Bold prediction - Daryl Roberts will be our #1 CB week 1..

[BKBroiler]

I seriously doubt it. A rookie being a starter week 1 on a Belichick team is rare especially for a seventh round draft pick. Even first round picks like Vince Wilfork and Richard Seymour got limited playing time early in their rookie season.

Could Roberts emerge over the course of the season? Sure. But I really doubt he will be a day one starter. I am leaning to him not even being active week 1 even if by week 17 he is the Pats #1 CB.

Didn't Butler start week one against the Dolphins last year? Plus Kenbrell Thompkins started week one in 2013. That's two UDFA in two years, so I wouldn't count it out.

 

[Joey007]

I really do like this kid alot. I think he could end up being one of the major steals of the draft.

 

[mgteich]

Didn't Butler start week one against the Dolphins last year? Plus Kenbrell Thompkins started week one in 2013. That's two UDFA in two years, so I wouldn't count it out.

Butler was so good last year that he total 16 of the defensive reps. Butler was clearly our #6 CB. Ryan played more than twice as many reps.

 

[mgteich]

Right now, I have to believe it will be Ryan and Fletcher. Don't know what's wrong with Butler, but he certainly isn't helping himself right now.

McClain in the slot, I guess (still shocked about Dennard and Arrington!)

But I love the hope around Roberts, and don't sleep on Swanson.

Yes, there will a serious roster fight for the #5 CB spot. It is not at all clear that Roberts will beat out Swanson, Green AND whichever free agent Belichick adds in camp.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

All I know is what we Expect from BB is uasually Unexpected.

 

[IcyPatriot]

http://es.pn/1HTQMrO

3. Where's Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler? After being so visible in the wake of his remarkable game-ending interception to help the Patriots beat the Seahawks, Butler hasn't been on the practice field in OTAs, presumably as he rehabs from an undisclosed ailment. Those around Butler are keeping a low profile regarding his whereabouts..

Well ... perhaps he is in treatment for you know what and I'd rather not say as it is speculation.

He was going pretty hard after the Super Bowl .... really hard - I wish the best for him.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I seriously doubt it. A rookie being a starter week 1 on a Belichick team is rare especially for a seventh round draft pick. Even first round picks like Vince Wilfork and Richard Seymour got limited playing time early in their rookie season.

Could Roberts emerge over the course of the season? Sure. But I really doubt he will be a day one starter. I am leaning to him not even being active week 1 even if by week 17 he is the Pats #1 CB.

There is recent history of BB starting DBs/CBs. Logan Ryan started 7 games in 2013, Tavon Wilson and Denanrd started a few times in 2012. Dowling started a couple of times in 2011. DMC in 2010.

With that said, physical tools and talent won't be the issues not the issue with Roberts. Consistency, technique and the lack of playing against NFL-grade talent WR in C-USA were the reasons why he went in the 7th round.

I would agree with you that Roberts has a loooong way to go if he has a chance to start Week 1. Mid-year? More realistic IMO.

 

[Ross12]

I can envision a scenario where the starting group was Fletcher & Roberts with McCourty & Chung at safety. The other 3 guys would be veterans, easing some of the pressure on Roberts.

 

[IllegalContact]

I seriously doubt it. A rookie being a starter week 1 on a Belichick team is rare especially for a seventh round draft pick. Even first round picks like Vince Wilfork and Richard Seymour got limited playing time early in their rookie season.

Could Roberts emerge over the course of the season? Sure. But I really doubt he will be a day one starter. I am leaning to him not even being active week 1 even if by week 17 he is the Pats #1 CB.

Just to put his into context......you can certainly see patterns based on need......

