Where does Browner fit in when he comes back?

mayoclinic said:

I think that Browner will be the "enforcer" in our secondary, but not in the same role that Chancellor is used. He'll beat the crap out of a receiver and set the tone, but he won't be roaming the middle of the field, though I could see him dropped down into a "robber" role on occasion.

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If you look at the Patriots schedule, they have to face:

Tyler Eifert (is he still injured?)
Jace Amaro (2 times)
Martellus Bennett
Julius Thomas
Colby Fleener/Dwayne Allen
Eric Ebron
Richard Rodgers
Antonio Gates
Charles Clay

If you man Browner up on them, man Revis up on the #1 WR you eliminate the #1 WR and #1 TE and leave the rest of the defense to focus on the lesser player options. Denver specifically if you eliminate the 2 Thomas’s you can focus the rest of the defense on shutting down Sanders and Welker.

mayoclinic said:

I think that Browner will be the "enforcer" in our secondary, but not in the same role that Chancellor is used. He'll beat the crap out of a receiver and set the tone, but he won't be roaming the middle of the field, though I could see him dropped down into a "robber" role on occasion.

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I can see that too mayo, but he's not gonna be a Chancellor/Harrison type safety.

Brady6 said:

If you look at the Patriots schedule, they have to face:

Tyler Eifert (is he still injured?)
Jace Amaro (2 times)
Martellus Bennett
Julius Thomas
Colby Fleener/Dwayne Allen
Eric Ebron
Richard Rodgers
Antonio Gates
Charles Clay

If you man Browner up on them, man Revis up on the #1 WR you eliminate the #1 WR and #1 TE and leave the rest of the defense to focus on the lesser player options. Denver specifically if you eliminate the 2 Thomas’s you can focus the rest of the defense on shutting down Sanders and Welker.

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I think that you really overrate Browner if you think he is just going to eliminate all teams #1 TE.

Browner is at his best on edge of the field where he can force receivers to the outside. He can't do that most of the time when playing tight ends. He will have to play completely differently then he is used too.

50-yard-line said:

yeah, I noticed that, too, the other day. He looks beefy, and man, what a solid tackler.

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Comes from the years of playing Rugby...

Marinlik said:

I think that you really overrate Browner if you think he is just going to eliminate all teams #1 TE.

Browner is at his best on edge of the field where he can force receivers to the outside. He can't do that most of the time when playing tight ends. He will have to play completely differently then he is used too.

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While I agree with you that Browner shouldn't eliminate all teams #1 TE, I'll be honest and say that the list provided by Brady6 doesn't scare me outside of Gates. And, the Pats could, very well, put REVIS on the #1 TE with Browner and Dennard on the outsides.. The opposing QB will still make plays, but they are going to have to be damn near perfect..

Brady6 said:

If you look at the Patriots schedule, they have to face:

Tyler Eifert (is he still injured?)
Jace Amaro (2 times)
Martellus Bennett
Julius Thomas
Colby Fleener/Dwayne Allen
Eric Ebron
Richard Rodgers
Antonio Gates
Charles Clay

If you man Browner up on them, man Revis up on the #1 WR you eliminate the #1 WR and #1 TE and leave the rest of the defense to focus on the lesser player options. Denver specifically if you eliminate the 2 Thomas’s you can focus the rest of the defense on shutting down Sanders and Welker.

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Richard Rodgers?? Umm.. Currently he's 3rd on the Packers depth chart. I'm more worried about Quarles, Cobb, and Nelson.

And Jace Amaro and Eric Ebron have been less than impressive so far.

Brady6 said:

Ebner is one of the players I would love see get on a scale, because I do not see any way he still weighs just 210lbs.

