The Secondary Is Already Better

[mgteich]

We have made a good start. That we are already better than last year is a low bar, but an important one, given how dire the situation was a week ago.

We have re-signed our starter and nickel back. We have replaced Chung by signing Wilson.
The inexperienced kids should be better: Dennard, Wilson, and perhaps even Dowling and Ebner. Talib should play more than last year. The secondary will be together for all of camp.
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Our big debates now are how many more to add and at which position. We can add a mid-level player (a fine idea), camp competition, ST specialists, and/or draft choices.

It is great to have options. We should not lose sight of the fact that the team we have today could start the season and be expected to be better than last year. I would certainly prefer an upgrade over our #5 corner. That we are still looking for improvement is a GREAT thing.
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[Ozymandias]

I know I might be in the minority here but I believe the wildcard for the secondary next season is Ras-I Dowling.

From an athletic perspective he may be New England's most physically gifted CB though he hasn't been fully healthy long enough to show it. He's a fabulous athlete brimming with a lot of untapped potential.

I always had the theory that the front office envisioned the role eventually taken over by Talib to have been for Dowling as it was tailored made to his skill set and his excellent coverage abilities. Had he stayed healthy last season and played up to his capabilities they probably don't trade for Talib at all. His injuries forced a knee-jerk reaction to cause a trade motivated by desperation.

Although, this is probably a make or break (no pun intended) year for him, if he can finally start living up to his potential that may change the defensive landscape even more.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

This thread title was validated at the time Adian Wilson put ink to paper!

Not enough love, or appreciation around here, for this signing....


IT'S HUGE!

 

[supafly]

I know I might be in the minority here but I believe the wildcard for the secondary next season is Ras-I Dowling.

From an athletic perspective he may be New England's most physically gifted CB though he hasn't been fully healthy long enough to show it. He's a fabulous athlete brimming with a lot of untapped potential.

I always had the theory that the front office envisioned the role eventually taken over by Talib to have been for Dowling as it was tailored made to his skill set and his excellent coverage abilities. Had he stayed healthy last season and played up to his capabilities they probably don't trade for Talib at all. His injuries forced a knee-jerk reaction to cause a trade motivated by desperation.

Although, this is probably a make or break (no pun intended) year for him, if he can finally start living up to his potential that may change the defensive landscape even more.

While Dowling is indeed a wild card and could potentially still prove to be a very good player, Belichick is likely going into this season without dependence or expectations of him. That is quite different from the past year or even two, which also caused us to have lack of depth issues. If he can stay healthy, I actually believe he'll be competing for a starting spot somewhere. His talent is likely that good. However, our expectations are low at this point and we're nothing more than cautiously optimistic.

The pathetic play of the safeties only added to the failures of the pass defense in general the past couple of seasons (aside from the late season change of moving DMcC to FS), so that will definitely be another positive step in my opinion, and a very big one. I would like to see an additional viable safety signed, whether that is a draft pick or even a cheaper vet. The reality is that we'll probably be bringing in at least a few for TC fodder and overall competition.

 

[Triumph]

Adrian Wilson cant cover.

Arrington is back. If Talib or Dennard (assuming hes not making license plates) goes down, old Kyle gets to showcase his Corner skills. Counting on Dowling to do anything is like waiting to see Sasquatch.

Everyone thought the Pats secondary was all set with Bodden returning to health and McCourty coming off a pro bowl season. That proved to be wishful thinking.

More needs to be done.

 

[mgteich]

Personally, I think that we done at safety unless McCourty moves to corner. We are set with McCourty, Gregory, Wilson and Wilson (and Ebner as the S/STer). The open question is whether we even draft a safety. As of now, I'd say no.

At corner, I agree with Reiss. We need to have a backup nickel and a backup outside. At least one needs to be a top special teamer. Dowling is competing for one of those spots. As andy says, if Dowling is healthy for Game One, then we'll depend on him and expect the same health from him as from anyone else.

Adrian Wilson cant cover.

Arrington is back. If Talib or Dennard (assuming hes not making license plates) goes down, old Kyle gets to showcase his Corner skills. Counting on Dowling to do anything is like waiting to see Sasquatch.

Everyone thought the Pats secondary was all set with Bodden returning to health and McCourty coming off a pro bowl season. That proved to be wishful thinking.

More needs to be done.

 

[JMC00]

Sign Antoine Winfield (insurance for Talib & Dennard) & Michael Huff

Safeties
A.Wilson
McCourty
Huff
T.Wilson
Ebner

Gregory gets cut.

Cornerbacks
Talib
Dennard
Arrington
Winfield
Dowling
Rookie

Also have the flexibility of using McCourty or Huff as a CB.

 

[Triumph]

Personally, I think that we done at safety unless McCourty moves to corner. We are set with McCourty, Gregory, Wilson and Wilson (and Ebner as the S/STer). The open question is whether we even draft a safety. As of now, I'd say no.

Theres a lot of "IFs" at Safety.

T Wilson and Ebner right from the get go. I dont buy this McCourty elite Safety baloney either. He reminds me of Tbucky Jones relying on his physical skills to make up for being out of position. Hes in a contract year and I dont see the Pats rushing to extend him.

At corner, I agree with Reiss. We need to have a backup nickel and a backup outside. At least one needs to be a top special teamer. Dowling is competing for one of those spots. As andy says, if Dowling is healthy for Game One, then we'll depend on him and expect the same health from him as from anyone else.

Dowling was healthy game 1 two years ago and missed the entire season.

 

[JMC00]

Hes in a contract year and I dont see the Pats rushing to extend him.

