PFT: Fernando Bryant visits Pats

[Rob0729]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/03/19/bryant-visits-the-pats/

I don't know if I really want him, but all the ABBA references might make it worth it.

 

[sebman2112]

Re: Fernando Bryant visits the Pats

Notables:
Age: 30
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 185lbs
College: Alabama

2007 & career stats:

2007: 16 games, 69 TT's (59 solo), 13 PD's, 1 FF, 2 INT's
Career: 110 games, 471 total tackles (422 solo), 79 PD's, 2 FF's, 7 INT's,

Scouting report:

Grade: 70 | Key
Alert: BID

Comment: Bryant is athletic, instinctive and experienced. He has good cover skills and plays with a lot of confidence. He has fluid hips and can turn and run with most receivers. He is at his best chasing vertical routes on the perimeter. He is efficient, wastes little motion and gives up few big plays. He is competitive and technically sound. He is a wrap-up tackler in the open field. But Bryant is small and not very physical. He struggles in run support. He has trouble with bigger receivers who push off to create separation. He won't win many physical battles, especially on jump balls. His recognition skills seem questionable. He doesn't seem to be around the ball much or make many big plays. He tends to give a cushion and doesn't close very well on the ball. His size, age and injury history make durability a concern. He lost most of 2005 to a dislocated shoulder.

Bryant was released by the Lions on Febuary 25th.

 

[cstjohn17]

I hope they sign a few JAGs like Bryant and Seward before the draft, it will fill in a few holes in the roster and provide a little more flexibilty in the draft.

 

[miDeuce]

Well given what the Pats can afford with the #7 overall pick it looks like this year will be throw a bunch of cheap vets against the wall and see who sticks. Mix in some rooks and see if they can beat them out and there you have the 2008 Pats D.

 

[captain stone]

Re: Fernando Bryant visits the Pats

Notables:
Age: 30
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 185lbs
College: Alabama

2007 & career stats:

2007: 16 games, 69 TT's (59 solo), 13 PD's, 1 FF, 2 INT's
Career: 110 games, 471 total tackles (422 solo), 79 PD's, 2 FF's, 7 INT's,

Scouting report:



.

Sounds like a slot/nickel CB candidate; but so is Jason Webster. What the hey, the more the merrier. Don't forget Hank the Man Poteat, though.

 

[BPF]

Bryant bounced back last year to have a solid season after missing lots of time the prior 3 yrs. and only playing in a possible 22 of 48 games. He is a smallish CB who relies on his super quickness, speed and instincts to be effective. He still moves pretty well but seems to have lost that suddeness he used to have when he entered the league. He is effective in zone coverage. He does gives too much of a cushion. He is inconsistent in man, and is not effective re-routing receivers. He puts his nose in there in run support but at his size is not physical enough. He is a confident player and is also very instictive, he anticipates throws to make plays but is not much of a play maker with only 7 career ints. It looked like he was waring down in 2004-2006 but his bounce back season last year shows he may have something left. He won't make many big plays but he also will not give up many either, so in the Patriots' defense I think he can be a solid contributor. His veteran presence will be a good addition especially if we feature a more agressive D as expected.

 

[slash83]

Bryant bounced back last year to have a solid season after missing lots of time the prior 3 yrs. and only playing in a possible 22 of 48 games. He is a smallish CB who relies on his super quickness, speed and instincts to be effective. He still moves pretty well but seems to have lost that suddeness he used to have when he entered the league. He is effective in zone coverage. He does gives too much of a cushion. He is inconsistent in man, and is not effective re-routing receivers. He puts his nose in there in run support but at his size is not physical enough. He is a confident player and is also very instictive, he anticipates throws to make plays but is not much of a play maker with only 7 career ints. It looked like he was waring down in 2004-2006 but his bounce back season last year shows he may have something left. He won't make many big plays but he also will not give up many either, so in the Patriots' defense I think he can be a solid contributor. His veteran presence will be a good addition especially if we feature a more agressive D as expected.

Good analysis.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Well given what the Pats can afford with the #7 overall pick it looks like this year will be throw a bunch of cheap vets against the wall and see who sticks. Mix in some rooks and see if they can beat them out and there you have the 2008 Pats D.

