8 players who might surprise

[mgteich]

We are not counting on alot from these eight depth players, but one or more could be major contributers.

C JOHNSON (he could even start)
TE SMITH
WR LEWIS
WR TATE (he could be our kick or punt returner)
ILB LENON (he could even start)
CB SPRINGS
OLB BANTA-CAIN (he could get more reps than most think)
ST CIURCIU (it seems that the special team coach brought him in to lead the special team units)

BTW, I don't count on rookie to make major contributions except on special teams. I EXPECT CHUNG to be a major contributer on special teams.

 

[Ring 6]

We are not counting on alot from these eight depth players, but one or more could be major contributers.

C JOHNSON (he could even start)
TE SMITH
WR LEWIS
WR TATE (he could be our kick or punt returner)
ILB LENON (he could even start)
CB SPRINGS
OLB BANTA-CAIN (he could get more reps than most think)
ST CIURCIU (it seems that the special team coach brought him in to lead the special team units)

BTW, I don't count on rookie to make major contributions except on special teams. I EXPECT CHUNG to be a major contributer on special teams.

Not to belittle the players, but aside from Springs and maybe Lewis or Lenon, it doesnt really make a huge difference whether these 8 surprise or 8 others do. The talent level isnt a whole lot different in the next guy on the list as of now.
The most positive part of this is that these 8 guys MAY NOT CONTRIBUTE and we wouldnt miss a beat. I dont think there is another team that can say that.

 

[Ring 6]

By the way, did you say we arent counting on a lot from our projected starting cornerback?

 

[Frezo]

While I'd hesitate to put Vollmer on this list, I can also see him contributing. It wouldn't be in the traditional back up oline role, but rather as a blocker in short yardage situations as a FB, TE of 6th o-lineman. He's experienced as a TE. Hoch is older and has value as a back up. I'd rather risk injury to Vollmer than Hoch. Supposedly he has some quickness and of course power. That's a good combination for a big man and a situational blocker.

 

[signbabybrady]

We are not counting on alot from these eight depth players, but one or more could be major contributers.

C JOHNSON (he could even start)
TE SMITH
WR LEWIS
WR TATE (he could be our kick or punt returner)
ILB LENON (he could even start)
CB SPRINGS
OLB BANTA-CAIN (he could get more reps than most think)
ST CIURCIU (it seems that the special team coach brought him in to lead the special team units)

BTW, I don't count on rookie to make major contributions except on special teams. I EXPECT CHUNG to be a major contributer on special teams.

Johnson would be a huge suprise. I find it very far fetched to think he beats out Koppen.

 

[sdh7711]

NO way Tate makes much of an impact if anything at all this year. October will mark exactly one year from ACL surgery, ie hes going on the PUP to start the year and may even get IR'd.

It takes players a good 18 to 24 months to fully recover from a torn ACL when they are a skill position player.

 

[farn]

NO way Tate makes much of an impact if anything at all this year.

No way eh ? Maybe so... maybe not. No way TO plays for Philly in the SB ? No way Schilling pitches in the playoffs ? No way doesn't exist anymore.

In other news : we think C Johnson could really start for NE ? Not saying he never would, but what prompts this speculation ?

 

[Bartmac36]

I don't think any of those would really be a surprise, other than Johnson starting at C...I think Guyton could be a starter by seasons end because of Bruschi's age and his knowledge edge over Lenon...

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

No way eh ? Maybe so... maybe not. No way TO plays for Philly in the SB ? No way Schilling pitches in the playoffs ? No way doesn't exist anymore.

In other news : we think C Johnson could really start for NE ? Not saying he never would, but what prompts this speculation ?

Those really are kind of silly comparisons, because those guys took career risks to play in one game in Owens' case and two in Schilling's. Tate is a rookie who will not start. I agree that you cannot say No Way, but I think the point being made was that there is no reason to take risks with a low-salaried rookie who is not really being counted on for anything this year. I'd love to see Tate come back as quick as possible, but I think that redshirting him may be the best move.