It would appear to me that if the dude can play, he'll be in there....some pretty notoriously bad rookies got some serious starting time


rookies with playing time under BB:
2000 - JR Redmond - 16 games / 5 starts
2001 - Richard Seymour - 13 games / 10 starts
2001 - Matt Light - 14 games / 12 starts
2002 - Deion Branch - 13 games / 7 starts
2002 - Daniel Graham - 12 games / 6 starts
2002 - Jarvis Green - 15 games / 4 starts
2003 - Ty Warren - 16 games / 4 starts
2003 - Eugene Wilson - 16 games / 15 starts
2003 - Asante Samuel - 16 games / 1 start
2003 - Dan Koppen - 16 games / 15 starts
2003 - Bethel Johnson 15 games / 5 starts
2004 - Vince Wilfork - 16 games / 6 starts
2004 - Randall Gay - 15 games / 9 starts
2005 - Logan Mankins - 16 games / 16 starts
2005 - Nick Kaczur - 14 games / 11 starts
2005 - Ellis Hobbs - 16 games / 8 starts
2005 - James Sanders - 10 games / 2 starts
2006 - Laurence Maroney - 14 games / 900 yards of offense and 7 TD's
2006 - Ryan O'callaghan - 11 games / 6 starts
2006 - David Thomas - 16 games / 3 starts
2006 - Stephen Gostkowski
2008 - Jerod Mayo - 16 games / 16 starts
2008 - Benjarvus Green-Ellis - 9 games / 3 starts
2008 - Matt Lavoir - 16 games / 2 starts
2008 - Gary Guyton - 15 games / 2 starts
2008 - Jonathan Wilhite - 16 games / 4 starts
2009 - Ron Brace - 9 games / 2 starts
2009 - Darius Butler - 14 games / 5 starts
2009 - Patrick Chung - 16 games / 1 start
2009 - Sebastian Vollmer - 14 games / 8 starts
2009 - Julian Edelman - 11 games / 7 starts
2010 - Devin Mccourty - 16 games / 16 starts
2010 - Brandon Spikes - 12 games / 8 starts
2010 - Rob Gronkowski - 16 games / 11 starts
2010 - Aaron Hernandez - 14 games / 7 starts
2010 - Jermain Cunningham - 15 games / 11 starts
2010 - Zoltan Mesko
2011 - Nate Solder - 16 games / 13 starts
2011 - Sterling Moore - 6 games / 3 starts
2012 - Alphonso Dennard - 10 games / 7 starts
2012 - Dont'a Hightower - 14 games / 13 starts
2012 - Chandler Jones - 14 games / 13 starts
2012 - Tavon Wilson - 16 games / 4 starts
2013 - Kenbrell Thompkins - 12 games / 8 starts
2013 - Aaron Dobson - 12 games / 9 starts
2013 - Josh Boyce - 9 games / 3 starts
2013 - Jamie Collins - 16 games / 8 starts
2013 - Chris Jones - 13 games / 11 starts
2013 - Joe Vellano - 16 games / 8 starts
2013 - Logan Ryan - 16 games / 7 starts
2013 - Duron Harmon - 15 games / 3 starts
2014 - Dominique Easley - 11 games / 2 starts
2014 - Cameron Fleming - 7 games / 2 starts
2014 - Bryan Stork - 13 games / 11 starts

 

[supafly]

Butler was so good last year that he total 16 of the defensive reps. Butler was clearly our #6 CB. Ryan played more than twice as many reps.

Where in God's name did you pull these numbers from? For what it's worth, Logan Ryan was the #3rd CB on the team in reps last year, and almost took over the #2 spot from Browner. Ryan played almost 50 percent of the snaps throughout the season, not "twice as many as 16." The reality is that he played 507. That's much different from "32."

Here are the official numbers. Butler played 182 snaps by the way, not "16."



Darrelle Revis -- 1,023 of 1,096 (93.3 percent)

Brandon Browner -- 582 of 1,096 (53.1 percent)

Logan Ryan -- 507 of 1,096 (46.3 percent)

Kyle Arrington -- 448 of 1,096 (40.9 percent)

Alfonzo Dennard -- 238 of 1,096 (21.7 percent)

Malcolm Butler -- 182 of 1,096 (16.6 percent)


http://espn.go.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4775456/patriots-defensive-snaps-2014-season

 

[supafly]

Just to put his into context......you can certainly see patterns based on need......

