Strong Safety

[State]

Anyone have any ideas? I think we've done brilliantly with CB in free agency, I love McCourty at FS, and I think Duron Harmon is more than adequate as a backup/nickle at SS...but I'd love to take an _impact_ player at strong safety who can both tackle and create turnovers. Make the receivers have their heads on a swivel. A hitter who isn't an empty-headed missile like Brandon Meriweather or injury-prone disappointment like Pat Chung.

We've got our Ty Law in Revis. Where's our Lawyer Milloy? It's a passing league and defense wins championships. Seahawks showed us that, as if we needed reminding.

If McCourty goes down, we're toast. Stick a fork in us. Remember when Rodney Harrison went down in the SB against the Panthers, and our defense turned into whipped butter?

Adrian Wilson, that aged FA pickup from the Cardinals who runs the forty by sundial, probably won't pan out; Tavon Wilson is a huge liability in the passing game; and who knows about anyone else.

I'm thinking we may take a safety with our first pick. Someone like Washington State's Deone Buchannon--a Buchanan who will actually play. It's probably a bit of a reach, but at a desperately needed position. I don't see him lasting for us in the second.

Any thoughts? Add Mark Barron to this defense, who was a perfect fit last year but went too early, and we're bleepin' there.

 

[50-yard-line]

Unless there's an amazing value to be had - Dix or Pryor, I would be shocked to see the Pats go S with the first pick, or even their second pick.

It's not their most pressing need, by a long shot.

 

[State]

You may be right, but I'm more confident in us getting a TE, interior O lineman, or D-lineman later in the draft. An explosive safety rated just behind Ha-ha is a more valuable commodity. Don't ask me why.

 

[State]

Deone Buchannon

Forty in less than 4.5? Check.
Vertical leap over 36"? Check.
Broad jump over 10'? Check.
Instinctive? Yep, with 14 INTs over his career, has them in G-d-given ways.
Afraid to take on the run? Nope. Attacks like a "bowling ball," according to the Ourlads.
Durability issues? No, four year letterman.
Three-cone drill in less than seven seconds? Check.
Freakish long wingspan? Check, with 78" inches!
High football IQ? Check. Utilized in multiple, creative ways in college.
Good leadership? Check. Multiyear captain for the Cougars of Washington State.

What's not to like about a proved performer with elite athleticism in a 6'1", 216-pound body in the first? Count me as sold. We can go TE in the second with that Iowa player.

 

[manxman2601]

Anyone have any ideas? I think we've done brilliantly with CB in free agency, I love McCourty at FS, and I think Duron Harmon is more than adequate as a backup/nickle at SS...but I'd love to take an _impact_ player at strong safety who can both tackle and create turnovers. Make the receivers have their heads on a swivel. A hitter who isn't an empty-headed missile like Brandon Meriweather or injury-prone disappointment like Pat Chung.

We've got our Ty Law in Revis. Where's our Lawyer Milloy? It's a passing league and defense wins championships. Seahawks showed us that, as if we needed reminding.

If McCourty goes down, we're toast. Stick a fork in us. Remember when Rodney Harrison went down in the SB against the Panthers, and our defense turned into whipped butter?

Adrian Wilson, that aged FA pickup from the Cardinals who runs the forty by sundial, probably won't pan out; Tavon Wilson is a huge liability in the passing game; and who knows about anyone else.

I'm thinking we may take a safety with our first pick. Someone like Washington State's Deone Buchannon--a Buchanan who will actually play. It's probably a bit of a reach, but at a desperately needed position. I don't see him lasting for us in the second.

Any thoughts? Add Mark Barron to this defense, who was a perfect fit last year but went too early, and we're bleepin' there.

Bucannon is no Mark Barron. He's a decent to good player and there is much to like about him but he doesn't play with the control to be a top quality safety, at least initially.