 

[Rob0729]

We are not counting on alot from these eight depth players, but one or more could be major contributers.

C JOHNSON (he could even start)
TE SMITH
WR LEWIS
WR TATE (he could be our kick or punt returner)
ILB LENON (he could even start)
CB SPRINGS
OLB BANTA-CAIN (he could get more reps than most think)
ST CIURCIU (it seems that the special team coach brought him in to lead the special team units)

BTW, I don't count on rookie to make major contributions except on special teams. I EXPECT CHUNG to be a major contributer on special teams.

I am high on Lenon, but then again I was high on Victor Hobson last year going into training camp. So I don't know if that is a good thing.

I look at Shawn Springs and I wouldn't be surprised if he had 8-9 INTs or became Deltha O'Neal 2.0. I think if age and injuries haven't caught up to him, he can be a top flight CB. If not, he will be slow and broken down like O'Neal was last year.

I think Tate has an injury that is almost impossible to rebound this quick at the position he plays and will most likely have this year as a redshirt year.

TBC has been here and we know what we are getting. He will be no better than the 2006 version the Pats had. Which wasn't horrible, but not ideal as a starter. But pretty good if he is a back up. That is my concern about the position in general is they got a bunch of solid back ups lining up across from AD, but no clear cut starter.

I don't see Johnson starting unless he moves to guard because Neal is out of commission. I doubt he will replace Koppen.

I think Alex Smith could replace Watson as the starter if Watson has another disapointing start. Lewis should be a good back up and special teamer, but with Welker, Moss, and Galloway on the receiving corp, he won't have a lot of opportunities to be be all that surprising.

 

[DaBruinz]

NO way Tate makes much of an impact if anything at all this year. October will mark exactly one year from ACL surgery, ie hes going on the PUP to start the year and may even get IR'd.

It takes players a good 18 to 24 months to fully recover from a torn ACL when they are a skill position player.

OK. Not to beat a dead horse, but your information isn't totally accurate. It only takes normal people 18 to 24 months to be fully healthy from ACL surgery. Tate isn't a normal person. He's a well conditioned athlete. To say that he won't make an impact is saying you can predict the future. And, I am pretty sure you failed Precognition 101. BTW, it took Jerry Rice only 9 months to come back from his 2nd ACL surgery. It all depends on the person and the severity of the injury and whether they were able to start rehabbing the muscles prior to surgery.

Tate may or may not make an impact this year. However, considering that he was put on the NFI list and NOT the Active/PUP list, no one can know what his status will be.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

OK. Not to beat a dead horse, but your information isn't totally accurate. It only takes normal people 18 to 24 months to be fully healthy from ACL surgery. Tate isn't a normal person. He's a well conditioned athlete. To say that he won't make an impact is saying you can predict the future. And, I am pretty sure you failed Precognition 101. BTW, it took Jerry Rice only 9 months to come back from his 2nd ACL surgery. It all depends on the person and the severity of the injury and whether they were able to start rehabbing the muscles prior to surgery.

Tate may or may not make an impact this year. However, considering that he was put on the NFI list and NOT the Active/PUP list, no one can know what his status will be.

Since it was the "active" NFI, I suspect they are expecting him to be ready sooner rather than later.

 

[sdh7711]

No way eh ? Maybe so... maybe not. No way TO plays for Philly in the SB ? No way Schilling pitches in the playoffs ? No way doesn't exist anymore.

In other news : we think C Johnson could really start for NE ? Not saying he never would, but what prompts this speculation ?

TO had a rod and screws placed into his leg to create stability, Schilling had a tendon sutured in placed for stability. All high risk moves for one game. There is no way to brace an ACL thats been torn or not fully healed, its impossible. The ACL was also repaired in mid October which makes it 9 months out which is not nearly enough time for a skill postion player to be able to fully cut on it.

Oh and dont start with the Brady comparison with his ACl we are talking about a WR vs a pocket QB.

