Pete Prisco's top 50 FA's

[Deus Irae]

I've been turning this over in my brain a bit today. It seems, theoretically and based on a limited sample size from this past season, that McCourty might actually make a pretty decent FS.

Given the relative dearth of quality safeties in the league currently (and a bare cupboard in this year's draft), might they move him to FS and sign one of the marquee FA CBs to essentially replace him?

Of course, by the same token, they could always grab a Branch or Goldson and render the question moot. I guess they need to decide whether his slump is something that can be corrected and mitigated through higher quality safety play, or whether he's really more of a natural fit at the safety.

Anyway, just something to think about.

I'd be surprised if they are not giving this serious consideration. There does not seem to be an abundance of high quality safeties available in the draft or via free agenncy.

I see a couple of problems with this avenue:

1.) McCourty was pretty bad at safety, too, when it came to coverage, so he'll need to improve in coverage no matter where he plays. Given that, if he can improve his coverage, I don't see why they would want to waste him at safety when he was a DROY candidate at corner.

2.) McCourty/Chung is a very light safety tandem.

You both could end up being right, and I'm not posting from any position of having inside information on this, but I don't see it as an enviable way to go.

 

[JackBauer]

Given that, if he can improve his coverage, I don't see why they would want to waste him at safety when he was a DROY candidate at corner.

Maybe I'm totally off-base here, but would it really be a waste? I think we may be approaching the point in an absurdly pass happy league where elite safeties have moved into the same echelon as quality cornerbacks, at least at the top end.

Or maybe my perspective is just skewed from watching our horrible safety play all year long (though I'll say Chung's play toward the end of the year gave me some optimism. He'll never be a great coverage guy but I think he could be a solid all-around player).

 

[Easywolf32]

Some Good Vets and other considerations. Please get at least someone from this list if not 5.


Brandon Carr - CB, LaRon Landry - S, Tracy Porter - CB, Peyton Hillis RB Age 26

Kroy Biermann – DE ATL, E.J. Henderson – OLB MIN, Mike Tolbert – RB SD, Laurent Robinson - WR

Michael Griffin - S, Brandon Lloyd - WR, Tyvon Branch - S, Richard Marshall - CB

Jeremy Mincey - DE, David Hawthorne - OLB, Carlos Rogers - CB, Stephen Tulloch - OLB

Cortland Finnegan - CB, Mario Williams - DE, Nick Hardwick – C, Robert Mathis - DE

Dashon Goldson - S, Dwight Lowery - S, Robert Meachem - WR, Brent Grimes - CB

 

[stevedogc]

Of course this list is a joke, its from Pete Prisco. The same Pete Prisco who earlier in the week claimed Tom Brady was the next Jim Kelly. Yet his buttboy Peyton Manning has made a living of coming up short in the playoffs. I'd bet about 90% of the posters on these board know more about football then this toolbag.

Can you tell I really don't like him?

 

[Triumph]

Brandon Carr is that good? I know his teammate Flowers is a top 10 CB but him...

The Chiefs are going to try to resign Carr. He may want big bucks though.

KC may also tag Bowe.

 

[Triumph]

Garcon would a replacement for Stinko.

26 years old would add a shot of youth in the NE WR corp.

 

[Deus Irae]

Maybe I'm totally off-base here, but would it really be a waste? I think we may be approaching the point in an absurdly pass happy league where elite safeties have moved into the same echelon as quality cornerbacks, at least at the top end.

Or maybe my perspective is just skewed from watching our horrible safety play all year long (though I'll say Chung's play toward the end of the year gave me some optimism. He'll never be a great coverage guy but I think he could be a solid all-around player).

If McCourty was a large, big-hitting CB, who hadn't ever shown high end coverage skills, I'd be much more amenable to the idea of moving him to safety. However, he's only about 185, and his rookie season flashed the kind of coverage ability that can really make a difference at CB. If the Patriots think he can regain, and improve upon, that form, and maintain it even in man coverage, I'd personally rather have a 'lockdown' corner than a strong covering lightweight safety.