 

[rdf63]

Anyone have any ideas? I think we've done brilliantly with CB in free agency, I love McCourty at FS, and I think Duron Harmon is more than adequate as a backup/nickle at SS...but I'd love to take an _impact_ player at strong safety who can both tackle and create turnovers. Make the receivers have their heads on a swivel. A hitter who isn't an empty-headed missile like Brandon Meriweather or injury-prone disappointment like Pat Chung.

We've got our Ty Law in Revis. Where's our Lawyer Milloy? It's a passing league and defense wins championships. Seahawks showed us that, as if we needed reminding.

If McCourty goes down, we're toast. Stick a fork in us. Remember when Rodney Harrison went down in the SB against the Panthers, and our defense turned into whipped butter?

Adrian Wilson, that aged FA pickup from the Cardinals who runs the forty by sundial, probably won't pan out; Tavon Wilson is a huge liability in the passing game; and who knows about anyone else.

I'm thinking we may take a safety with our first pick. Someone like Washington State's Deone Buchannon--a Buchanan who will actually play. It's probably a bit of a reach, but at a desperately needed position. I don't see him lasting for us in the second.

Any thoughts? Add Mark Barron to this defense, who was a perfect fit last year but went too early, and we're bleepin' there.

Much too early to compare Mark Barron and Deone Bucannon. Barron went #7 to the Bucs and is the highest DB ever out of Alabama. People were already comparing him to Ronnie Lott in the draft. I really like Bucannon and wonder if he will go in the 2nd or 3rd round.

 

[State]

I'm not equating the players. Barron is a more impressive football player. But I'm talking about the position, which needs an infusion of play-making ability which, at #27, is ably filled by Deone Buchanon.

Any one want to bet that he, Deone Bucannon, goes in the first round and Johnny Manziel doesn't?

 

[stinkypete]

Buchanan will last until the mid-second round, maybe lower.

I'd love to see a bigger name at SS, but with the depth we currently have at corner and the amount of passing in the league, I wouldn't be surprised if we play a nickle base with a 3rd CB.

 

[All22PatsFan]

I think the answer is Logan Ryan, although he isn't super physical he could still excel at SS. McCourty is going to be up top in single high looks (most of the time) leaving Ryan in the box, there he would excel in a robber role, in man coverage, blitzing and against the run. Harmon should be able to back them both up.

 

[State]

Deone Bucannon

Dude looks like he is a legit late first- or early second-rounder that few are talking about yet. I expect to see Deone Bucannon's stock rise. Odd spelling.

NEPatriotsdraft.com website talks about about Jimmie Ward from N. Illinois as a possible pick for us. Very nice player, love to have him (a big upgrade over our backups), but compare the two. No comparison with size, level of competition, and athleticism. I know Ward is injured--another mark against him. NFL.com says Bucannon has "average" speed, then plays up Louisville's Calvin Pryor who ran a 4.58 at the combine, noticeably slower than Bucannon's 4.49. Bucannon is 211-216 pounds who has cornerback-comparable speed with very long arms. That compensates for a lot over a supposed lack of recovery speed. I guess Pryor got more ESPN love for bone-jarring hits.

Deone Bucannon
Jimmie Ward
And maybe Louisville's Calvin Pryor has more pizzzazz for flying around like Brandon Meriweather (out of control) with knock-out hits, but he's _still_ not in Bucannon's league with size, speed, or explosiveness. And Bucannon was a stellar performer, a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, a proven three-year starter.

People need to wake up.

 

[AzorianPats]

I think BB moving away from the traditional SS. Seems he'd rather 4 CB's in at all times. That's why I find this whole Ryan moving to safety thing interesting.

If he gets that traditional SS ( Adrian Wilson) I think it's to play him at LB or closer to the line of scrimmage on passing downs. And if that's the case, I actually think that's a position Tavon Wilson could excel at believe it or not.

 

[doesntmatter1]

I think BB moving away from the traditional SS. Seems he'd rather 4 CB's in at all times. That's why I find this whole Ryan moving to safety thing interesting.

