Edelman to Defense?

[Sporin]

Just wondering, with all the depth at WR now, and his versatility and punt return skills a big benefit, is this the year he plays defense primarily?

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

We drafted a safety, a slot corner, and we get Ras-I back.

There is no vacancy.

 

[Big-T]

There's room on the depth chart in the newly created position, simply known as the "Edelman".

He's the best punt returner on the roster (and his averages have been near the top of the league every year he's been in the league). He's a somewhat decent receiver when he gets the chance and as a DB, to say he's never played there he wasn't too bad.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I'd hope not. He was better than we could have hoped/expected last year, but let's not oversell the guy- he was a weak link on one of the worst secondaries in recent memory.

 

[The Scrizz]

Go back and watch the 2nd Buffalo game where he came in and shut down the slot on the 1st drive where they actually stopped the Bills. They were walking all over the Pats and he and Spikes came in and turned that momentum completely around.

He was a WR who played his position better than actual defensive players like Molden, Brown, and Ihedibgho.

He played DB with energy and toughness and will have a spot just for his return ability and versatility.

But no, I don't think he moves to defense. He just should get more respect for when he did.

 

[Ivan]

I don't see him winning a job as a DB, it's going to have to be one of the last 2 WR spots or nothing. All this WR depth is going to make it really tough for him.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Go back and watch the 2nd Buffalo game where he came in and shut down the slot on the 1st drive where they actually stopped the Bills. They were walking all over the Pats and he and Spikes came in and turned that momentum completely around.

He was a WR who played his position better than actual defensive players like Molden, Brown, and Ihedibgho.

He played DB with energy and toughness and will have a spot just for his return ability and versatility.

But no, I don't think he moves to defense. He just should get more respect for when he did.

The common link there is that I don't want any of those other three guys taking up a roster spot on defense, either. They're all miscast as anything other than special teamers. The fact that Edelman was better than them, yes, is a pleasant surprise as an emergency stopgap. But that's it.

 

[patsderoer]

There's room on the depth chart in the newly created position, simply known as the "Edelman".

He's the best punt returner on the roster (and his averages have been near the top of the league every year he's been in the league). He's a somewhat decent receiver when he gets the chance and as a DB, to say he's never played there he wasn't too bad.

Yes, you just can't ignore a good punt returner. Two teams lost in the playoffs because of muffed punts ( SF and the Texans).

I think the defence could get one men less than the offense (because there are many versatile guys on the defense) and that spot goes to Edelperson, the perfect jack of all trades player, who can play emergency DB, slot WR, and be a good punt returner. BB likes versatile players, and Edelman is the most versatile of them all.

 

[brdmaverick]

So let's think about this........

Last year our team was so desperate that we put one of our WR's at cornerback.

Instead of resolving the issue by stock piling CB's to move the WR back to WR, we get more WR's so that this WR can play defense?

I love all the WR moves the Pats are making, but we can't keep them all. It's going to be a crazy training camp, that's for sure.

 

[Mack Herron]

Last year he played in the slot. Not a great cover guy but better than what we got, smart and physical. PR is not enough, and he cannot crack the roster at WR. I would not be surprised to see him at safety.

 

[patsderoer]

It's going to be a crazy training camp, that's for sure.

Will it be televised? I think the training camp will be more interesting to watch than a lot of games next season (which will hopefully be blowouts)

 

[Deus Irae]

Edelman will be lucky to have any job with the Patriots at all, IMO. The ST only positions look as if they've been dealt with already, so it looks as if Edelman will have to beat out about a lot of WRs for the last spot on the WR depth chart.

 

[andrewgarrr]

I can't see him getting cut. He has too much versatility.

 

[Adam Seward]

Id be really surprised if he didnt have a spot on the final roster. Hes displayed versatility, heart and toughness. If he isnt the pure football player that BB loves, Im not sure who is.

 

[Ghost of Ben Dreith]

Not sure what games some of you were watchng last year......Edelman will win a team slot as a....football player....BB will find a place for him.

 

[strngplyr]

Not sure what games some of you were watchng last year......Edelman will win a team slot as a....football player....BB will find a place for him.

Most of us watched a lot of games where he didn't excel at anything except returning punts.

He's one of my favorite players, but this roster is looking stocked to the point where he might not even be top quality depth. Time will tell. I don't want to see him go, but I don't want to give a roster spot to someone I like over someone who can offer more.

 

[Deus Irae]

Not sure what games some of you were watchng last year......Edelman will win a team slot as a....football player....BB will find a place for him.

Great. Set the roster and find that place for him.

 

[pdangle]

How the heck could BB dump a guy that plays PR. WR, DB and KR all at replacement level or better. It's incomprehensible.

 

[tasmlab]

There's room on the depth chart in the newly created position, simply known as the "Edelman".

He's the best punt returner on the roster (and his averages have been near the top of the league every year he's been in the league). He's a somewhat decent receiver when he gets the chance and as a DB, to say he's never played there he wasn't too bad.

This. Edelman seems to be on the field the entire game. Not that he was great, but they had him take snaps as RB too. And he's the guy for the reverse, and is targeted (for better or worse) in emergency situations when they hope he squirms and ducks defenders for a late-game homerun. And he's Welker's backup.

He could likely be an emergency quarterback. In the pre-season scrimmages they should let him attempt a few field goals just for kicks.

 

[tasmlab]

Id be really surprised if he didnt have a spot on the final roster. Hes displayed versatility, heart and toughness. If he isnt the pure football player that BB loves, Im not sure who is.

He is "One football-playin' dude"