Schefter likes the Pats pickups

[slash83]

http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story...0d5d80753d85&template=with-video&confirm=true

Good pickup for the New England Patriots, signing free-agent cornerback Fernando Bryant to a one-year contract. New England lost defensive backs Asante Samuel, Randall Gay and Eugene Wilson and needs all the replacements it can find. Now it has two –- Bryant and Jason Webster. It is questionable whether the new Patriots are as good as the players they are replacing, but cornerbacks do not have to be stars in New England’s defensive system. They just have to be steady.

 

[Disco Volante]

Fact: Adam Schefter predicted the birth of his own father.

 

[tobias funke]

Wow. He does not write as well as he speaks.

 

[PonyExpress]

I have to disagree with Schefter's assessment. To be successful with the 3-4, talented CBs are a must. The 3-4 has less overall speed, and the Cbs' coverage abilities must be better to compensate.

The Pats can get by for a year without an elite cb, but to maintain a high level of D they will need to upgrade speed elsewhere: faster pass rush, better coverage from the ILBs, better safety play.

It's really the 4-3 tampa 2 where cb play is dime a dozen.

 

[patsox23]

I have to disagree with Schefter's assessment. To be successful with the 3-4, talented CBs are a must. The 3-4 has less overall speed, and the Cbs' coverage abilities must be better to compensate.

Not necessarily. See: New England Patriots, 2004 version of.

 

[NePatriots]

We don't need spectacular talent, we need smart CB's. I think Bryant fills a gap for 1 year.

 

[RayClay]

Fact: Adam Schefter predicted the birth of his own father.

Probably lack of sleep, but this made me giggle.

 

[PonyExpress]

Not necessarily. See: New England Patriots, 2004 version of.

Asante Samuel is a top 3 cb in the NFL. He was on the SI all-pro team as a rookie. He just received the most guaranteed money ever for a cb. Randall Gay just signed for 20 million dollars. His play was very solid in 2004 before injuries derailed him in '05 and '06. Just because they had yet to establish their reputations in 2004 doesn't mean they lacked quality. Compare them to the turds the Colts have been rolling out for years (prior to 2007).

 

[Major **********]

Fact: Adam Schefter predicted the birth of his own father.

He actually sent his grandfather back in time to have sex with his grandmother and impregnate her. So I wouldn't be too impresed by that prediction.

 

[ScottieC]

He actually sent his grandfather back in time to have sex with his grandmother and impregnate her. So I wouldn't be too impresed by that prediction.

I'm not sure what qualifies Schefter to be an "expert" - In fact he's just another NFL employee is has the responsibilities of Rumor/News. I love the way they play up his "connections" when the reality is that the NFL needs to push their product, the NFL Network, so there is an agreement amongst teams/owners/Players/agents when it comes to news to break it on the NFL channel - and Schefter is but the Tool that filled out the application for the job to the approval of his hiring supervisor.

And he's a freakin' Broncos fan.

Funny stuff. Anyway, I'll take it.

 

[Mooch]

Asante Samuel is a top 3 cb in the NFL. He was on the SI all-pro team as a rookie. He just received the most guaranteed money ever for a cb. Randall Gay just signed for 20 million dollars. His play was very solid in 2004 before injuries derailed him in '05 and '06. Just because they had yet to establish their reputations in 2004 doesn't mean they lacked quality. Compare them to the turds the Colts have been rolling out for years (prior to 2007).

Asante Samuel, prior to the 2006 season, was considered an average CB in the league. His performance during the Super Bowl years wasn't any better or worse than Fernando Bryant's during his time with Jacksonville. The last two years, he's really picked up his play but if you read the scouting reports on Samuel and Bryant, they sound very similar. Quick to the ball, good instincts, gambler type CBs. Neither guy is a shutdown corner. I'll readily admit that I'd rather have Samuel, he's a better player. But the dropoff isn't as huge as you'd think in this kind of system.

Randall Gay isn't a starting CB in the NFL. He's a nice nickelback but he's really nothing special. Most scouts in the league think the same.

 

[Tunescribe]

I'm not sure what qualifies Schefter to be an "expert" - In fact he's just another NFL employee is has the responsibilities of Rumor/News. I love the way they play up his "connections" when the reality is that the NFL needs to push their product, the NFL Network, so there is an agreement amongst teams/owners/Players/agents when it comes to news to break it on the NFL channel - and Schefter is but the Tool that filled out the application for the job to the approval of his hiring supervisor.

