Wilson loses starting job to Sanders?

[RayClay]

I'm just reading Felchers Report card and I get to this item:

"It looks like safety Eugene Wilson has finally lost his starting job to James Sanders."

I don't like or believe Felgie, but was quite surprised to see that in his report card column.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1039913#articleFull

 

[Mack Herron]

After Wilson got run over throwing himself in front of the runaway train, I noticed Sanders in on a lot of plays last week with Harrison also on the field and Wilson not in site. I wondered if Wilson was hurt, but later saw 26 as well. Tackling at FS is not a strength, but I thought Meriweather made the strongest tackle in the defensive backfield.

 

[RayClay]

After Wilson got run over throwing himself in front of the runaway train, I noticed Sanders in on a lot of plays last week with Harrison also on the field and Wilson not in site. I wondered if Wilson was hurt, but later saw 26 as well. Tackling at FS is not a strength, but I thought Merriweather made the strongest tackle in the defensive backfield.

He's a talented guy, but I did note his lack of willingness to lay it on the line tackling wise (IMO). I'm still surprised to see this move, if there is one. Anybody count defensive snaps last week?

 

[Slagathor]

Not surprising to me.

Wilson has always been a liability. To all the Geno fan club members, don't accuse me of piling on. The fact is he hasn't grown into that position. He'll be gone next year.

I would have Meriweather starting over both Sanders and Wilson.

He may be immature and still learning, but the kid hits like a truck, is fearless and brings some swagger to the field.

 

[desi-patsfan]

i really want meriweather to gain more experience at FS. He can tackle much better than wilson.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

I think Wilson is a perfectly capable safety for us and am perfectly fine with him starting. If Sanders has beaten him out then this is great news because it means an already strong position is that much stronger.

 

[DGameguy]

While I think Wilson made some tackles that a safety has to make in pursuit, the fact is that he has lost all the playmaking ability he showed as a rookie. I would much rather have a more competent tackler like Sanders in there who keeps everything in front of him.

However, with a little more experience Merriweather should come in later this season. He has more range, hits harder, and has better ability to make plays.

 

[RayClay]

It's a position of strength, no doubt. Before we lose him, I'd love to see them make a real effort to work him back in as a corner.

Of course that depends on his market value. If it's not high, could be a bargain for a team needing to sign 2 of there 3 top corners (Asante and Gay).

 

[Franchise12]

I was really rooting for wilson to turn it up this year. but meriweather and sanders just stick out to me as sure tacklers. they wrap up their oppposition and make sure their down. wilson on the other hand just puts a shoulder into a player like a corner instead of taking proper angles, wrapping a player up and taking him down.he's been a liability so far. ive been pleased with the progress of sanders and meriweather.

 

[Oswlek]

Not surprising to me.

Wilson has always been a liability. To all the Geno fan club members, don't accuse me of piling on. The fact is he hasn't grown into that position. He'll be gone next year.

I would have Meriweather starting over both Sanders and Wilson.

He may be immature and still learning, but the kid hits like a truck, is fearless and brings some swagger to the field.

 

[Rob0729]

Not surprising to me.

Wilson has always been a liability. To all the Geno fan club members, don't accuse me of piling on. The fact is he hasn't grown into that position. He'll be gone next year.

I would have Meriweather starting over both Sanders and Wilson.

He may be immature and still learning, but the kid hits like a truck, is fearless and brings some swagger to the field.

Word is that the coaching staff is really displeased with Meriweather's progress and grasping the playbook and his time playing time has been reduced in recent weeks. The guy has been a liabilty in coverage. I wouldn't trust him over Sanders or Wilson right now. It might not be his fault, but I doubt that he will be starting any time soon.

