Gred Bedard on the safety position

[Fencer]

Safety concerns are changing the position - Boston.com

In an article a few weeks ago, Greg Bedard argued:

• Intimidating strong safeties aren't as useful as they used to be due to player safety rules.
• Every safety needs FS-level coverage skills due to the growth of the passing game.
• In part because they need to be smaller, safeties are injury-prone, so you sort of need safety-by-committee ...
• ... which can of course also be useful in nickel/dime/whatever packages.

Good points, although he forgot to add the wrinkle of BB trying to use big safety types as small LBs.

He goes so far as to argue that teams might need to carry 5 safeties on their rosters routinely.

 

[supafly]

Interesting.

As you point out, the thought of playing a bigger safety more as a LB certainly comes into play on a BB coached team; as does the situational need for the big nickel package too.

I agree with the thought of more FS type skills, and I think we will see more of this during the upcoming season due to being better prepared, learning a lesson, and valuing certain tendencies.

I understand his thinking about carrying 5 safeties, but we may be able to avoid that due to the possibility of a hybrid role in some of our CB's. That said, I would still expect 5; especially since one will likely be a rookie draft pick.

 

[mgteich]

I would expect to keep 5 corners and 5 safeties (although sometimes we keep 9 or 11 defensive backs). It should be noted that one of the safeties is a STer (Sergio Brown in 2011). Obviously, some players might play both, regularly, or only in an emergency. For example, it is not unusual to use a free safety as a nickel. Also, corners can be emergency free safeties.

For now, we have Chung, Barrett, Gregory and Brown, with some help from a corner if needed. IMHO, there is room for Landry and a rookie.

At corner, we have
McCourty, Dowling, Arrington, Moore, rookie or free agent (Molden could come back).

FREE AGENCY BOTTOM LINE
There is lots of room to sign defensive backs if we can find them. We need a corner, a safety and a couple of each as camp competition and fodder.

 

[Fencer]

If money is no issue, I'd like to see Ihedigbo back, even as 5th safety (and ST stalwart). Sergio Brown I can live without.

But I bet Ihedigbo is no longer a minimum-salary player, so perhaps is he crowded off the roster by a cheaper guy.

 

[Aßßynormal]

The development of the TE game allows 'big' Safties to remain very useful. Hence, our apparent interest in LaRon Landry. I do, however, agree with the thrust of the article.

 

[aurakilla]

For now, we have Chung, Barrett, Gregory and Brown, with some help from a corner if needed. IMHO, there is room for Landry and a rookie.

I don't think there is a player I hate more then Barret.

 

[patriotscpfc]

I don't think there is a player I hate more then Barret.

Sergio Brown.

I think this is where Belichick's testing of McCourty, Moore and possibly Dowling as 2-position players could be key.

You can have Chung, Gregory and Barrett (plus a rookie/Landry) and then have Ihedigbo as the 5th S knowing that he's a solid Special Teamer and not the worst backup Safety in the world. But, you have 3 CB's who could play Safety if it was needed in the worst-case scenario.

Why keep Barrett as the 4th/5th S when you're more likely to use one of the CBs there in the worst case scenario.

 

[12ClutchFactor]

Sergio Brown.

This a million times. I have never in all of my years seen a more useless player. He came in for just a few plays against the Giants in the regular season and still managed to cost the Patriots the game.

 

[supafly]

This a million times. I have never in all of my years seen a more useless player. He came in for just a few plays against the Giants in the regular season and still managed to cost the Patriots the game.

The luck of the injuries in that game was ridiculous.

We sure don't seem to get any luck when playing the NYG, that's for sure.

 

[pork3]

This a million times. I have never in all of my years seen a more useless player. He came in for just a few plays against the Giants in the regular season and still managed to cost the Patriots the game.

I have. Bret Lockett.

-Jamman

 

[supafly]

I have. Bret Lockett.

-Jamman

I've got to admit that I wasn't exactly high on Ventrone's safety skills either though. All 3 of Barrett, Brown, and Ventrone are replacable in my opinion; with the only reason for keeping one ST considerations.

All 3 may be here for mini's and TC though.I'm honestly expecting Ihedigbo back too though. He has some value as a depth role player, at least compared to a lot of other players that would take over that last spot.

I don't want to have to see any of the 4 on the actual defense for more than a play or two this yr though.

Brown really regressed. It must be the number 31. When he wore 38 he looked like a rookie with some potential in 2010.

 

[ATippett56]

Unrestricted Free Agency

Laron Landry - No freakin' way

2012 NFL Draft (anyone in lieu of Laron Landry)

Mark Barron - Yes
Harrison Smith - Yes
Markelle Martin - Yes
Trumaine Johnson - Yes

The New England Patriots missed the boat on CB/FS Richard Marshall in unrestricted free agency.

