2012 Surprises/Disappointments

[1%er]

How is Trevor Scott a disappointment?

He's been ok on the field when he gets opportunities. They started Chandler Jones over him

There is a reason he isn't getting on the field and now he is losing reps to Francis too.

If he was showing up at practice he'd be on the field.

 

[1%er]

Disappointments:

Ras-I Dowling.

True, but I expected him to get injured so he wasn't in terms of my expectations

 

[Triumph]

If you're just trolling Ivan here, then job well done.

No, Im not trying to rile up the primates.

I do not believe that NE will invest in a long term contract with a 32 year old WR. Particularly when NE needs to get younger at that position. Welker thinks he can be the same player without Brady and history has shown that he wont be. I think if Welker backs off on his demands that he will be around, but if he sticks to his guns, that the Pats wont hesitate to plug someone else in and let Brady make that guy a star.

 

[1%er]

This is a great list for a great bye week topic. Just a few nitpicks

1. Hard to see Trevor Scott being a disappointment. He has seemed to do quite well whenever he's gotten on the field. Certainly he played to expectations. The only complaint you might have is that he didn't get on the field as much as expect, but as 4th DE there aren't a lot of snaps. Your review would have been quite different if Chandler Jones hadn't started so fast.

2. Greg Salas? Was he even here long enough to be considered a failure. He got released because the Pats needed to make some roster moves unrelated to him personally, and got stolen by the Eagles before we could resign him to the PS. Disappointing that we won't have a 7th round pick in 2015, but how can he be a failure when he never took a snap on the field.

3. If I had done the list I would have added Fletcher Dowling, and Edelman to my disappointing list. These are 3 guys who I loved going into the season, but injuries kept them from fulfilling their promise. Edelman was particularly frustrating since he looked like he was really going to break out when he went down. It will be very interesting to see what happens with him this off season. Especially how the rest of the league thinks about him.

4. To my surprise list, I would have added Boldin, Tracy White, and Kyle Arrington.

Clearly just making the team is a surprise for and UDFA, but Boldin excelled in his opportunities to run the ball, and excelled at special teams.

Tracy White, is there because I have in the past been a big trasher of White when he played LB on the regular D. This year in the few time he's had the chance to be out there on the regular D, I thought he held his own quite well, and that surprised me.

Kyle Arrington, just when I thought my worst fears about Arrington were confirmed by his play on the outside in the first few games, he surprised me with is effective play on the inside, after Dennard replaced him as the outside CB.

I agree on Bolden right after I made my list I actually realized I left him off.

Regarding Scott I see him as a disappointment based on what expectations were set. Most people including myself expected a Mark Anderson like performance out of him this year. And now Francis is taking his 4th string reps.

Arrington had 7 interceptions last year and 0 this year. Was not expecting 7 but he took the 3rd most snaps of any defensive players and did little with them.

 

[NormZauchin]

Surprises
Steven Ridley
Ryan Wendell
Michael Hoomanawanui
Rob Ninkovich
Brandon Spikes
Alfonzo Dennard
Brandon Deaderick
Jermaine Cunningham
Justin Francis

Disappointments
Pat Chung
Kyle Arrington
Trevor Scott
Jake Bequette
Daniel Fells


Failures
Sterling Moore
Ron Brace
Visanthe Shiancoe
Greg Salas
Bobby Carpenter

Share your thoughts?

I didn't realize that everyone had such high expectations for Nate Solder filling in for the departed Matt Light.

 

[Ivan]

..except durability

Or production. I guess if Brady can make anyone a star then Edelman must really suck because he hasn't been able to become anything more than a sub. then again when you consider that the source claimed he could draft better than Belichick you realize they are just developmentally disabled.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Surprises
Steven Ridley
Ryan Wendell
Michael Hoomanawanui
Rob Ninkovich
Brandon Spikes
Alfonzo Dennard
Brandon Deaderick
Jermaine Cunningham
Justin Francis

Disappointments
Pat Chung
Kyle Arrington
Trevor Scott
Jake Bequette
Daniel Fells


Failures
Sterling Moore
Ron Brace
Visanthe Shiancoe
Greg Salas
Bobby Carpenter

Share your thoughts?

If you watched the Pats last year , Ridley and Spikes wouldn't be surprises. Both came on strong at the end of last year and their potential was obvious

 

[JackBauer]

If you're just trolling Ivan here, then job well done.

He's not. He's just a terrible poster.

As a bubble player Scott has been solid, IMO. Definitely a good rotational guy in the mix.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Aaron Hernandez has been disappointing this year IMO.

Her stayed out with injury much longer than expected. I remember it was only supposed to be a 4 week injury, but he missed more than that. I think he lacks toughness. And he showed he can't be a true #1 TE when Gronk was out.

Sorry but that's the truth

 

[JackBauer]

Aaron Hernandez has been disappointing this year IMO.

Her stayed out with injury much longer than expected. I remember it was only supposed to be a 4 week injury, but he missed more than that. I think he lacks toughness. And he showed he can't be a true #1 TE when Gronk was out.