You are so right. He's spoon-fed everything he reports but is propped up to appear as a "journalist" beating the bushes for inside information. Anyone with the ability to speak on camera could do what he does.

 

[ScottieC]

You are so right. He's spoon-fed everything he reports but is propped up to appear as a "journalist" beating the bushes for inside information. Anyone with the ability to speak on camera could do what he does.

Indeed.

I'll give it to him that he has covered Football for a while, but I can't stand the way they try and pass him off as some super connected insider. Let's see him try and call Scot P. - I'd love to hear that conversation.

 

[PonyExpress]

Asante Samuel, prior to the 2006 season, was considered an average CB in the league. His performance during the Super Bowl years wasn't any better or worse than Fernando Bryant's during his time with Jacksonville. The last two years, he's really picked up his play but if you read the scouting reports on Samuel and Bryant, they sound very similar. Quick to the ball, good instincts, gambler type CBs. Neither guy is a shutdown corner. I'll readily admit that I'd rather have Samuel, he's a better player. But the dropoff isn't as huge as you'd think in this kind of system.

Randall Gay isn't a starting CB in the NFL. He's a nice nickelback but he's really nothing special. Most scouts in the league think the same.

By you he was considered an average cb. By SI, he was considered an all-pro nickle cb as a rookie, a very rare distinction. IMO you undervalue Gay's performance in 2004 and 2007. IMO he is a starting cb in the NFL. His porblem has been durability not ability. And anyway, even if you mistakenly undervalue Samuel and Gay in 2004, that means little when evaluating the importance of Cbs in the 3-4 scheme the Pats play. CBs are very important in the 3-4 due to a lack of team speed elsewhere. Coverage and tackling ability are at a premium. Schefter's statement that the Pats can "get by" with JAGs is wrongheaded.

 

[Funktopus]

The only reason I give Schefter a look is because I know he's got "first dibbs" on any information coming out of NFL offices. I cringe when I read his "analysis". It's chock full of common sense delivered like it was insight. He needs to suck it up, accept that he's the NFL's mouthpiece bi-otch and stop masquerading as a journalist.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Fact: Adam Schefter predicted the birth of his own father.

LOL! Made my day when I have to work whereas many have a holiday.

 

[Pats726]

Asante Samuel, prior to the 2006 season, was considered an average CB in the league.
Randall Gay isn't a starting CB in the NFL. He's a nice nickelback but he's really nothing special. Most scouts in the league think the same.

Actually prior to halfway into the 06 season...early in 06..he was still just that..an average corner..he stepped it up to a LARGE degree and had a GREAT last half of the season...enough to warrant a franchise tag. Before that, it was hardly the case. I agree on Gay as well...way way overpaid...but good for him. The MORE teams do dumb things, the better for the smarter teams.

 

[PonyExpress]

So I guess Samuel's performance as a rookie, the fact he was the best cb on the Pats 2004 SB champion team, that he had 18 passes defensed in his 3rd season including a pick six in the playoffs, and another INT vs Denver, were easily overlooked. And if Gay was so marginal, why did the Pats tender him at 2nd rd level in '07, and pay him $1.4 million, despite not having played for 2 years due to injury? Was it because they devalued him? The Gay signing by NO IMO was one of the best of free agency. In that scheme he'll start and excel, provided he stays healthy.

 

[Mooch]

By you he was considered an average cb. By SI, he was considered an all-pro nickle cb as a rookie, a very rare distinction. IMO you undervalue Gay's performance in 2004 and 2007. IMO he is a starting cb in the NFL. His porblem has been durability not ability. And anyway, even if you mistakenly undervalue Samuel and Gay in 2004, that means little when evaluating the importance of Cbs in the 3-4 scheme the Pats play. CBs are very important in the 3-4 due to a lack of team speed elsewhere. Coverage and tackling ability are at a premium. Schefter's statement that the Pats can "get by" with JAGs is wrongheaded.

By SI, you mean Dr. Z? Forgive me if I'm less than impressed. Don't forget that the Patriots scheme turned Ty Poole into a borderline Pro Bowler in the '03 season and Poole was a pretty average CB too.

 

[Mooch]

So I guess Samuel's performance as a rookie, the fact he was the best cb on the Pats 2004 SB champion

I stopped here. Law and Poole were on IR. To say that that he was the best CB on the '04 roster ain't saying much. Samuel played just well enough to get by that year. The fact is, that the front 7 CARRIED the defense that year.