Wilson and Dennard.... more interceptions than all other Pats DBs combined

[Sweet Chin Music33]

First of all, my point wasn't that he's good to begin with. He's a flawed player and that probably never changes. Which of my statements about Chung's athleticism and positives do you disagree with?

I don't think he ever "did anything" but there were flashes in 2010. Breakup in the endzone against the Ravens that changed the game, near-impossible open field tackle at the end of the Green Bay tackle that forced 4th down and made them unable to spike the ball. Some big hits against the Steelers that turned into a Ward drop, Sanders INT, and 3rd down stop on Wallace.

The kid isn't a good player but he does have some attributes going for him. Belichick saw those and so did other teams - which is why teams had him up there with William Moore and Louis Delmas in pre-draft. Its unfortunate that the skill that makes all the difference seems to be missing.

I did not argue any of those points. I made a statement about Chung only after you brought up his name in your post.

You are arguing with yourself.

 

[Get it shawtaay]

Oh and I missed Wilson. Not impressed so far. Plays bigger but that's the only positive. Looks like a deer in the headlights. His interceptions have been circumstantial at best. I don't think he'll ever be anything more than a rich man's James Sanders.

 

[Get it shawtaay]

I did not argue any of those points. I made a statement about Chung only after you brought up his name in your post.

You are arguing with yourself.

Misinterpreted you then. Apologies.

 

[Gumby]

Not sure how much you can draw from the INT #s as a reflection of DB "skills".

The Dennard pick-6 he was far enough off the wr that it should have been a 10 yd pickup to the sideline if the pass hadn't floated on Luck 5 yards towards the middle of the field.

On the wilson int; he was essentially playing punt-returner / centerfielder on a play that someone ELSE MADE (vw ? ) who tipped the pass. He was just the beneficiary because he happened to be standing in the right place. Some of that is laws of averages they tipped 2-3 other balls that all bounced off the turf. The other way to look at it; is to credit that INT to TEAM DEFENSE and not to a specific player.

Not sure how many more of the rookie INTs (from previous games) were earned on their own right. So while it is GREAT that they got them as others mentioned with the Arrington comparison, it wont get them a yellow jacket anytime soon.

 

[VrabelJr]

I've compared Dennard to Ty Law many times only to get bashed. I'm not saying he is/will be as good as Ty Law but look at the damn kid. His build is almost identical and he plays with serious attitude.

 

[VrabelJr]

In regards to INTs, it's alot like sacks. Usually the one collecting the stat isn't the one who made it happen. With the rare exception being a CB who jumps a route.

 

[RayClay]

Better to hold onto those Ints than drop them, but i agree it's not a measuring stick. small sample, situational.

What i do like is adding two guys that seem to be more natural cornerbacks than we've had in a while (Dennard and Talib) and McCourty might be the best FS, maybe better at it than CB too.

What matters is, how they play as a unit. If those three give them some strength and stability, it also backs up some players with experience and or versatility/smarts (Wilson) especially if Chung returns to his old self. Whether he does or doesn't, they need to gel and communicate better and i think they can. Healthy, they now have decent rotations at safety and corner, with a lot of versatility and Moore on the PS if needed.

It's an if and the communication problems are still apparent, as Bruschi pointed out in his mailbag thing at ESPN.

My only point is, with strong practices, this group is head and shoulders above the mess we had last year. Molden at CB with Ihedigbo and Slater at safety? Still have nightmares.

 

[PatsFan2]

I love Dennard's upside and his aggressiveness...Wilson is coming along. I love that our Rookies are getting playing time.

 

[PatsFan2]

I've compared Dennard to Ty Law many times only to get bashed. I'm not saying he is/will be as good as Ty Law but look at the damn kid. His build is almost identical and he plays with serious attitude.

Exactly Dennard has Balls skills and i know Talib have it too. These guys have to ability to jump routes...they are not scared like Kyle Arrington.

