What will the starting Defense be?

[MrNathanDrake]

CB: McCourty
CB: Arrington

SS: Meriweather
FS: Chung

OLB: Mayo
MLB: Spikes
OLB: Fletcher

DE: Ellis
DT: Wilfork
DT: Haynesworth
DE: Carter

with Anderson, Wright, and possibly Cunningham to sub in on 3rd downs?

 

[Sciz]

Bodden over Arrington

 

[Patriot Missile]

Bodden over Arrington

Most definately unless your one of the few that thinks we will put Bodden as a slot back?

 

[QB12]

I think the OP has the starting 11 right. I don't think Arrington loses his RCB spot to Bodden, at least for now, and Bodden is the slot corner.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I think the OP has the starting 11 right. I don't think Arrington loses his RCB spot to Bodden, at least for now, and Bodden is the slot corner.

I think he will play some slot but he's the starting CB opposite McCourty that Kraft payed all that money for. edit

 

[jah]

Bodden over Arrington for sure. I thought Fletcher would either play ILB in a 3-4 or MLB in a 4-3, so not OLB. Maybe Ninkovich is the other OLB?

 

[patsinthesnow]

What has Andre Carter done to earn a starting job, much less a roster spot?

 

[mgcolby]

Kyle Arrington will not start over Bodden. Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves or simply forgot how good Bodden is. The guy is a top 15 CB in this league, and for as much of a pleasant surprise Arrington was last year, he is not.

I am one of Fletcher's biggest fans, I was sold on him after the job he did against Rice last year. But I think Nink will give him a run for his money.

Also it seemed that Cunningham and Moore were in on early downs and came off on 3rd down. However that ends up playing out over the remainder of the Pre-Season, I don't think the "starter" designation will mean much for the DL. There will be a ton of rotation and situational football that will even out the playing time.

 

[Sciz]

What has Andre Carter done to earn a starting job, much less a roster spot?

Started 133 games already in his NFL career, more than all the starting LBs and DBs combined, I'm guessing. Had 11 sacks two seasons ago in a 4-3 before getting only 2.5 last year in a 3-4.

Edit: Darn, I was wrong. Carter has 133. starts. The DBs have 137 among the 4.

 

[Patriot Missile]

What has Andre Carter done to earn a starting job, much less a roster spot?

I was wondering the same thing? I read a article this morning claiming he's doing well in camp but no details whatsoever. Anyone seen this guy in trng camp and can give a run down?

 

[Deus Irae]

Wilfork
Mayo
Bodden
McCourty
Chung
Meriweather


All others will likely be situational to start the season, unless Ellis shows well in camp.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Bodden over Arrington for sure. I thought Fletcher would either play ILB in a 3-4 or MLB in a 4-3, so not OLB. Maybe Ninkovich is the other OLB?

Fletcher was a DE in college if i'm not mistaken. He's better suited for SOLB, and Spikes is limited to MLB-only which is why he'll end up there, and Mayo is more versatile so he can change to WOLB.

Fletcher brings much needed energy to the defense that it's been lacking in recent years. I'm rooting for him to land a starting role, and I think he will.

 

[patsfan13]

Against the Fins I would have Bodden starting over Arrington, since the Fins aren't a high powered passing team I would see Cunningham starting over Carter.


A lot will depend on who we are playing. Starers on running down and distance are different than 'starters' on passing down. Situational football rules.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Kyle Arrington will not start over Bodden. Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves or simply forgot how good Bodden is. The guy is a top 15 CB in this league, and for as much of a pleasant surprise Arrington was last year, he is not.

Bodden is coming off a season ending injury. The last NFL game he played was over 1.5 years ago.

Arrington is better than you give him credit for. He didnt get burnt badly last year and he has better size for the outside corner spot.

Bodden was in the slot in preseason game 1

 

[Zeus]

Wilfork
Mayo
Bodden
McCourty
Chung
Meriweather


All others will likely be situational to start the season, unless Ellis shows well in camp.

This is a better way to think about the question. "Starting" isn't as important as playing time.

 

[Big-T]

4-3 under:
DL: Carter, Wilfork, Haynesworth, Anderson
LB: Mayo, Spikes, Fletcher
DB: McCourty, Bodden, Chung, Meriweather

3-4:
DL: Ellis, Wilfork, G. Warren
LB: Ninkovich, Spikes, Mayo, Cunningham
DB: McCourty, Bodden, Chung, Meriweather

then there's all the nickel packages etc

 

[Sciz]

Bodden is coming off a season ending injury. The last NFL game he played was over 1.5 years ago.

Arrington is better than you give him credit for. He didnt get burnt badly last year and he has better size for the outside corner spot.

Bodden was in the slot in preseason game 1

Arrington was only ever starting because Bodden got hurt. Bodden, if healthy, is clearly the superior option. And if he weren't back to 100%, he would've been sent out the door, just like Ty Warren, who was in a similar situation.

Since when was being short a good thing for outside CBs? Arrington is 5' 9". Bodden is 6'1".

 

[boston22407]

CB: McCourty
CB: Bodden

SS: Meriweather
FS: Chung

OLB: Mayo
MLB: Spikes
OLB: Fletcher

DE: Ellis
DT: Wilfork
DT: Haynesworth
DE: Cunningham

:rocker: and you are good

 

[Off The Grid]

What will the starting Defense be?

Pretty damned good, is what it'll be.

 

[NEP4Life]

The term "starting defense" means even less than usual to this year's squad, because you'll probably see "sub" packages on more than half the defensive snaps.