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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.A) We have four fine corners who have been playing injured: Bodden, McCourty, Dowling and Arrington. They have ZERO help from the safeties.
B) We have one solid starting strong safety in Chung, plus perhaps backup quality in Barrett and Brown.
C) We have had 3 special-teamers who seem to be masquarading as safeties: Barrett, Brown and ihedigbo.
I exagerrate some, since on nfl starting quality player would help enormously. Barrett and Brown might be decent #3/#4 safeties and even potential future solid starters.
D) We have some additional players on the roster: Adams, Molden and Ventrone
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BOTTOM LINE
A) By mid-season, the seven man defensive backfield could be much better.
The corners and Chung should be healthier. Brown and Barrett might improve some. And someone we add might help. After all, we now have Adams, Molden, Ihedigbo and Ventrone. It is possible that we might find a way to use these FOUR roster spots to help the secondary in addition to helping the Special Teams.
Also, the secondary could get better if and when the front seven is healthier and learns the system better.
A) We have four fine corners who have been playing injured: Bodden, McCourty, Dowling and Arrington. They have ZERO help from the safeties.
B) We have one solid starting strong safety in Chung, plus perhaps backup quality in Barrett and Brown.
C) We have had 3 special-teamers who seem to be masquarading as safeties: Barrett, Brown and ihedigbo.
I exagerrate some, since on nfl starting quality player would help enormously. Barrett and Brown might be decent #3/#4 safeties and even potential future solid starters.
D) We have some additional players on the roster: Adams, Molden and Ventrone
============================================
BOTTOM LINE
A) By mid-season, the seven man defensive backfield could be much better.
The corners and Chung should be healthier. Brown and Barrett might improve some. And someone we add might help. After all, we now have Adams, Molden, Ihedigbo and Ventrone. It is possible that we might find a way to use these FOUR roster spots to help the secondary in addition to helping the Special Teams.
Also, the secondary could get better if and when the front seven is healthier and learns the system better.
I tend to agree with this. I'd like one of the more knowledgeable and or tape watching posters to comment on the possibility of this safety group getting the job domne, or the alternative. I'm all for cutting guys that aren't getting it done/fitting in, but it does seem we've left ourselves short, even if healthy.
I tend to agree with this, at least the first part.
I'd like one of the more knowledgeable and or tape watching posters to comment on the possibility of this safety group getting the job done, or the alternative. I'm all for cutting guys that aren't getting it done/fitting in, but it does seem we've left ourselves short, even if healthy.
I spent the entire game at the stadium with my eye on the two safeties (and partly on Spikes). They simply were not breaking on the ball even when it was obvious where the ball was going. I hate to say it but I think they are totally hopeless. What I saw out there was uglier than I ever expected. When Dowling comes back, I want to see him at safety, or at least Arrington there.
Were any of the safeties who played for the Pats today drafted into the NFL?
Were any of the safeties who played for the Pats today drafted into the NFL?
When do they stop being secondary, and start being tertiary?
before the draft I listed CB as our #1 priority. More than 1 member said that was like the 3rd or 4th priority. I stand on my claim ... in a pass happy league we needed a top CB and at least another top secondary player before round 4 in this past draft.
But look the team is playing an entire different defensive system and i have faith that by mid season they will at least be middle of the pack.
I don't know what to think about the corners. McCourty is becoming a whipping boy on here but Bodden is just as bad. I don't think I have seen him make a play at all this year. It seems to be a completion or a penalty with him. The corners are obviously not playing very well but on the other hand they are being asked to play one on one man coverage with no safety help and no pressure up top. What exactly are the safeties doing because I haven't seen them up there in run support helping out as our run D gets gashed.
I think it's alot to ask of our corners for them to play man coverage, no safety help, especially in this league where you can't even put a hand on a receiver. Bill royally screwed up somewhere this summer with his safeties. I don't mind him letting Sanders and Meriweather walk but if you do that, at least have a plan? Was his plan really Sergio Brown et al?
We all better hope Dowling and Chung can stay healthy all year because if not it could be a long year.