 

[Dutchmaster617]

......have more interceptions (7) for the Patriots than Arrington, Chung, Cole, Dowling, Ebner, Gregory, Martin, McCourty, and Talib....combined.

And before anyone brings up injuries, remember that Dennard was out for the first 4 games of the season and he still has 3 interceptions.

Chandler Jones seems to get all the Rookie press but as he seems to be fading (and I love Jones, don't get me wrong) our young secondary seems to be growing.

Through 10 games, Dennard and Wilson have combined for 51 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, 7 interceptions, 1 TD, and 11 passes defended.

Imagine if some of our veterans could be half as productive.

I wouldn't say they are proven or near it at all. Remember McCourty in 10 and Aarington last year both near the leader in INTs.

 

[RoughingthePasser]

I like Dennard too

He plays hard and has some sweet hits

Hopefully he can get another INT and KO some jets receivers

and he wears #37

 

[ForThoseAboutToRock]

I was glad to see Wilson make a play when he was given the opportunity. I'd say that's step one to recovering from a demotion to the level of hell Bill B reserves for "repeat offenders."

I don't think Wilson was on the field during the Colt's last TD drive early in the 4th Q, so really there was no (obvious) step backwards for him.

 

[Luxusdk]

Both are ballhawkers and reminds of Law/Samuel and those are the types Patriots have been missing.....

Yes they might give up a play or 2, but ill bet on, that they'll make plays the other way also. We'r playing highscoring games and not winning 10-13. So the more turnovers we can create this better, since it also seems like the offense score at will.

Wilson could become SS on this team. Most physical safety we have, but compared to Chung, he got a element of FS also.

 

[JackBauer]

Oh and I missed Wilson. Not impressed so far. Plays bigger but that's the only positive. Looks like a deer in the headlights. His interceptions have been circumstantial at best. I don't think he'll ever be anything more than a rich man's James Sanders.

So a borderline starter? I'll take it.

 

[jnug]

I like Dennard and Talib because they play the CB position like they are CB's. Talib needs to shake off the rust and Dennard needs to improve but he at least shows signs that he can play the position.

I have seen enough of McC at CB and enough of him at Safety to say he needs to stay at Safety. McC seems much better suited to making decisions with the play completely in front of him. It just seems to easy for him to get lost at the CB position and before he knows it he is running over some receiver and here comes the yellow laundry. My concern there is that you have to be more of a hitter at Safety than at CB. Can McC meet that standard?

Dowling just can't seem to stay on the field. My only comment there is that players that seem to start there often just continue the same way until their shortened career just ends. I would do Wilson a disservice commenting on him at this point.

I just don't know how I feel about Chung. Seems to be feast or famine with him.

 

[IllegalContact]

the inability to play effectively in the pats secondary is consistent with the amount of time the DB has spent here........which is why talib, dennard, and wilson are the 3 best.

 

[randomk1]

the inability to play effectively in the pats secondary is consistent with the amount of time the DB has spent here........which is why talib, dennard, and wilson are the 3 best.

Makes sense.


lmfao. though i've recently started taking a liking to McCourty and that one play he made when Talib was beat showed me all that i need to see about him playing safety.

No way in hell Chung is there to make that play.

 

[Bhelmet]

So a borderline starter? I'll take it.

Even for a 2nd round pick?

 

[fnordcircle]

I didn't get a chance to see the first TD that he allowed, due to the coverage of the CLE/DAL game in OT which pissed me off more than I care to admit.

OT but you should go to The NFL subreddit - American Football on gameday. They have gameday threads for every game that includes free streams of the games you can watch on the internet. Front Row Sports is typically the best place for this.

Beats missing the game man.

 

[JackBauer]

Even for a 2nd round pick?

Well I would dispute the notion that there's sufficient evidence to divine Wilson's ceiling, but if his floor is a "rich man's James Sanders" then yes, even for a second round pick.

And perhaps I was being too pessimistic. Sanders himself was always the borderline starter/rotational guy when he was here, so perhaps a rich version of that would be the solid but unspectacular starter.