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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.At this point, I'd call cornerback a question mark, not a weakness. We as fans simply don't know what we've got at the position.
This is a matter of semantics. I would say that if we don't know whether we have more than one corner we can count on, then this posistion is a weakness.
We could be saying we aren't sure we have a weakness if we had O'Connell, Gutierrez and a still to be signed at the QB position. But that would be an unreasonable statement.
Perhaps all you are saying is that the patriots have "question marks", while other teams have "weaknesses".
No. I'm saying that the current group of Patriots cornerbacks includes 3 players who were starters on their respective teams last season (one prior to injury, but a starter nonetheless) and we don't know that having them makes cornerback a weakness.
Other players aside....Is Hobbs/Bryant/Webster/Wheatley a lesser group than Hobbs/Samuel/Gay and, if so, is it by such a wide margin that the position has gone from a strength to a weakness?
I don't know that we can answer that yet, which is why I called it a question mark.
We do disagree more with regard to last year than this year. I don't think corner was a strength last year. Gay wasn't especially strong, and our dime backs were invisible in their effect.
BTW, tell me that we know that Webster is at 100%, and I would change my mind in a minute.
Well, I think one way you can see the difference will be with the dime packages, because the team now won't have to use Hit Stick as a cover CB in dime, and can use him at safety instead. We could see a back six dime package of, for example:
Hobbs
Bryant
Webster
Wheatley
Hit Stick
Rodney
That group would cover a lot of ground, and Lynch or Sanders could be added if the team wanted to pull either a DL or an LB and go with 7 in the back. And, yes, I'm basing this off the idea that Webster's healthy enough to play and has been kept back because he's made the team and BB isn't risking him. With him gone, I'd have to re-evaluate the depth based upon the other corners that make it.
weren't they like 4th in the NFL last year in total defense?
deceiving stat
they were not the fourth best defense in the league last yr
more in the middle of the pact
but since the offense put our opponents into a one-dimensional game plan, it made our defense look better than it truly was
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. He didn't try to knock the ball out. He was grasping and whoops, and where the hell was he when the catch was made, looking for the best angle for close-up picture shots like in the SB?
DW Toys
P.S. Cassel even completed a pass.
Let's not let Litto Sheppard out of town. A number two now.
James Sanders is embedded in my mind in just two plays, the 06 Colts Championship game when he did the "Olay" when Adai scored with one minute left. I mean he actually stept aside. Look at the tape.
Then the SB last year as he watched with great interest as Rodney tries to break up the pass while he's standing a few feet away with a spectacular view. SI got a great photo of that.
DW Toys
deceiving stat
they were not the fourth best defense in the league last yr
more in the middle of the pact
but since the offense put our opponents into a one-dimensional game plan, it made our defense look better than it truly was
Huh? When did Lito Sheppard visit the Patriots town? Link please.
Other players aside....Is Hobbs/Bryant/Webster/Wheatley a lesser group than Hobbs/Samuel/Gay and, if so, is it by such a wide margin that the position has gone from a strength to a weakness?
Ever occur to you that players don't decide where they line up on defense? That the coaches decide that? That the players are executing the scheme they are told to? That if they play off when they should be tight, it is the coach's job to pull them off the field for a play and correct them?they are not even close to the receivers.
Aren't we smart enough to realize that preseason in not regular season, and what you see now in terms of scheme is NOT what you will see in September?
When did you start following the Patriots? 2006? It clearly wasn't before that because you'd know that Belichick has given points to the other team on several occasions, including an intentional safety.
Also, Sanders didn't "step aside" as you claim. Adai cut back on the run and Sanders had already been moving in the previous direction.
Hmmm.. Let's see, Asante Samuel blows the coverage on that play and its somehow James Sanders fault? Also, what would you have had Sanders do? Attempt to hit Tyree from behind while Tyree was defenseless in the air? You do realize that's a penalty right? Or would you rather Sander try and possibly miss and take out harrison and potentially give Tyree the ability to run it in for a TD?
2 dimensional pictures don't tell the whole story.
I think the Patriots envisioned a lot of competition at the Corner spot in camp this year:
Bryant: long time starter, one time recipient of a big contract
Webster: long time starter
Sanders: Occasional starter, including last year in Atlanta
Wheatley: 2nd round draft pick
Wilhite: 4th round draft pick
Richardson: 6th round pick in 07 back off IR
On paper, this would have made for a great competition for the no.2 corner and the nickel back spot. Unfortunately, Webster, Sanders, Wilhite, and Richardson have all missed significant time in camp.
I still think the quickness of both Webster and Wheatley give the Patriots the potential to have a better nickel package then they had last year. Both players have the body type and quickness to cover the slot better than a Randall Gay or Brandon Meriweather.
I am concerned with the Safety play, and that concern turns to panic if Brandon Meriweather is not healthy. The Patriots are painfully slow in the back end without Brandon out there.
Did Sheppard not make the trip with the Eagles to Foxboro?