Starters for Sunday and Opinions

Rob0729 · Sep 7, 2010

JSn said:
I'd start Patjew over Wilhite.

Well, I hear PatJew can really lay a receivers out over the middle. He can really knock the kuggel out of them.

Armen Da Pats Fan · Sep 7, 2010

JackBauer said:
McCourty will start. I hope to see as little of Warren and Wright on 1st and 2nd down as possible.

Who would be in there with Vince on 1st and 2nd down?

(I am assuming you mean better quality run-stoppers)...

Metaphors · Sep 7, 2010

Armen Da Pats Fan said:
WR: Wes Welker, Randy "The Unwanted" Moss, Julian Edelman

With Edelperson supposedly not ready, that leaves a bigger role for Hernandez. Tate will be the "starter" but Hernandez may have a bigger role since the Bengals' corners are solid but the safeties and LBs are not so hot.

Armen Da Pats Fan said:
DL: Mike Wright, Vince Wilfork, Gerard Warren

Not sure that "starter" has too much meaning here since the DL makeup is so situational. If Brace is unable to go, is Deaderick ready to take some meaningful snaps?

Armen Da Pats Fan said:
OLB: Tully Banta-Cain, Marques Murrell

Like others, I see Ninkovich as the "starter" with Murrell seeing situational snaps. If Cunningham can't go, Fletcher is likely active. Regardless of who plays, I think we will start to see a blurring of OLB/ILB roles in passing situations. Mayo blitzing inside, Spikes lining up like an end, etc. Rather than just lining up and winning 1-on-1 battles all the time, try to gain an edge with formations and position flexibility.

Armen Da Pats Fan said:
Otherwise, look for a long day with a lot of long tosses subtitled "Palmer-to-".

I just don't see that from the Bengals. Their top receivers aren't deep guys. Lack of pressure will more likely lead to a hyper-accurate Palmer and death by a thousand paper cuts.

Armen Da Pats Fan said:
CB: Darius Butler, Jonathon Wilhite

Wilhite should be used exclusively in zone. I think that makes a Butler/McCourty pairing much more likely.

Armen Da Pats Fan said:
ST: ??????

Give me your opinions here because I have none!

The players available for ST look deep (a healthy by-product of getting younger on defense). Kick return is fine, though hopefully they won't have many opportunities. Punt return without Edelperson is a little worrisome. Don't want Welker involved so may have a week or two with Faulk fair catching a lot.

mgteich · Sep 7, 2010

13 men starting on offense draws a penalty.

Armen Da Pats Fan said:
So far, the injury bug has been crazy for 2010. The defense has been particularly devastated - Ty Warren, Leigh Bodden, Brandon McGowan - just to name a few...

As far as Sunday's starters, I am obviously just projecting here, because we all know Coach Belichick makes his decisions based on match-ups, etc.

But, anyway, here is a shot at it.

I would like to know how y'all feel about each of these units against the Bengals...

-------------------------------------------------
QB: Tom Brady
I always feel good about our chances anytime Brady is behind center. How cool is this guy? Thank you God!
----------
RB: Fred Taylor, Kevin Faulk

Taylor had flashes of brilliance in the preseason. Here's hoping he's got a little left for 2010 and no injuries! Faulk is just Old Ironsides to me - love him!
----------
WR: Wes Welker, Randy "The Unwanted" Moss, Julian Edelman

Very comfortable with this group
----------
TE: Alge Crumpler, Rob Gronkowski

I love what we saw out of the TE position in pre-season. This could be a very bright spot for us in 2010.
----------
OL: (R to L) Sebastian Vollmer, Stephen Neal, Dan Koppen, Dan Connolly, Matt Light

I know I am supposed to be freaking out about not having Logan Mankins, but I am not. Connolly looked fine to me in the pre-season. Feeling pretty good about this group.
----------
K: Stephen Gostkowski

The Ghost = Money
----------
DL: Mike Wright, Vince Wilfork, Gerard Warren

I do believe we will miss Ty Warren, obviously, but I am still feeling okay about this group. I will be interested to see how, and if, Jermaine Cunningham and Ron Brace, are used.
----------
ILB: Brandon Spikes, Jerod Mayo

This is the strongest part of our defense, IMO. I think Spikes will have an immediate impact and Mayo will continue to mature into one of the top LBs in the league.. Both are future All-Pros.
----------
OLB: Tully Banta-Cain, Marques Murrell

I know Gary Guyton should be the guy starting with Banta-Cain, but I have this strange feeling Murrell will start on Sunday. He played a lot in the pre-season and looked good. He was in the backfield a lot pressuring the QBs, and we will need a strong pass rush out of both Banta-Cain and Murrell to take some pressure off the DBs covering Ocho-Cinco and TO. Otherwise, look for a long day with a lot of long tosses subtitled "Palmer-to-".
----------
CB: Darius Butler, Jonathon Wilhite

Leigh Bodden going down really changed the landscape, didn't it? I wouild actually like to see McCourty start here over Wilhite, but I don't Corwin Brown having the confidence in the rookie to start on opening day. I gotta admit, this group makes me the most nervous going against TO and Ocho.
----------
P: Zoltan Mesko

You don't mess with the Zoltan!
----------
ST: ??????

