O.J. Atogwe - what say Patsfans

[VJCPatriot]

Here is someone's take on the free agents this year.

2009 Free AgentHunt - Battle Red Blog

I am concerned that Atogwe might just get franchised again. He was the Rams defensive MVP after all. If he is a free agent free and clear, this is someone who could certainly fill the need at safety for the Pats.

Last year, he led the NFC with eight interceptions, and has 16 for his career. Atogwe also forced five fumbles in 2006.

"The guy's a ball magnet," coach Jim Haslett said. "He does a great job of punching the balls out, and he's got great hands."

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/04/sports/FBN-Rams-Atogwe.php

 

[NOWAKJOE]

Ballhawking is great, but in this system, the SS has to do 3 things:run blitz,pass blitz, and cover TE's over the middle. EX: see Rodney Harrison. Any talk of adding a safety has to mentally stand him up along side of Rodney, and see if he stands a chance of getting there. Guys that are too slow, short, or light will never make it no matter their instincts. EX: see Bob Sanders. Guy averages 6 games a yr. He's injured the rest of the time. '07 he was on the bench for 6 games, came back to play us, went back to the bench til the playoffs.

Don't know this Otogwe but if he isn't at least 6' and 220, we don't need another FS. Merriweather is our FS, not our SS.

What's your opinion of signing UFA Sean Jones S from the Browns?

 

[BradyManny]

Don't know this Otogwe but if he isn't at least 6' and 220, we don't need another FS. Merriweather is our FS, not our SS.

Meriweather played SS last season once Harrison went down - and he played it well enough that he's likely to remain there. We need a FS, not a SS. James Sanders played FS.

 

[VJCPatriot]

We need a FS, not a SS. James Sanders played FS.

Is that what they call it now? I called it 'painful to watch'.
Seriously, the safety play needs a big upgrade.
Is it that much to ask for a safety to cover the damn tight end?

*nightmares of Dustin Keller looking like a HOFer as he owns the Pats secondary plus a 3rd and 16 conversion in OT*

 

[BradyManny]

Is it that much to ask for a safety to cover the damn tight end?

The LBs have a lot of responsibility in covering the TEs, too. Meriweather was playing great last year, and Sanders seems solid enough. If Guyton and Mayo continue to get better in coverage, and if a healthy Wheatley is way better than Deltha O'Neal (I think I'm way better than Deltha O'Neal), then a lot of our coverage problems go away, w/o touching the safety position.

For instance - the Keller play you mention. Meriweather takes a lot of criticism for not being able to bring down Keller once he had the ball, but I'm pretty sure it was either Mayo or Guyton who blew coverage on the play.

 

[jczxohn1]

Meriweather played SS last season once Harrison went down - and he played it well enough that he's likely to remain there. We need a FS, not a SS. James Sanders played FS.

Saw Merriweather get run over too many times to agree. 2 sacks at the end of the season does not a strong safety make. Thought he was better in coverage than in run support. also, nobody was capable of covering a TE over the middle. Any team with a decent TE had us whenever they wanted.

 

[BradyManny]

Saw Merriweather get run over too many times to agree. 2 sacks at the end of the season does not a strong safety make. Thought he was better in coverage than in run support.

In the 10 games he started at SS in Rodney's place, he averaged just shy of 7 tackles a game and a lot of those tackles were in run support. He just had a few rough plays that stick out amongst otherwise a really good season in both coverage and run support.

 

[BradyManny]

nobody was capable of covering a TE over the middle. Any team with a decent TE had us whenever they wanted.

That's because 2 of the guys largely responsible for covering the TEs were rookies - presumably they'll be better at it next season. I thought Mayo, specifically, went from a liability in coverage to a good player in coverage during the course of the season. By the latter part of the year, he was contesting passes and sticking with TEs and RBs.