Hopefully Capers reconfigures the front 7 that's more aggressive and takes pressure off the DBs..............

 

[DW Toys]

Good analysis.

Question. Why would the Broncos offer him a contract? Paymah and Foxworthy both are RFA. Is one of them going available? Both are better, younger and bigger than Bryant.
DW Toys

 

[BradyToMoss]

Man, I hope this doesn't take us out of the Ty Law sweepstakes.

 

[unoriginal]

Man, I hope this takes us out of the Ty Law sweepstakes.

 

[cornhuskers_2002]

We need to get as many bodies as we can in here.

 

[ne5patsfan4]

i agree sign as many people as you can let them fight for a spot in camp.

 

[patsgo]

Man, I hope this doesn't take us out of the Ty Law sweepstakes.

ty law will take himself out of the seepstakes with his outlandish financial demands, let the jets overpay him, whoops, mangini heard we are after bryant, hell sign him:, that will leave law for us

 

[BelichickFan]

Just noticed this :

http://www.rolltide.com/fls/8000/files/football/2008/08coachingclinic.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=8000

Bryant is at an Alabama coaching clinic with Belichick, Groh, Pees, Saban, etc.

 

[fgssand]

Just noticed this :

http://www.rolltide.com/fls/8000/files/football/2008/08coachingclinic.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=8000

Bryant is at an Alabama coaching clinic with Belichick, Groh, Pees, Saban, etc.

What a great find....seems ot me if BB wants Fernando, he will lock him up next weekend.

 

[captain stone]

Just noticed this :

http://www.rolltide.com/fls/8000/files/football/2008/08coachingclinic.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=8000

Bryant is at an Alabama coaching clinic with Belichick, Groh, Pees, Saban, etc.

I don't know if I would read too much into that. Bryant is an Alabama alum, and there is of course the BB-NS connection. BB would be wise to at least talk to Bryant and give him a workout.

What I find interesting is the BB-Al Groh relationship. There has been no NEP-UVA pipeline to date, a strange fact considering that UVA is one of the few Division 1 teams to employ a 3-4 defense. The FO has had some chances to acquire UVA LBs (e.g.: Ahmad Brooks, Kai Parham, Darryl Blackstock) but has passed every time. Has Groh advised BB to pass on these guys, or has he recommended them and BB ignored his recommendations?

 

[tombonneau]

Checked some Lions boards, and the consensus seems to be they don't understand why they got rid of their best corner. They felt that while he wasn't great, he was literally better than nothing, which is what they now have. Basically, all they did with releasing Bryant is to create another need.

The big knock on him though was that while he was decent, he was constantly injured.

 

[zarakotas5]

I don't know if I would read too much into that. Bryant is an Alabama alum, and there is of course the BB-NS connection. BB would be wise to at least talk to Bryant and give him a workout.

Bama has a lot of alumni, and Bryant was well before Saban's time. Considering Saban, BB, and Groh are in the scheming genius category, opposed to the good ol' boys coaches, Bryant's presence tends to implicate him as a cerebral football guy.

Yes, it's prolly not much more than a fund-raising meet and greet, but still. Bama is football crazy. They could've gotten bigger names. He must have some other appeal to be brought in to coach.

 

[DefenseRules]

An interesting follow up from Mike.

Patriots visit with Bryant
Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff
March 20, 2008 10:54 AM

Free-agent cornerback Fernando Bryant is visiting with Patriots officials and is likely to sign a contract with the team.

Bryant’s visit was initially reported by the web site profootballtalk.com on Wednesday evening.

Bryant’s expected signing appears to be linked to new Patriots special assistant/secondary coach Dom Capers. Bryant played under Capers for two seasons with the Jaguars in 1999-2000, when Capers was Jacksonville’s defensive coordinator.

In his time with the Jaguars (1999-2003) and Lions (2004-2007), Bryant has played in 110 career regular-season games, with 109 starts.

The 5-foot-11, 184-pound Bryant enters his 10th NFL season in 2008, having suited up for the Jaguars (1999-2003) and Lions (2004-2007).

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/