Doug Kyed: Despite fans' pleas, trading for a Cornerback upgrade isn't necessary

Soul_Survivor88 · Oct 2, 2015

You know where I stand on this issue. I always felt we were most vulnerable at cornerback, given the relative lack of depth and talent at that position. But do you agree with Doug's assessment? Are we exaggerating the need to upgrade our secondary via a trade?

http://nesn.com/2015/10/patriots-mailbag-trading-for-cornerback-upgrade-not-a-necessity/

New England Patriots fans are so spoiled. The Patriots are elite offensively and more than adequate on defense, which in today’s sad state of the NFL, makes them the best team in the league. They have the most underrated pass rush in the NFL, which masks some deficiencies at cornerback. But, after all the overreaction this offseason about how bad the Patriots’ secondary would be without Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, their defensive backfield has been fine in 2015.

Malcolm Butler has given up big plays the last two weeks but otherwise held up well on the left side, and Tarell Brown was solid at right cornerback in the first two weeks of the season before being held out in Week 3. The Patriots are still looking for consistent play out of a third cornerback, but their deep group of safeties, led by Devin McCourty, have helped hold opposing quarterbacks to a 90.2 passer rating. The Patriots are tied for third in the NFL with five interceptions while allowing six touchdowns.

Yet, you wouldn’t believe how many tweets I receive asking if the Patriots are going to trade for a cornerback. The Patriots have been so good for so long that fans need every single unit on the team to be perfect, otherwise they’ll complain. Will the Patriots trade for a cornerback? Maybe. They trade more than any other team. But just because they traded for a cornerback in 2012, acquiring Aqib Talib, doesn’t mean they will or need to now.

DropKickFlutie · Oct 2, 2015

"Holding" opposing QBs to a 91 rating isn't very good. We've seen this before, the inability to make stops on 3rd down hasn't hurt the team yet but could in a playoff game

Brady6 · Oct 2, 2015

Chiuba E. Obele said:
You know where I stand on this issue. I always felt we were most vulnerable at cornerback, given the relative lack of depth and talent. But do you agree with Doug's assessment? Are we exaggerating the need to upgrade our secondary via a trade?

http://nesn.com/2015/10/patriots-mailbag-trading-for-cornerback-upgrade-not-a-necessity/

I cannot think of 15 CBs in the NFL who have been better than Butler through 3 games. Outside of him though I have concerns, I like Ryan's ball skills but he get beat a lot.

I think an upgrade at RCB would solidify this team as the big favorite to win the SB. I wish Roberts hadn't gotten injured.

aluminum seats · Oct 2, 2015

It's a pretty foolish "rant." His point seems to be that since it's sort of a mediocre league, just shut up already, the Pats are good enough. On what so far looks like a terrific team, cornerback is an area of concern, so will naturally be something fans will focus on and ask questions about.

I think maybe the guy isn't really suited to be a football writer if that annoys him so much.

The Brandon Five · Oct 2, 2015

DropKickFlutie said:
"Holding" opposing QBs to a 91 rating isn't very good. We've seen this before, the inability to make stops on 3rd down hasn't hurt the team yet but could in a playoff game

Or if the offense has an off day.

More importantly the lack of depth makes them vulnerable to 2011-level secondary play if there are any injuries.

A Defiant Goose · Oct 2, 2015

I personally see the run defense as a bigger problem than the CBs. I like our group of Butler, Coleman, Brown, and Ryan. Not world-beaters, but not exceptionally awful either like we had in 2011. We almost won a SB with an all-time bad pass defense. Don't want to make a habit of that but I think they'll be ok this year

patchick · Oct 2, 2015

I think there's some core of truth to what he's saying. CB is clearly the weakest point on the roster, but that doesn't make it a disaster. If you look around the league, there are precious few good, deep CB corps. (Certainly at safety, fretting over our choice of Harmon, Chung and Richards as the #2 safety after McCourty is a luxurious kind of problem.)

But the flip side is that an Achilles heel is a potentially dangerous thing -- just ask Achilles.

