JSn
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2008
- Messages
- 7,428
- Reaction score
- 1
Registered Members experience this forum ad and noise-free.
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.Arrington is making the team.
He was lights out on STs last year.
I know this is only one phase of ST, but it's pretty telling.
Pats 2009 ST tackle leaders:
CB Kyle Arrington -- 18
LB Pierre Woods -- 18
LB Eric Alexander -- 13
S Pat Chung -- 13
S Brandon McGowan -- 12
WR Sam Aiken -- 11
LB Rob Ninkovich -- 11
WR Matthew Slater -- 7
source: Arrington, Woods finish in special teams tie - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston
Of the ST-only players on this list, I think only Arrington's job is safe. He tied for most tackles despite starting halfway through the year.
I love these STs conversation and you definitely are in line with some of my thinking. I have been a defender of Slater on here because despite not being the returner we hoped when we drafted him he has been awsome at all other phases of STs (problem is average people only think of returns when they think of STs). All that said Slaters biggest problem for a roster spot this year will be how nasty Arrington was last year and the addition of Mccourty. IMO Marquis Murrell kind of makes Alexander expendable not aiken but I see your point about the protector (I suppose Murrell could make both expendable). Aiken's biggest problem IMO is that we added some depth to the WR position and he will now have to win his spot on this team soley on STs not something he isn't used to but with the above it wont be as easy for him to make the team as last year though somehow I think he makes it.
The STs only guys certainly have a lot of competition this year and no doubt one or two of them will be squezzed out by the added positional depth and the fact that there are more STs only players competing with eachother than were on the 53 last year (as normally expected).
Slater... Even though people protec him fo some reason. Just because someone plays all facets of ST does not mean their great at it. Sorry if your going to be a ST only player then you better be great at it. This team does not need 7 ST only players.
What people don't realize is that Slater was the best of the Patriots return men last year who had double digit returns... Now, granted, a lot had to do with the mediocre blocking on kick-offs, but even when Slater wasn't returning kicks, he was on that unit and one of the better guys out there.
Maroney is the starting RB, he wont be returning Kicks.Tate could push him out of the return game though, and unless Slater pushes out Maroney or Edelman or Faulk he could be shut out of the return game making him expendable.
Maroney is the starting RB, he wont be returning Kicks.
Edelman and Faulk are Punt Returners.
Tate will be back there with Slater receiving the first kick of the year. Slater will be the guy creaming the gunner to allow Tate to take it 103yds to the house.
Forgot to mention Lockett. I think Arrington gets the nod as the special teams DB over him.
While people keep wanting to axe Slater, those people usually forget that he plays on all 6 facets of special teams and is one of the team's best special teams players.
So what are the 6 facets of special teams?