Sorry but that's the truth

Are you close with his treating physician? 4 weeks according to whom? If you'll recall, the snap consensus when the freak injury occurred was insta-IR.

I always get a kick when people question Hernandez' toughness when he's been gutting it out there on one wheel. You'd be better off sticking to your other keen observations, like how Ninkovich is the worst starter in the league.

 

[Ivan]

Are you close with his treating physician? 4 weeks according to whom? If you'll recall, the snap consensus when the freak injury occurred was insta-IR.

I always get a kick when people question Hernandez' toughness when he's been gutting it out there on one wheel. You'd be better off sticking to your other keen observations, like how Ninkovich is the worst starter in the league.

Yep. I thought Hernandez was going to IR when he got hurt, and he has shown exceptional toughness and heart by playing through the pain this season. He has been limited by it but has still helped them win and in no way can he be considered a disappointment.

 

[1%er]

I didn't realize that everyone had such high expectations for Nate Solder filling in for the departed Matt Light.

I was not surprised to see him play well. He played well as a rookie.

 

[1%er]

If you watched the Pats last year , Ridley and Spikes wouldn't be surprises. Both came on strong at the end of last year and their potential was obvious

Ridley was inactive for the AFC Championship game didn't take a single snap in the Super Bowl.. That's coming on strong?

Spikes played less the 40% of defensive snaps last year.

 

[lurker1965]

For how many games? The over/under has to be set at about 4.

He's shown enough to make him a cheaper re-sign, because his large volume of inactivity with limit his marketability. That's a good thing, since he's a good player on those rare occasions when he can suit up for more than two games in a month. I'm all for keeping him around on the cheap in case he can change that, but in no way would I want to depend on it.

Is that with or without resigning Welker?

 

[Triumph]

He's not. He's just a terrible poster.

As a bubble player Scott has been solid, IMO. Definitely a good rotational guy in the mix.

The pot calling the kettle black.

If the Pats listened to Jack, Maroney, Chad Jackson, Bethel, Wlihite, Butler would all still be on the team.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Too many good suprises to really narrow it down to a list of a few. I'll just say for the most part I was very happy with most of the guys this season and just do my disappointments. I'll keep it to the guys I had expectations for. Guys like Dowling, Moore, Brace, etc I pretty much knew what was coming. But my disappointments:

Tavon Wilson - Expected he'd be at least a part time contributor but to my knowledge he's really only gotten in when Gregory was injured or what Talib/Dennard were out and DMC had to play corner. Hope he is ready next year and we're not still looking for a safety.

Vereen - Kind of nitpicking here but I expected more from him. He's been okay when he's in but really only one big play all season in a game that was a blowout anyways. A huge fumble against SF. Not good when the highest draft pick appears to be 4th on the depth chart, especially when 2 of the 3 are UDFA. Not sure why he can't even get looks as a returner.

Bequette - Wanted to see him as a situational pass rusher. But I guess like Vereen it's nitpicking since Ninkovich, Scott, Cunningham, and Francis have all stepped it up and it's possibly just a numbers game.

Vinatieri - Just outside the bottom 10 in FG%, not good especially considering what he's making. Hopefully he continues to be reliable in the playoffs or else I'd hope there is more than just the standard TC competition next year.

Fells/Shiancoe - With the injuries to Ahern/Gronk I didn't think Hoomandsnfiaiea would be the one getting the expanded role.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

For how many games? The over/under has to be set at about 4.

He's shown enough to make him a cheaper re-sign, because his large volume of inactivity with limit his marketability. That's a good thing, since he's a good player on those rare occasions when he can suit up for more than two games in a month. I'm all for keeping him around on the cheap in case he can change that, but in no way would I want to depend on it.

Snarkasm aside, he played 11 games in 2009 (broken forearm), 15 in 2010, and 13 in 2011. Even this year he managed 9.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

No, Im not trying to rile up the primates.

I do not believe that NE will invest in a long term contract with a 32 year old WR. Particularly when NE needs to get younger at that position. Welker thinks he can be the same player without Brady and history has shown that he wont be. I think if Welker backs off on his demands that he will be around, but if he sticks to his guns, that the Pats wont hesitate to plug someone else in and let Brady make that guy a star.

Which history? 2004 and 2005, when the LOLphins were too clueless to use him as a WR properly?

2006, when he lead the LOLphins in receptions and yards?

Or 2008, when he was an All-Pro with Matt Cassel throwing him the ball?

 

[Triumph]

Other surprises

Solder has played very well. Hard to believe that Matt Light hasnt been gone a year yet.

Ridley deserves the #1 RB slot. Great vision and acceleration.

Slater is just on fire with special teams.

 

[Triumph]

Which history? 2004 and 2005, when the LOLphins were too clueless to use him as a WR properly?

2006, when he lead the LOLphins in receptions and yards?

Or 2008, when he was an All-Pro with Matt Cassel throwing him the ball?

Branchs history, Moss's history, Givens history, Pattens history.

Do you think that Welker will put up the same numbers that he is today on a different team ?

Because thats what his value is based on isnt?