What are your opinions on Kyle Arrington?

[PatsFanStnfrd]

Arrington has surprised everyone. For BB to keep him as a starter, either he is producing or the alternatives on the Pats are much worse.

 

[Schmo]

Arrington hasn't shown consistently that he can tackle. It's frustrating watching him get tossed around the field and having a safety or LB clean up his mess. Can't wait for Bodden to come back next season. Honestly i'd rather pick up a solid #3 in FA or the draft, Arrington gets abused far too often. Maybe he'd be OK in the Nickel.

He's 4th on the team in tackles, ahead of Meriweather (a starting safety) and Spikes (a starting LB). Half of McCourty's success this year has been against the run, and it seems to me that Arrington has just as much impact against the run as McCourty. Arrington is as good in coverage Wilhite and Butler.

He's the kind of aggressive player that has kept this defense on their toes instead of their heels. He's going to see the field a lot whether or not Bodden is playing.

 

[doesntmatter1]

I like arrington alot. His ball awareness is no where near mccourty but it is much better than say wilhite and he simply completes. The dude is stronger than most cb's and has pretty good speed and seems to play alot of press coverage well and that helps our pathetic pass rush. Also, he refuses to be cut. Special teams demon and i rewatched the Colts game and saw that he was a pretty effective pass rusher regardless of what people say around here. I would argue that manning threw his second pick in that game because of arrington's pressure.

Lastly, depending on how the draft shakes out i can easily see bodden getting cut and saving money in the process. I do like bodden alot but it isnt hard to see that he has speed limitations and it was on display when he continuously gave eddie royal a large cushion last year and got benched the following game. I love how bodden knows his own limitations and gives the right amount of cushion so you dont always notice. But im seriously not sure he can beat out arrington and if he cant, i just don't see him playing the slot. Keep in mind that 3 of his 5 picks came in one game against the jets when sanchez just wouldn't stop throwing them at him.

 

[patsfan-1982]

Leigh Bodden, will be 30 Darius Butler, took a step back. Jonathan Wilhite, is not very good so yes they should bring him back but i dont know if he will be starting...i could see BB useing one of he's two #1's on a CB and tradeing away one of them for a #1 in 2012

#17 ( from oak ) trade it to the packers for #23 and a 4th and 7th round pick and the pats take Brandon Harris, CB from miami

#32 trade it to washington for a 6th round pick and there #1 in 2012

#33 ( from Carolina Panthers ) Cameron Jordan, 3-4 DE from California

#64 Marcus Cannon, G from TCU

#74 ( from the vikings ) Greg Romeus, DE/OLB from Pittsburgh

#96 Janoris Jenkins, CB from Florida

 

[Anj]

I'm a big Butler fan because I'm also a Uconn fan, so i really hope he steps it up and can be our third corner.

I think between Butler and Arrington, we'll be sure to have a solid nickel guy because of that competition. (assuming McCourty and Bodden start)

Arrington really made a huge difference with that pick-6 yesterday. That was a beastly runback. He also should have had another pick. He's gotten better as the years gone on.

 

[DarrylS]

This is a good problem, if Bodden returns to form we have two solid starting CB's.. then with Arrington and Butler as backups we are pretty well set at CB.

And another season behind McCourty, Butler and Arrington adds to their value..

The added dimension for Arrington is ST play, which is a real strength..

 

[patsinthesnow]

Arrington has turned out to be a solid #2 CB. He's a sure tackler, breaks up some passes, is near the WR, and doesn't get burnt too often.

In perspective he is better than Hobbs, who was the #2 CB and even the #1 CB in 2008. He got burnt too much.

Arrington will be CB3 next year and compete with Bodden for #2.

 

[jah]

I would think Bodden is once again the RCB, McCourty remains the LCB, and the rest (Butler, Arrington, Wilhite) will battle it out for other (slot, nickel, dime) playing time.

I don't see a reason to leave Bodden on the bench as McCourty's backup.

As far as the pass defense stats go, there's other reasons (e.g., pass rush) beyond blaming that on the performance of the corners.

Arrington has played better than anyone could have reasonably expected him to. Most didn't even think he'd make the roster when training camp started.

Actually, we all thought he would make it...just as a pure special teamer, not a starting CB!

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I like arrington alot. His ball awareness is no where near mccourty but it is much better than say wilhite and he simply completes. The dude is stronger than most cb's and has pretty good speed and seems to play alot of press coverage well and that helps our pathetic pass rush. Also, he refuses to be cut. Special teams demon and i rewatched the Colts game and saw that he was a pretty effective pass rusher regardless of what people say around here. I would argue that manning threw his second pick in that game because of arrington's pressure.

Lastly, depending on how the draft shakes out i can easily see bodden getting cut and saving money in the process. I do like bodden alot but it isnt hard to see that he has speed limitations and it was on display when he continuously gave eddie royal a large cushion last year and got benched the following game. I love how bodden knows his own limitations and gives the right amount of cushion so you dont always notice. But im seriously not sure he can beat out arrington and if he cant, i just don't see him playing the slot. Keep in mind that 3 of his 5 picks came in one game against the jets when sanchez just wouldn't stop throwing them at him.

