Returning to practice: Brace, Arrington, and (drumroll please....), Cunningham!

[D-cleater]

Lots of positives going in to week one....not the least of which are some depth players on defense getting healthy enough to come back. Say what you want about Brace, but he has something to prove and the D-Line sorely needs depth.

I don't think we should expect to see Cunningham on the field, or active for that matter, the first few weeks, but good signs nonetheless.

 

[QB12]

...
I don't think we should expect to see Cunningham on the field, or active for that matter, the first few weeks, but good signs nonetheless.

Disagree, and wouldn't surprise me to see he's the designated third down edge rusher.

QB12

 

[JackBauer]

Say what you want about Brace

Okay, I will. I hope to see him start sooner rather than later.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Next move, my man The Crab promoted from the PS to the 53!

 

[BadMoFo]

Wonder if Jermaine Crablingham will play this week.

 

[D-cleater]

Disagree, and wouldn't surprise me to see he's the designated third down edge rusher.

QB12

So you are saying that with no preseason starts and no practice, he is essentially a "secret weapon" of sorts? Interesting. Sounds a little fictitious to me, but a fun thought.

I see Ninko as a 3-down back across from TBC in week one. I think he's earned it, and has just enough skill to justify playing all three downs over Murrell, who will however rotate in fairly often, I predict, depending on how long the defense is on the field.

Okay, I will. I hope to see him start sooner rather than later.

Oh, for sure. But first and foremost, we need his depth, especially if we are losing time of possession and the defense is tiring. I love me some Pryor and Kyle Love, but Brace showed some fight in preseason and thats what this team needs.

By the way, I have a nephew named Jack Bauer . He's 5 though and son to a Jet fan unfortunately.

 

[BradyManny]

Cunningham better be ready to play sooner than later. Outside of TBC, we have a bunch of JAGs (at best) at the position, so we're relying heavily on his development. Sooner he gets PT, sooner he develops.

 

[BradyMossWelker]

Good news, but would trade all of them fo Edelaman. But happy to see Brace well, I expect him to start.

 

[Ring 6]

Lots of positives going in to week one....not the least of which are some depth players on defense getting healthy enough to come back. Say what you want about Brace, but he has something to prove and the D-Line sorely needs depth.

I don't think we should expect to see Cunningham on the field, or active for that matter, the first few weeks, but good signs nonetheless.

These are going to turn out to be key guys on this team.
Arrington I assume should be ready for his s/ts duties and he is the best we have in many areas of st.
Brace is going to be the #1 LDE this year, its just a matter of when. Hopefully this injury didnt set him back and/or hecan at least play 30 snaps or so this week.
Cunningham being back is great, its just a matter of how far away he is.
I can see him being anywhere from inactive to playing full time and everywhere in between for any or all of the next 4 weeks.

I predict that by December 1, we consider Brace and Cunningham to be 2 of our better defensive players.

 

[BradyManny]

I predict that by December 1, we consider Brace and Cunningham to be 2 of our better defensive players.

I hope you're right.

Really, if just 2-4 of these guys (Spikes, Brace, Cunningham, Chung, Butler) pan out the way we hope they will, our defense will be just fine by playoff time. Heck, it might even be pretty good.

 

[sbpatfan]

Them whistles go

I am thrilled Cunningham is back, I've been dying to see him play.

 

[Kontradiction]

Cunningham better be ready to play sooner than later. Outside of TBC, we have a bunch of JAGs (at best) at the position, so we're relying heavily on his development. Sooner he gets PT, sooner he develops.

Rest assured. I can all but guarantee that Cunningham will be getting a lot more playing time than most people expect this week. I hope he kills it too.

 

[resdubwhite]

When I read the title of this thread a little bit of wee escaped and ran down my leg.

I'm soooo excited

No off to clean myself up

 

[PatsBoy12]

Cunningham and Brace being ready is some of the best news to come out of NE in the last weeks and a half for me.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Cunningham and Brace being ready is some of the best news to come out of NE in the last weeks and a half for me.

I felt the same way and then I think WHOA! it's come to this... we're jacked and pumped over a guy who looked meh at best last season and a rookie possible key starter who has hardly seen the field at all. Scary.

 

[D-cleater]

I hope you're right.

Really, if just 2-4 of these guys (Spikes, Brace, Cunningham, Chung, Butler) pan out the way we hope they will, our defense will be just fine by playoff time. Heck, it might even be pretty good.

I hope Andy's right too, but we haven't seen enough of Cunningham to say that he's going to be one of our better defensive players. If he is, and Brace is just *solid*, then our front seven is looking way better than advertised, especially if we are playing with lead most of the time, which I think we will.

But I'm more cautiously optimistic, and the odds say that not all of these guys can be impact players. I'd be happy with two of them being special, and the other three to be solid, hard-working, dedicated team players, in the mold of Bobby Hamilton/Ty Warren, Bruschi/Phifer, etc. Early indications point to Spikes and potentially Chung being special, if not exceptional athletes, and Butler being a great athlete and at least a very solid football player. If this prediction holds, and Brace and Cunningham can come in and be solid contributors, my expectations for this year are met (11-5 / 12-4) and anything more is just great.

 

[R_T26]

Rappaport has been saying since Saturday to expect Cunningham to play...he's the great hope.

 

[letekro]

Good news, but would trade all of them fo Edelaman. But happy to see Brace well, I expect him to start.

With Welker and Hernandez manning the slot, I think we'll be fine without Edelman. Cunningham's potential availability is the big story but Brace is a big piece as well.

 

[JackBauer]

I felt the same way and then I think WHOA! it's come to this... we're jacked and pumped over a guy who looked meh at best last season and a rookie possible key starter who has hardly seen the field at all. Scary.

It's not really scary. It's hope and excitement over the prospect of seeing two young guys come in and play well.

 

[Reckedtrek]

Trial by fire starts in less than four days! Very happy to see they're back. The hope of a good season and the excitement of the unknown has me really getting pumped up for the season to finally begin!