Just a Thought on Eugene Wilson

[zippo59]

A lot of people have been dogging him the past few years for his play,a dn I agree that he has not been playing as well as he was the first few years of his career.

Many people attribute this to the inconsistent status of Rondey Harrison the past few years, and I certainly agree this has something to do with it.

I started to think of pther possible reasons and something else that came to me was that he suffered a nasty arm break on a kick coverage in Superbowl 39 where he left the game. Does anyone think this might have something to do with it? I remember the play at it was ugly. His arm and shoulder really snapped. This could have something to do with him missing some tackles etc.

Whether it's a coincidence or not, he hasn't been playing at the same level since. Maybe it's completely unrelated but I thought I'd bring in up during the start of the offseason lull.

 

[BelichickFan]

I don't have a clue but he's a UFA after 2007 so I'm expecting a big season out of him.

 

[patsgo]

A lot of people have been dogging him the past few years for his play,a dn I agree that he has not been playing as well as he was the first few years of his career.

Many people attribute this to the inconsistent status of Rondey Harrison the past few years, and I certainly agree this has something to do with it.

I started to think of pther possible reasons and something else that came to me was that he suffered a nasty arm break on a kick coverage in Superbowl 39 where he left the game. Does anyone think this might have something to do with it? I remember the play at it was ugly. His arm and shoulder really snapped. This could have something to do with him missing some tackles etc.

Whether it's a coincidence or not, he hasn't been playing at the same level since. Maybe it's completely unrelated but I thought I'd bring in up during the start of the offseason lull.

a broken arm is no exuse, i think he would be better at corner he seems to fragile to play safety, stick sanders next to rodney and give it a whirl

 

[maverick4]

I personally think Rodney Harrison was so awesome up until 2004, that he made Eugene Wilson look good too. Since Rodney's had his injury problems, Wilson's true abilities have been exposed.

Rodney Harrison has got to be one of the most underpreciated players ever by general fans and the entire football world.

 

[Deus Irae]

a broken arm is no exuse, i think he would be better at corner he seems to fragile to play safety, stick sanders next to rodney and give it a whirl

He's an undersized big hitter who got two bad injuries during Super Bowls and didn't play nearly as badly as people here are claiming. People forget that when Rodney was unavailable, his replacements weren't getting it done early in the year and Wilson was being forced to play his role AND to cover for the other safety.

Wilson will be just fine at safety when he returns. He's not a top 5 type of player, but he's more than adequate in the Patriots system.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I think part of the issue people want to move him out of free safety is because they are enamored by Reggie Nelson, Michael Griffin, and Brandon Meriweather.

Fans are salivating getting one of these players into the secondary.

 

[chunkypony]

I think part of the issue people want to move him out of free safety is because they are enamored by Reggie Nelson, Michael Griffin, and Brandon Meriweather.

Fans are salivating getting one of these players into the secondary.

As far as I am concerned, it isn't so much that I want to move Wilson so that we can but a drafted player in that spot, but rather I would like to see some quality depth in a position that needs it; this fact was exposed in the AFCCG.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

As far as I am concerned, it isn't so much that I want to move Wilson so that we can but a drafted player in that spot, but rather I would like to see some quality depth in a position that needs it; this fact was exposed in the AFCCG.

if you want to see quality depth then consider it this way:

you have rodney, eugene, sanders, and hawkins for the safety slots and you may even have tebucky back.

i think that is quality depth.

 

[chunkypony]

quality depth? we had that same thing going into this season (except some uncertainty about Rodney). Look what happened. The injury bug has plagued the secondary for the past couple of years now. Having 2 starters and 2 back ups is not going to cut it against the elite teams in the NFL, especially if players go down for extended periods of time (i.e. get put on I.R.).

Plus, Rodney isnt getting any younger. We need to draft his replacement so he can be groomed for the spot, and he wont have to be thrown into the fire without any guidance from #37.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

quality depth? we had that same thing going into this season (except some uncertainty about Rodney). Look what happened. The injury bug has plagued the secondary for the past couple of years now. Having 2 starters and 2 back ups is not going to cut it against the elite teams in the NFL, especially if players go down for extended periods of time (i.e. get put on I.R.).

Plus, Rodney isnt getting any younger. We need to draft his replacement so he can be groomed for the spot, and he wont have to be thrown into the fire without any guidance from #37.

If your gonna say injuries is going to hamper quality depth then you ahve to go back to the 2nd and 3rd superbowl.

your 3rd safety on the depth chart is not going to be of the same quality as the starter. you can't have that kind of investment on the bench where it takes away from other positions. injuries are part of the game. maybe we should ask why it's been an issue the past 3-4 years? coinicidence? do they play too physical? is it the offseason training program? the knee injuries are hard to avoid, but hamstrings? Heck I'm still waiting for the first inury free seaosn for the pats but i don't think it's gonna come.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

quality depth? we had that same thing going into this season (except some uncertainty about Rodney). Look what happened. The injury bug has plagued the secondary for the past couple of years now. Having 2 starters and 2 back ups is not going to cut it against the elite teams in the NFL, especially if players go down for extended periods of time (i.e. get put on I.R.).

Plus, Rodney isnt getting any younger. We need to draft his replacement so he can be groomed for the spot, and he wont have to be thrown into the fire without any guidance from #37.

If your gonna say injuries is going to hamper quality depth then you ahve to go back to the 2nd and 3rd superbowl.

your 3rd safety on the depth chart is not going to be of the same quality as the starter. you can't have that kind of investment on the bench where it takes away from other positions. injuries are part of the game. maybe we should ask why it's been an issue the past 3-4 years? coinicidence? do they play too physical? is it the offseason training program? the knee injuries are hard to avoid, but hamstrings? Heck I'm still waiting for the first injury free seaosn for the pats but i don't think it's gonna come.

