Sign the Beast XXIII -- Might Need a Safety Too

So... Chung was an awesome addition last season. A lot of us speculated that the improvement was due to the change in defense with Revis/Browner and his responsibilities being different on the field. With the departure of Revis and Browner, I'm now kinda thinking we might start seeing Chung 1.0 again. (Mind you, I liked Chung 1.0 okay, but he was certainly not Chung 2.0.)

After thinking about the moves the last 24hrs, I honestly think the team will be looking into S as much as CB. Agree? Disagree? Your opinion?

Duron Harmon, looking at you, guy.

I agree with you at least insofar as without Revis, I don't think Chung is a starter-caliber safety. Could be a fairly valuable rotation guy, but someone else will probably be taking a bulk of the snaps. It's possible that that guy's already on the roster, though. Hopefully Harmon's up to the job.

It'll be something to watch for sure. Assuming we don't upgrade at what we currently have for corners (which I think is still a possibility), I think Chung could take a step back, but not all the way to pre-Eagles Chung. I saw him make a lot of plays in coverage last year that he simply would not have made in previous years. So while I don't think he's suddenly a great all around safety, I don't think he's purely a product of superior corner play either.

Wilson improved last year and there is Harmon. Asking Chung to cover is always a bad idea.

Sicilian said:

It'll be something to watch for sure. Assuming we don't upgrade at what we currently have for corners (which I think is still a possibility), I think Chung could take a step back, but not all the way to pre-Eagles Chung. I saw him make a lot of plays in coverage last year that he simply would not have made in previous years. So while I don't think he's suddenly a great all around safety, I don't think he's purely a product of superior corner play either.

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This is true. Although I don't necessarily think his production was because of superior CB play so much as scheme changes. And I guess my feeling is even if we get another CB or two, I think our scheme is likely to revert back.

Maybe Harmon is ready to go. I love having Chung, I just thought we might need someone else too... But Harmon might be that someone.

At this juncture, the team just needs the other players that they have invested in to step up. Guys like Harmon, Dennard, and Ryan. At this juncture, there are no safeties on the FA market that really can come here and probably be better, and not sure there are many CB's that are worth what they would probably command in this market. And you definitely can't count on any rookies to come in this system and do great year 1. Also with the hit the need at D line and O line, it seems like most people here think this is where the Pats should devote most of their draft capital.

RobAllan said:

This is true. Although I don't necessarily think his production was because of superior CB play so much as scheme changes. And I guess my feeling is even if we get another CB or two, I think our scheme is likely to revert back.

Maybe Harmon is ready to go. I love having Chung, I just thought we might need someone else too... But Harmon might be that someone.

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That's a definite possibility too. I have a hard time seeing the Patriots drafting another safety after back to back years taking them in the top three rounds, and there seem to be bigger holes to fill in free agency. So my guess is it's going to be an open competition in camp for snaps next to McCourty. Should be one of the more interesting camp battles to watch for me.