Tracy White huh? thread

[BlitzFritz]

I love that practically no one knows who this guy is, but he is the Pats special teams monster leading the team in ST tackles.

I think he came in to replace the Izzo / Pierre Woods role, and flys under the radar. In fact, I cant recall ever hearing his name during a game. Certainly none of my regular tailgating and viewing crew know who he is....

Anyone else find this curious and amusing?

--FRITZ

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

Really? He leads the team in ST tackles? I never hear his name either. He has been in the league for years though.

 

[jmt57]

Jeff Howe from NESN profiled White earlier this morning.

Patriots Special Teamer Tracy White Setting Sights on First Pro Bowl Selection - New England Patriots - NESN.com

White has spent his offseasons studying tape of former Patriots special teams extraordinaire Larry Izzo, who made three Pro Bowl rosters, as well as Baltimore's Brendon Ayanbadejo and Jacksonville's Kassim Osgood. White looks at their techniques and tendencies, all in the name of maximizing his own ability in his niche.

And it's paid off. Despite a dip in his statistical output, at least by his own standards, White has earned some of his greatest compliments from players and coaches after games. They've told him their top priority was to limit White's production in coverage and force other players to beat them.

Maybe those same players will stuff the ballot in White's favor, and he'll earn a February trip to Hawaii.

"I've just got to keep my game up, try to make plays," White said. "The voting, that's down to the fans and the other players on the other teams. I'll try to let my game speak for itself and go game to game like that."

 

[Mainefan]

What? When did this guy get on the roster?

 

[Sciz]

What? When did this guy get on the roster?

Trade with the Eagles on cutdown day.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Well let's put a face on him
... always helps a bit.

 

[DaBruinz]

The Pats added Tracy White on cutdown day in a trade with Philly. At the time, many people on here didn't figure he'd amount to much.

Instead, he's been a fantastic addition to the team and, imho, he's added a level of leadership to the coverage units that the Pats haven't had since Larry Izzo went to the Jets.

 

[mgteich]

I'm sure that White has been under the radar of most. Belichick seems to almost always have two top special teams players who have no other function. When Aiken and Woods left, it was a matter of who Belichick had in mind for their replacements.

We now have White, Slater and Brown as our ST-only players (plus the kicker, punter and deep snapper). For me, Brown replaced Arrington in that role, when it was clear that Arrington was to be key in the regular defense.

 

[Fencer]

It's not him, it's the scheme.

I can't believe I was the first to say that ...

 

[jmt57]

It's not him, it's the scheme.

I can't believe I was the first to say that ...

He's just a system special teamer. Put him on any other team and he's nothing.

 

[truetodablues]

Man, I can't believe that nobody has heard of White before !! He is well respected around the league as a top ST ace ever since his days in Seattle. Keep an eye on him sometime and you'll see this guy continually draws maximum coverage. I was shocked when Philly let him go. Guess they figured he lost a step or something, I don't know. Whatever ..... their loss is the Patriots gain !

 

[shmessy]

Kinda surprised folks don't know about him. He made the Patriots' first tackle of the season.

 

[Kontradiction]

The Pats added Tracy White on cutdown day in a trade with Philly. At the time, many people on here didn't figure he'd amount to much.

Instead, he's been a fantastic addition to the team and, imho, he's added a level of leadership to the coverage units that the Pats haven't had since Larry Izzo went to the Jets.

Indeed. He's been far more useful than Matt Slater on the coverage teams.

 

[RayClay]

I love that practically no one knows who this guy is, but he is the Pats special teams monster leading the team in ST tackles.

I think he came in to replace the Izzo / Pierre Woods role, and flys under the radar. In fact, I cant recall ever hearing his name during a game. Certainly none of my regular tailgating and viewing crew know who he is....

Anyone else find this curious and amusing?

--FRITZ

Considering TV announcers either don't know or don't announce who made tackles anymore...

Not sure if i had to look him up, but he made two sticks in early games on kickoffs. The kind of stopped dead, wow plays that make you say "who was that"?

Not surprised he's the S team leader in tackles.

I'd call them Terry Tate stops, I like that. Unassisted, KR just smooshed short of the 20.

 

[RayClay]

By the way, our kick coverage lately hasn't been so hot, what's up with that? Guys like Chung being held out?

 

[pork3]

By the way, our kick coverage lately hasn't been so hot, what's up with that? Guys like Chung being held out?

Well, it hasn't helped that Graham's kickoffs are consistently shorter (less hang time as well) than Gostkowski's.

Outside of that, don't know.

-Jamman

 

[RayClay]

Well, it hasn't helped that Graham's kickoffs are consistently shorter (less hang time as well) than Gostkowski's.

Outside of that, don't know.

-Jamman

That's true. We were spoiled with Ghost, probably strongest leg out there. Vinatieri's kicks weren't exactly killer the last couple years either.

 

[PatsBoy12]

He's been awesome for the Pats ST's this season. It's just another savvy addition by BB and the personnel staff.

 

[Kdo5]

Not really surprised I haven't heard of him. Our kick coverage has been very forgettable this year.

 

[Kontradiction]

Not really surprised I haven't heard of him. Our kick coverage has been very forgettable this year.

They can certainly play better, but I don't know if I'd go as far as to say that it's been forgettable. The only instance in which I'd say it was forgettable was in the Bears game, an otherwise awesome victory.