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I was thinking LB is probably where Ebner will play eventually. Both he and Chung have bulked up which is great for LB. In today's pass happy NFL many great LBs are hard hitting,sure tackling bulked up SS's. Ebner and Chung would be great for that Lavonte David type run cover chase hit LB. I still think Chung would be better,he has more experience in coverage and he is more fluid and has experience working through blocks. Both would be awesome playing weak side LB next to Mayo who has bulked up some himself. However you now have Hightower/Collins competing for rush OLB opposite Chandler Jones. Collins is great in coverage but better rushing the QB especially with Browner taking out TEs. Julius Thomas isn't going to know what hit him, many TEs are. Browner presence I going to rub off. If Ebner and or Chung eventually settle in at LB I think it would depend on who the opponent is to determine who plays where. Hightower has played well at rush olb but Collins my opinion will end up the more dynamic rush olb because he is very explosive and great if dropped back into coverage. Hightower could maybe line up in multiple spots. He dropped a couple lbs and so far looks better in coverage but its still no this thing and I still think Collins who has bulked up is the better edge rusher and less suited at ilb than Hightower. Collins is much like Chandler Jones, best on the edge, beating a block and exploding toward the qb, and Chandler Jone would never be considered for ilb.

Defense has a lot of talent. It has nowhere near hit its peak as pieces are still getting settled. Chung is closing in on 220 lbs, Ebner is a little over that and both can fill that role of cover run chase hit LB that covers RBs and TEs and make running QBs pay while limiting their yards gained. If we play Seattle,Carolina or SF you definitely want Chung or Ebner playing next To Mayo IMHO. Collins I don't think should play ilb no more than Chandler Jones should.

Marinlik said:

I think that you really overrate Browner if you think he is just going to eliminate all teams #1 TE.

Browner is at his best on edge of the field where he can force receivers to the outside. He can't do that most of the time when playing tight ends. He will have to play completely differently then he is used too.

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This.

Browner thrives in destroying a route before it begins, he does that best outside, you move him inside and you're forcing a lesser athlete to cover mostly Basket Ball players running option routes with the entire field as their playground.

You want Browner outside blowing up a player and eliminating the read entirely from the QB's mind, not inside, not roaming, strictly outside pressing.

That's my opinion at least, and watching him move seems to support it. He's not an ideal athlete, he's just bigger and stronger than almost every WR playing the game, you put him on a tight end that is bigger and stronger than him and his greatest strength is eliminated, he is no longer a bully playing like that.

He's supposed to be a bully.

I hope Browner was holding back in the preseason because I thought he looked unspectacular to say the least and that was against guys who are on the streets.

PatsFan2 said:

I hope Browner was holding back in the preseason because I thought he looked unspectacular to say the least and that was against guys who are on the streets.

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Not gonna say he looked like a beast either but he also played off man quite a bit if I remember and it was with our #54-90 players along the DL, even our 2nd stringers in the top 53 cannot generate a pass rush, Browner is supposed to lock his man at the start of a route and eliminate the read, if you give the QB 5 seconds, Browners man will recover and probably beat him.

We did see some great recovery by Browner though, he knows how to use his long arms and long stride to make space, there are times he looks beat and can still defend the pass due to his size. He needs to be beat by more than a yard to truly be beat, it seems.

Also, I'm not bashing him by any standards, but this board did vastly overrate his signing in free agency stating it as a near fact that he was a shutdown corner seemingly of Revis' ability, that was never true, he will be a great addition when he returns but he will be a role player, just like the other 4 corners not named Revis are role players.

DaBruinz said:

While I agree with you that Browner shouldn't eliminate all teams #1 TE, I'll be honest and say that the list provided by Brady6 doesn't scare me outside of Gates. And, the Pats could, very well, put REVIS on the #1 TE with Browner and Dennard on the outsides.. The opposing QB will still make plays, but they are going to have to be damn near perfect..

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Julius Thomas does not concern you?

ctpatsfan77 said:

By deactivate do you mean IR? If so, might as well just do that rather than cut Bolden too.

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I meant just sit him on the bench, but if he is really hurt IR wouldn't be the worst thing in the world considering our depth at this position. I just see Bolden as an easy cut if/when James White is ready.

Depends. If Ryan continues to play the way he did last game and if Dennard gets healthy and does what he has shown he can then Browner is match up specific.

I think using him on MOST TEs is a bad idea. Browner needs to physically dominate to win and if you put him on a TE then a lot of the time he will not be able to out physical them.

I see him on premier route runners that might not be the quickest but know where to be (IE professional WRs like James Jones or Greg Jennings to give examples of recent/future match ups).

Against Denver i am more thinking at this point he is on Sanders who has great speed but not amazing quickness.

As for how you deal with Julius Thomas that is probably a mix of Collins and safety help.

As far as the question stated, I haven't a clue. My expectation is the Browner is our CB2 and will be eased in.

Our corners are the best ever. Belichick can figure out how to use them best.

Obviously, the issues for message board is at safety. For those here, SOMEONE of our six corners must be an upgrade at S2. Of course, belichick may have a different analysis.

Browner wont be moving to S IMO

So Ebner and Chung at LB and Browner at S? I love it!

*By love it I mean hate it.

I hope I'm wrong but I see BB just as a rotational CB. I'm kind of anticipating being disappointed for some reason. Some sort of old D signing defense mechanism I guess. Thanks Tank!!

Ebner will stay on ST.

Why do people want Browner at S? His best trait is pressing his guy at the line. Can't really do that as a S.

Marinlik said:

I think that you really overrate Browner if you think he is just going to eliminate all teams #1 TE.

Browner is at his best on edge of the field where he can force receivers to the outside. He can't do that most of the time when playing tight ends. He will have to play completely differently then he is used too.

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I know somebody will makes a play occasionally, however I expect Browner to be in complete control of all those TEs. Browner plays even more physical than his 6'3 1/2 225 lb frame suggests. He is very athletic with great ball skills and feel for positioning to contain the receiver. Big physical types is how Browner makes pro bowls. Its the speedy WRs with explosive extra gear that Browner struggles with. That is not what TEs are obviously. Browner has great short area burst and can run with any TE. Browners edge and agressive attitude is going to rub off the whole defense and turn up the intensity of players who already play with an edge like Collins,Jones,Revis,Ryan,Harmon,Easley,Chris Jones. Hopefully Mayo and Hightower will play with more RPMs. They played well but wanna see that fire breathing intensity. Our whole defense can play with fire and get nasty again and strike fear in QBs and offenses and stop over thinking things to much. I went to watch the game with some family and friends the January 2013 afccg with the ravens. I went with all ravens fans so it was a long walk to the car after thhe game. I started thinking how Steve Gregory is no better in coverage really than Pollard who was adequate at one time. And yet bill signed the guy who plays smart football and scoops up fumbles while the Ravens signed the guy who can absolutely clean your clock in Pollard. And while the patriots sign Steve Gregorys to play "smart" they signed a player that knocked the patriot running back into the next football year. And I was thinking how the patriots need to stop over thinking and get tough, intimidating and explosive again. They were trying to replace Rodney Harrison and signed Steve Gregory. LOL, while I respect his professionalism he isn't a difference maker or intimidating defender the defense needs and I never understood the signing,especially to start. BTW Browner will play press cornerback mostly but probably see couple snaps at SS. Chandler Jones,Collins,Easley and Hightower can lead the charge to striking fear in qbs again. Chandler Jones and Easley looks like Sapp,Simeon Rice. 2.0

I guess we all want to know which player will be receive the most reps at safety after the bye (barring injury)? This is my list in order. For me, Browner isn't in the top SEVEN. For me, Browner is a corner. If he is only a situational corner, then that's where he'll play.

CHUNG

RYAN

ARRINGTON

HARMON

DENNARD

EBNER

WILSON

The player that is difficult to understand in Harmon. He doesn't seem to have a significant role unless someone is injured.

For all the mystery Belichick gives us, the safety position has been clear. Chung was brought in to replace Gregory on the roster (with better special teams skills). He was expected by most to beat out Wilson and Ebner for the #3 position. He competed with Harmon for the #2 spot and easily beat him out, a bit more easily that any, including Belichick probably expected.

And Chung is an OK safety with McCourty next to him and our corners in front. He is an OK weakest link on a fine secondary.

THE DECISIONS

1) Would one of the corners be a better choice at safety than Chung?

2) Is Butler going to stay on the 53? He is at the bottom of the roster as 5th corner now, and 6th when Browner is activated.

3) Might we trade a corner?

Perhaps the answer is keep everyone at their present positions for now, with the expectation that someone moves to safety next year.

However, i will state the obvious. 12 defensive backs on the 53 is a lot, even in this pass-happy league.

JMC00 said:

Why do people want Browner at S? His best trait is pressing his guy at the line. Can't really do that as a S.

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124% agree. Would be a waste to put him back there IMO. Bump his man first 5 yards. How he makes his living. Not covering space