But here's shoe one for you, we can wait for shoe two pretty soon.

Crable, Warren on PUP - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

 

[Brady-To-Branch]

Sorry Tedy, but I'm hoping Lenon beats you out for the starting SILB spot.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

TO had a rod and screws placed into his leg to create stability, Schilling had a tendon sutured in placed for stability. All high risk moves for one game. There is no way to brace an ACL thats been torn or not fully healed, its impossible. The ACL was also repaired in mid October which makes it 9 months out which is not nearly enough time for a skill postion player to be able to fully cut on it.

Oh and dont start with the Brady comparison with his ACl we are talking about a WR vs a pocket QB.

But here's shoe one for you, we can wait for shoe two pretty soon.

Crable, Warren on PUP - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

As a junior in college, I tore my ACL, MCL and PCL in game #3 and came back to play all 11 games in my senior season (11 months later.) The biggest problem for Tate will be quick twitch stuff. Cutting changing direction and planting that leg to make a move off of. If he has full range of motion, he shouldn't lose a lot of speed provided his conditioning is the same.

 

[BelichickFan]

Oh and dont start with the Brady comparison with his ACl we are talking about a WR vs a pocket QB.

That is a dead argument, both Deion Branch and Braylon Edwards came back from their ACLs in the exact amount of time it's been between now and when Tate had his surgery. I expect they'll take it slow with Tate as they're deep at WR and he needs to learn the offense in addition to getting healthy. But it's total fabrication that a WR can't come back in this timeframe.

 

[Deus Irae]

That is a dead argument, both Deion Branch and Braylon Edwards came back from their ACLs in the exact amount of time it's been between now and when Tate had his surgery. I expect they'll take it slow with Tate as they're deep at WR and he needs to learn the offense in addition to getting healthy. But it's total fabrication that a WR can't come back in this timeframe.

I personally look at it much more as a "should" issue.

 

[sdh7711]

As a junior in college, I tore my ACL, MCL and PCL in game #3 and came back to play all 11 games in my senior season (11 months later.) The biggest problem for Tate will be quick twitch stuff. Cutting changing direction and planting that leg to make a move off of. If he has full range of motion, he shouldn't lose a lot of speed provided his conditioning is the same.

I never said he wouldn't play, I said he wouldn't make a big impact. In 11 to 12 months yes you can start playing again but you wont have the same burst and ability as you will when 18 months out. I am sure you can probably attest to that having gone through it.

If people wanna argue with me on the semantics of saying I dont know 100 percent fine....I can say tomorrow the United States will still be a country but thats no guarantee either but as pretty damn close to one.

I am more than willing to bet that Tate does not make "significant" contributions this year. I also fully believe he starts out on the PUP, since the end of pup will make around 12 months. He's already on the Non injury list and if he misses most of TC how many people hoenstly think he will mkae significant contributions being that far behind?

 

[spacecrime]

NO way Tate makes much of an impact if anything at all this year. October will mark exactly one year from ACL surgery, ie hes going on the PUP to start the year and may even get IR'd.

It takes players a good 18 to 24 months to fully recover from a torn ACL when they are a skill position player.

Ten years ago, maybe. Less than a year these days.

Ronnie Brown tore his ACL in late October 2007, had surgery in Nov 2007, and played all 16 games in 2008. Ten months

And that is a power running back.

The reason Tate is on ACTIVE PUP is because there is an excellent chance he will start the season on the 53.

He may not; if I were the Pats I would have him sit for a year, but if they want, I'll bet he's available.

On a side note, where are all these new posters coming from? They all seem to be saying "Absolutely no way this .." or "Absolutely that ..." as though they knew more than everyone else in the football world. Consider that you have OPINIONS not facts, and consider words like 'probably and not likely," and at least leave space for a discussion to take place.

Unless you are a old geezer, or course. Then it is your constitutional right to be cantankerous.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Unless you are a old geezer, or course. Then it is your constitutional right to be cantankerous.

Which makes you Methuselah. :eat3: