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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Wow.....I'm glad I opened this thread.
Wow.....I'm glad I opened this thread.
I'm sure mgteich appreciates the constructive feedback.
Busthird! Nadya is sleeping and I almost LMA out loud.
Ballard is very important as depth as an inline Blocking TE along with the ability to enhance jumbo packages. If we had a backup to Gronk like Ballard at the end of the past 2 seasons.....
Fletcher can fill an important role as the coverage LB in sub package and showed good timing as a blitzer, again provides additional scheme flexibility and a LB who can play the position as well as ST's.
Dowling could have the biggest impact if he stays healthy, provides a second CB with lenght who can cover larger WR's, depth for Talib and if playing outside can allow Dennard to move inside.
We saw how important health was last year for the 9'ers, I would love to see the Pats have a year where they are relatively healthy.
You're completely right about that. Dennard is strictly an outside CB and won't ever perminently move to the slot.The question is - do you want Dennard to move inside? Based off of what we saw last season, the book on Dennard is that he isn't very fast, or very quick either, but can mess up a receiver with his physicality (8/10 if that cop is to be believed).
Moving him inside means 1) taking him off the LOS on many plays, neutralizing his press skills and 2) taking the boundary away from him and giving him a two-way go, which he isn't suited for athletically. There were several times during the season he got beat on crossing patterns - ie. what he'd see every down in the slot. Obviously he's a far better outside CB than Arrington, but I for one don't want him inside.
While it's wonderful news that all 3 of these players are currently healthy at the moment, we'll have another batch of players who take their place (unfortunately).
It's just the nature of the game, and why depth is so insanely important.
It seems to be a debbie downer kind of post, but unfortunately it is true.
Ballard is very important as depth as an inline Blocking TE along with the ability to enhance jumbo packages. If we had a backup to Gronk like Ballard at the end of the past 2 seasons.....
Fletcher can fill an important role as the coverage LB in sub package and showed good timing as a blitzer, again provides additional scheme flexibility and a LB who can play the position as well as ST's.
Dowling could have the biggest impact if he stays healthy, provides a second CB with lenght who can cover larger WR's, depth for Talib and if playing outside can allow Dennard to move inside.
We saw how important health was last year for the 9'ers, I would love to see the Pats have a year where they are relatively healthy.
What you say is true. That is one of the reasons folks are so concerned about the DTs. I'm fine with them if they all stay healthy.
But you have forgotten someone who should be there. Daniel Fells played little last year, but I believe it was because he was injured. He too can be the blocking TE who can also catch occasionally. At least his career history if not last year, shows that.
I think there's a decent possibility that Belichick isn't quite done with the DL just yet, and that there will be at least a player or two added via roster cuts.
We spoke of the lack of adequate depth in this area prior to the draft, but didn't fully agree on how bad it was. I see it as a bit worse than you do, but certainly hope that I am way off base.
The Fells situation will be an interesting development to watch, especially if part of his generally ineffective season was due to his injury--which I think you're right.
We've seen him play much better than this past season, and it's not like they'd save a ton of money by cutting him, so unless one of the UDFA's steps up I'd think the chances of him staying are probably better than him leaving.