There is no way Terrence Nunn makes this roster!

[PushnPencils]

I think he seems like another 4A UDFA wide receiver with no obvious special teams position(s).

I root for him and Edelman because I like the underdog but I can't say they'd make the roster better over Slater and Aiken, who we know can play ST (especially the latter guy).

And we really won't know anything about how these guys stack up until a couple preseason games have gone by, since the only way to evaluate coverage units is in those games. (Haven't been to any of the practices, but it would be unusual for a team to practice much coverage stuff full speed in training camp because of the potential for injury.)

ST is important, but if a Lewis or Galloway...go down...I'd rather have a good receiver take their place rather than adequate one's.

 

[Trocadile]

I went to my one practice session yesterday (Monday) morning. I wasn't focusing on Nunn, and was actually more curious about Edelman. But Nunn made me notice him. If I was rating the top three catches I saw by any receiver, he probably had all three, and he caught everything that was thrown anywhere near him. This doesn't make him a lock to make the roster, but considering he seems to have been performing this way every day, it certainly gives him a chance - unless you want to say that practice performance means nothing. And we know that's not true on a Bill Belichick team.

 

[mgteich]

Yes, and we have Welker and Lewis on the squad. As of now, if anyone of the top three are injured, Lewis gets more playing time. It's really that simple. If Belichick and the staff think that they can get more production out of Nunn than Lewis, then Nunn will beat out Lewis for the #4 receiver spot, leaving Lewis competing for a special teams position.

In any case, the decision betwee Lewis and Nunn is about the quality of the #4 receiver, as you point out. The #5 isn't there to catch passes (Faulk catches much more every year then the #5 and also the #4 for that matter).

We now have three top teamers in league in Aiken, Ciurciu and Jones. I don't think any rookie is beating them out. Besides, Alexander, Ventrone and Slater are EXPERIENCED special teamers.

IMHO, we will understand Belichick better if we understand the importance of the defense side of special teams to Belichick. Me, I wouldn't have drafted Chung where we did. When we did draft him it was immediately udnerstandable, given Chung's special teams skills.

ST is important, but if a Lewis or Galloway...go down...I'd rather have a good receiver take their place rather than adequate one's.

 

[PushnPencils]

Yes, and we have Welker and Lewis on the squad. As of now, if anyone of the top three are injured, Lewis gets more playing time. It's really that simple. If Belichick and the staff think that they can get more production out of Nunn than Lewis, then Nunn will beat out Lewis for the #4 receiver spot, leaving Lewis competing for a special teams position.

In any case, the decision betwee Lewis and Nunn is about the quality of the #4 receiver, as you point out. The #5 isn't there to catch passes (Faulk catches much more every year then the #5 and also the #4 for that matter).

We now have three top teamers in league in Aiken, Ciurciu and Jones. I don't think any rookie is beating them out. Besides, Alexander, Ventrone and Slater are EXPERIENCED special teamers.

IMHO, we will understand Belichick better if we understand the importance of the defense side of special teams to Belichick. Me, I wouldn't have drafted Chung where we did. When we did draft him it was immediately udnerstandable, given Chung's special teams skills.

With that logic, carry only 4 receivers then. I bet you could find a better ST player in the LB or DB pool rather than wasting a spot on a #5 receiver.

 

[unoriginal]

In any case, the decision betwee Lewis and Nunn is about the quality of the #4 receiver, as you point out. The #5 isn't there to catch passes (Faulk catches much more every year then the #5 and also the #4 for that matter).

And, most years, more than the #3.

 

[Brady-To-Branch]

Re: There is no way Terrance Nunn makes this roster!

While I think Slater is as close to a lock as STer can be it would not suprise me that much if BB cut him (this team is real stacked and if someone who plays offense or defense proves to be close in ST skills they win)

still no explanation how he compares to Tbucky.

How can you say Slater doesn't have football intelligence? I have no idea where you get that from. give me some examples please, back up your statement.

What position does Slater play?

WR? DB? I haven't seen him show anything in either of those areas.

On teams, he's had fumbles on returns.

Where's the potential? I see none. Just a great athlete without a position.

Tbucky was also a great athlete, but as an NFL safety, he took bad angles to the ballcarrier, moving in too soon only to get walled off by his own defenders. He'd make a highlight hit but couldn't wrap up. He was late getting to the ball, failing to read the QB and the routes, yet he looked good on the highlight reels running down a receiver from behind, after allowing him to get by.

