Patriots Corners in 2012??

[mgteich]

We could re-sign Molden, a Belichick favorite. We could also carry 6 corners and 4 safeties, given that our corners can provide help at safety if needed.

One option at corner is to bring back Molden and draft a couple of corners, expecting to keep 2 of the 3. We will have many reasonable choices at corner in the draft.

We shouold carry 5 corners and 4-5 S on the opening day roster we need another CB.

 

[randomk1]

This could be one of the stronger units in the league IMO. Arrington has proven to be a solid #2, and very good in the slot.

Haha c'mon now....that's a huge overstatement. And didn't we think that last season?
We had our top 5 shutdown CB McCourty, probowl stud Meriweather, Chung, Dowling and expecting Bodden to play like it was 09.

I'll be happy if they show any improvement because it was pretty ugly at times.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Haha c'mon now....that's a huge overstatement. And didn't we think that last season?
We had our top 5 shutdown CB McCourty, probowl stud Meriweather, Chung, Dowling and expecting Bodden to play like it was 09.

I'll be happy if they show any improvement because it was pretty ugly at times.

1.) No Dowling all year

2.) No Chung half the year

3.) Mccourty playing like garbage most of the year

4.) Moore not at CB until end of the year

You really don't think our secondary played well in the playoffs? (without Dowling) Against Cruz/Nicks/Manningham, and the Ravens? I'd say so.

 

[ivanvamp]

1.) You really don't think our secondary played well in the playoffs? (without Dowling) Against Cruz/Nicks/Manningham, and the Ravens? I'd say so.

Against Cruz, Nicks, and Manningham, they allowed Eli to complete 30 of 40 passes (75%), for just under 300 yards (296) and a 103.8 passer rating. I'd say they did a good job on Cruz (4 rec, 25 yds, but a td), but Manningham and Nicks killed them.

Targets-Receptions
Nicks: 13 targets, 10 rec, 76.9%
Manningham: 9 targets, 5 rec, 55.6%
Cruz: 4 targets, 4 rec, 100%
TOTAL: 26 targets, 19 receptions, 73.1%

That's a very, very high completion percentage to wide receivers. On the season, here were these guys' completion/target numbers (including postseason, but MINUS the Super Bowl):

Nicks: 163 targets, 94 rec, 57.7%
Manningham: 90 targets, 47 rec, 52.2%
Cruz: 158 targets, 99 rec, 62.7%
TOTAL: 411 targets, 240 receptions, 58.4%

So they allowed a QB/WR combo that completed passes at a 58.4% clip in their 19 games prior to the Super Bowl to complete 73.1% of their passes in the SB. That's terrible.

How about against the Ravens? In the AFCCG, here were the Ravens' receivers:

Boldin: 8 targets, 6 rec, 75.0%, 101 yds
TSmith: 5 targets, 3 rec, 60.0%, 82 yds, 1 td
Evans: 4 targets, 3 rec, 75.0%, 39 yds
TOTAL: 17 targets, 12 rec, 70.6%, 222 yds, 1 td

This combo over the course of the season (up til the AFCCG)?

Boldin: 113 targets, 61 rec, 53.9%
TSmith: 99 targets, 51 rec, 51.5%
Evans: 27 targets, 5 rec, 18.5%
TOTAL: 239 targets, 117 rec, 48.9%

So they allowed a QB/WR combo that had completed 48.9% of their passes during the regular season to complete a whopping 70.6% of their passes in the AFCCG.

Bottom line: their pass coverage was pretty bad against opposing WRs in both the AFCCG and Super Bowl. I know they held the Ravens and Giants to 20 and 19 (the offense gave up 2 points on the safety) points, respectively, but it wasn't because they covered the Wide Receivers very well at all.

 

[DarrylS]

one of our issues last year was the lack of maturity and lack of communication.. so I do not look to the draft to fix this, perhaps if there is a good CB or Safety available would pick them up.

IMO what is needed is a more experienced player....