Will Wilhite and McGowan get starting jobs back?

[Kontradiction]

I agree about Springs expecting help over the top on the TD, but theres a reason why he hasnt played much this season.

Probably a mixture of him actually being hurt (minor injury) and the team trying to keep his legs fresh for the stretch run.

Butler is better than him even with him being a rookie. I actually thought Butler had a decent game last week vs the Dolphins. He broke up passes on crutial 3rd downs in the 3rd and beginning of the 4th.

Yeah, aside from covering Devonne Bess (10 catches, 117 yards, 1 TD) and, some of the time, Hartline. He also whiffed, horribly, on a tackle on a very short pass Bess. Aside from two catches, one of which wasn't his fault, Springs did pretty good against Smith. On top of that, this team is in bad need for veteran presence on the field. Sanders and Springs provide that. Let Butler come in as a nickelback. That's the best way for him to get ready for the NFL.

I disagree with your thoughts that we should simply the defense. You can simplify the defense when you're playing the Panthers, but you cant do that when you play powerful offenses which we will have to face in the playoffs. I think you can simplfy the defense this week vs the Bills and possibily Jacksonville, but not when we're facing Houston.

IMO some of the newer guys need to get eased back into the full defensive gameplan. Like I said, we were playing the Panthers, but there just seemed to be less of a "read and react" type of action from the defense. They were flowing to the ball better. This could be a good idea and could work with making the defense somewhat competitive against the Houston's of the NFL. Put it in now, and then ease the younger guys back into the harder stuff. Hopefully when we're playing we Houston, we will have created some separation from the Dolphins and the Jets in the division so that we can afford to experiment with the D against a good passing team.

 

[upstater1]

Probably a mixture of him actually being hurt (minor injury) and the team trying to keep his legs fresh for the stretch run.



Yeah, aside from covering Devonne Bess (10 catches, 117 yards, 1 TD) and, some of the time, Hartline. He also whiffed, horribly, on a tackle on a very short pass Bess. Aside from two catches, one of which wasn't his fault, Springs did pretty good against Smith. On top of that, this team is in bad need for veteran presence on the field. Sanders and Springs provide that. Let Butler come in as a nickelback. That's the best way for him to get ready for the NFL.



IMO some of the newer guys need to get eased back into the full defensive gameplan. Like I said, we were playing the Panthers, but there just seemed to be less of a "read and react" type of action from the defense. They were flowing to the ball better. This could be a good idea and could work with making the defense somewhat competitive against the Houston's of the NFL. Put it in now, and then ease the younger guys back into the harder stuff. Hopefully when we're playing we Houston, we will have created some separation from the Dolphins and the Jets in the division so that we can afford to experiment with the D against a good passing team.

I went back and watched Butler's second half from last week, and he was much much much better than you descirbe. On 5 straight plays he knocked the ball away. 5 straight.

Though Hartline did catch a crucial 1st down on him for 10 yards. But up until that catch, Butler had totally shut down his man in that half.

 

[The Dynasty]

I went back and watched Butler's second half from last week, and he was much much much better than you descirbe. On 5 straight plays he knocked the ball away. 5 straight.

Though Hartline did catch a crucial 1st down on him for 10 yards. But up until that catch, Butler had totally shut down his man in that half.

Originally Posted by KontradictioN
Probably a mixture of him actually being hurt (minor injury) and the team trying to keep his legs fresh for the stretch run.

Yes, thats what I saw as well. I respect you opinion on here, but I dont think that BB would play Butler over Springs all year long if he thought that Springs was actually better than Butler and just saving him for the strech run.

 

[mgteich]

Obviously, Belichick will try to put the players most likely to contribute on the field.

Springs was starter quality before he was injured. I am fine with whatever roles Belichick uses him, Wilhite and Butler. I certainly don't think that Wilhite or Butler has clearly won the starting role. There is plenty of reps for all of them.

James Sanders is the most underrated player on the defense, at least by fans. When he was on the field, he ran the defense last year and in the beginning of this year. Again, I like McGowan and Meriweather a lot, so I don't have any problem with the roles Belichick has for each of these three. And no, I still don't want Chung on an island in coverage.

BOTTOM LINE
I really like the top seven of our secondary, and we are fine at eight and nine with Chung and Wheatley. Our problems are not in the secondary.