Tbucky, like Slater has a variety of athletic gifts that make fans and scouts drool, but in the end they are teases.

 

[mgteich]

For many years, I have had only four wide receivers on my roster. Curiously, so has Belichick. Last year we carried Ventrone, Slater, and Washington and usually listed them as wide receivers. That's just a label, they were special teamers. I think Washington had 2 catches all year. Aiken was out #4 receiver. One could argue that we only carried three wide receivers last year. We can do that because our running backs and tight ends get lots of opportunities. Faulk and Watson were really our #4 and #5 receivers for the last couple of years.

As far as linebackers or safeties always being better special teamers, I disagree. The players above are all very reasonable special teamers. BTW, you do know the name of the CAPTAIN of our special teams under our new coach, don't you?

But yes, at least one of the special teamers is should be good enough to be an emergency wide receiver. Aiken was our #4 last year. We upgraded to Lewis. Aiken is now special teams captain, and our emergency #5 receiver. Aiken is doing exactly what he was brought here to do, to replace Izzo as special teams captain and to lead the special teams.

With that logic, carry only 4 receivers then. I bet you could find a better ST player in the LB or DB pool rather than wasting a spot on a #5 receiver.

 

[mgteich]

Just, BTW, how many catches has Nunn made from the hand of Tom Brady this week, compared to Lewis and Edleman.

If any unlikely someone is going to break in for reps at WR, I would bet on Tate and Edleman long before Nunn.

 

[captain stone]

Tate? As in Brandon Tate, who will be starting the season on PUP?

You might be correct in comparing Nunn to Bam, or to that Anderson kid from 4 years ago, but I don't think we'll be hearing from Tate until Halloween, if then.

As for Edelman, I am really looking forward to seeing what he - and Nunn - can do when another team's DBs are across the field from him.

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: There is no way Terrance Nunn makes this roster!

What position does Slater play?

WR? DB? I haven't seen him show anything in either of those areas.

On teams, he's had fumbles on returns.

Where's the potential? I see none. Just a great athlete without a position.

I am just going to give up on the Tebucky debate because it doesn't matter.

He plays Safety when he gets reps with the defense but he is a Special Teams player. He wont be the first player to earn a roster spot solely on STs. Think Izzo he was technically a LB but the only play I ever remember him making for us on defense in the 7-8 years he was here was the INT he had at the end of 31-0 victory over the Bills he was in in mop up duty.

Now the kid is in his second year and was the second leading tackler on STs last year. You call him a great athlete without a position but you are not willing to grant him the STs position so he can develope into a player with a position. If you were coaching the team in the 90s with this logic Troy would never have become who he did. For what it is worth Slater has shown me a few good plays at the Safety position in camp.

BUT BOTTOM LINE IS HIS POSITION RIGHT NOW IS A SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER.

 

[signbabybrady]

Folks on here confuse me.

Let me get this staright:

Sam Aiken....Haven't heard ANYTHING of note about him in camp...ZERO

Slater....Same thing.

Edelman.....nice project player, interesting athlete.....PS in my mind.

All of the above are shoe in's to some for the 53 man roster.

Nunn.....Making catch after catch, in some cases with incredible ability and athleticism. About one blurb in TC articles about his great performance almost every other day.

Too bad he we can't keep him.....No room for him.....Good luck on some other team.

Weird Stuff.

Can you picture some of these media guys writing in one of their blogs Slater or Aiken continuously fly down the field on STs and if they were allowed to hit would have made the tackle. If you read enough you can find there names a few times but they will never get the same coverage.
On the flip side it is a much better read to hear about this kid who makes some spectacular catches.
I bet if you had a chance to ask some these reporters whether they thought STs aces had a better chance to make the team than Nunn they would probably go with the STs ace.

 

[mgteich]

My point is that if a wide receiver other than the current top four is to contribute THIS YEAR, that person is much more likely to be Tate or Edleman than Nunn.

Tate? As in Brandon Tate, who will be starting the season on PUP?

You might be correct in comparing Nunn to Bam, or to that Anderson kid from 4 years ago, but I don't think we'll be hearing from Tate until Halloween, if then.

As for Edelman, I am really looking forward to seeing what he - and Nunn - can do when another team's DBs are across the field from him.