Pats loss to Bills: defensive backs discussion

[captain stone]

Barret round seven.

And now we know why the Monte Beisel Non-Tackler of the Game winner lasted that long.

At least unlike that overpaid trash OchoStinko, Barrett was man enough to face the music
from the press afterwards.

 

[captain stone]

When do they stop being secondary, and start being tertiary?

That would be an insult to Tertiary.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

The situation with the safeties has me confused. Normally, I always give BB the benefit of the doubt, being that he clearly knows more than me, but not this time. I don't understand how Sanders, and Meriweather were worse than what we have now. Maybe there was something going on behind the scenes, and Bill decided they had to go. If thats the case, well, fine. If not, then why did it take so long to figure out that those two werent going to cut it? Its not like they were new. If Bill had his doubts, why not go after another safety during camp? Were there NO safeties available? Do we not have the pics to trade for a safety? I just don't get it. Chung is clearly our best safety, but after that,,,,,,,you're telling me Sanders, and Meriweather were worse than Brown??

Im going to stop now, being that im getting annoyed again.

 

[sbpatfan]

Is Stephen Hawking avaliable? It seems like Belichick only cares about intelligence at the safety position. He might get burnt in his wheelchair every play, but at least he'll know why. He's probably amazing at reading the QBs' eyes too.

 

[patsfan-1982]

how about Leigh Bodden at FS he's got the size at 6.1 almost 200lbs he can hit he can tackle he is much better at coverage then any outher safety on the roster but he is not a very good man coverage CB so why not let him play center field,

Kyle Arrington and Ras-I Dowling are alot better then him at CB anyways so when this defense gets everyone back from injury it could look like this

DE Andre Carter,
DT Vince Wilfork,
DT Albert Haynesworth,
DE Mark Anderson,
OLB Dane Fletcher,
MLB Jerod Mayo,
SS Patrick Chung,
FS Leigh Bodden,
CB Devin McCourty,
CB Kyle Arrington,
CB Ras-I Dowling,

i think that line up would do better then they are now

 

[Sciz]

Is Stephen Hawking avaliable? It seems like Belichick only cares about intelligence at the safety position. He might get burnt in his wheelchair every play, but at least he'll know why. He's probably amazing at reading the QBs' eyes too.

You don't have to be a genius to play safety for the Pats. You just have to be coachable. Meriweather was not.

 

[supafly]

You don't have to be a genius to play safety for the Pats. You just have to be coachable. Meriweather was not.

And I believe you are very right in that regard, Sciz. But the argument could certainly be made that keeping him for one last yr on a cheap rookie pact would have given us a better option in the short term.

It also would have given the team some kind of veteran presence while they looked to the younger guys and also some other alternatives through the draft in April of 2012, and also free agency.

I don't even care about Meriweather personally, although those would be the arguments.

I'm personally more concerned with getting rid of ALL of the other options. They could have kept ONE of either Page, Sanders, or Meriweather. It just seems almost downright stupid to choose over them all at the same time, with no apparent depth or talent level behind them.

Then again, I'm not the coach either..so I'd assume that he has some kind of plan. I do question what the hell it is though.

 

[supafly]

how about Leigh Bodden at FS he's got the size at 6.1 almost 200lbs he can hit he can tackle he is much better at coverage then any outher safety on the roster but he is not a very good man coverage CB so why not let him play center field,

Kyle Arrington and Ras-I Dowling are alot better then him at CB anyways so when this defense gets everyone back from injury it could look like this

DE Andre Carter,
DT Vince Wilfork,
DT Albert Haynesworth,
DE Mark Anderson,
OLB Dane Fletcher,
MLB Jerod Mayo,
SS Patrick Chung,
FS Leigh Bodden,
CB Devin McCourty,
CB Kyle Arrington,
CB Ras-I Dowling,

i think that line up would do better then they are now

It's certainly not the worst idea, that's for sure. I would question whether or not Bodden has the overall size and physicality to be able to withstand that kind of increased contact over the course of the season though. That's also the same thing that I'd be worried about with Dowling and even Arrington.

The other part of your post that I'd also question (and sorry to do so), is whether or not "everyone gets back from injury" as you say. I believe that the team will never be totally healthy, and we probably won't have all of those options that you list all at once, although they do look good on paper.

If most of them come back, I'd be all for an experiment of Bodden at FS, but those would be the concerns that I'd have. Not sure obviously about what Belichick would be concerned about, but it's not too shabby of an idea.

 

[supafly]

Is Stephen Hawking avaliable? It seems like Belichick only cares about intelligence

(computerized voice)

"But...can...he..rush..the...passer????"




Edit: Sorry, that is probably somewhat borderline ignorant and offensive, and I certainly don't mean to show a lack of class or compassion to those who are stronger than myself in dealing with their obstacles.

 

[upstater1]

The situation with the safeties has me confused. Normally, I always give BB the benefit of the doubt, being that he clearly knows more than me, but not this time. I don't understand how Sanders, and Meriweather were worse than what we have now. Maybe there was something going on behind the scenes, and Bill decided they had to go. If thats the case, well, fine. If not, then why did it take so long to figure out that those two werent going to cut it? Its not like they were new. If Bill had his doubts, why not go after another safety during camp? Were there NO safeties available? Do we not have the pics to trade for a safety? I just don't get it. Chung is clearly our best safety, but after that,,,,,,,you're telling me Sanders, and Meriweather were worse than Brown??

Im going to stop now, being that im getting annoyed again.

I don't know what Meriwether's deal was but with Sanders it was tackling. Brown and maybe Barrett are simply better tacklers. The game before Sanders was cut, I saw him whiff on tackles and it was just embarrassing.

 

[captain stone]

how about Leigh Bodden at FS he's got the size at 6.1 almost 200lbs he can hit he can tackle he is much better at coverage then any outher safety on the roster but he is not a very good man coverage CB so why not let him play center field,

Kyle Arrington and Ras-I Dowling are alot better then him at CB anyways so when this defense gets everyone back from injury it could look like this

DE Andre Carter,
DT Vince Wilfork,
DT Albert Haynesworth,
DE Mark Anderson,
OLB Dane Fletcher,
MLB Jerod Mayo,
SS Patrick Chung,
FS Leigh Bodden,
CB Devin McCourty,
CB Kyle Arrington,
CB Ras-I Dowling,

i think that line up would do better then they are now

Because of his experience making tackles on STs, I would prob. try Arrington at FS ahead of Bodden,
maybe Antwan Molden, too. What is not uncertain, however, is that Bill cannot allow this abomination
to continue.

 

[NEP4Life]

Bodden was torched for 2 plays over 30 yards, more than any other Pats DB in this game.

First quarter:
(Shotgun) R.Fitzpatrick pass deep left to St.Johnson to NE 47 for 33 yards (L.Bodden). Caught along sideline at BUF 45.

Bodden playing tight, no jam. Johnson fakes inside then blows by Bodden outside.

On the Bills 4th quarter drive to tie the game at 21:

- (Shotgun) R.Fitzpatrick pass deep left to D.Jones to NE 32 for 48 yards (L.Bodden).

Just brutal. Bodden playing off. Jones faked a comeback, Bodden bit like a rookie and Jones blew by him.

I had high hopes for Bodden, but in zone or man, he seems rusty and flat-footed. I expect the rust to come off, but apparently Bodden doesn't have the quickness to play man against NFL receivers.

Admittedly, Bodden appeared to have no safety help on either of those plays.

Perhaps a move to FS would make sense?