It would appear to me that if the dude can play, he'll be in there....some pretty notoriously bad rookies got some serious starting time


rookies with playing time under BB:
2000 - JR Redmond - 16 games / 5 starts
2001 - Richard Seymour - 13 games / 10 starts
2001 - Matt Light - 14 games / 12 starts
2002 - Deion Branch - 13 games / 7 starts
2002 - Daniel Graham - 12 games / 6 starts
2002 - Jarvis Green - 15 games / 4 starts
2003 - Ty Warren - 16 games / 4 starts
2003 - Eugene Wilson - 16 games / 15 starts
2003 - Asante Samuel - 16 games / 1 start
2003 - Dan Koppen - 16 games / 15 starts
2003 - Bethel Johnson 15 games / 5 starts
2004 - Vince Wilfork - 16 games / 6 starts
2004 - Randall Gay - 15 games / 9 starts
2005 - Logan Mankins - 16 games / 16 starts
2005 - Nick Kaczur - 14 games / 11 starts
2005 - Ellis Hobbs - 16 games / 8 starts
2005 - James Sanders - 10 games / 2 starts
2006 - Laurence Maroney - 14 games / 900 yards of offense and 7 TD's
2006 - Ryan O'callaghan - 11 games / 6 starts
2006 - David Thomas - 16 games / 3 starts
2006 - Stephen Gostkowski
2008 - Jerod Mayo - 16 games / 16 starts
2008 - Benjarvus Green-Ellis - 9 games / 3 starts
2008 - Matt Lavoir - 16 games / 2 starts
2008 - Gary Guyton - 15 games / 2 starts
2008 - Jonathan Wilhite - 16 games / 4 starts
2009 - Ron Brace - 9 games / 2 starts
2009 - Darius Butler - 14 games / 5 starts
2009 - Patrick Chung - 16 games / 1 start
2009 - Sebastian Vollmer - 14 games / 8 starts
2009 - Julian Edelman - 11 games / 7 starts
2010 - Devin Mccourty - 16 games / 16 starts
2010 - Brandon Spikes - 12 games / 8 starts
2010 - Rob Gronkowski - 16 games / 11 starts
2010 - Aaron Hernandez - 14 games / 7 starts
2010 - Jermain Cunningham - 15 games / 11 starts
2010 - Zoltan Mesko
2011 - Nate Solder - 16 games / 13 starts
2011 - Sterling Moore - 6 games / 3 starts
2012 - Alphonso Dennard - 10 games / 7 starts
2012 - Dont'a Hightower - 14 games / 13 starts
2012 - Chandler Jones - 14 games / 13 starts
2012 - Tavon Wilson - 16 games / 4 starts
2013 - Kenbrell Thompkins - 12 games / 8 starts
2013 - Aaron Dobson - 12 games / 9 starts
2013 - Josh Boyce - 9 games / 3 starts
2013 - Jamie Collins - 16 games / 8 starts
2013 - Chris Jones - 13 games / 11 starts
2013 - Joe Vellano - 16 games / 8 starts
2013 - Logan Ryan - 16 games / 7 starts
2013 - Duron Harmon - 15 games / 3 starts
2014 - Dominique Easley - 11 games / 2 starts
2014 - Cameron Fleming - 7 games / 2 starts
2014 - Bryan Stork - 13 games / 11 starts

It's currently a free for all at the position of CB, much like the situation which allowed so many here to think that guys like Thompkins, Boyce, and Dobson were having such "good" rookie seasons due to having no one to play in front of them back in 2013. As we saw, once some real competition came around, things were much different.

In the meantime, a guy like Roberts can have some solid looks due to a lack of adequate talent in front of him. That situation really plays to his benefit. We have absolutely no idea who will make the 53 man roster at CB, although Butler, Ryan, and Fletcher are likely the best 3 candidates at this point in time. If Roberts is worth a lick, he has a fine opportunity to show his value with the current positional grouping. I'd have a hard time seeing him as an opening day starter, but he certainly has the chance to gain some valuable looks over the season.

 

[IllegalContact]

It's currently a free for all at the position of CB, much like the situation which allowed so many here to think that guys like Thompkins, Boyce, and Dobson were having such "good" rookie seasons due to having no one to play in front of them back in 2013. As we saw, once some real competition came around, things were much different.

In the meantime, a guy like Roberts can have some solid looks due to a lack of adequate talent in front of him. That situation really plays to his benefit. We have absolutely no idea who will make the 53 man roster at CB, although Butler, Ryan, and Fletcher are likely the best 3 candidates at this point in time.

the chance is there......if he can play, he will......if not, he won't.....my point was more about the abundance of rookie starts......true, maybe not week 1, but I think much of that has to do with position and concerns about hitting the rookie wall......