Teams will scheme against the point of weakness. Fans are right to focus on the fact that this team is a #2 CB away from from being a matchup nightmare for ANYONE.

Sicilian · Oct 2, 2015

DropKickFlutie said:
"Holding" opposing QBs to a 91 rating isn't very good. We've seen this before, the inability to make stops on 3rd down hasn't hurt the team yet but could in a playoff game

It certainly doesn't sound great, but I would point out that 90.2 opposing rating is good for 14th in the league right now, so just slightly above average. And that rating doesn't take into account sacks at all, so you could argue the pass defense in general is actually a little better than that rating. This is the new NFL.

ender24601 · Oct 2, 2015

I think the concern is that in the last 5-6+ years, we've had some amazing offenses. But we were only able to go all the way when we had an awesome secondary. I definitely think that the concern is valid.

50-yard-line · Oct 2, 2015

Let's get rid of garbage-time and see the rating for the Defense. The Pats simply do not play aggressive defensively with big leads late. They give up TONS of yards and wide open receptions over and over again.

But they win.

A Defiant Goose · Oct 2, 2015

ender24601 said:
I think the concern is that in the last 5-6+ years, we've had some amazing offenses. But we were only able to go all the way when we had an awesome secondary. I definitely think that the concern is valid.

But we were a dropped Welker pass and a handful of unlucky fumble bounces from winning one in 2011. This group is certainly capable of winning it all

aluminum seats · Oct 2, 2015

A Defiant Goose said:
But we were a dropped Welker pass and a handful of unlucky fumble bounces from winning one in 2011. This group is certainly capable of winning it all

Sure, of course they are. But every year is different--that Giants team the Pats lost to wasn't very good (this year's Pats would slaughter them). By the same token, the NFC Super Bowl representative will almost certainly be much better than that Giants team.

patriot1136 · Oct 2, 2015

A trade for a decent corner just doesn't seem too realistic. Any free agents out there that you guys know of that would be possibilities?

A Defiant Goose · Oct 2, 2015

aluminum seats said:
Sure, of course they are. But every year is different--that Giants team the Pats lost to wasn't very good (this year's Pats would slaughter them). By the same token, the NFC Super Bowl representative will almost certainly be much better than that Giants team.

Agreed. But even with that considered, who are the big receiving threats in the NFC? The top SB candidates there are the Packers, Seahawks, and Cardinals. Jordy Nelson is injured. Jimmy Graham is soft. Any other world beaters in that team that you think our pass defense can't stand up to? I think this is actually as good a year as any to have a subpar CB group, provided the Pats hold homefield advantage in the AFC

RobertWeathers · Oct 2, 2015

The CB situation is what it is.

With all the moves from this past week I am fascinated by what BB is doing on the d-line.

By my count, depending on down, distance and situation, everyone can play either inside or outside in a 3-4, 4-3, nickel, dime, man, cover-1 cover 2.

The combinations are craaazy.

BelichickFan · Oct 2, 2015

I think we're OK - barely - right now. But we're an injury away from disaster. I would love to upgrade from Fletcher, even to another league average Brown type if for nothing but depth. With Butler, Brown and #3 CB of the week, we'll survive but imagine if Butler or Brown has a season ending injury

DarrylS · Oct 2, 2015

Has anyone been following the fan criticism of Brandon Browner in NOLA, our second best CB last year is floundering in that system.. the same old thing penalties and getting beat.

Arrington is not doing that well in Baltimore either...

An upgrade could always happen, but do not want to mortgage the future for one player.. if they remain healthy this D backfield will get better as the season progresses..

Sicilian · Oct 2, 2015

I think the important distinction here is that between "good to have" and "need". I'm sure if an opportunity to pick up a Talib-level CB for a 4th rounder comes up, BB will jump at it. But I think he likes this group just enough to not overpay for a guy that might not be any better than what he's got.

MrNathanDrake · Oct 2, 2015

We haven't played a great QB yet.

ender24601 · Oct 2, 2015

MrNathanDrake said:
We haven't played a great QB yet.

Roethlisberger?

Doug Kyed: Despite fans' pleas, trading for a Cornerback upgrade isn't necessary

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