Camp Battles

[Brady6]

These are the biggest areas for potential camp battles in my opinion –

-Starting strong safety – Harmon, Ryan, Chung, Wilson
-Starting center – Wendell, Connolly, Stork
-Starting right guard – Cannon, Connolly, Halapio
-Starting defensive tackle – Kelly, Easley, Armstead, Jones (Chris)
-Backup running back(s) – 2-3 needed
-Backup wide receiver(s) – 3-4 needed
-Backup defensive end(s) – 2-3 needed
-Backup safety(s) – 2-3 needed
-Backup linebacker(s) – 2-3 needed

Thoughts?

 

[joepatsfan]

@Brady6 I would say that Logan Ryan might be in the mix for a S spot. BB alluded to it to the media once I believe

 

[Brady6]

@Brady6 I would say that Logan Ryan might be in the mix for a S spot. BB alluded to it to the media once I believe

Great point! I added him in.

 

[breakin]

Im pretty much on the same page as you. On offense i think the positions up for grabs are C,G,RB,WR. Dan Connolly has a decent cap hit and Wendells contract has pretty much no guarantees, neither had a great year last year so if the rookies show the ability to play then i dont think those 2 are making the final roster.

It feels like they have lost alot of faith in ridley and deservedly so. If White can come in and produce I wouldnt be shocked to see him take the lead back role over Ridley.

Then there is WR, in a perfect world Dobson makes that year 2 leap and is the starting WR alongside Edelman and Amendola. We arent in a perfect world though so imo the WR depth chart is up in the air. Boyce had a tough rookie season, often injured and never got a chance to show his true talent. Its plausible he shows great strides in his 2nd season and claims a starting role. Lafell had his moments as the 3rd option in a run first offense, its also possible he shines now in a pass first offense. If the Patriots first offense snap of the regular season has a WR combo of LaFell, Edelman, Gallon on the field would people be shocked?? I feel that WR is the most up in the air position on the roster atm.

While im at it on Offense i think Pats sign Keller and try and re-create the 2TE offense.

On to Defense, Chandler Jones is basically the only person that you can confidently say is starting on the DL. Wilfork is obviously a prime candidate to be a starter but achilles injuries are infamous for being tough to return from, so i have trouble seeing a guy his size/age returning to previous form. Saying that, I know its a cliche but if anyone can return from it its Big Vince. Ninkovich is likely a favourite to start opposite Chandler but if someone shows potential to get to the QB i wouldnt be suprised to see Nink drop down the depth chart.

DT is going to be interesting this year. Going into last year we all thought Vince, Kelly and Armstead were going to be the main DT's. In the end they ended up being non-factors and Pats hat to rely on Vellano, C. Jones, Sopoaga, Siliga. This year its like we have an embarrassment of riches at DT. Vince, Kelly, Armstead and Easley are atop the depth chart. If they can all stay healthy and get on the field then its definately something to be excited about. One of the Pats biggest problems last year wrt DL was that they had no depth, the starters had to play like 90% of snaps and were never fresh. Having a rotation of legit players to keep everyone fresh will be huge.

LB's are set although any injury really hurts. CB's are set (once Browner returns from suspension). A big bonus this year is that Arrington shouldnt have to play on the outside and can stick to what he does best and cover the slot. SS is totally up for grabs. I have no idea who will claim the starting spot but there are a couple of guys in the mix which is good. I would be more concerned about the SS spot but i think the rest of the secondary is sooo loaded that they can almost carry a subpar SS and you wont notice it.

I meant to make this a small reply but once i got started i couldnt stop lol.

 

[MadMartigan]

I would like to really see where we are at when training camp actually starts. The Possibility is still very high that many more names will be brought in and so may be bigger cap hits. This could help us to determine were the real battles are but, looking at what we have S and where they are going to go and interior Ol being the two most obvious. I will ne intrigued to see what happens at receiver and who is the odd man out or surprising cut or trade.

 

[Gymrat]

These are the biggest areas for potential camp battles in my opinion –

-Starting strong safety – Harmon, Ryan, Chung, Wilson
-Starting center – Wendell, Connolly, Stork
-Starting right guard – Cannon, Connolly, Halapio
-Starting defensive tackle – Kelly, Easley, Armstead, Jones (Chris)
-Backup running back(s) – 2-3 needed
-Backup wide receiver(s) – 3-4 needed
-Backup defensive end(s) – 2-3 needed
-Backup safety(s) – 2-3 needed
-Backup linebacker(s) – 2-3 needed

Thoughts?

