Sam Aiken

[mgteich]

- 2009 special teams captain
- still our #5 receiver, playing when one of the four is out (sometimes playing with the 1's)
- one of our two best coverage players (with Arrington)
- a roster lock

 

[Sciz]

Has he been playing ahead of Price?

 

[DaBruinz]

- 2009 special teams captain
- still our #5 receiver, playing when one of the four is out (sometimes playing with the 1's)
- one of our two best coverage players (with Arrington)
- a roster lock

Sorry, but Aiken isn't one of the best coverage guys.. He's behind Arrington and Lockett.

 

[Tunescribe]

Sorry, but Aiken isn't one of the best coverage guys.. He's behind Arrington and Lockett.

Here's wishing he played a different position ... Or, that one of the others would step up and challenge him.

 

[mgteich]

Yes, the open question is the status of the two injured special teamers: Lockett and Slater. Do you have Lockett making the team? Which of the following special teamers have you found room for on your roster projection?

Aiken
Arrington
Woods
Alexander
Lockett
Slater

I'm sure belichick would like to keep them all. There just isn't room.

Sorry, but Aiken isn't one of the best coverage guys.. He's behind Arrington and Lockett.

 

[BTTA]

Sorry, but Aiken isn't one of the best coverage guys.. He's behind Arrington and Lockett.

Doesn't being #3 make him one of our best coverage guys?

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I wish we would have been able to retain Kelly Washington from a few years ago...Kelly was never asked to perform as a WR but was a key STs ace very quickly as a Pat and in Baltimore he had shown some existing skills as a receiver as well (now in Philly) - something Aiken has not been able to do.

 

[jmt57]

Aiken primarily makes the team or is cut due to his special teams play. Chung has often been in his place as protection for the punter. However it is possible that several other special teamers from 2009 may not make the roster: Alexander, Slater, Lockett, Woods, and Ninkovich are all on the bubble. It's possible BB may want to have some continuity and experience on special teams, which would help Aiken. Another factor in his favor is that some who were expected to contribute to special teams such as McKenzie and Cunningham have seen little or no time with those units.

As far as WR goes, Aiken has two things going for him. Torry Holt was expected to take a WR roster spot, but the went on IR. And because he had to wait for his class to graduate, Taylor Price's learning curve has been slowed down. He probably can't be counted on to contribute for much of anything other than returns this year.

There is of course the possibility that BB has seen enough from Hernandez and Gronkowski that he is comfortable going with more 2-TE formations, and he would carry one less wide receiver. If that was the case Aiken could be cut, but I doubt that will happen. Though his abilities at WR are limited, Aiken does provide some insurance with so many inexperienced receivers (and tight ends).

 

[AzPatsFan]

Belichick paid a high price to import Buffalo's special team captain after Izzo got old. You need leadership on every squad, and ST captain Aiken provides that.

Nobody but nobody produces more ST tackles than Pierre Woods, and he isn't even a gunner.

Both of these ST stars, can also contribute some on regular snaps too. What's not to like, and what's the mystery about who is kept?

 

[Pats726]

I really think Aiken will be there with the 53...they NEED an experienced ST player amongst all the youngsters. There is something important to being an ST captain...one who has experience in many situations...Izzo was great..Aiken is VERY good. Without him there would be a void..the only OTHER player that I could see doing that this year would be Alexander and he's on the bubble, if not looking closer to out. He can fill in at WR when needed and while he's NOT a 3rd... a game or two is OK with him playing more. (Not like last year when he was in a LOT at WR) Clearly Tate and Edelman are ahead of him, but as a 5th..not bad. Price will make it but more ST or inactive.
So I would be VERY surprised if he's cut.

 

[DaBruinz]

Doesn't being #3 make him one of our best coverage guys?

Why are you assuming that he'd be number 3 behind Arrington and Lockett? Did I say that? No. I just said he was behind them. Why do you assume that there aren't others whom I consider ahead of Aiken.

 

[DaBruinz]

I wish we would have been able to retain Kelly Washington from a few years ago...Kelly was never asked to perform as a WR but was a key STs ace very quickly as a Pat and in Baltimore he had shown some existing skills as a receiver as well (now in Philly) - something Aiken has not been able to do.

You clearly don't realize that the Pats CHOSE to part ways with Kelley Washington after his 2nd season with the Pats. After the 2008 season was over, a season which K. Washington was pretty horrible on special teams, the Pats cut him because he'd fallen behind players such as Slater.

Please don't make it sound like Washington chose to leave the Pats on his own accord because that is NOT what happened.