If he gets that traditional SS ( Adrian Wilson) I think it's to play him at LB or closer to the line of scrimmage on passing downs. And if that's the case, I actually think that's a position Tavon Wilson could excel at believe it or not.

I think Tavon should convert full time to lb. He seems strong enough and is a solid tackler.

 

[AzorianPats]

I think Tavon should convert full time to lb. He seems strong enough and is a solid tackler.

Ehh, he's not big enough. Linemen would eat him up on running plays.

 

[patfanken]

Why do we have a thread about a position the Pats don't have? If you want another S to play opposite McCourty then fine, but can we please stop talking about SS. Rodney Harrison isn't "walking through that door" and if he did, he might not have the same effectiveness in an NFL where QB's routinely complete 60% of their passes.

If you think we need to add another safety to play opposite McCourty (and the Buchanon kid sounds interesting) that's fine. I disagree, but that's just my opinion. But by now we should be savvy enough Pats fans to know that what we are looking for is NOT a "strong safety"

 

[patchick]

Why do we have a thread about a position the Pats don't have? If you want another S to play opposite McCourty then fine, but can we please stop talking about SS. Rodney Harrison isn't "walking through that door" and if he did, he might not have the same effectiveness in an NFL where QB's routinely complete 60% of their passes.

If you think we need to add another safety to play opposite McCourty (and the Buchanon kid sounds interesting) that's fine. I disagree, but that's just my opinion. But by now we should be savvy enough Pats fans to know that what we are looking for is NOT a "strong safety"

Ken, we've never seen a Patriots' defense with Revis, McCourty and Browner prowling the backfield. Don't you think that could affect the role the 2nd safety plays?

 

[dryheat44]

I'm not unconvinced Shazier isn't the next Rodney Harrison.

Essentially, IMO there are two ways to go at SS. Either you take that special athlete and football player in the first, or you wait until the end of the draft. Big hitting safeties with a flaw in their game (size, athleticism, instincts, coverage ability) really are a dime a dozen out there.

 

[manxman2601]

I'm not unconvinced Shazier isn't the next Rodney Harrison.

Essentially, IMO there are two ways to go at SS. Either you take that special athlete and football player in the first, or you wait until the end of the draft. Big hitting safeties with a flaw in their game (size, athleticism, instincts, coverage ability) really are a dime a dozen out there.

I've been a fan of taking a LB/S hybid for a while this year whether it be Shazier/KPL or Telvin Smith.

 

[patchick]

I'm not unconvinced Shazier isn't the next Rodney Harrison.

Assuming I've parsed those many negatives right, I agree. LB is increasingly becoming the centerpiece of my mocks.

 

[BelichickFan]

I'm not unconvinced Shazier isn't the next Rodney Harrison.

Assuming I've parsed those many negatives right, I agree. LB is increasingly becoming the centerpiece of my mocks.

You're going to have to help those of us who are struggling to figure out our new defense. The LB you're focusing on (position, not specific name), is he listed at LB and you'd have him play Safety ? We seem full at LB other than backups so I assume that's what you mean but these aren't the good old days of "Base 3-4" for me

 

[manxman2601]

You're going to have to help those of us who are struggling to figure out our new defense. The LB you're focusing on (position, not specific name), is he listed at LB and you'd have him play Safety ? We seem full at LB other than backups so I assume that's what you mean but these aren't the good old days of "Base 3-4" for me

I've been on this train a while. With Revis, Browner and McCourty in your defensive backfield and one of Ryan, Arrington or Dennard as well, there's not really a need to get a defined safety as such. You don't need a guy who can cover two deep or someone that cover another slot WR. you need someone that can fill in against the run, that can cover TEs or that can help out as a blitzer. I think Adran Wilson was signed for this role and BB has wanted to fill the 'Big nickel' for a while. I think Shazier does that. Imagine having Shazier, Mayo and Jamie Collins on the field at the same time. Who blitzes? Who drops into coverage? The opposing QB would be saying: "Mayo is the MIKE, no wait Collins is the MIKE, no...no it's Shaz...oh crap!"