After the minibye changes

We got stuck with an early bye this year, which happens. I hate Thursday Night Football, but we probably do it as well as anyone, putting in two opposite game plans this time and making them work, so we end up with grapolo [I'm going with that] and not too much stress.

Which leaves a weekend off and fresh players to work on something new, a minibye.

Out the other end we have Sheard and Stork working their way back in, with lines that were strengthened in their absence by new players/players rising to the occasion.

New additions who've shown something, or haven't had a shot, much in Hicks and Melvin and extra work for Coleman and all CBs, I imagine.

Additions at CB or OT? Is Causell working hard on the practice squad? Areas that could use depth. We're guard heavy now, but a competent LT backup is different.

I hope Brandon LaFell is putting in some overtime with Juggs or a QB.

1st "half" achievement awards...Alan Branch as the Hulk [you wouldn't like me when I'm angry] David Andrews as "the Natural" and Dion Lewis as the roadrunner [there he is, oh wait...beep beep.

Of course you run out of superlatives for Brady, who's Captain America, Braveheart and Superman, with a Batmanian chip on his shoulder, with trusty sidekick Edelperson [Robin? lol]...and Gronk is Gronk. Really can't be better than that.

I wanna see for part two, Melvin worked in, with hi 6 2 frame, and he's pretty athletic. Add Sheard to our 5 man DT rotation with Nink and Chandler and I think we're just about maxed out.

C-G will be interesting if there's health and we might need to cut/ps someone.

Additions at CB/OT still stand, but maybe not if Melvin works out and cannon's healthy [still don't like Cannon as the only LT backup with Solder gone].

Thoughts about before/after break?

By the way, I spent some time researching and i think Roadrunner is the Dion nickname. See if anyone agrees.

I hate to say it, but Malcolm Butler needs to be re-evaluated as No. 1 Corner, to determine whether or not he's still up for the job.

EDIT: He's been pretty good, but sometimes he makes significant mistakes. So yeah, I think he's worth re-evaluating, if only to help him improve.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

I hate to say it, but Malcolm Butler needs to be re-evaluated as No. 1 Corner, to determine whether or not he's still up to the job.

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Are you a cornerback? If not, I think he's got the job.

I think Fleming has earned his place on the team these last 3 games as the backup T.

T- Volmer, Cannon, Fleming
G- Kline, Mason, Jackson
G/C- Stork, Wendell
C- Andrews

9 OL is what they carried last year.

I also think the right move would to be to allow Andrews to keep the C job and work Stork back slowly in the G rotation.

RayClay said:

Are you a cornerback? If not, I think he's got the job.

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Logan Ryan has been more solid as CB these last two games

Chiuba E. Obele said:

I hate to say it, but Malcolm Butler needs to be re-evaluated as No. 1 Corner, to determine whether or not he's still up to the job.

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Butler is holding his own as essentially a rookie. When Logan Ryan had the freedom to float under an out for a pick last game, you can thank Butler, because it was his competence that allowed the Patriots to lend deep support to Ryan, making said pick possible. I assure you that Butler is being evaluated after each game by BB.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

I hate to say it, but Malcolm Butler needs to be re-evaluated as No. 1 Corner, to determine whether or not he's still up to the job.

Click to expand...

Barring a trade, there is no one on the current roster that would perform better than Malcolm.

Ryan has been playing well but vs WR2.

Put him on and island vs WR1 and you have a problem.

JMC00 said:

I think Fleming has earned his place on the team these last 3 games as the backup T.

T- Volmer, Cannon, Fleming
G- Kline, Mason, Jackson
G/C- Stork, Wendell
C- Andrews

9 OL is what they carried last year.

I also think the right move would to be to allow Andrews to keep the C job and work Stork back slowly in the G rotation.

Click to expand...

Andrews has done a terrific job no doubt about it but he is not close to the type of OC Stork is. Stork when healthy is a top 5 OC in the NFL.

When they are all healthy I would just rotate them and keep everyone fresh.

LT - Vollmer/Cannon
LG - Mason/Kline
OC - Stork/Andrews
RG - Jackson/Wendell
RT - Cannon/Fleming

We also need to address possible puppy returns. I don't see a place for Chris Jones, as much as I really like the guy. Also, there may be no room at the inn for Fletcher rabbit at LB unless Mayo is more done than we think he is. In any case Mayo stays.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

I hate to say it, but Malcolm Butler needs to be re-evaluated as No. 1 Corner, to determine whether or not he's still up for the job.