Also influencing my position is that safeties still get paid less than corners and, therefore, it should be cheaper to pull in a Branch/Griffin/Goldson than a Carr/Rogers/Grimes/Finnegan.

So, for me, the 'waste' is dual-pronged, in that I prefer coverage at corner to undersized coverage at safety, and I'd rather try to snag a top player at a lower salaried position than either pay more for a top player at a higher salaried position or have to settle for a lesser level player at that higher salaried position.

Cornerback: $10.6 million (down from $13.5 million in 2011; tag was $9.6 million in 2010); Cortland Finnegan, Brent Grimes

Safety: $6.2 million (down from $8.8 million in 2011, $6.5 million in 2010); LaRon Landry

2012 Franchise tag numbers - The Huddle Fantasy Football Forums

Again, I've got no inside info, and I'm admittedly tired of watching the Patriots not having two corners who can actually cover. I just think that it'd be nice to get back to something at least approaching 2007 CB levels. That wasn't rarified air or anything, but it would allow BB & Co. to unleash the pass rushing dogs with much more confidence.

 

[Easywolf32]

Here's some more, let's sign some please.

Jordan Babineaux (TEN) Gibril Wilson (CIN) Brandon Meriweather (CHI) lol? Bryan Scott (BUF)!!! James Sanders (ATL)? Thomas DeCoud (ATL) Lardarius Webb (BAL) William Gay (PIT) Jason Allen (HOU)

Eric Weems (ATL) Roscoe Parrish (BUF) Pierre Garcon (IND) Deion Branch (NE) Courtney Roby (NO) Danny Amendola (STL) Shaun Rogers (NO) Kyle Love (NE) Andre Carter (NE) Shaun Ellis (NE) Mark Anderson (NE)

Joe Mays (DEN) Wesley Woodyard (DEN) Stephen Cooper (SD) Geno Hayes (TB) Barrett Ruud (TEN) Thomas Williams (CAR) Aaron Maybin (NYJ) lol

 

[Zeus]

I see a couple of problems with this avenue:

1.) McCourty was pretty bad at safety, too, when it came to coverage, so he'll need to improve in coverage no matter where he plays. Given that, if he can improve his coverage, I don't see why they would want to waste him at safety when he was a DROY candidate at corner.

2.) McCourty/Chung is a very light safety tandem.

You both could end up being right, and I'm not posting from any position of having inside information on this, but I don't see it as an enviable way to go.

I did think McCourty played better (agree - not great) with the ball in front of him. To some extent, this seemed to settle the defense backfield a bit toward the end of the season.

On your second point, I'm a bit torn. I agree they could use a physical presence/big hitter. At the same time, coverage isn't exactly Chung's strong suit. So do you try to fill the banger role or do you look for the pure free safety who can fly to the ball?

As an aside, it's too bad Big Bang Clock turned out to be such an uindependable flake, because he sure had the tools - played physical with great closing speed.

 

[patsderoer]

Garcon would a replacement for Stinko.

26 years old would add a shot of youth in the NE WR corp.

Garcon was a drop machine even with Manning throwing him the ball. No thanks.

 

[JDot]

1.) I don't see why they would want to waste him at safety when he was a DROY candidate at corner.

So with that said, would it not be better to upgrade safety to help McC at corner?

 

[TriplecHamp]

Top 50 free agents: Former top pick Williams is top player on open market - NFL - CBSSports.com

Welker #18, Lloyd not on the list but that doesn't mean he's not a good fit for the Patriots. I wonder how Reggie Nelson would do at Safety?

The Texans will probably tag Williams.

Don't know why people think Williams will get tagged. 22 million dollars and they have other priorities on offense to take care of. I have to check how close oakland is to the cap but I wouldn't be surprised to see them make a run at him. The Dolphins could as well.

 

[AzPatsFan]

A lot of McCourty's so-called problem was when he played "inside trail technique" and depended on the Safety to come over and provide over the top coverage, like the coaches drew it up. It seldom happened. The poor Safety player usually arrived after the wide open completion, and McCourty's close to tackle the receiver.

