Metaphors
In the Starting Line-Up
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- Oct 10, 2005
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Locked Down Roster Spots
RCB: Hobbs
Camp Battle
Bryant vs Wheatley for LCB
Bryant suffered through injuries after signing with the cursed Lions, but had a very solid 2007 season. Coverage specialist that can stick and run with top receivers. Questionable ball skills since his tight coverage doesn't often result in interceptions.
Wheatley has top-notch CB skills. He is on the short side and has had some injury issues. Great raw material that can be coached up into a difference maker on defense.
Camp Battle
Webster vs Sanders vs Richardson vs Wilhite for Dime Back
Webster has significant starting experience at CB. Had some early success with SF before injuries caused him to team-hop the last few years. Solid if unspectacular, he has good ball skills and isn't afraid to muck in on run support.
Sanders is a journeyman that has never really established himself. He is a bigger DB so has position flexibility to shift between CB and S.
Richardson showed some positive signs last preseason before being redshirted. Wilhite is a real unknown since he really didn't stand out at Auburn.
Metaphorically Speaking
Given the amount of time the Pats are likely to be in the nickel, Bryant and Wheatley are likely to be on the field together quite a bit. Bryant's experience gets him the first shot outside opposite Hobbs. His challenge is to get the turnover (not just the deflection) when the opportunity arises. Wheatley has the loose hips and short-area quickness to be a superior inside corner. So give the LCB spot to Bryant and nickle to Wheatley.
The dime spot is really a crap shoot and will likely be determined by injuries. Gives a good reason to watch the end of the preseason games to see if any of these guys step up and grab a roster spot. Since CBs can be fragile, having an experienced guy who can step in for a Hobbs/Bryant injury is a must. That seems to point to Webster so he gets the dime spot. Sanders would have to hope for injuries at either CB or S to stick. Richardson and Wilhite are raw enough to be gameday inactives, but I'm not going to put them there yet...they first get to battle it out on special teams.
The most important addition in this area may be Capers. Lots of new faces but they all bring solid skills to the table. The trick will be to turn them into a cohesive unit and put them in position to make big plays. Lots of threads have already focused on what Caper's coaching will mean to the play of the DBs...which may be the most important thing to watch for in camp.
Roster So Far...
1-2: QB Brady, Gutierrez
3-5: RB Maroney, Faulk, Morris
6-9: WR Moss, Welker, CJackson, Gaffney
10-11: TE Watson, DThomas
12-18: OL Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur, O'Callaghan, Hochstein
19-23: DL Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Green, Wright
24-29: LB AThomas, Hobson, Mayo, Vrabel, Bruschi, Crable
30-33: CB Hobbs, Bryant, Wheatley, Webster
Gameday Inactives
46: QB O'Connell
47-48: OL Britt, Yates
49: DL LSmith
50: LB Guyton
Cut or Traded: Cassel, Pollard, Ross, Mruczkowski, SThomas, LSanders
Battling for Special Teams: Evans, Eckel, KWashington, Aiken, Spach, Stupar, Izzo, Woods, Alexander, Ruud, Redd, Guyton, Richardson, Wilhite
Safety up next...
RCB: Hobbs
Camp Battle
Bryant vs Wheatley for LCB
Bryant suffered through injuries after signing with the cursed Lions, but had a very solid 2007 season. Coverage specialist that can stick and run with top receivers. Questionable ball skills since his tight coverage doesn't often result in interceptions.
Wheatley has top-notch CB skills. He is on the short side and has had some injury issues. Great raw material that can be coached up into a difference maker on defense.
Camp Battle
Webster vs Sanders vs Richardson vs Wilhite for Dime Back
Webster has significant starting experience at CB. Had some early success with SF before injuries caused him to team-hop the last few years. Solid if unspectacular, he has good ball skills and isn't afraid to muck in on run support.
Sanders is a journeyman that has never really established himself. He is a bigger DB so has position flexibility to shift between CB and S.
Richardson showed some positive signs last preseason before being redshirted. Wilhite is a real unknown since he really didn't stand out at Auburn.
Metaphorically Speaking
Given the amount of time the Pats are likely to be in the nickel, Bryant and Wheatley are likely to be on the field together quite a bit. Bryant's experience gets him the first shot outside opposite Hobbs. His challenge is to get the turnover (not just the deflection) when the opportunity arises. Wheatley has the loose hips and short-area quickness to be a superior inside corner. So give the LCB spot to Bryant and nickle to Wheatley.
The dime spot is really a crap shoot and will likely be determined by injuries. Gives a good reason to watch the end of the preseason games to see if any of these guys step up and grab a roster spot. Since CBs can be fragile, having an experienced guy who can step in for a Hobbs/Bryant injury is a must. That seems to point to Webster so he gets the dime spot. Sanders would have to hope for injuries at either CB or S to stick. Richardson and Wilhite are raw enough to be gameday inactives, but I'm not going to put them there yet...they first get to battle it out on special teams.
The most important addition in this area may be Capers. Lots of new faces but they all bring solid skills to the table. The trick will be to turn them into a cohesive unit and put them in position to make big plays. Lots of threads have already focused on what Caper's coaching will mean to the play of the DBs...which may be the most important thing to watch for in camp.
Roster So Far...
1-2: QB Brady, Gutierrez
3-5: RB Maroney, Faulk, Morris
6-9: WR Moss, Welker, CJackson, Gaffney
10-11: TE Watson, DThomas
12-18: OL Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur, O'Callaghan, Hochstein
19-23: DL Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Green, Wright
24-29: LB AThomas, Hobson, Mayo, Vrabel, Bruschi, Crable
30-33: CB Hobbs, Bryant, Wheatley, Webster
Gameday Inactives
46: QB O'Connell
47-48: OL Britt, Yates
49: DL LSmith
50: LB Guyton
Cut or Traded: Cassel, Pollard, Ross, Mruczkowski, SThomas, LSanders
Battling for Special Teams: Evans, Eckel, KWashington, Aiken, Spach, Stupar, Izzo, Woods, Alexander, Ruud, Redd, Guyton, Richardson, Wilhite
Safety up next...
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