#1 I firmly believe Browners skill set Screams SS as loud as a redlined Corvette. Far better in coverage than Chancellor and a secure physical tackler. He is double allpro SS. He slightly lacks speed as his only weakness at corner. He can still pick his battles from SS position and cover big physical wrs instead of TE at times which will mix up offenses and qbs cuz when the SS slides over to cover a wr it will be confusing to the qb as who is now free to blitz or add coverage elsewhere or free to jump a route. The qb has to rethink everything after the snap b4 he knows it a blitzing Collins has separated him from the football and his soul from his body. Besides Ryan is great in press with severely underrated makeup quickness(watch highlights,awesome). I think Ryan is being tried at fs in case McCourty breaks out to earl Thomas status and is tough to resign. Which I think he is better than Thomas and a full season at fs will show it.

Stork wins center eventually and Cannon should win RG. I would like to see cannon add some weight back he lost after the 2011 draft,while getting better. He hasn't done so due to playing tackle a lot He was drafted as a 360lb dancing bear. Could be a standout guard. Stork a weight room/training warrior will continue to get stronger and more agile to be a very good center.

I think after a full season of NFL training/coaching, Zach Moore wins considerable snaps at LE by January while ninko moves around a lot. A healthy improving hard working Dominique Easley wins DROY while collecting 8 sacks or more. A very determined Jones gets stronger/better. Collins hopefully fills out some like mingo and others from his class are attempting and has talent to become a double digit sack artist were Collins 3-4 edge rush olb. Yet he has skills of traditional 4-3 lb. When he blitzes from 4-3 olb spot the offenses will have no answer to defend that. Collins is nearly 6'4, should easily be able to add 10-12 lbs of muscle and end up at 260-263 with no loss of speed and has run mid 4.5 40s. That's nearly Clowney territory with actual true lb skills. Collins has DPOY ability. I just hope he trains with Chandler Jones.

A lot has come of this but on a serious note I would love to see Hightower carefully drop down to 255 to gain burst and better handle this passing league with qbs as fast as wr's. Think bout this guys,qbs are gashing defenses for 150/200 yards. This is a very real and dangerous threat. Scary. Hightower is athletic with long speed for 270 lbs. But if he played at 255 he could be as powerful as 270 with burst of much smaller 240lb Lbs. And 255 is still huge for a speedy mlb. He would hurt somebody and give duel threat qbs something to worry bout. Like where is that huge beast flashing to the scene from nowhere to separate them from their senses. As well as flashing to the scene over the middle jarring a lot of balls loose while and causing drops.

I think Harmon holds down ss til Browner returns.

 

[Brady6]

#1 I firmly believe Browners skill set Screams SS as loud as a redlined Corvette. Far better in coverage than Chancellor and a secure physical tackler. He is double allpro SS. He slightly lacks speed as his only weakness at corner. He can still pick his battles from SS position and cover big physical wrs instead of TE at times which will mix up offenses and qbs cuz when the SS slides over to cover a wr it will be confusing to the qb as who is now free to blitz or add coverage elsewhere or free to jump a route. The qb has to rethink everything after the snap b4 he knows it a blitzing Collins has separated him from the football and his soul from his body. Besides Ryan is great in press with severely underrated makeup quickness(watch highlights,awesome). I think Ryan is being tried at fs in case McCourty breaks out to earl Thomas status and is tough to resign. Which I think he is better than Thomas and a full season at fs will show it.

My thinking is Browner is here because of the evolution of the tight end in the NFL. I think what Belichick did against Jimmy Graham last year with Talib is what he will do on the weekly to the other teams tight end with Browner. This allows him to keep Revis on the outside even against teams with elite tight ends. If you can shut down the other teams #1 wide receiver and #1 tight end 1on1 that leaves Dennard, Ryan, McCourty, and the others to cover the lesser options.

Stork wins center eventually and Cannon should win RG. I would like to see cannon add some weight back he lost after the 2011 draft,while getting better. He hasn't done so due to playing tackle a lot He was drafted as a 360lb dancing bear. Could be a standout guard. Stork a weight room/training warrior will continue to get stronger and more agile to be a very good center.