So he was blamed when he was the closest guy to the WR.

 

[JDot]

A lot of McCourty's so-called problem was when he played "inside trail technique" and depended on the Safety to come over and provide over the top coverage, like the coaches drew it up. It seldom happened. The poor Safety player usually arrived after the wide open completion, and McCourty's close to tackle the receiver.

So he was blamed when he was the closest guy to the WR.

And is that not why safety should be high priority to upgrade? I have read this on a couple of sites with regard to McC.

I personally do not know. That's why I am asking so people who understand the nuances of football better then me can answer..

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

Number 18 on the list of the top 50 FA's might strike some as low but Welker isn't going to have a bunch of teams waving big $$ in his face. He's too small, more quick than fast, just old enough to raise an eyebrow and is seen by many as benefiting from the right system with superstar QB throwing to him. The truth is most QB's would kill to have guy like Welker in the slot. Their QBR goes up the second he signs the dotted line. But the bottom line is Wes won't get anything like $8-$10m/yr the top WR's get. And like it or not, the drop in the SB is going to make the Pats the least bit less enthusiastic to hand him the keys to a safe.

Prediction - signs with Pats, 3yrs @ $6.5m/yr, $11m guaranteed.

I'd move on and let him go. I think Brady's too focused on that short pass lately because it works too well. Gronko and Hernandez can easily fill the the short yardage roll. I'd put the money into Colston and Ray Rice (and draft a burner WR). With those two the SB would have turned out differently. Plus, signing Rice would chop the knees from beneath your number one opponent in the AFC.

 

[Deus Irae]

A lot of McCourty's so-called problem was when he played "inside trail technique" and depended on the Safety to come over and provide over the top coverage, like the coaches drew it up. It seldom happened. The poor Safety player usually arrived after the wide open completion, and McCourty's close to tackle the receiver.

So he was blamed when he was the closest guy to the WR.

McCourty's problem was not so-called, as can be seen both by the numbers put up against him and by the actions of his coach when he pulled him out of the CB position and put him back at safety. McCourty stunk on ice for most of the season, and it wasn't just on "inside trail technique" plays to the outside with late safeties.

 

[DonBlackmon55]

If the Seahawks don't want to pay him what he thinks he's worth...he doesn't rush the passer, either, but he shuts down the run to his side of the field.

What the heck good is shutting the run these days when teams are throwing for 5000 yards ?

Seems to me Defenses need to PRESSURE the QB and SHUT the PASS first ! The old addage of Stop the run first no longer applies in the NEW(post 2005) NFL.

 

[Ring 6]

Those are all great names but unfortunately none of those guys have any leadership qualities. Our secondary needs leadership more than talent.

No it doesnt

 

[Joey007]

Let's see... first priority is to resign our guys like Welker(probly a FA Tag), Carter, either Koppen or Connolly,etc. Then we sign Brandon Lloyd, Colston, or somebody like that. We move DMAC to Safety. We sign a lower market safety to be a backup.

In general, I'd say this should be our defense next year-

(In 3-4)
NT-Vince Wilfork
DE-Carter(or OLB), draft pick, and Deaderick
OLB-Ninkovich, Anderson, draft pick, maybe FA signing
ILB- Spikes, Mayo
CB-Vet Corner, Arrington, Moore, Dowling, draft pick
S- Chung, McCourty, vet safety

 

[Ring 6]

A lot of McCourty's so-called problem was when he played "inside trail technique" and depended on the Safety to come over and provide over the top coverage, like the coaches drew it up. It seldom happened. The poor Safety player usually arrived after the wide open completion, and McCourty's close to tackle the receiver.

So he was blamed when he was the closest guy to the WR.

You are correct, except it wasn't the safeties fault. It was his coverage with safety help.
His play other than those routes and coverages was very similar to 2010, but 6-8 40+ completions instead of 6-8 picks or breakups is a big difference.
He wasn't the same player, but he was the same player but for one skill/technique that he demonstrated competancy in as a rookie.
If its correctable we have an excellent corner, if not he will struggle, need scheme to help him or get moved to safety.