 

[chunkypony]

If your gonna say injuries is going to hamper quality depth then you ahve to go back to the 2nd and 3rd superbowl.

your 3rd safety on the depth chart is not going to be of the same quality as the starter. you can't have that kind of investment on the bench where it takes away from other positions.

so, what are we saying here? Rodney IS NOT going to be the starter forever! You missed my point originally. And going by your logic, how do you analyze BB/SP drafting of TEs and DL in the first round?

For example: Ty Warren was a first round pick that sat on the bench most of his first year behind Anthony Pleasant and Bobby Hamilton. Did we waste too much on that investment by having him sit on the bench? Going by your logic, why should we even invest a roster spot for all of our DL reserves? Marquise Hill? Waste. Jarvis Green? Not needed. Mike Wright? Why not just have Wilfork get into better shape so he doesnt need to have someone spell him.

I didn't say that we should draft 4 safeties with our first four picks. I understand that we have bodies in that area of the depth chart, and we have a pressing need at at least one other position (ILB, CB is still undetermined). Heck, I think that we should go ILB then safety in the first round. I would just like to see the SS of the future be given time to develop instead of having to throw him into the NFL. We should draft a stud safety too early, rather than too late. And this is just added insurance if someone gets injured. Too say that we can't make investments on players that are going to sit for a period of time is illogical.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

so, what are we saying here? Rodney IS NOT going to be the starter forever! You missed my point originally. And going by your logic, how do you analyze BB/SP drafting of TEs and DL in the first round?

For example: Ty Warren was a first round pick that sat on the bench most of his first year behind Anthony Pleasant and Bobby Hamilton. Did we waste too much on that investment by having him sit on the bench? Going by your logic, why should we even invest a roster spot for all of our DL reserves? Marquise Hill? Waste. Jarvis Green? Not needed. Mike Wright? Why not just have Wilfork get into better shape so he doesnt need to have someone spell him.

I didn't say that we should draft 4 safeties with our first four picks. I understand that we have bodies in that area of the depth chart, and we have a pressing need at at least one other position (ILB, CB is still undetermined). Heck, I think that we should go ILB then safety in the first round. I would just like to see the SS of the future be given time to develop instead of having to throw him into the NFL. We should draft a stud safety too early, rather than too late. And this is just added insurance if someone gets injured. Too say that we can't make investments on players that are going to sit for a period of time is illogical.

I think we are both saying the same thing. I think we have quality depth, but at the same time I agree that they could draft a safety(most likely free safety to go with Sanders) in the first round. I'd like to see that investment.

But of course there will be drop off after the starting unit.

With that said... who is going to start as free safety and strong safety in week one?

 

[chunkypony]

I would want the starters during week one to be SS:Rodney Harrison and FS:Michael Griffin, but, like you said, I'm just enamored with having that guy on the roster; that being said, even if he is drafted, i dont think he'll start week one.

I think for the time being, whether or not a S is drafted, Wilson and Harrison are the two top dogs on the depth chart at the respective positions.

 

[pats1]

You are right.

The last time Rodney and Geno have both been out there, 100%, kickin' ass was January 2005. Not coincidentally, that is the last time the Patriots have beaten the Colts. Remember Rodney's pick against the Steelers? Geno's?

Since then, we've seen far too much of Gay, Stone, Hawkins, Sanders, C. Scott, G. Scott, Freeman, Baker, Davis, and others.

The starting safeties for the January 2005 Colts game were Rodney and Geno.

The starting safeties for the November 2005 Colts game were Randall Gay and Michael Stone. (with Starks at CB...ouch)

The starting safeties for the November 2006 Colts game were Rodney (got hurt, replaced by Sanders) and Hawkins.

The starting safeties for the January 2007 Colts game were Sanders and Hawkins.

Let's come full circle.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I would want the starters during week one to be SS:Rodney Harrison and FS:Michael Griffin, but, like you said, I'm just enamored with having that guy on the roster; that being said, even if he is drafted, i dont think he'll start week one.

I think for the time being, whether or not a S is drafted, Wilson and Harrison are the two top dogs on the depth chart at the respective positions.

don't get me wrong. I agree they have to add speed behind the front 3. and i'd love a OLB who can speed rush exclusively on obvious passing downs.

 

[shirtsleeve]

quality depth? we had that same thing going into this season (except some uncertainty about Rodney). Look what happened. The injury bug has plagued the secondary for the past couple of years now. Having 2 starters and 2 back ups is not going to cut it against the elite teams in the NFL, especially if players go down for extended periods of time (i.e. get put on I.R.).

Plus, Rodney isnt getting any younger. We need to draft his replacement so he can be groomed for the spot, and he wont have to be thrown into the fire without any guidance from #37.

Amen cp! sing it to the heavens! Lets bring in a rook like Meriweather. Not necessarilly to start but to learn behind Geno and Rodney. But if the kid is that good, Geno could be brought over to corner and the kid could play next to Rodney. Now we have depth at two positions with one pick. Pats 1 said lets take it full circle back to Rodney and Geno, but history has told us that we can depend on neither for a full season without injury. I feel better about Rodney for this coming season, not so much so about Geno.

 

[Kdo5]

Ah yes...another moment when a few people had to lay more blame on Wilson.

 

[everlong]

When Harrison returned from injury he returned to playing at a high level. Wilson hasn't been the same player since SB 39. 2005 he wasn't very good and this year in his short stint he was worse. Maybe it was injuries, maybe it was Harrison not being around or a combination of both.

Either way this is his big year.

 

[mgteich]

Sanders is a poor free safety.

a broken arm is no exuse, i think he would be better at corner he seems to fragile to play safety, stick sanders next to rodney and give it a whirl