I agree. I honestly did not love the Stork pick at first but if the team can get him into better shape (man I sound like you...) and trim him down allowing him to move better I think he could be an excellent center.

I think after a full season of NFL training/coaching, Zach Moore wins considerable snaps at LE by January while ninko moves around a lot. A healthy improving hard working Dominique Easley wins DROY while collecting 8 sacks or more. A very determined Jones gets stronger/better. Collins hopefully fills out some like mingo and others from his class are attempting and has talent to become a double digit sack artist were Collins 3-4 edge rush olb. Yet he has skills of traditional 4-3 lb. When he blitzes from 4-3 olb spot the offenses will have no answer to defend that. Collins is nearly 6'4, should easily be able to add 10-12 lbs of muscle and end up at 260-263 with no loss of speed and has run mid 4.5 40s. That's nearly Clowney territory with actual true lb skills. Collins has DPOY ability. I just hope he trains with Chandler Jones.

I like Moore a lot as well, but I really love Buchanan, I think he will push Ninkovich this season and take reps from him in pass rush situations. Buchanan had 2 sacks in the first 4 games last year, he lost his reps to Carter because he was struggling in run containment and screwing up assignments, a full offseason should help that. He can get to the QB though, I think he could have 8-10 sacks this season in a pass rush specialist role.

A lot has come of this but on a serious note I would love to see Hightower carefully drop down to 255 to gain burst and better handle this passing league with qbs as fast as wr's. Think bout this guys,qbs are gashing defenses for 150/200 yards. This is a very real and dangerous threat. Scary. Hightower is athletic with long speed for 270 lbs. But if he played at 255 he could be as powerful as 270 with burst of much smaller 240lb Lbs. And 255 is still huge for a speedy mlb. He would hurt somebody and give duel threat qbs something to worry bout. Like where is that huge beast flashing to the scene from nowhere to separate them from their senses. As well as flashing to the scene over the middle jarring a lot of balls loose while and causing drops.

Not sure if Hightower could get there, and even if he did I am not sure it would help his game. He needs to be used at the SAM LB closer to the line, he is not a sideline to sideline player he does not have the lateral speed or agility to excel in that type of capacity. He could be a dominate SAM LB in my opinion with 5-6 sacks and 6-8 run stuffs in the backfield in a season in my opinion.

 

[mcmurtry86]

DT is going to be interesting this year. Going into last year we all thought Vince, Kelly and Armstead were going to be the main DT's. In the end they ended up being non-factors and Pats hat to rely on Vellano, C. Jones, Sopoaga, Siliga. This year its like we have an embarrassment of riches at DT.

"Riches" is an interesting way to describe a collection of unknown youngsters, fringe NFL talent and aging vets coming off of serious injuries.

 

[mgteich]

Any list of competitors for DT than does not include Wilfork and Siliga is a fail for me. Perhaps you consider them to be NT's.

Since you are listening almost every position, you might as well list backup quarterback.

These are the biggest areas for potential camp battles in my opinion –

-Starting strong safety – Harmon, Ryan, Chung, Wilson
-Starting center – Wendell, Connolly, Stork
-Starting right guard – Cannon, Connolly, Halapio
-Starting defensive tackle – Kelly, Easley, Armstead, Jones (Chris)
-Backup running back(s) – 2-3 needed
-Backup wide receiver(s) – 3-4 needed
-Backup defensive end(s) – 2-3 needed
-Backup safety(s) – 2-3 needed
-Backup linebacker(s) – 2-3 needed

Thoughts?

 

[Gymrat]

Trying to load my puppy to profile pic. But it won't. I lost $$ tonight at poker. Never had anything better than 2pair all night. Fellow patriot fan tore it up LOL. Good for her. Anyways I think he has a chance to get quicker and move easier if he played lighter. His feet will get lighter I can vouch for that. Couple yes I added nearly lbs. I couldn't move like normal. Most noticeable in tennis,I couldn't make returns I normally could. I wouldn't even try to get there for returns normally routine. Lost the weight and I got quicker again. not saying it will work,just worth a try. 20lbs is like carrying a backpack. I can just see it,jerk Kaepernick or Wilson run right by him for 60 yards.

I like Zach Moore he is big quick with great leg drive. I think he was a steal with similar talent to Michael Bennett.