 

[supafly]

Unrestricted Free Agency

Laron Landry - No freakin' way

2012 NFL Draft (anyone in lieu of Laron Landry)

Mark Barron - Yes
Harrison Smith - Yes
Markelle Martin - Yes
Trumaine Johnson - Yes

The New England Patriots missed the boat on CB/FS Richard Marshall in unrestricted free agency.

They sure did.

It's ridiculous the amazing gap in pay between someone like what Marshall got, and someone like Finnegan got.

Good value in that R.Marshall signing for those guys in MIA. I also have a feeling that they snag Anderson too.

If they stumble upon a QB, they can be much better. I think the pieces are there for a very formidable defense. The D line is tough, and hard to run on. The LB'ers are certainly talented, and the secondary isn't that bad, especially with the improvement/addition of Marshall.

 

[ATippett56]

They sure did.

It's ridiculous the amazing gap in pay between someone like what Marshall got, and someone like Finnegan got.

Good value in that R.Marshall signing for those guys in MIA. I also have a feeling that they snag Anderson too.

If they stumble upon a QB, they can be much better. I think the pieces are there for a very formidable defense. The D line is tough, and hard to run on. The LB'ers are certainly talented, and the secondary isn't that bad, especially with the improvement/addition of Marshall.

The Miami Dolphins desperately need a number one wide receiver now, let alone a starting quarterback.

 

[ATippett56]

They sure did.

It's ridiculous the amazing gap in pay between someone like what Marshall got, and someone like Finnegan got.

Good value in that R.Marshall signing for those guys in MIA. I also have a feeling that they snag Anderson too.

If they stumble upon a QB, they can be much better. I think the pieces are there for a very formidable defense. The D line is tough, and hard to run on. The LB'ers are certainly talented, and the secondary isn't that bad, especially with the improvement/addition of Marshall.

The Miami Dolphins have yet to re-sign Kendall Langford.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

The Miami Dolphins have yet to re-sign Kendall Langford.

I'd like us to get him,,,,,just dont want to break the bank in the process

 

[Don Kipines]

The luck of the injuries in that game was ridiculous.

We sure don't seem to get any luck when playing the NYG, that's for sure.

I can't stand Brown either, but we should note that he hasn't been completely useless -- he made big plays to help seal our last two games against the Chargers (the pick of a pass intended for Gates this year, the third-down tackle at the end of the game to force a FG last year). There are other players who have contributed less. Darius Butler comes to mind.

 

[TheComeback]

This a million times. I have never in all of my years seen a more useless player. He came in for just a few plays against the Giants in the regular season and still managed to cost the Patriots the game.

I don't like Brown as a safety, but he turned into an excellent special teams player. I therefore dislike him less than Barrett.

 

[patfanken]

I have been proposing the theory that the safety position has eclipsed, or at least soon will. the CB position as the most critical position in the defensive backfield. The evolution of the slot receiver as a #1 option for QBs. The creation of the dual TE threat. The rule changes that have made it much safer for receivers to play in the middle of the field. These are all factors in changing the focus of the passing game from outside the hashes to inside them and thus increasing the importance of the Safety

In the past safeties were guys who were a little too stiff in the hips and a tenth or two too slow slow to be CBs. Because of this, the available pool of CBs was always smaller than the safety pool, and thus made CB's a more valuable commodity. Now as safeties are being forced to become more athletic this is shifting. The kind of safety that can thrive in the current NFL is much harder to find and thus his value is increasing rapidly.

Another factor in the rise of safety, is that as QBs improve their accuracy and decision making (see the rise in completion percentages), and OC's create more an more multiple receiver formations, the "shut down CB" can be somewhat neutralized by simply throwing the ball somewhere else. You can marginalize him. You can't do that with a safety. And as the focus of the passing game moves to inside the hashes, he becomes even more critical...and thus more valuable

The best example of this is with the Jets. Revis is pretty much the current epitome of the shut down CB. This didn't stop the Pats from putting up 30+ in 2 games last season. Its not like Revis didn't do his job, but the Pats simple chose to throw to other guys. So in the end the Jets best defensive player had an impact in something like 5 plays out of the 65 offensive plays. If your best player was your Safety, he'd be in a hell of lot more than that.

Another effect of the new way offense's focus more to the middle of the field, is the not so slow death of the "strong safety". No longer can teams afford to have a guy whose main focus was the run game, in an era when team are running the ball less and less. No longer can you afford to have a guy whose coverage skills are limited to covering less athletic TEs. Now that TE's have developed WR skills, this kind of player is needed less and less. In today's game the SS has become is situational player. He's no longer a "3 down player"

BTW- which makes me wonder why the Pats would consider adding Landry, who might still be an effective SS in the old sense, but is weak in coverage and would end up being on the field less than 50% of the snaps....even if he remained healthy

So ends the theory of the "Rise of the Safety". Coming soon "The death of the inside LB's"

 

[The Scrizz]

My must everybody ignore the most versatile player on the team right now? WR/Slot Corner/Punt and KO returner/great ST coverage guy. Plus one of the highest energy guys on the team. You want to talk motor?

Respect the Edelman!