2011 Offseason Outlook - Defensive Backs

[JackBauer]

I'm not averse to the notion of signing Bailey, but what makes you think he'd be an upgrade at FS over Meriweather?

 

[jmt57]

Brandon Meriweather won't be bothered by naysayers - Boston Herald - Karen Guregian

Having watched the AFC Pro Bowl players practice and interact the past few days, Brandon Meriweather certainly doesn’t look like a guy who doesn’t belong on the team.

If anything, the oft-maligned Patriots safety has been one of the movers and shakers on defense.

Meriweather has been quarterbacking all of the other stars in the secondary, lining them up in the proper places, moving them into the right coverage. Even yesterday, New York Jets super shutdown corner Darrelle Revis couldn’t spend enough time with him, picking his brain.

Wait a minute. Revis was picking Meriweather’s brain?

No, that’s not a misprint. It happened, along with some trash-talking, but that’s a story for another day.

That doesn’t mean Meriweather doesn’t completely ignore some of the criticism, like his poor routes to would-be tackles. He’s taken out his own guys, attempting to blow up a play. He’s also been manhandled by guys, most recently Braylon Edwards, attempting to make a tackle.

At least he’s reached a point, even with two Pro Bowls on his resume, that he recognizes he still has work to do. He’s aware that having good ball skills and communicating well will only get you so far.

“I want to get better at everything,” Meriweather said. “I want to get to the point of being able to read player’s minds and see why they do some of the things they do, and just elevate my game in every way. I want to get better at the things I do well, not just the things I do bad.”

Meriweather has the ability to provide toughness in the Pats secondary. He was fined for a flagrant helmet-to-helmet hit on Baltimore’s Todd Heap earlier in the season and, to his credit, managed to lower his target area the rest of the year. Going forward, Meriweather believes he will not only improve, but so will the defense.

“I think we got the right attitude. I think we got everything,” Meriweather said. “But you can always improve, and I think coach will do a great job figuring it out, and putting us in position again.”

 

[Triumph]

Butler most penalized NE DB

But Wilhite likely hits the highway.

Top 5 Patriots who could be on the chopping block in 2011

 

[patriotscpfc]

Re: Butler most penalized NE DB

I doubt any of the players named there are cut.

The most likely are TBC and Meriweather.

We keep 5 corners, Darius and Wilhite are going nowhere.

D-Line depends on the draft and injuries.

Sanders isn't going anywhere

And I seriously doubt Edelman is.

 

[WhiZa]

Re: Butler most penalized NE DB

How is Kaczur not on that list? Outside of TFB he has the highest cap savings if cut, and a guy with chronic back problems isn't exactly a lock

 

[blackglass3]

Re: Butler most penalized NE DB

Meriweather getting traded for a pick when there is a CBA in place? Possible.

Meriweather getting outright cut? Ridiculous.

 

[mcsully]

Re: Butler most penalized NE DB

I just wasted 2 minutes of my life I'll never get back. I could go on and on with reasons why this article is horrible but I don't want to waste more time

 

[crowell33]

Re: Butler most penalized NE DB

But Wilhite likely hits the highway.

Top 5 Patriots who could be on the chopping block in 2011

Thats not how the article reads. The article predicts that Wilhite stays but Butler may hit the highway.

 

[JackBauer]

Re: Butler most penalized NE DB

I doubt any of the players named there are cut.

The most likely are TBC and Meriweather.

We keep 5 corners, Darius and Wilhite are going nowhere.

D-Line depends on the draft and injuries.

Sanders isn't going anywhere

And I seriously doubt Edelman is.

So you believe it possible that they will cut Meriweather, with his 600k salary figure, and instead keep an inferior Sanders, who costs ~4x more?

That being said, that article sucked. I'd be surprised if any of those players were cut, though I wouldn't mind if TBC hit the highway.

 

[Triumph]

Re: Butler most penalized NE DB

Thats not how the article reads. The article predicts that Wilhite stays but Butler may hit the highway.

Wilhite has been around longer. Next season will be Bulters 3rd, so I really doubt he gets canned unless he gets arrested ala Gangsta Maroney.

I expect NE to draft more DBs and for Wilhite to be the 2011 version of Wheatley.

 

[patsfan-1982]

Re: Butler most penalized NE DB

cut Wilhite, and maybe even draft a CB with one of there top 3 picks and if they find a pass rush some were they could be a top 5 pass defense next year.

 

[DW Toys]

Re: Butler most penalized NE DB

So you believe it possible that they will cut Meriweather, with his 600k salary figure, and instead keep an inferior Sanders, who costs ~4x more?

That being said, that article sucked. I'd be surprised if any of those players were cut, though I wouldn't mind if TBC hit the highway.