Give me your opinions here because I have none!

NHPATSFAN11 · Sep 7, 2010

McCourty or Price will probably take over Edleperson's P.R. job until he returns. I also expect a big game out of Hernandez, he is great in the open field, perfect for flares and screens. I hope the native New Englander can replicate some of his college youtube highlights this season.

D-cleater · Sep 7, 2010

JR4 said:
My guess:

QB: Tom Brady
----------
RB: Taylor, ( Faulk)
----------
WR: Welker, Moss, (Tate) ( Edleman not ready a few more weeks)
----------
TE: Crumpler, Gronkowski
----------
OL: Vollmer, Neal, Koppen, Connolly, Light
----------
DL: Wright, Wilfork, Warren
----------
ILB: Spikes, Mayo
----------
OLB: Ninkovich, Banta-Cain
----------
Saftey: Chung, Meriweather
--------
CB: McCourty, Butler
------------------
Special teams:
K: Gostkowski
P: Zoltan Mesko
Returners: Tate and McCourty(?)

I agree with this lineup, except I think that Tate will start opposite Moss as the #2 receiver, with Welker coming in as the slot receiver when they go 3 wide.

The Pats will also play a lot of nickel, with Warren and Spikes coming off in favor of Sanders and Wilhite. I don't think we have the luxury of taking Wilfork out on 3rd down.

The Dynasty · Sep 7, 2010

D-cleater said:
I agree with this lineup, except I think that Tate will start opposite Moss as the #2 receiver, with Welker coming in as the slot receiver when they go 3 wide.

The Pats will also play a lot of nickel, with Warren and Spikes coming off in favor of Sanders and Wilhite. I don't think we have the luxury of taking Wilfork out on 3rd down.

I don't know about Tate starting over Welker. I mean using the term starting doesnt really mean much, it is just the set the Pats open up with. I think Welker will play more than Tate on Sunday, although Tate will need to have a big game.

I agree with the Pats using a lot of sub packages with Warren and Spikes coming off and Sanders and Wilhite coming on, but I dont know if Wilfork can play all 3 downs. We saw in a few games last year that he would get gassed and not really make it through the game. I think he will strictly be a 1st and 2nd down guy in the first half and maybe in the 2nd half during big 3rd downs he'll be on the field

StraightCashHomey81 · Sep 7, 2010

Armen Da Pats Fan said:
----------
DL: Mike Wright, Vince Wilfork, Gerard Warren

I do believe we will miss Ty Warren, obviously, but I am still feeling okay about this group. I will be interested to see how, and if, Jermaine Cunningham and Ron Brace, are used.
----------

FYI, Cunningham will be in the mix at OLB, not DL. He may play down in sub situations, if he is healthy.

OFFENSE:

Offensively, the team will mostly be in 3WR/1TE/1RB & 2WR/2TE/1RB sets, especially with Edelman not healthy.

I think Taylor, Maroney, and Morris will split the 1st/2nd down snaps evenly while Faulk gets all the 3rd down and 2-minute snaps.

Gronk will rarely leave the field, and Crumpler and Hernandez will split time situationally.

Tate will be the #3 WR in 3WR packages, but don't be surprised to see Hernandez split out in these situations as well. With Aiken gone and Edelman out, Price will be active and see a couple of snaps.

DEFENSE

Base 3-4:

*If Cunningham is healthy, I think he starts. Was starting b4 he got hurt, I think BB wants to go young, and he is the most talented OLB they have.

Warren, Wilfork, Wright
Murrell* MAyo Spikes TBC

Butler McCourty
Meriweather Chung

4-2-5

*Situationally. (on 2nd down, 3rd and less than 6, and 2TEs, Chung is in the box. Otherwise, Wilhite is in the slot.

Cunningham, Pryor, Wright, TBC
Mayo Guyton
Butler Wilhite/Chung* McCourty
Sanders/Chung Meriweather

The Brandon Five · Sep 7, 2010

WhiZa said:
Let's not stoop down to the Jet's level :nono:

I think that would require lying down, not just stooping.

Starters for Sunday and Opinions

Rob0729

PatsFans.com Supporter

Armen Da Pats Fan

2nd Team Getting Their First Start

Metaphors

In the Starting Line-Up

mgteich

PatsFans.com Veteran

NHPATSFAN11

On the Roster

D-cleater

Third String But Playing on Special Teams

The Dynasty

In the Starting Line-Up

StraightCashHomey81

Practice Squad Player

The Brandon Five

PatsFans.com Supporter

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