Talib, Dennard at Wednesday Pats walkthrough; Gronk not

[grux]

I was worried that we might lose Talib or Dennard for a few weeks. They have been difference makers in the secondary and the defense is coming together at the right time. I am fine with Gronk missing this weeks game but would like to see him get some reps before the post season.

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4736305/talib-dennard-at-walkthrough

 

[DaBronxPats14]

Good News, Talib has been a difference maker. Putting him on other team's top reciever has opened up many options for our DBs and you can even see how aggresive their play is and it leads to more blitzing & pass rushing that BB didn't do before. Dennard is key as well, has a nose for'da ball and has key knock downs especially on 3rd conversions.

 

[ausbacker]

At this point in time, Talib is proving to be an enormous acquisition. It is my hope that the Patriots are sitting down with his representatives and are working toward a long term extension.

Dennard... well I loved him from the moment he made his debut. Using the eye test, he looked like he had swag the moment he stepped onto the field.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I'll gladly take that if Talib/Dennard don't miss time and Gronk misses one more week or two. The offense has been doing fine, eventually we will need Gronk but based on Monday night, we should hopefully be able to ride this hot streak a couple more games. At worst case, I some reason feel like at home we can win a defensive struggle with SF.

 

[Danger Zone]

At this point in time, Talib is proving to be an enormous acquisition. It is my hope that the Patriots are sitting down with his representatives and are working toward a long term extension.

Dennard... well I loved him from the moment he made his debut. Using the eye test, he looked like he had swag the moment he stepped onto the field.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Wait! Gronk can't even walk through a practice?!?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I'll gladly take that if Talib/Dennard don't miss time and Gronk misses one more week or two. The offense has been doing fine, eventually we will need Gronk but based on Monday night, we should hopefully be able to ride this hot streak a couple more games. At worst case, I some reason feel like at home we can win a defensive struggle with SF.

There are 3, maybe 4 more important games to be played in early 2013
Let the GronkMonster heal

 

[Bhelmet]

Gronk - we can wait until he is FULLY healthy - Dennard and Talib - we need NOW - so this is good news to me.

 

[JonVaughnTD]

NFL network just reported that Gronk is expected to practice tomorrow.

 

[Lurks_All_Day]

At this point in time, Talib is proving to be an enormous acquisition. It is my hope that the Patriots are sitting down with his representatives and are working toward a long term extension.

It may be too soon to know for sure whether he's bought into the "Patriot Way" but what he brings to the table on game-day is undeniable. I'm for it. Like frilly tooth-picks.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Wait! Gronk can't even walk through a practice?!?

lol, agreed. Gronk not being there is not, I suspect, indicative of whether Gronk is close to returning. More likely BB wants to make his return a surprise. Seriously, why let the 9ers think he'll play (not that he will)?

 

[DocHoliday]

It may be too soon to know for sure whether he's bought into the "Patriot Way" but what he brings to the table on game-day is undeniable. I'm for it. Like frilly tooth-picks.

Indeed. Moss suppressed his attitude or a couple years but it eventually came out. Can't fight nature. Gotta wait and see

 

[PatsFanStnfrd]

Really liked how Dennard handled Andre Johnson after Talib left the game. His open field tackle dropping Johnson short of the first down marker was impressive. Johnson dropped right where he caught the ball.

Kudos to Belichick for getting Dennard in the 7th round #224. Makes up for striking out (so far) on Ras-I.

 

[ausbacker]

Really liked how Dennard handled Andre Johnson after Talib left the game. His open field tackle dropping Johnson short of the first down marker was impressive. Johnson dropped right where he caught the ball.

Kudos to Belichick for getting Dennard in the 7th round #224. Makes up for striking out (so far) on Ras-I.

Dowling has shown serious ability when he's on the field. Keeping on the field is problematic, not the talent.

 

[Finnishfan]

At this point in time, Talib is proving to be an enormous acquisition. It is my hope that the Patriots are sitting down with his representatives and are working toward a long term extension.

Dennard... well I loved him from the moment he made his debut. Using the eye test, he looked like he had swag the moment he stepped onto the field.

Funny thing is, that Talibs biggest value to this team isn't his play on the field, it's the confidence boost he has given to our playcalling and the great outside technique Dennard seems to be absorbing.

I have been watching Dennard very closely these past few weeks, and he is growing so fast right now. I gotta credit Talib for that because his growth has been exponential after Talib came in (and it's not only about the matchups, because Dennard was playing against #2 WRs when McCourty was still at CB).

In the Texans game, when Talib got hurt and Dennard moved to cover Andre Johnson and did at least as good as Talib had done before him.

I'm all in for the Talib extension. Thanks to his sound technique, IMO he is basically one good offseason away from being one of the best corners in the league.

 

[Finnishfan]

Dowling has shown serious ability when he's on the field. Keeping on the field is problematic, not the talent.

Well the talent was there in college as well, but so were the injuries in his final year.

They knew they were drafting a possible injury prone player, and went for him nevertheless. It was a gamble and up to this point, it looks like a bad one.

At least he hasn't gotten himself hurt during the clutch time of the season. His injuries have sidelined him so early that we have learned to play without him. The worst scenario with injury prone players would be an injury in week 16 or later, which could change the entire playoffs for a team.

 

[mayoclinic]

Dowling has shown serious ability when he's on the field. Keeping on the field is problematic, not the talent.

I agree. I think people are selling out on Dowling too soon.

Let the kid get healthy. Re-sign Talib. Let Dowling come back as the 3rd outside CB without pressure to be an immediate savior, and develop with Talib as a role model for what a big press-man CB should look like. The kid has plenty of talent, and he's played well when he's been on the field.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I agree. I think people are selling out on Dowling too soon.

Let the kid get healthy. Re-sign Talib. Let Dowling come back as the 3rd outside CB without pressure to be an immediate savior, and develop with Talib as a role model for what a big press-man CB should look like. The kid has plenty of talent, and he's played well when he's been on the field.

THe legit concern regarding Glass IR Dowling is that some bodies are not capable of withstanding NFL level violence. It's not something the player can control. Every season there are dozens of guys who have to walk away from NFL careers because of repeated, debilitating injury. Not everyone is an iron person. Jury is still out on Dowling but the evidence so far is not hopeful.