EDIT: He's been pretty good, but sometimes he makes significant mistakes. So yeah, I think he's worth re-evaluating, if only to help him improve.

Click to expand...

You have to let him grow into the job. There's no other way to do it.

That's the problem with today's NFL, too many owners want overnight success so coaches continually feel pressure to cut saplings before seeing if they develop into a sturdy tree or turn out to be a weed.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

I hate to say it, but Malcolm Butler needs to be re-evaluated as No. 1 Corner, to determine whether or not he's still up for the job.

EDIT: He's been pretty good, but sometimes he makes significant mistakes. So yeah, I think he's worth re-evaluating, if only to help him improve.

Click to expand...

Aside from a literal handful of guys, CB1 is a thankless job. Draw the best of the best Every. Single. Game.

And re the previous post, I don't think the Patriots necessarily assign cornerbacks by #1 or #2 I think they vary depending on team.

Of course, IMO, Butler has as much job security as anyone considering the next up are Logan Ryan and Coleman.

They have experienced safeties and use them more than most teams, I'm guessing. With Chung's much improved coverage skills, I bet they have 3 on the field most times and Jordan richards is getting some, though I can't find how many snaps

Chiuba E. Obele said:

I hate to say it, but Malcolm Butler needs to be re-evaluated as No. 1 Corner, to determine whether or not he's still up for the job.

EDIT: He's been pretty good, but sometimes he makes significant mistakes. So yeah, I think he's worth re-evaluating, if only to help him improve.

Click to expand...

Butler is basically 7 games into his career and he's playing one of the tougher positions to learn in football. Could we cut him just a little bit of slack?

PatsWickedPissah said:

We also need to address possible puppy returns. I don't see a place for Chris Jones, as much as I really like the guy. Also, there may be no room at the inn for Fletcher rabbit at LB unless Mayo is more done than we think he is. In any case Mayo stays.

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Problem with that is Fletcher gives us great coverage in the open field. He is very fast.

Don't forget we can always cut Ventrone.

Too bad we can't cut Ventrone a few more times to make room for 2-3 more players.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

I hate to say it, but Malcolm Butler needs to be re-evaluated as No. 1 Corner, to determine whether or not he's still up for the job.

EDIT: He's been pretty good, but sometimes he makes significant mistakes. So yeah, I think he's worth re-evaluating, if only to help him improve.

Click to expand...

I don't think he has made any big mistakes since the Jacksonville game. I think he is doing a great job for a player with 7-8 starts under his belt. Decker had caught 18 of his 24 targets entering last weeks game, which is 75%, he also had a touchdown in all 4 games that he played. It took 11 attempts for him to make 5 catches and he didn't have a touchdown against Butler. Miami he was on the WR every catch, and never out of place that I can recall.

JMC00 said:

I think Fleming has earned his place on the team these last 3 games as the backup T.

T- Volmer, Cannon, Fleming
G- Kline, Mason, Jackson
G/C- Stork, Wendell
C- Andrews

9 OL is what they carried last year.

I also think the right move would to be to allow Andrews to keep the C job and work Stork back slowly in the G rotation.

Click to expand...

No problem with Fleming except, he's a right tackle, Cannon's a right tackle and Vollmer's a right tackle.

Out of that group, only Vollmer gets more than a cup of coffee at LT and, since he's starting, I think we're stuck with having to keep gronk in to block a lot if, gawd forbid, something happens to Vollmer.

RayClay said:

No problem with Fleming except, he's a right tackle, Cannon's a right tackle and Vollmer's a right tackle.

Out of that group, only Vollmer gets more than a cup of coffee at LT and, since he's starting, I think we're stuck with having to keep gronk in to block a lot if, gawd forbid, something happens to Vollmer.

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Although he was considered for a guard position, Cannon did play LT his senior year after three at RT at TCU.

If healthy, that gives me a little comfort, though i don't think quick feet is his strong point.

RayClay said:

By the way, I spent some time researching and i think Roadrunner is the Dion nickname. See if anyone agrees.

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Nah he's the Little Dirty

PP2 said:

Problem with that is Fletcher gives us great coverage in the open field. He is very fast.

Don't forget we can always cut Ventrone.

Too bad we can't cut Ventrone a few more times to make room for 2-3 more players.

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We can, and very well might. Too bad it can't be all at the same time.