Thoughts on secondary

[cstjohn17]

Here is my take on the unit (Assumes Samuel comes back). I will start with my shocker.

Eugene Wilson - It would be a bit of a shocker but what if Wilson is banged up and may miss some early games. His play has been inconsistent of late and injuries don't help his cause, he gets a visit from the Turk and gets cut.

CBs
1) Samuel
2) Hobbs - I disagree with Breer I would keep Hobbs on the outside, in general the better CBs should be on the edge.
3) Gay - Top nickel back.
4) James - His performance has only been ok but I think BB prefers vets and James apparently has some potential to play FS.

Safety
1) Harrison
2) Sanders - He can look shaky but provides some decent backup ability at either safety spot, may start week 1 and 2 at FS.
3) Merriweather - May start the year behind Sanders quickly moving in as the starter. I agree with Breer he still has a ways to go as a CB but can hit, has a good feel for the game. IMO he is better suited to play Safety.
4) Andrews - Backup FS and also can be used to play the slot CB. I believe he played some CB in college.
5) Baker - Backup, backup, backup safety and special teams

Cuts
Richardson - Has been OK, I think he will be able to slide the PS without too much of an issue.
Wesley hasn't been impressive
Mitchell - I haven't heard anything about Mitchell good or bad. Richardson may get the spot by default

Hawkins stays nearby on the 'shadow' roster and Troy Brown provides some slot CB capability when he goes on board.

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Breer:

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/patriots/?p=1489

"If Samuel returns, that would likely allow the team to kick Ellis Hobbs into the slot in sub packages and bring Gay off the bench to play outside. Hobbs is ideally suited, with his short-area burst and tackling ability to play inside, and having someone with the athletic ability to play outside would all the Patriots to put him there."

 On two young DBs: Willie Andrews was impressive last night; Mike Richardson was just OK. Andrews is really showing the quickness and instincts to play slot corner and plays with an edge, something that comes up in tackling. Richardson, on the other hand, always seems to be efforting just to keep up, and you could see him – and S Eugene Wilson – overextend to keep up with Keary Colbert on the Carolina receiver’s long touchdown.

 For the first time, Brandon Meriweather looked a little shaky covering out of the slot. Maybe it’s because his early playing time was limited. Whatever it was, he had a couple of tense moments. There was one third-quarter play, where he took a bad step and got beaten pretty badly by Carolina’s Taye Biddle over the middle. On the flip side, his tackling was very solid and consistent last night, and all of this adds up to one conclusion: Last night, he looked like a safety and not a corner.

Reiss:

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/08/roster_thoughts.html

Cornerback (4)
Asante Samuel
Ellis Hobbs
Randall Gay
Brandon Meriweather

Quick hit: This scenario projects that Samuel will return and that rookie Mike Richardson either winds up on the practice squad or on injured reserve (his left arm was in a sling after Friday night's game, which might have been a result of a fourth-quarter tackle on tight end Dante Rosario). Veteran Tory James is the tough cut.

Safety (5)
Rodney Harrison
Eugene Wilson
James Sanders
Willie Andrews
Mel Mitchell

Quick hit: Health will be a big factor here (which could affect the cornerback spot), as Eugene Wilson might have sustained a setback of sorts while defending the 48-yard touchdown pass to Keary Colbert Friday night. Wilson stayed on the field for the ensuing extra point but walked off gingerly and did not play again. This scenario assumes he will be healthy. If he isn't, that could mean James sticks at cornerback, with Meriweather getting more of a look at safety.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

The common thinking is that besides being injured, Wilson's inconsistent play has been with Harrison missing so much time. That definately makes a difference. Look at the Colts defense with and without Bob Sanders last year. It was night and day.

I'd be beyond shocked if he was cut. I'd be blown away.

 

[Kdo5]

While Wilson may be injured I hope it isn't too serious and he can return. I'd feel so much better if he was starting and not Sanders. He wouldn't get cut..

 

[mgteich]

You'd keep Rashad Baker instead of Wilson?????????????????????

And instead you are starting Sanders at Free Safety?????????????????

This does not compute. If Wilson was this much of an issue, Hawkins would have been kept. If I were cutting Wilson, I would re-sign Hawkins first.

 

[cstjohn17]

You'd keep Rashad Baker instead of Wilson?????????????????????

And instead you are starting Sanders at Free Safety?????????????????

This does not compute. If Wilson was this much of an issue, hawkins would have been kept. If I were cutting Wilson, I would re-sign Hawkins first.

Since you put it like that, you are right it doesn't make much sense. But if Wilson has hurt his hammy again they may not want to hold the roster spot. Merriweather will quickly become the starter puttings Sanders as a backup where he belongs.

I hope Wilson is ok, if he is then the secondary looks quite solid to me.

 

[mgteich]

I want Wilson to start, but please do not use his name in the same breath as Bob Sanders. Bob Sanders may be the #1 defensive player in football. He is certainly one the very most valuable defensive players to his team. Wilson is a questionable, OK, starter, trying to do well in is contract year. If he is injured a couple of times this year, he could be out of the league next year. At best, he would be starting his career all over again for some other team.

The common thinking is that besides being injured, Wilson's inconsistent play has been with Harrison missing so much time. That definately makes a difference. Look at the Colts defense with and without Bob Sanders last year. It was night and day.