No he is not. His rookie contract was a 5 year deal

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl/news/story?id=5416241

 

[supafly]

I dont buy this McCourty elite Safety baloney either. He reminds me of Tbucky Jones relying on his physical skills to make up for being out of position. Hes in a contract year and I dont see the Pats rushing to extend him.

Triumph, my friend, I am going to respectfully disagree with you on the McCourty issue--as controversial as it sometimes has been.

McCourty has only played 3 of his 5 yr deal, but I would think that they'd be very interested in potentially extending him. He's had 2/3 seasons where he has warranted first round status, is obviously versatile for playing both secondary positions (it was nice having him do that in the same game during SB 46, and it helped to create some problems for the NYG), and is one of the fast up and coming secondary players of the current NFL.

They'll be more than excited to extend him, especially if they can do it at the safety prices rather than the CB prices--although it will likely be a safety price with a "bump" in my opinion. I think they'll be looking to do that after the next season myself.

 

[Sciz]

They'll be more than excited to extend him, especially if they can do it at the safety prices rather than the CB prices--although it will likely be a safety price with a "bump" in my opinion. I think they'll be looking to do that after the next season myself.

I would definitely want to lock McCourty up long term this offseason if I were the Pats. He's got two years left on his contract, which means they can add cap hits to those two cheap (about $2M each) years in return for never having super high cap hits later in the contract. And he's a guy who has been to a Pro Bowl and would have been worthy of another last year had he stuck stuck at one position, plus he's been a captain for two years. I know some people want to see him prove he can play well for another year, but I think the Pats would be just happy extending him now knowing that he's an extremely talented player with the work ethic and leadership to be chosen as a captain.

I now it sounds like a lot, but I'd definitely be willing to give him $40M in new money over 4 years. That $10M per year in new money would mean he's no better off financially playing out his contract and then looking for a contract elsewhere as a CB, but the per year value of the overall six-year deal would only be $7.3M, which is just below the $8M range that the top safeties are getting.

 

[randomk1]

This thread comes out every year.

 

[ausbacker]

This thread comes out every year.

But this season we won't have Patrick Chung back there to **** things up.

 

[strngplyr]

But this season we won't have Patrick Chung back there to **** things up.

As long as Wilson isn't colorblind we're set.

Too many years in a row now we've had our own safeties blow up our corners. Merriweather's done it, Chung has done it, Moore knocked McCourty out for two games (thought i was dying laughing when McCourty made the hit his display pic on twitter and tweeted Moore with it).

If we get a strong safety who can hit the right team our secondary drastically improves.

 

[DarrylS]

Think Dennard is the main issue now, wonder if the Patriots know something about his pending sentencing??.. but then we have to wait for Goody Two Shoes Goodall to play the double jeopardy card....

 

[pdangle]

As long as Wilson isn't colorblind we're set.

Too many years in a row now we've had our own safeties blow up our corners. Merriweather's done it, Chung has done it, Moore knocked McCourty out for two games (thought i was dying laughing when McCourty made the hit his display pic on twitter and tweeted Moore with it).

If we get a strong safety who can hit the right team our secondary drastically improves.

Seriously it's been like an nfl version of spinal tap. Although it sucked, that's what You gotta love about sports, just when u think you've seen it all, b2b seasons of frickin Safeties running blind to 11 and exlpoding CBs!

 

[RobertWeathers]

Seriously it's been like an nfl version of spinal tap. Although it sucked, that's what You gotta love about sports, just when u think you've seen it all, b2b seasons of frickin Safeties running blind to 11 and exlpoding CBs!

For us older posters, that was pretty funny.

I tend to agree with Reiss that 1-2 more cover guys are needed in the secondary as we just don't know about Ras-IR and Dennard. We'll know more April 11th if the Pats should draft/sign a CB.

I do not support the Winfield signing as I think hes done and he can't play STs.

 

[patfanken]

Theres a lot of "IFs" at Safety.

T Wilson and Ebner right from the get go. I dont buy this McCourty elite Safety baloney either. He reminds me of Tbucky Jones relying on his physical skills to make up for being out of position. Hes in a contract year and I dont see the Pats rushing to extend him.




Dowling was healthy game 1 two years ago and missed the entire season.

God, do you ever listen to yourself for a second. Tbucky JONES? Different physically, Different athletically, TOTALLY different mentally. McCourty is BB jr, jr. He's right there behind Mayo and Wilfolk,as BB's favorite defensive players and 2nd most likely who BB adopts right after Mayo. He's a student of the game. A very good CB (if you bothered to listen), and someone who showed last year, with very little experience, that he can be equally good, if not better as a Safety.

Believe when I say this, if there is one rookie who is gong toi come out of his rookie class that is GUARANTEED to remain a Patriot, its going to be Devin McCourty,. Once again....sadly, you show yourself NOT knowing what you are talking about. YOU may not like him, but thank god, BB LOVES him.

 

[PatsFan37]

Think Dennard is the main issue now, wonder if the Patriots know something about his pending sentencing??.. but then we have to wait for Goody Two Shoes Goodall to play the double jeopardy card....

I don't think Goodell can take action against a player whose arrest took place before he was drafted. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[zoostation]

Think Dennard is the main issue now, wonder if the Patriots know something about his pending sentencing??.. but then we have to wait for Goody Two Shoes Goodall to play the double jeopardy card....

1) As a first time offender of a non felony charge that resulted in an undercover police officer taking a punch while trying to breakup a fight.. there is no reason to believe he will go to prison.
2) Goody Two Shoes has no jurisdiction as the event took place before Dennard was a representative of the NFL