 

[supafly]

Well ... perhaps he is in treatment for you know what and I'd rather not say as it is speculation.

He was going pretty hard after the Super Bowl .... really hard - I wish the best for him.

Someone claimed on this forum that he was spotted wearing one of the bigger mushroom helmets a few weeks ago. I can't remember if it was during the beginning of May/middle of May, but I want to say that it was right around that time. I've tried to search around and confirm this, but haven't been able to verify.

Much like you, I wish the best for him, but I'm not going to worry yet until he's missing TC reps into August.

 

[Rob0729]

Just to put his into context......you can certainly see patterns based on need......

It would appear to me that if the dude can play, he'll be in there....some pretty notoriously bad rookies got some serious starting time


rookies with playing time under BB:
2000 - JR Redmond - 16 games / 5 starts
2001 - Richard Seymour - 13 games / 10 starts
2001 - Matt Light - 14 games / 12 starts
2002 - Deion Branch - 13 games / 7 starts
2002 - Daniel Graham - 12 games / 6 starts
2002 - Jarvis Green - 15 games / 4 starts
2003 - Ty Warren - 16 games / 4 starts
2003 - Eugene Wilson - 16 games / 15 starts
2003 - Asante Samuel - 16 games / 1 start
2003 - Dan Koppen - 16 games / 15 starts
2003 - Bethel Johnson 15 games / 5 starts
2004 - Vince Wilfork - 16 games / 6 starts
2004 - Randall Gay - 15 games / 9 starts
2005 - Logan Mankins - 16 games / 16 starts
2005 - Nick Kaczur - 14 games / 11 starts
2005 - Ellis Hobbs - 16 games / 8 starts
2005 - James Sanders - 10 games / 2 starts
2006 - Laurence Maroney - 14 games / 900 yards of offense and 7 TD's
2006 - Ryan O'callaghan - 11 games / 6 starts
2006 - David Thomas - 16 games / 3 starts
2006 - Stephen Gostkowski
2008 - Jerod Mayo - 16 games / 16 starts
2008 - Benjarvus Green-Ellis - 9 games / 3 starts
2008 - Matt Lavoir - 16 games / 2 starts
2008 - Gary Guyton - 15 games / 2 starts
2008 - Jonathan Wilhite - 16 games / 4 starts
2009 - Ron Brace - 9 games / 2 starts
2009 - Darius Butler - 14 games / 5 starts
2009 - Patrick Chung - 16 games / 1 start
2009 - Sebastian Vollmer - 14 games / 8 starts
2009 - Julian Edelman - 11 games / 7 starts
2010 - Devin Mccourty - 16 games / 16 starts
2010 - Brandon Spikes - 12 games / 8 starts
2010 - Rob Gronkowski - 16 games / 11 starts
2010 - Aaron Hernandez - 14 games / 7 starts
2010 - Jermain Cunningham - 15 games / 11 starts
2010 - Zoltan Mesko
2011 - Nate Solder - 16 games / 13 starts
2011 - Sterling Moore - 6 games / 3 starts
2012 - Alphonso Dennard - 10 games / 7 starts
2012 - Dont'a Hightower - 14 games / 13 starts
2012 - Chandler Jones - 14 games / 13 starts
2012 - Tavon Wilson - 16 games / 4 starts
2013 - Kenbrell Thompkins - 12 games / 8 starts
2013 - Aaron Dobson - 12 games / 9 starts
2013 - Josh Boyce - 9 games / 3 starts
2013 - Jamie Collins - 16 games / 8 starts
2013 - Chris Jones - 13 games / 11 starts
2013 - Joe Vellano - 16 games / 8 starts
2013 - Logan Ryan - 16 games / 7 starts
2013 - Duron Harmon - 15 games / 3 starts
2014 - Dominique Easley - 11 games / 2 starts
2014 - Cameron Fleming - 7 games / 2 starts
2014 - Bryan Stork - 13 games / 11 starts

I never said that he wouldn't start if he is good. I am saying that he will have to earn his way onto the field in a starting role over the course of the season. It is highly unlikely he will start game one. Barring injuries, it will be almost impossible for for him to prove himself enough to be an opening night starter.

