The "Need" For Upgrade In the Secondary?

[mgteich]

I don't see the need. I am all for bringing in free agent veterans and 4th round draft picks for competition, but I don't see the "need".

SAFETY
We're all set with Meriweather, Chung and Sanders.
Lockett and Sergio Brown should be in camp and are solid special teamers.
Page and/or McGowan should be re-signed to be the fourth safety.

CORNER
Arrington has played almost every rep and we are 10-2. Next year, he should be capable of being a solid backup to Bodden and McCourty.

NICKEL
Butler seems to be a reasonable nickel with Wilhite as his backup. Also, Arrington or one of the safeties are also available at nickel or dime back, as they have been there this year.

 

[D-Money]

I agree but i really thought that Butler would be more then a nickel CB.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Thanks for posting this MG, I've said the same a few times. 2nd year Mccourty and Bodden could be one of the best duos in the NFL. I even see potential in Kyle Arrington to become a quailty backup/borderline starter. Then you have Butler at nickel and Wilhite behind all of them. I wouldn't select a CB at all, I don't get the talk for one in the first two rounds.

Safety is deep as it can get.

 

[SirApropos]

Safety is deep as it can get.

It is and it isn't. There are only 4 Safeties signed for next year and only 2 beyond 2012. There are currently nine potential safeties for 2011 currently on the roster. If they expand rosters to 55-58. I can see them still keeping five safeties next year.

Sergio Brown SS
Patrick Chung SS
Brandon Meriweather FS
James Sanders FS
Jarrad Page SS (FA)
Josh Barrett SS (RFA - History of Shoulder Injuries)
Bret Lockett FS (ERFA - More of a ST guy, Injury concern)
Brandon McGowan FS (FA)
Ross Ventrone FS (Practice Squad)

I think they will try and move Meriweather during the 2011 draft to a team like Houston or San Fran since he only has one year left and they can't keep both him and Sanders beyond 2011. There's no guarantee that Page and McGowan are back next year if they find dollars elsewhere.

I think the 3rd-4th round they can find a good FS prospect like Quinton Carter from Oklahoma.

 

[patchick]

Safety is deep as it can get.

It is deep, but I think there's still room for a guy with a more classic free safety skill set. Or to put it another way, despite the depth I don't think that the 2012 starter opposite Chung is on the roster right now. Drafting him a year early would be nice, if the right player is available.

 

[Marqui]

I don't think that the 2012 starter opposite Chung is on the roster right now.

What are you basing this on?

 

[MaineMan]

It is deep, but I think there's still room for a guy with a more classic free safety skill set. Or to put it another way, despite the depth I don't think that the 2012 starter opposite Chung is on the roster right now. Drafting him a year early would be nice, if the right player is available.

As before, I agree. We don't have another safety on the roster who has anywhere near Meriweather's coverage skills and there's a good chance that Meriweather prices himself off the roster when the time comes.

Also, with CB - Bodden isn't young, Arrington's particular skills have limited applicability, Neither Wilhite nor Butler appear to be, at this point, that "3rd good corner" that we need. Given the usual time required to develop a good corner, getting another solid prospect now would just be good planning for the inevitable (and nearer than you think) future.

 

[Snake Eyes]

I'm not a fan of Merriweather, I'd like to see us trade him for picks and grab Mark Barron from Alabama.

 

[MaineMan]

I'm not a fan of Merriweather, I'd like to see us trade him for picks and grab Mark Barron from Alabama.

I think Meriweather has actually been a very good deep centerfielder for us. He's good because of the bad things that don't happen with him back there - sort of in the same way that you rarely hear a good cover corner's number called.

Not saying he's great. He does have his flaws. But we don't have any other safety on the roster who'd be anywhere even close to as good at what he does well. So we need one. BEFORE Meriweather is gone, ideally.

 

[mgteich]

Sure we could bring in a 3rd or 4th rounder instead of Page or McGowan. I wouldn't.

It is and it isn't. There are only 4 Safeties signed for next year and only 2 beyond 2012. There are currently nine potential safeties for 2011 currently on the roster. If they expand rosters to 55-58. I can see them still keeping five safeties next year.

Sergio Brown SS
Patrick Chung SS
Brandon Meriweather FS
James Sanders FS
Jarrad Page SS (FA)
Josh Barrett SS (RFA - History of Shoulder Injuries)
Bret Lockett FS (ERFA - More of a ST guy, Injury concern)
Brandon McGowan FS (FA)
Ross Ventrone FS (Practice Squad)

I think they will try and move Meriweather during the 2011 draft to a team like Houston or San Fran since he only has one year left and they can't keep both him and Sanders beyond 2011. There's no guarantee that Page and McGowan are back next year if they find dollars elsewhere.