 

[Pats726]

You clearly don't realize that the Pats CHOSE to part ways with Kelley Washington after his 2nd season with the Pats. After the 2008 season was over, a season which K. Washington was pretty horrible on special teams, the Pats cut him because he'd fallen behind players such as Slater.

Please don't make it sound like Washington chose to leave the Pats on his own accord because that is NOT what happened.

Wasn't this just before he was to receive bonus or money and they CUT him?? Yes..it was MORE the team's decision..

 

[fgssand]

I really think Aiken will be there with the 53...they NEED an experienced ST player amongst all the youngsters. There is something important to being an ST captain...one who has experience in many situations...Izzo was great..Aiken is VERY good. Without him there would be a void..the only OTHER player that I could see doing that this year would be Alexander and he's on the bubble, if not looking closer to out. He can fill in at WR when needed and while he's NOT a 3rd... a game or two is OK with him playing more. (Not like last year when he was in a LOT at WR) Clearly Tate and Edelman are ahead of him, but as a 5th..not bad. Price will make it but more ST or inactive.
So I would be VERY surprised if he's cut.

Aiken will be there, imho without a doubt, based on special teams play - price also makes the team (pratice squad would be great, but he wont make it through), so, yes that means we carry 6 wideouts (moss, welker, edelman, tate, price & aiken) and 3 tightends, somehow - 4 rb's, i am cutting bjge.

As for St, along with aiken, wood has to be kept, he is a tackling machine and the third "lock" imho is arrington or lockett.

 

[IllegalContact]

Why are you assuming that he'd be number 3 behind Arrington and Lockett? Did I say that? No. I just said he was behind them. Why do you assume that there aren't others whom I consider ahead of Aiken.

who cares what you consider. are you any kind of authority on anything other than being a total prick?

 

[D-cleater]

- 2009 special teams captain
- still our #5 receiver, playing when one of the four is out (sometimes playing with the 1's)
- one of our two best coverage players (with Arrington)
- a roster lock

- Arguably best run blocking WR. I agree he's a lock, or at the very least ahead of Slater, Brown, and Lockett.

 

[DaBruinz]

Wasn't this just before he was to receive bonus or money and they CUT him?? Yes..it was MORE the team's decision..

Washington spent two years with the Patriots. He was cut after the 1st season because of the contract. He was cut after the 2nd season because he was lousy.

 

[DaBruinz]

who cares what you consider. are you any kind of authority on anything other than being a total prick?

The only one being a prick is yourself. Maybe you should keep your trap shut unless you know what you are talking about. Betterthanthealternative made an assumption about what I was saying. I have the right to correct that assumption. I didn't call him or MG any names, say they were stupid or anything of the sort. Yet, you have to open your trap and prove yourself to be a fool .

Nice job.

 

[Brady2Welker]

Aiken has his uses, he's a big framed target that has shown he isn't afraid to get dirty blocking. Say you bring him in a formation that is Moss, Gronkowski, Hernandez, Tate and Him, you could potentially get a decent matchup on him versus an undersized, poor skilled DB and potentially make the catch and fight for some yards. Or in a similar scenario if hes in in a short yardage package with Moss, Crumpler, Gronkowski, and X RB he could be useful in play action or blocking.

By no means am I suggesting that he's an enormous impact player, but if you combine his basic offensive additions (as a simple fourth receiver) to our team as well as special teams contributions, I'd easily say that he easily makes the roster. You don't need all pro receivers for your fourth position, as long as hes not our third receiver I believe he can make productive contributions to this team.

 

[DaBruinz]

Aiken has his uses, he's a big framed target that has shown he isn't afraid to get dirty blocking. Say you bring him in a formation that is Moss, Gronkowski, Hernandez, Tate and Him, you could potentially get a decent matchup on him versus an undersized, poor skilled DB and potentially make the catch and fight for some yards. Or in a similar scenario if hes in in a short yardage package with Moss, Crumpler, Gronkowski, and X RB he could be useful in play action or blocking.

By no means am I suggesting that he's an enormous impact player, but if you combine his basic offensive additions (as a simple fourth receiver) to our team as well as special teams contributions, I'd easily say that he easily makes the roster. You don't need all pro receivers for your fourth position, as long as hes not our third receiver I believe he can make productive contributions to this team.

Welker is a better blocker than Aiken....and I don't see the Pats putting Aiken in over Welker in formations with Moss, Tate, Gronkowski and Hernandez on the field.

Damn.. what a nightmare for play-action pass that would be if the Pats get a running game going..