I was right with you up until that last line. You don't judge corners by their INTs alone, unless you're wearing an Asante Samuel jersey. Heck, the true shutdown guys have very few picks because no one even wants to throw near them. Revis has 0 this season. Nnamdi has 0 as well, and only 3 over the past 3 years.

Bodden was pretty good in terms of burn rate, finishing 19th in the league last season to go with 18 PDs. Arrington has 5 so far, while McCourty has 15.

I'm not saying Arrington can't beat out Bodden next year, just that it makes no sense to talk about 3 of Bodden's picks coming in one game while ignoring the entire body of work. If you thought this year's corner depth chart sucked, don't forget last year we had a guy who should have retired, a guy the Lions cut, a rookie, and Wilhite. But Bodden emerged as our best corner and helped stabilize the unit, just as McCourty has this year. If he's healthy, he's good enough to regain his starting job.

 

[jarnhestur]

I'm surprised at the negativity towards Arrington. Obviously the coaching staff considers him far superior to Butler given that Arrington's snap count is so much higher then Butler.

Arrington has been quite solid this year. He's growing into the position quite nicely and plays his receiver quite well. Even if the pass is completed, he's in position and close enough to make the tackle (and he tackles well). He's clearly the #2 CB at this point. Butler isn't even close.

When Bodden returns, I expect him start and Arrington to play #3 CB and probably the slot. The CB depth looks a lot better then it has in a very long time.

 

[KevinFaulk-33]

I'm surprised at the negativity towards Arrington. Obviously the coaching staff considers him far superior to Butler given that Arrington's snap count is so much higher then Butler.

Arrington has been quite solid this year. He's growing into the position quite nicely and plays his receiver quite well. Even if the pass is completed, he's in position and close enough to make the tackle (and he tackles well). He's clearly the #2 CB at this point. Butler isn't even close.

When Bodden returns, I expect him start and Arrington to play #3 CB and probably the slot. The CB depth looks a lot better then it has in a very long time.

The only game that i saw Arrington in real trouble was when he was covering Reggie Wayne. In the last 4 games he played pretty well. But if Butler step up I think that is more suited for covering the slot receiver role in nickel package.

I think that McCourty/Bodden will be the starter duo if both are healty.

 

[Ring 6]

In accordance to Rotoworld, Arrington will be an "Exclusive Rights Free Agent." Regardless, in your mind, has he shown enough this season to be a returning starter next season ahead of Butler. Or should Belichick make corner back opposite McCourty an open competition.

In my opinion, I would like to see somebody beat out Arrington. I wonder, has Arrington played better than Butler or has Butler simply played worst. I want to give Butler another chance, though.

When you're ranked statistically as one of the lower tier secondaries in the league. Blame goes all around.

And what to do with Bodden. Do you move McCourty over to right corner back? Or do you decide on a right corner back and Bodden is the backup to McCourty at left corner back going forward.

Do you really think that starters are annointed and not subject to competing for their jobs during the off-season, camp and season?

 

[Ring 6]

I agree, but I would think that the Patriots would like to keep Arrington around although it is possible he could get more money to go and start with another team.

As an ERFA, he cant go elsewhere unless we cut him loose......unless the new CBA changes that.
Even if Bodden comes back, Butler gets it, Wilhite is healthy and we draft another McCourty in round 1, Arrington will be here playing special teams.

 

[Mack Herron]

To my eyes Arrington is one of the most improved players on the defense. He will compete for a starting job next year. I think the LBs and DLs have been less consistent than the DBs.

 

[Ring 6]

I like him as #4 or #5 CB.

The early offseason projection is Bodden and McCourty as starters, Butler as nickel, Arrington as #4. Wilhite competes with newcomers, Carter, et al. for a job.

McCourty, Arrington, and Butler are all useful STers, so that aspect makes BB smile.

How did Butler move ahead of the guy who is starting ahead of him, and playing every play while Bulter gets 6 snaps out of 84?

And how did Wilhite move behind him after being ahead of him all season?

 

[Ring 6]

It was my understanding that Bodden played on the left. Actually, McCourty was starting in place of Bodden throughout the pre-season. If Bodden wasn't injured (he tried to come back), McCourty might not have started during the pre-season. It would've been Bodden and Butler.

I didn't mention the play of the defensive line or the linebackers because I was talking about a player in the secondary, specifically.

I think Arrington has overachieved which isn't a bad thing for the Patriots. It's just that fans need to keep their expectations of him for next season realistic.

The best 2 would be playing regardless of where they were lining up in preseason.

 

[fair catch fryar]

If history at this position has taught the Pats anything is that depth cannot be overlooked. Keep him. Besides McCourty, I think this postiton will always be open for competition under BB.

 

[Dagg]

I think he is a fine 3, definately much improved this year and head and shoulders above the guys behind him.

 

[RobertWeathers]

To my eyes Arrington is one of the most improved players on the defense. He will compete for a starting job next year. I think the LBs and DLs have been less consistent than the DBs.

Hes only 24. Based on this first year as a starter, as long as he continues to improve he'll have a nice career as worst-case a slot DB. I doubt it will happen, but beating out Bodden is not of the realm of possibility.

 

[Kid~Brady]

To my eyes Arrington is one of the most improved players on the defense. He will compete for a starting job next year. I think the LBs and DLs have been less consistent than the DBs.

Exactly but I just can't see him starting over Leigh Bodden. Its going to be Bodden and McCourty easily.