I'd be beyond shocked if he was cut. I'd be blown away.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

I want Wilson to start, but please do not use his name in the same breath as Bob Sanders. Bob Sanders may be the #1 defensive player in football. He is certainly one the very most valuable defensive players to his team. Wilson is a questionable, OK, starter, trying to do well in is contract year. If he is injured a couple of times this year, he could be out of the league next year. At best, he would be starting his career all over again for some other team.

No I was comparing Sanders with Harrison. Many say that Wilson's struggles are because of Harrison not being on the other side for so much time.

The Colts had a stretch of the worst run defense in NFL history, then Sanders is back for the playoffs and the D was outstanding.

I was just comparing that with Harrison's effect on everyone else on the defense.

 

[pats1]

Since you put it like that, you are right it doesn't make much sense. But if Wilson has hurt his hammy again they may not want to hold the roster spot. Merriweather will quickly become the starter puttings Sanders as a backup where he belongs.

I hope Wilson is ok, if he is then the secondary looks quite solid to me.

He's fine. There's no way in hell the Pats cut Wilson.

 

[cstjohn17]

He's fine. There's no way in hell the Pats cut Wilson.

They could potentially move him to IR, lets assume his injury is not serious but he is banged up and won't be 100% at the start of the year. Who starts at FS?

 

[pats1]

They could potentially move him to IR, lets assume his injury is not serious but he is banged up and won't be 100% at the start of the year. Who starts at FS?

IR?!? Not a chance for the injury he has. He wasn't carted off the field.

If Geno for some reason can't start the first game or two, then Sanders starts at FS. It's not at all his natural position, but it will work in the short-term. Meriweather and Andrews are the emergency safeties, along with Mitchell or Baker if they stick around.

 

[cstjohn17]

IR?!? Not a chance for the injury he has. He wasn't carted off the field.

If Geno for some reason can't start the first game or two, then Sanders starts at FS. It's not at all his natural position, but it will work in the short-term. Meriweather and Andrews are the emergency safeties, along with Mitchell or Baker if they stick around.

Assuming Wilson is ok, who do you take for the final spot? Mitchell, Baker, Richardson or Wesley?

 

[captain stone]

Assuming Wilson is ok, who do you take for the final spot? Mitchell, Baker, Richardson or Wesley?

For the 9th DB, my choice is Mitchell, ahead of Tory James and the others.
#10 = Wesley, if he can play DB as well as STs.
#11 = James.
Richardson = IR.
Anam = IR/PS.
Bakeer = IR/waivers.

 

[Rob0729]

Here is my take on the unit (Assumes Samuel comes back). I will start with my shocker.

Eugene Wilson - It would be a bit of a shocker but what if Wilson is banged up and may miss some early games. His play has been inconsistent of late and injuries don't help his cause, he gets a visit from the Turk and gets cut.

I'm sorry, but I can't see Wilson being cut. He has played solid all preseason and no one has even threatened him for the starting job as of yet. In fact, as others have said, they even cut Hawkins who going into training camp probably had the best shot at immediately replacing Wilson.

I'm also not getting all that worried about the injury to Wilson as of yet. Players are held out of the game even the most minor of injury. He may have twisted his ankle and been back in on the next series if it was a real game rather than preseason.

 

[Rob0729]

No I was comparing Sanders with Harrison. Many say that Wilson's struggles are because of Harrison not being on the other side for so much time.

The Colts had a stretch of the worst run defense in NFL history, then Sanders is back for the playoffs and the D was outstanding.

I was just comparing that with Harrison's effect on everyone else on the defense.

I think Wilson's struggling without Harrison was overstated. I think it was the fact that Wilson had a lot more responsibility out there because we didn't have an great replacement at SS. Wilson typicially was asked to cover more of the field to cover up for the loss of Harrison. I tought his poor play was overstated anyway.

Also, Wilson was forced to call the plays and adjustments. When Harrison is in, that is his responsibility, but Wilson took them over when Harrison went down (since he was the senior member of the secondary). I think him being responsible for everything going on in the secondary and not just his position was probably too much for a guy going into his third year at a position he had never played before he entered the NFL.

 

[Jimke]

Cornerbacks:
Gay
Hobbs
James or Richardson (Richardson if healthy)
Samuel

Safeties
Andrews (special teams)
Harrison
Meriweather
Mitchell (special teams)
Sanders
Wilson

 

[patsox23]

You lost me at cutting Eugene Wilson. Even as a "shock," it's an asinine, completely impossible development. No way.

 

[patsox23]

I want Wilson to start, but please do not use his name in the same breath as Bob Sanders.

I agree that mentioning Wilson's name in the same breath as Bob Sanders' is silly, but so is the idea that Sanders may be the NFL's #1 defensive player - a bit hyperbolic, even for this time of year. He's not even the best safety. Ed Reed (and, maybe, Kerry Rhodes) say hi. Seymour does, too. And Ty Warren. And Freeney. And Peppers. And Champ Bailey. And probably a few others.

Don't get me wrong, Bob Sanders is "special." I'd love to have him on the Pats, he's a genuine game-changer, but let's not get carried away about the guy.

 

[pats1]

Assuming Wilson is ok, who do you take for the final spot? Mitchell, Baker, Richardson or Wesley?

Mitchell or Wesley for their ST prowess.

 

[mgteich]

Most posters seem to want us to go with six wide receivers and either Wesley or Mitchell as the last defensive back.

 

[AirForcePatFan]

Wilson is injured? When? Where? What? How?