Dude, please please please stay healthy...Ras I at camp story

[BTTA]

Ras-I Dowling Might Be Patriots’ Best Option at Cornerback Alongside Aqib Talib, If He Can Stay Healthy | New England Patriots | NESN.com

Kyle Arrington manned the first team with Talib to open OTAs while Alfonzo Dennard and Dowling manned the second unit — take that as you will. They all looked terrific — add as much salt as necessary, given the lack of pads and contact — in their first run-through of the offseason, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Dowling and Dennard get some first-team reps of their own in the weeks to come.

From a pure spectator standpoint, Dowling looked like the best of the bunch. He appeared crisp in his backpedal, changed direction with supreme fluidity and even broke up a few of Tom Brady‘s passes along the sideline. Talib was working hard out on the corner, and both Dennard and Arrington looked solid in their reps, but, for my money at least, Dowling appeared to be the best player out on the corner.

 

[ALP]

Ras-I Dowling Might Be Patriots’ Best Option at Cornerback Alongside Aqib Talib, If He Can Stay Healthy | New England Patriots | NESN.com

This is gonna be year three right? They say that's when the charm kicks in...I really liked this guy when we drafted him, but his reputation is well deserved, time for him to change that

 

[Nunchucks]

I really hope he can stay healthy, would be great to see Dowling lock-down the other CB spot. The secondary would be very good and have depth with Dowling playing on the outside.

Something that no Patriots fan has dared to say since 2004.

 

[patfanken]

This is a case similar to Danny Amendola's. There really isn't an issue of can the guy play. The entire issue about Dowling is, can he stay on the field. IF he can, the impact could be a revelation to this defense. Think about it.

Talib comes to us universally recognized as a top 15 CB. Denard proved that he could be a solid outside CB as a rookie, plus we have the "2nd year jump" to look forward to. Professional evaluators and the market, deem Arrington to be good enough to be worth around $ 4MM/yr. In this market, that means you are viewed by the people who have the most info and experience, as a better than average CB. So regardless of what people think here, Arrington is viewed as much more valuable than WE think.

So, strictly going on talent, the Pats could have 4 CB's who are better than anything we've seen over the last 8 years. Plus a very nice looking rookie who will have the luxury of breaking into the league as the #5 CB. We haven't seen anything CLOSE to this kind of depth at that position in more than a decade. But more importantly what that means is the flexibility for the Pats to be more aggressive and complex in their schemes this year, because talent and depth in the secondary is what allows the defense to be more creative.

Big IF's about Dowling staying on the field, but we can't presuppose that he can't, and until it happens the Pats are going to be more talented and deeper at the CB position than we have in a long while. IMHO, Dowling looking smooth and fluid, is the BEST news I've heard. coming out of the first OTA's

 

[resdubwhite]

Heres hoping the Shawn Crable of the secondary turns it around.

 

[kennyb]

BB said that he didn't believe players were simply "injury prone". I think he said that.

If Ras-IR is injured one more time, then put a fork in that belief.

 

[Nunchucks]

Having a solid CB group and a safety group that features McCourty and the Wilsons could really allow Belichick to get creative with the defense. Jones can rush or drop back and then we can think about all the different blitzing options with Hightower, Mayo, Spikes and Collins....

It is too soon to dare hope, but still, it is an inkling of a dream of a dominate and suffocating defense augmented by a hall of fame quarterback and a running game that teams must fear.

 

[doesntmatter1]

Besides gregory and cole, we seem to have a potentially awesome secondary. Maybe we can start to see some safety blitz etc. I wouldn't mind see kyle arrington give a speed rush off the edge(idc what anyone says, he was effective).

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I still think Dennard with another year in the system will be a better player than a healthy Dowling and makes a Talib/Dennard duo the best possible combo on this roster for starting corners.....injuries aside,of course

 

[patfanken]

I still think Dennard with another year in the system will be a better player than a healthy Dowling and makes a Talib/Dennard duo the best possible combo on this roster for starting corners.....injuries aside,of course

I don't think it matters these days, WHO the "starter" is. Its all about the packages and the packages are determined by who the competition is week to week. If we play a team like the Giants who will likely have 2 very tall wide outs and a jitterbug in the slot, a Talib, Dowling combination would probably be more suitable. OTOH playing the Ravens with Torry Smith, might mean that Dennard would be a better match up. Who knows?

But the point is, that for the first time in years, Patricia will have that OPTION....and having that option will make us a much more effective defense at every other position.

 

[Kontradiction]

Nobody is in pads yet.

 

[MTM558]

The fact that Dennard isn't alongside Talib during 1st team reps surprises me a bit...

But regardless, the point is valid. IF Dowling can be healthy, then he can make an impact. Remember, in 2011, he was a starter and actually performed well.

A CB corp of Talib, Dowling, Arrington, Dennard, Ryan would definitely be a step above what we're used to. That being said, though, I don't think Dennard should be demoted. He was awesome last year and proved he could handle a starting job.

 

[RayClay]

May the gawd of secondary health smile upon us.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

he wont stay healthy

 

[DarrylS]

You cannot control injuries, stuff happens.. glad we have more quality depth than we have in the past.

 

[Uncle Rico]

May the gawd of secondary health smile upon us.

I think that particular gawd has an unfortunate habit of smirking upon us. Pretty much every year in the BB era. SMiling would be a nice change of pace.

 

[JackBauer]

I still think Dennard with another year in the system will be a better player than a healthy Dowling and makes a Talib/Dennard duo the best possible combo on this roster for starting corners.....injuries aside,of course

If healthy, I think Dowling has the talent to be the best CB on the roster.

 

[Pats0204]

For those that forgot, and nobody would blame you, here's a reminder of who Ras I Dowling is and what he brings to the table. Please stay healthy:

Ras-I Dowling - YouTube

 

[Gronkandez]

If healthy, I think Dowling has the talent to be the best CB on the roster.

Based upon what? He certainly didn't show that much talent when he played last year. Bedard kept saying how he looked tight and other such things and he wasn't injured at the time as far as I know.

 

[Big-T]

The "fact" people keep using about how he's always injured/made of glass is a bit of a myth too, it's just a recent thing that's cropped up:

2 years on IR in New England
Only 5 games his final year in College
11 games in 2009
11 games in 2008
12 games in 2007
I recall someone posting his HS stats his rookie year showing he hardly missed any games back then as well, he's shown he can stay healthy so hopefully he will this season and in the future.