In his second camp, Wilhite makes a good impression

[jmt57]

In his second camp, Wilhite makes a good impression by Shalise Manza Young of the Providence Journal

The man he likely needs to impress most –– Bill Belichick –– has noticed Wilhite’s development.

“Jonathan made a lot of strides last year from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, and he then followed that up with a real strong offseason, offseason program, spring camps and got off to a good start here in camp,” Belichick said. “Jonathan has worked really hard. He’s become a very dependable player for a young guy.”

Always a fan of players who are versatile, Belichick noted Wilhite’s ability to play at outside cornerback or inside (the “star” position in New England’s system), as well as in the kicking game, are among his strengths.

“He’s quiet, but he definitely understands not only what we’re doing, but concepts and offenses and how they play. He’s got a good variety of skills and that’s always valuable when you can do different things with the same player. I think he does a lot of things well, and he’s gotten better, it seems like, every time he walks out on the field,” said Belichick.

 

[RabidPatsFan]

Great article. I've been reading a lot of positive stuff about Wilhite in Reiss' blog and in PFW. Is it unrealistic to consider that he might break the starting lineup by mid-season? I love the acquisitions of Springs and Bodden, but the youth movement is the Patriots future.

Anyway, good to see!

 

[PATRIOT64]

Wilhite could be starting opening day opposite Bodden with Springs and Wheately off the bench... its looking more and more so by the day.

But if you have a player off the bench named Shawn Springs it really tells you how deep the depth and talent go on a team.

 

[TheComeback]

I wouldn't be surprised to see him start Week One. Depends on how Springs looks.

 

[patriot lifer]

If Springs is playing nickelback and backup corner throughout the season, that's fine by me

 

[jmt57]

I would think Springs would be on the field quite a bit in week one covering Terrell Owens, but I'm guessing Springs won't see as much action the following week.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Silly people, Wilhite was penciled in as starter at the beginning of camp, Springs was never more than a situational player and veteran anchor.

 

[CrazedChariot]

Springs has more versatility at this point as he can play the Safety positions as well. I would imagine he would be best as a situational / rotation player at this point in his career anyways.

Assuming we are hoping for 19-20 games, with a majority in the cold New England weather, I don't know how a 34 year old body would hold up as an every down player.

 

[lostjumper]

This is good to hear. They need cornerback depth, as the patriots always seem to lose 203 DB's to injury every year.

And I fully expect Springs to play the entire first game against the Bills playing opposite TO. The man has the unique ability to be albe to defend TO better than anyone else for some reason. Plus, he just spent the last 3 years in Washington defending To 2 games a year, so he's the DB who knows him the best.

 

[jmt57]

More on Wilhite and the Defensive Backs: Wilhite working into action by Andy Hart of Patriots Football Weekly, who says "Jonathan Wilhite is making a strong run at earning a starting job in the new-look New England secondary."

Jonathan Wilhite was drafted two rounds behind fellow 2008 rookie Terrence Wheatley. But when last season hit it was Wilhite not Wheatley who saw game action first as the fourth-rounder out of Auburn ended up playing in all 16 games while closing out his first season with four-straight December starts.

Despite Wilhite’s late-season ascension, entering training camp 2009 many expected first-year veteran free agent additions Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs to be a major factor in a re-tooled New England secondary that, theoretically, had two open starting jobs up for grabs.

But when healthy this July and August, Wilhite – who returned to the practice field late last week after missing about a week of work in Foxborough – has found himself right where he was last December, atop the depth chart. The second-year player out of Auburn has been getting the bulk of the reps “with the ones” at left corner opposite Bodden in a secondary that includes returning safeties Brandon Meriweather and James Sanders.

 

[Sicilian]

This is the type of thing that can really make a team special. When you go into camp thinking, "We've got two veteran starters who are pretty good, and some young guys as depth." Then discover that one of the young guys is taking the next step, all of the sudden your depth and versatility trickle much farther down the depth chart.

Of course, I'll wait to see them in game action, but this is a very good sign as Wilhite was one of the big quesiton marks coming into the season.

 

[patchick]

Silly people, Wilhite was penciled in as starter at the beginning of camp, Springs was never more than a situational player and veteran anchor.

Seems that way to me, too.

Not bad for the 20th cornerback selected in the 2008 draft, eh?

 

[Brady-To-Branch]

When Wilhite was starting, opposing QBs were still picking on Hobbs.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Silly people, Wilhite was penciled in as starter at the beginning of camp, Springs was never more than a situational player and veteran anchor.

Yep. Its the same thinking/arguement for Burgess and him being a pass rusher as opposed to a pure 3-4 OLB whos gonna play 90% of the snaps. Pats shelled out a decent amount of mula ($2.7m bonus) for Springs knowing that he is going to be on the field for most, if not all nickel & dime situations. That'll be 25-40 plays a game or 50% or around there. His signing did not mean that guys like Willhite or Wheatley would play a ton less, just not they whole game.

My .02$

 

[spacecrime]

Springs has more versatility at this point as he can play the Safety positions as well.

Springs has played safety?

 

[spacecrime]

Seems that way to me, too.

Not bad for the 20th cornerback selected in the 2008 draft, eh?

sounds like that fourth rounder the pats drafted out of central florida (southern florida?) a few years ago.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Wilhite is a part of what I feel could become a very good secondary. Between him, Wheatley, Meriweather, Butler, and Chung, that is a lot of young talent to build around. All of them are tough players who fit our scheme, as far as I can tell. Throw in quality vets like Bodden and Springs, and I believe this has the chance to be the Patriots' best secondary since the 2003 squad. Let's cross our fingers that the young guys continue to develop, and that maybe this year the entire defensive backfield doesn't end up on IR

 

[shmessy]

sounds like that fourth rounder the pats drafted out of central florida (southern florida?) a few years ago.

I was thinking the same thing - - and he even has the dreds.

And it was U Central Florida.

 

[Deus Irae]

I'm happily reading about this kid that seems to be developing into a much better player than I thought he'd be. I just hope that it translates into the regular season, because I'm looking forward to the GFY Reunion tour being a big success.

 

[mgteich]

O-T-I-S says hi.

Springs has more versatility at this point as he can play the Safety positions as well. I would imagine he would be best as a situational / rotation player at this point in his career anyways.

Assuming we are hoping for 19-20 games, with a majority in the cold New England weather, I don't know how a 34 year old body would hold up as an every down player.