Many of these guys started due to injuries to veteran starters (Eugene Wilson, Randall Gay,, Kembrell Thompkins, etc.), but the only ones who started all 16 games as a rookie are first round picks (Mayo, McCourty, Vollmer).

 

[RobertWeathers]

Where in God's name did you pull these numbers from? For what it's worth, Logan Ryan was the #3rd CB on the team in reps last year, and almost took over the #2 spot from Browner. Ryan played almost 50 percent of the snaps throughout the season, not "twice as many as 16." The reality is that he played 507. That's much different from "32."

Here are the official numbers. Butler played 182 snaps by the way, not "16."



Darrelle Revis -- 1,023 of 1,096 (93.3 percent)

Brandon Browner -- 582 of 1,096 (53.1 percent)

Logan Ryan -- 507 of 1,096 (46.3 percent)

Kyle Arrington -- 448 of 1,096 (40.9 percent)

Alfonzo Dennard -- 238 of 1,096 (21.7 percent)

Malcolm Butler -- 182 of 1,096 (16.6 percent)


http://espn.go.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4775456/patriots-defensive-snaps-2014-season

.

I can envision a scenario where the starting group was Fletcher & Roberts with McCourty & Chung at safety. The other 3 guys would be veterans, easing some of the pressure on Roberts.

Our Super Bowl hero is not starting?

 

[IllegalContact]

I never said that he wouldn't start if he is good. I am saying that he will have to earn his way onto the field in a starting role over the course of the season. It is highly unlikely he will start game one. Barring injuries, it will be almost impossible for for him to prove himself enough to be an opening night starter.

Many of these guys started due to injuries to veteran starters (Eugene Wilson, Randall Gay,, Kembrell Thompkins, etc.), but the only ones who started all 16 games as a rookie are first round picks (Mayo, McCourty, Vollmer).

vollmer?

 

[RobertWeathers]

I never said that he wouldn't start if he is good. I am saying that he will have to earn his way onto the field in a starting role over the course of the season. It is highly unlikely he will start game one. Barring injuries, it will be almost impossible for for him to prove himself enough to be an opening night starter.

Many of these guys started due to injuries to veteran starters (Eugene Wilson, Randall Gay,, Kembrell Thompkins, etc.), but the only ones who started all 16 games as a rookie are first round picks (Mayo, McCourty, Vollmer).

I'd submit that Wilson started because Antwan Harris was not as good and his play made Milloy expendable.

 

[mgteich]

Reading comprehension is a lost art.

No one but you would react like such a idiot to a typo.

Butler was so good last year that he total 16 of the defensive reps. Butler was clearly our #6 CB. Ryan played more than twice as many reps.

Where in God's name did you pull these numbers from? For what it's worth, Logan Ryan was the #3rd CB on the team in reps last year, and almost took over the #2 spot from Browner. Ryan played almost 50 percent of the snaps throughout the season, not "twice as many as 16." The reality is that he played 507. That's much different from "32."

Here are the official numbers. Butler played 182 snaps by the way, not "16."



Darrelle Revis -- 1,023 of 1,096 (93.3 percent)

Brandon Browner -- 582 of 1,096 (53.1 percent)

Logan Ryan -- 507 of 1,096 (46.3 percent)

Kyle Arrington -- 448 of 1,096 (40.9 percent)

Alfonzo Dennard -- 238 of 1,096 (21.7 percent)

Malcolm Butler -- 182 of 1,096 (16.6 percent)


http://espn.go.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4775456/patriots-defensive-snaps-2014-season

You know much better than to react that way because there is a missing word in my post. As you noted, Butler played 16 PERCENT of the defensive reps, and Ryan played more than twice as many. An, as uyou demonstrated, Butler was clearly there #6 corner. The primary point is that Ryan should be considered way, way ahead of Butler in the depth chart.

FTR, I posted

"Butler was so good last year that he total 16 of the defensive reps. Butler was clearly our #6 CB. Ryan played more than twice as many reps."

 

[Rob0729]

vollmer?

Sorry, I mistakely put him in there.

 

[Rob0729]

I'd submit that Wilson started because Antwan Harris was not as good and his play made Milloy expendable.

You are right. My memory ain't what it used to be.