I think the 3rd-4th round they can find a good FS prospect like Quinton Carter from Oklahoma.

 

[Taxed in Maine]

CB - I am one of the few that think they could improve the CB position. Not impressed with either Butler or Wilhite at this point. One of the reasons I see Arrington playing over them is because he is a much more physical player, much stronger supporting the run. Bodden is coming off a major injury and will only be around for a couple years. I could see a CB getting selected in the late second or third round.

Safety - I agree with Patchick. They need another FS. Meriweather is the only true FS on that entire list. A later round pick, 4th or 5th would be fine.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think they will try and move Meriweather during the 2011 draft to a team like Houston or San Fran since he only has one year left and they can't keep both him and Sanders beyond 2011. There's no guarantee that Page and McGowan are back next year if they find dollars elsewhere.

If the Pats trade a player, they feel that what they get in trade is at least as valuable, if not more valuable, than that player's services.

Given that Meriweather is getting more playtime recently, I'm not convinced that they will see things that way next spring. Even if they plan to let him walk in 2012, they may well feel that having Meriweather around next year is better than trading him.

 

[IllegalContact]

I'd like to see more of page this season. If he works out, he may be cheap, and he gives the unit some size the others don't have.....I'd rather go with page then a rookie there.

as for CB.....if the right guy is there at the right time, sure.....why not.....jury is still out on butler and will bodden be the same? even if they both play well, it would not be a bad thing to get another prospect and let wheatley and wilhite hit the road.

 

[patchick]

What are you basing this on?

I'm basing it on the simple fact that the only safeties under contract for 2012 are Chung and Sergio Brown. And I don't see Meriweather as anything like a sure-thing to re-up.

 

[Marqui]

I don't see Meriweather as anything like a sure-thing to re-up.

The coaching staff seems to like him, he plays a ton of snaps every game.

 

[MaineMan]

I'd like to see more of page this season. If he works out, he may be cheap, and he gives the unit some size the others don't have.....I'd rather go with page then a rookie there.

as for CB.....if the right guy is there at the right time, sure.....why not.....jury is still out on butler and will bodden be the same? even if they both play well, it would not be a bad thing to get another prospect and let wheatley and wilhite hit the road.

Wheatley was waived by the Pats over a month ago on 11/6 and signed a standard 2-yr contract with JAX on 11/8.

Coincidentally, the Pats just signed Slot CB Chevis Jackson who was waived by JAX on 11/17 and who was originally drafted six spots after Wheatley in 2008 (by ATL).

 

[mgteich]

This is the strongest argument for drafting a safety. Both Sanders and Meriweather will be in their contract years and one or both could be gone after the 2011 season.

This is not a need for upgrade, but rather it is a reason to draft a safety.

I'm basing it on the simple fact that the only safeties under contract for 2012 are Chung and Sergio Brown. And I don't see Meriweather as anything like a sure-thing to re-up.

 

[patchick]

This is the strongest argument for drafting a safety. Both Sanders and Meriweather will be in their contract years and one or both could be gone after the 2011 season.

This is not a need for upgrade, but rather it is a reason to draft a safety.

That's a useful distinction. I'd agree then that I see no immediate "need for upgrade" for the secondary -- but I'm still keeping my eye on free safety as a potential draft target.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

That's a useful distinction. I'd agree then that I see no immediate "need for upgrade" for the secondary -- but I'm still keeping my eye on free safety as a potential draft target.

Given that safety is the key communication piece in the Pats secondary and only Sanders can currently get the Pats lined up correctly on any given play, I see safety as a huge priority in the 2011 draft.

That way the player gets red shirt year to play ST and learn the system and then can contribute, ala Chung, in the 2012 defense.

There is no doubt in my mind that Chung is currently playing wounded and toughing it out against a bad knee injury that will probably need surgery in the off season.

Merriweather is a very capable at cover 1,but is absolutely horrible in cover 2 and 3 and believe it or not, even worse than horrible in the BB soft zone prevent defense. Thinking is clearly not in the cards for Merriweather.

I think Barron of Alabama is going to declare and should be available when BB picks in the third round. He has three years of experience in our defense and is a playmaker and leader. This is a round peg for a round hole.

 

[mgteich]

Wasn't Chung supposed to be the top safety who could come in and call the plays after a year?

Why do believe that a 3rd round talent would be good enough to replace Snaders in that role?

I do find it mildly amusing that half the board would like to see Sanders cut and the other half understands that he is a critical part of our defense.
==========

BTW, we could have a corner on the team who caould call plays for the secondary.

Given that safety is the key communication piece in the Pats secondary and only Sanders can currently get the Pats lined up correctly on any given play, I see safety as a huge priority in the 2011 draft.