Jonathan Wilhite

[patsfan13]

2 quality vets and 3 young players with lots of upside, great problem figuring out who get the PT strong nickle and dime package.


Hopefully the CB's don't get dinged as much as usual.

 

[marc00]

This discussion reminds me of an episode of Patriots All Access towards the end of last season, I forget the week, where they showed a locker room scene after a win and there was a player standing behind Belichick with short dreads, shirt off and absolutely jacked. It was Wilhite. I think this guy will find a nice role for himself on the team as a physical corner who can jam bigger receivers and tackle well. I'm with others in this thread who feel there is no clear number one corner on the team, rather three promising young players who all bring something different to the table and two veterans who will help out for a year or two until the younger players are ready to take over. Depending on the match up from week to week I could see any of the young corners getting a lot of playing time. I see Butler as the speedy man coverage guy that can be left alone on the outside. Wheatley has a bit more size and can play either man or zone while Wilhite is a physical corner who can play close to the line. I would not be surprised at all to Belichick use him on TO if Springs cant go for some reason.

 

[Bill B.]

Last year Wilhite was seeing more time as a slot corner. Wheatley, when he was active, was a backup on the outside corner position. With the role of slot receiver in offences increasing in recent years, the position of slot corner is important to develop. I think Wilhite handled that position very well and I think that is where he will make his biggest contribution. Practicing against one of the best slot receivers in the game is definitely helpful.

 

[patchick]

I see Butler as the speedy man coverage guy that can be left alone on the outside. Wheatley has a bit more size and can play either man or zone while Wilhite is a physical corner who can play close to the line.

Actually, at 5'9" 183 Wheatley's the smallest guy on the entire team. Butler has an inch or so over him, and Wilhite weighs 2 lbs more, making him the big, physical one by Pats CB standards.

 

[maverick4]

I think with Butler, Chung, Wilhite, and Wheatley, we may have upgraded our secondary as big a way as when we added Milloy and Ty Law in the mid-90's.

 

[aurakilla]

It should be a very competitive training camp at the CB position. This has the potential to be our best secondary since '03-'04. Yeah I know that is a bit premature but I'm excited to see what these guys can do.

just curios but that was when troy brown played some cb right?

 

[Patjew]

just curios but that was when troy brown played some cb right?

2004
.........

 

[fgssand]

I think Willhite & Wheatley will both make that nice leap from rookie to 2nd year and impress us all.

I also think Butler will be simply amazing, for a rookie - this kid has it all. Oh and by the way, I also think Patrick Chung will fit right in and also be a force.

For the first time in a long time - I really like our Defensive backfield this year. Perfect blend of solid veteran and youth.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Honestly, I really see a year where everyone contributes in the secondary. I think we're all just assuming that since Bodden and Springs are the veterans they'll get the nod when it's all said and done. However, I wouldn't be so sure, especially when it comes to Springs. He's probably really football smart since he's been around for so long, but he probably can't lock anyone down at his stage in his career and would probably be more suited to playing the safety position.

Assuming most of you are right about Springs and Bodden being the #1 and #2 guys, I still can't see a master game-planner in BB not devising ways to get the younger guys - Butler, Chung, Wilhite, and Wheatley - onto the field. I'm sure he'll find ways to include Chung and Butler in some exotic blitz packages. I really hope all of the guys can get onto the field in situational play at least. I'm excited about this young defense.

Springs is not getting paid to be a safety. It's way too early to get overoptimistic about the younguns. I like our youngsters for sure, but you should know by now that BB likes to rely on his vets. Springs has been a top corner most of his career and Bodden has upside to bounce back considering that he did very well in Cleveland's D which runs a similar scheme. I will be looking forward to training camp though to see how the competition shapes up.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Springs is not getting paid to be a safety. It's way too early to get overoptimistic about the younguns. I like our youngsters for sure, but you should know by now that BB likes to rely on his vets. Springs has been a top corner most of his career and Bodden has upside to bounce back considering that he did very well in Cleveland's D which runs a similar scheme. I will be looking forward to training camp though to see how the competition shapes up.

Respect. I never said that Spring would play Safety. I said that I feel he would be better suited to playing that position at this point in his career, as have a lot of corners in the twilight of their careers. Some of those corners, like Rod Woodson, reinvented themselves at the position; in fact, Woodson probably could have been inducted into the Hall as a Safety. I'm not at all saying that Springs can't play the Corner. I just think that expecting him to come in and be the same top-flight guy (when healthy) that he was years ago is a bit unrealistic and wishful thinking. Add to that his history of being banged up, it's fair to say that we'll be lucky if we have him for a full season.

Secondly, we all know that BB likes his veterans, but I also feel that he will find ways to involve his young talent. Like I said in the original post, I don't see how he won't find a way to get creative with them and use them in different ways. There's too much athleticism for BB not to want to use them in some capacity on defense. Did you see the line where I said "I really hope all of the guys can get onto the field in situational play at least?" I think you might be assuming that I'm saying they'll be starters. While I feel there is a chance one of the youngsters could be, I would never be so bold as to say they will be.

In the end, the point I was trying to make was that I'm excited about the possibilities in the secondary. After watching the mediocre bunch that the Patriots had to offer last year, it's difficult not to be optimistic and excited. Like you, I will be watching training camp with great interest.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Respect. I never said that Spring would play Safety. I said that I feel he would be better suited to playing that position at this point in his career, as have a lot of corners in the twilight of their careers. Some of those corners, like Rod Woodson, reinvented themselves at the position; in fact, Woodson probably could have been inducted into the Hall as a Safety. I'm not at all saying that Springs can't play the Corner. I just think that expecting him to come in and be the same top-flight guy (when healthy) that he was years ago is a bit unrealistic and wishful thinking. Add to that his history of being banged up, it's fair to say that we'll be lucky if we have him for a full season.

