to work cohesively?. - Someone needs to step forward and take the reigns from #37 back there who definately was the heart and soul of success when he was calling the shots

Who do you think is up to it in 2009 to be our leader on defense?

Obviously Harrison is/was a team leader. What makes you think that either Hobbs or Samuel were team leaders? Hobb made himself readily available to the media but that means nothing in the locker room, while, if you attended home games, you notice Samuel wasnt one of the guys who seemed to be rallying the guys either on the field or on the sideline. From a distance, Samuel didn't seem the type but hard to tell for sure.

 

[mayoclinic]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

Meriweather will be the leader of the secondary. You can make an argument that he already was heading in that direction last year. Butler and Chung both have leadership potential, but will take time to develop. Sanders has some nice team qualities, but it's Meriweather's secondary right now.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

Obviously Harrison is/was a team leader. What makes you think that either Hobbs or Samuel were team leaders? Hobb made himself readily available to the media but that means nothing in the locker room, while, if you attended home games, you notice Samuel wasnt one of the guys who seemed to be rallying the guys either on the field or on the sideline. From a distance, Samuel didn't seem the type but hard to tell for sure.

In 2005 after Rodney went down we got to see what a secondary without a brain functions like in a BB defense. Oddly, Hobbs came in and righted the ship simply by virtue of his play. Asante and Eugene were lost and did not step up into the leadership void. Asante is not a vocal player or a leader but he did begin to at least speak up somewhat down the stretch in 2006. However being a motivational leader and tactical leader are not always one and the same.

That said if anything happens to Sanders look out because warts and all he's the tactical brain replacement for Rodney in this secondary entering 2009. Who knows what Merriweather will develop into but Wilson was on a pro bowl track until he got injured and it became apparent he was a player who executed best when he didn't have to do a lot of thinking (for himself let alone an entire unit).

Essentially all new faces in the secondary this season save Sanders and Merriweather does make the OP's concern legit as something to watch for.

 

[tatepatsfan]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

My vote is for Sanders, but don't forget that Springs and Bodden are veterans. Even if they are new to the system, they should bring leadership and experience to the field.

 

[Patjew]

Re: No Hobbs,No Harrison,No Samuel - Who will step up & show leadership in the second

My vote is for Sanders, but don't forget that Springs and Bodden are veterans. Even if they are new to the system, they should bring leadership and experience to the field.

Just like Rodney did in 2003.