What?....I thought.......
DW Toys

 

[JackBauer]

Thought what? Sanders is a good player; Meriweather is a better player, and he costs less.

The logical position would dictate that we keep both through next year, but many posters have logical hangups when it comes to players like BM, Wilhite, etc.

 

[ATippett56]

Re: Butler most penalized NE DB

But Wilhite likely hits the highway.

Top 5 Patriots who could be on the chopping block in 2011

That article is so flawed since the New England Patriots will likely maintain five cornerbacks and five safeties on the roster for the 2011 NFL Season, especially considering the number of defensive backs placed on injured reserve during the 2010 NFL Season.

 

[jmt57]

Future Focus: Cornerbacks - New England Patriots Blog - espnBoston - Mike Reiss

McCourty, the team’s first-round draft choice, started all 16 games and finished with seven interceptions, the second highest total ever by a Patriots rookie. He earned a Pro Bowl berth.

If Bodden returns to health after missing the 2010 season, the Patriots have a chance for one of the NFL’s better 1-2 combinations.

Storyline not to be overlooked: Butler at a crossroads of sorts. The 2009 second-round draft choice didn’t make the 1st-to-2nd year jump that the team had hoped. Can he turn it around in the other direction?

Future: McCourty is signed through 2014, while Bodden is locked up through 2013. Arrington is an exclusive rights free agent, which ensures he’ll be back, while Butler is inked thorugh 2012. Wilhite’s deal expires after the 2011 season, in which he’s scheduled to earn $1.2 million.

Final thought: The top of the depth chart looks strong, assuming Bodden returns to full health and his 2009 level of play. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Patriots add to the position in the draft, creating more competition deeper down the depth chart.

 

[ATippett56]

Future Focus: Cornerbacks - New England Patriots Blog - espnBoston - Mike Reiss

Seriously, talk about the lack of priorities, especially considering the age of the backup cornerbacks currently on the New England Patriots roster:

Arrington - 24 years of age
Butler - 24 years of age
Wilhite - 26 years of age

Meanwhile on the offensive side of the ball:

Light - 32 years of age
Koppen - 31 years of age
Neal - 34 years of age
Kaczur - 31 years of age

There is no need whatsoever to add a cornerback in the 2011 NFL Draft considering the current status of the New England Patriots offensive line and the pending unrestricted free agency for tackle Matt Light and guard Logan Mankins.

 

[jmt57]

Seriously, talk about the lack of priorities, especially considering the age of the backup cornerbacks currently on the New England Patriots roster:

Arrington - 24 years of age
Butler - 24 years of age
Wilhite - 26 years of age

Meanwhile on the offensive side of the ball:

Light - 32 years of age
Koppen - 31 years of age
Neal - 34 years of age
Kaczur - 31 years of age

There is no need whatsoever to add a cornerback in the 2011 NFL Draft considering the current status of the New England Patriots offensive line and the pending unrestricted free agency for tackle Matt Light and guard Logan Mankins.

Where do you get all that from? I don't see how you interpret what Reiss was saying to mean that CB is a higher priority than OL. Take another look at what he said:

"It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Patriots add to the position in the draft, creating more competition deeper down the depth chart."

Would it really be so horrible if the Patriots drafted a corner in the 5th or 6th round?

 

[Shelterdog]

Where do you get all that from? I don't see how you interpret what Reiss was saying to mean that CB is a higher priority than OL. Take another look at what he said:

"It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Patriots add to the position in the draft, creating more competition deeper down the depth chart."

Would it really be so horrible if the Patriots drafted a corner in the 5th or 6th round?

If you think that Wilhite and Butler are godawful (I don't but a lot of people do) then adding a corner late isn't a bad idea at all.

 

[JackBauer]

Wilhite, especially, has a bad rep around here. He's not a starting-caliber CB but he played well, I thought, in the nickel last year before his injury.

Butler is an enigma but some corners are slow starters, so I'd give him another year.

 

[ATippett56]

Would it really be so horrible if the Patriots drafted a corner in the 5th or 6th round?

Running back is a higher priority than cornerback and a backup free safety is a higher priority than cornerback, especially if Bill Belichick is not so enamored with Brandon Meriweather.

Tony Carter can compete for the fifth cornerback spot on the 2011 New England Patriots roster.

Three positions I would not expend a 2011 NFL Draft Pick whatsoever are tight end, inside linebacker, and cornerback.

There are too many holes at the 3-4 right defensive end position, both 3-4 outside linebacker positions, backup free safety position on the defensive side of the ball. In addition there are way too many holes on the offensive line (especially considering the unrestricted free agent status of Matt Light and Logan Mankins) and the running back position (Green-Ellis, Woodhead, ????, ????) on the offensive side of the ball.