From Profootball Weekly:

Patriots first-round selection Brandon Meriweather has taken longer to develop than the team had hoped. While his physical abilities aren’t questioned, his grasp of the playbook has lagged. Part of the problem, however, could be traced to the Patriots’ indecision on whether he should play safety or cornerback.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/Whispers/2007/whispers102007.htm

 

[BelichickFan]

Asked and answered by Reiss in his blog :

From Sunday's game against the Dolphins, here is a breakdown of snaps played by defenders:

CB Ellis Hobbs -- 70 of 70 snaps
S James Sanders -- 68 of 70
OLB Rosevelt Colvin -- 63 of 70
S Rodney Harrison -- 59 of 70
OLB Mike Vrabel -- 58 of 70
ILB Adalius Thomas -- 58 of 70
CB Asante Samuel -- 57 of 70
DE Ty Warren -- 52 of 70
ILB Tedy Bruschi -- 44 of 70
DE Jarvis Green -- 44 of 70
ILB Junior Seau -- 38 of 70
NT Vince Wilfork -- 37 of 70
CB Randall Gay -- 32 of 70
S Brandon Meriweather -- 27 of 70
S Eugene Wilson -- 21 of 70
OLB Pierre Woods -- 15 of 70
DL Le Kevin Smith -- 14 of 70
DL Santonio Thomas -- 4 of 70

Eugene Wilson's numbers are a bit surprising -- he has been replaced by James Sanders as a starter but was the first defensive back in when the Patriots went to the nickel. Wilson's play-time numbers are a bit skewed based on the score. Rookie Brandon Meriweather got most of his time on the final three drives, a time in which Wilson probably would have been on the field if the score was closer."

 

[Rob0729]

Personally, I think Sanders at FS has less to do with Wilson than it has to do with Sanders. The Pats play a lot of split safety so there isn't much difference between FS and SS. I think Pees and Belichick are high on Sanders and he did a great job filling in for Harrison. The Pats are going to put their best players on the field and they think Sanders and Harrison are their best safeties. I don't know if that is a knock on Wilson as much as a vote of confidence for Sanders.

 

[Mack Herron]

Personally, I think Sanders at FS has less to do with Wilson than it has to do with Sanders. The Pats play a lot of split safety so there isn't much difference between FS and SS. I think Pees and Belichick are high on Sanders and he did a great job filling in for Harrison. The Pats are going to put their best players on the field and they think Sanders and Harrison are their best safeties. I don't know if that is a knock on Wilson as much as a vote of confidence for Sanders.

That is a nice way to look at it, but as much as I like Sanders he has been just okay. I am still waiting for him to step up and make his first big play.

 

[PatsSteve1]

This move against the Dolphins may have been due to Miami's run game than a permanent move. We'll have to see when we play a team that has a better passing game who plays. It could just be a situational thing. And I agree I'd like to see Mariweather be making some plays out there. He had 27 of 70 plays and at the game, I only really noticed him once.

 

[Deus Irae]

This move against the Dolphins may have been due to Miami's run game than a permanent move. We'll have to see when we play a team that has a better passing game who plays. It could just be a situational thing. And I agree I'd like to see Mariweather be making some plays out there. He had 27 of 70 plays and at the game, I only really noticed him once.

The Colts are a passing team, so I'd expect Wilson to get a lot more snaps during that game than against the Dolphins.

 

[Rob0729]

This move against the Dolphins may have been due to Miami's run game than a permanent move. We'll have to see when we play a team that has a better passing game who plays. It could just be a situational thing. And I agree I'd like to see Mariweather be making some plays out there. He had 27 of 70 plays and at the game, I only really noticed him once.

That could be true. Sanders is definitely better close to the line of scrimmage. Granted Sanders started against the Cowboys, but the initial plan might have been to take away Barber and Jones and make Romo throw.

I don't expect a change on Sunday with Portis being the weapon we want to stop.

 

[captain stone]

I feel that Wilson's best position at this time might be CB. I would love to see Meriweather start at FS vs. Washington. We will need all hands on deck vs. the dolts, and this weekend would be a great opportunity to give him meaningful snaps against an opponent that's not exactly a passing juggernaut.

SS - FS
Harrison - Meriweather
Sanders - Andrews

CB
Samuel - Hobbs
Wilson - Gay

 

[wdkantro2]

I am a big Geno fan, but I have wanted to see Sanders and Rodney in there for awhile. Two safeties with the ability to fly around the field and blow up plays (OK, Sanders hasn't quite done it yet but he has the tools for it) is a great thing to have. I've always thought moving Geno to corner would create much better overall depth. As the poster above said, Sanders and Harrison start at safety, Asante and Hobbs at CB...Eugene is the first in whenever one of those 4 needs a break.

 

[Slagathor]

I'd rather have Merriweather out there free-lancing and intimidating rather than Wilson throwing his lifeless body at the ball carriers legs.

He's awful.

But let's keep him out there forever because he seems like a nice guy.