Fair enough. I think the key, though, is that we don't really need him to be a full-time starter all season. IMO, he's going to be a specialist- a big CB who matches up really well against the big, physical WRs of the league like TO. There aren't a ton of those guys across the league, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if there were weeks at a time where we didn't see a whole lot of Springs, keeping him fresh for when we do need him.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Fair enough. I think the key, though, is that we don't really need him to be a full-time starter all season. IMO, he's going to be a specialist- a big CB who matches up really well against the big, physical WRs of the league like TO. There aren't a ton of those guys across the league, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if there were weeks at a time where we didn't see a whole lot of Springs, keeping him fresh for when we do need him.

I hear ya. In fact, I think your analysis strengthens my argument a bit. I started by saying that I believe everyone will contribute. If Springs plays a lesser role some weeks, then that means someone will have to step up in his place. I think that leaves the door open for BB to use any one of the other youngsters - Butler, Wilhite, or Wheatley.

Again, I'm not suggesting that the young players will see a large number of snaps during the season. I'm also not saying that Springs won't be effective. What I am saying is that I think the secondary is set up this year to use any combination of players . . . I believe we'll see just about every combination imaginable, especially early on. As the season progresses and the Patriots get closer to the playoffs, I think BB will go to a more solid unit. Of course, this is obviously nothing but conjecture at this point, but it's just what I see as one possible scenario in the defensive backfield.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I hear ya. In fact, I think your analysis strengthens my argument a bit. I started by saying that I believe everyone will contribute. If Springs plays a lesser role some weeks, then that means someone will have to step up in his place. I think that leaves the door open for BB to use any one of the other youngsters - Butler, Wilhite, or Wheatley.

Again, I'm not suggesting that the young players will see a large number of snaps during the season. I'm also not saying that Springs won't be effective. What I am saying is that I think the secondary is set up this year to use any combination of players . . . I believe we'll see just about every combination imaginable, especially early on. As the season progresses and the Patriots get closer to the playoffs, I think BB will go to a more solid unit. Of course, this is obviously nothing but conjecture at this point, but it's just what I see as one possible scenario in the defensive backfield.

Definitely. Wheatley and Springs, in particular, seem to complement each other particularly well. Between the two of them, we have good matchups for just about any edge receiver in the league, with Wilhite probably manning the slot and Bodden typically on the other side. Dunno where Butler will fit in, but he's way too athletic not to see time somehow.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Definitely. Wheatley and Springs, in particular, seem to complement each other particularly well. Between the two of them, we have good matchups for just about any edge receiver in the league, with Wilhite probably manning the slot and Bodden typically on the other side. Dunno where Butler will fit in, but he's way too athletic not to see time somehow.

Remember how BB used Ty Poole (and Hobbs to a lesser degree) to come off the edge on the Corner Blitz? Do you think he would employ Butler this way? I could see it. What do you think?

 

[spacecrime]

Honestly, I really see a year where everyone contributes in the secondary. I think we're all just assuming that since Bodden and Springs are the veterans they'll get the nod when it's all said and done. However, I wouldn't be so sure, especially when it comes to Springs. He's probably really football smart since he's been around for so long, but he probably can't lock anyone down at his stage in his career and would probably be more suited to playing the safety position.

Why probably? Did you see him play last year, or is this another one of those Evaluation by Calendar things?

 

[PatsBoy12]

Why probably? Did you see him play last year, or is this another one of those Evaluation by Calendar things?

A little of both. I've seen him play and he's old. Watching on TV doesn't afford me the chance to evaluate every player, and I had no idea he'd end up on the Patriots this coming season, so I really had no incentive to watch his every move. However, he was only able to play part of the season last year, and he was not used prominently (from what I could tell in the handful of Redskins games I saw) by the Skins. Notice, I used the word probably, meaning I'm not writing him off in any way.

 

[ALP]

A little of both. I've seen him play and he's old. Watching on TV doesn't afford me the chance to evaluate every player, and I had no idea he'd end up on the Patriots this coming season, so I really had no incentive to watch his every move. However, he was only able to play part of the season last year, and he was not used prominently (from what I could tell in the handful of Redskins games I saw) by the Skins. Notice, I used the word probably, meaning I'm not writing him off in any way.

through independent (and good) statistics, Springs was the best CB in the league last yr....and that was when he was 33....now that hes 34 i doubt he drops out of the top 10

i believe BB wont make him play every down, but he will play, especially when needed most

 

[PatsBoy12]

through independent (and good) statistics, Springs was the best CB in the league last yr....and that was when he was 33....now that hes 34 i doubt he drops out of the top 10

i believe BB wont make him play every down, but he will play, especially when needed most

Okay, now I think you're just being ridiculous. I don't know what "through independent statistics" means exactly, but there is no way Springs was the best cornerback in the NFL last year. The notion is laughable. I'm just going to assume you're trying to be funny or you're just plain out of your mind.

 

[mgteich]

Belichick won't rest Springs because he is in the twilight of his career. Belichick will play the best 11 on defense on every play, unless the game is out of reach at the end of the game.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Belichick won't rest Springs because he is in the twilight of his career. Belichick will play the best 11 on defense on every play, unless the game is out of reach at the end of the game.

I think we'll see BB use different combinations in the secondary. You're right, though, he'll play the best 11 for whatever scheme he's trying to run.

Personally, I think we'll see Springs line up on either side and even in the slot, when necessary. I wouldn't be too surprised if we see him line up at Safety for a handful of plays this season. Overall, I think BB has a chance to be more creative with his schemes and looks this season than he has been able to be in the last few seasons. We should see a lot of players moving around pre-snap to disguise what they're tying to do. That's just my hunch (and wish).