AzPatsFan
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
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- Sep 15, 2004
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The Patriots have been in half dozen OTA unpadded walkthrough/practices. Our eyes and ears are the local sports writers who all offered some opinions, but a picture is emerging.
Despite the missing Gronk and Hernandez who are healing, the rest of the TEs appear to make a competent TE corps, if not a stellar one.
This is important because BB tore up his WR corps of aging receivers and started from scratch with at least one premium draft pick.
Off of what is reported at the OTAs, imported veteran Amendola has already won the slot receiver position. Not unexpected for this bigger, faster, younger veteran who has constantly been compared to his college predecessor at Texas Tech. te competition there is for a backup role.
The premium rookie WR selection, Aaron Dobson, and imported veteran Mike Jenkins have both shown very well.
Jenkins in particular, is an old steady pro with great size and knowledge of how to play the "X" position, if no longer the speed to excel at it. Now a "possession" receiver he is demonstrating the cutting, positioning, hands and hand-fighting ability that made him a First round pick, are still there. Dissed and dismissed by the fans, BBs pro scouts seem to have a found a contributing keeper.
Meanwhile, Aaron Dobson has ALREADY shown that the draft selection was merited, as he has demonstrated the phenomenal, one handed catches and skying and fighting for receptions, were not just to be relegated to triumphs over inferior college players. He has gone against the best of the Pats secondary and showed similar skills.
There is more to a WR corps than just the "X" and "slot" positions. There is the flanker position opposite the Split End.
The picture is a lot less clear here. Outside flankers are usually the speediest WRs; and may sometimes be smaller, trading size for speed. The Pats do NOT have a premium draft selection here, nor heralded veterans, competing here. Slot backup Julian Edelman, Donald Jones and Artrell Hawkins are the veterans competing, and Josh Boyce is the rookie challenger here. Hopefully this position can be filled with a competent, better than average WR, else teams will rotate their coverages to thwart the TEs and X receivers.
Who wins the flanker position is wholly undecided. But Donald Jones, Julian Edelman and Josh Boyce would seem to have the inside track. All three could also serve as Amendola's backup at slot WR.
It appears to me that all of BB's plans are coming to fruition.
Meanwhile Tommy Kelly has patched the interior Defensive Line successfully. With both Vince and Tommy getting older, there is a real need for some talented backups. Who those might be, or if they are even on the team now, is undetermined. But Canadian import, young veteran Armond Armstead could be a pleasant surprise, as could rooks "Porkchop" Grissom or PS soph Forston.
At Defensive End the starters are more than adequate, and Chandler Jones appears to be a rising Star, while Rob Ninkovitch continually reminds me of Mike Vrabel. Premium rookie pick Jamie Collins and a group of young veterans, any one of which could break through to provide depth and more talent in the pass rush.
The picture at LB is brightening too. Depth and talent at LB is showing, with the return of ILB Fletcher and the drafting of OLB/DE Jamie Collins. Adrian Wilson may contribute as a coverage LB too. This is a unit well on its way to lots of respect. Two 1s and two 2s, along with a UDFA find and an ex-Prowbowl big nickel coverage LB, is a well balanced resume of that squad.
The picture in the secondary is heartening as well. Talib, Alphonzo and Kyle return at LCB, RCB and Slot CB respectively. They played well at the end of thr season until injury struck them down. The Pats are getting Ras-I back from IR, and reports are his play is encouraging. They have added Logan Ryan in the 3rd round of the draft. Hopefully never again will we have to play a ST like Marquis Cole in a big game in the Playoffs, due to injuries. In retrospect, BB gave up on premium secondary pick Darius Butler too soon, as he seems to have found a Staring starting role with the Colts. If nothing else, he would have been great depth here.
At S we shall have to see, but adding A. Wilson to be the Big Nickel, and the permanent move of McCourty to S are a good start. Gregory is fair at best, and we shall see how far Tavon, Duran and Ebner have come.
Depth and talent at CB is apparent; and the questions at S are still to be resolved. But McCourty is certainly a solid beginning, at one S position.
Overall the Defense appears deeper and better than in many years. A major weakness to opponents TEs and RBS has been closed with the additions of Wilson and Collins, and the maturity of Hightower.
The ST were exceptional last season except at KOR. Adding league leader KR Leon Washington makes every position star-studded, and the ST the best in the league.
Despite the missing Gronk and Hernandez who are healing, the rest of the TEs appear to make a competent TE corps, if not a stellar one.
This is important because BB tore up his WR corps of aging receivers and started from scratch with at least one premium draft pick.
Off of what is reported at the OTAs, imported veteran Amendola has already won the slot receiver position. Not unexpected for this bigger, faster, younger veteran who has constantly been compared to his college predecessor at Texas Tech. te competition there is for a backup role.
The premium rookie WR selection, Aaron Dobson, and imported veteran Mike Jenkins have both shown very well.
Jenkins in particular, is an old steady pro with great size and knowledge of how to play the "X" position, if no longer the speed to excel at it. Now a "possession" receiver he is demonstrating the cutting, positioning, hands and hand-fighting ability that made him a First round pick, are still there. Dissed and dismissed by the fans, BBs pro scouts seem to have a found a contributing keeper.
Meanwhile, Aaron Dobson has ALREADY shown that the draft selection was merited, as he has demonstrated the phenomenal, one handed catches and skying and fighting for receptions, were not just to be relegated to triumphs over inferior college players. He has gone against the best of the Pats secondary and showed similar skills.
There is more to a WR corps than just the "X" and "slot" positions. There is the flanker position opposite the Split End.
The picture is a lot less clear here. Outside flankers are usually the speediest WRs; and may sometimes be smaller, trading size for speed. The Pats do NOT have a premium draft selection here, nor heralded veterans, competing here. Slot backup Julian Edelman, Donald Jones and Artrell Hawkins are the veterans competing, and Josh Boyce is the rookie challenger here. Hopefully this position can be filled with a competent, better than average WR, else teams will rotate their coverages to thwart the TEs and X receivers.
Who wins the flanker position is wholly undecided. But Donald Jones, Julian Edelman and Josh Boyce would seem to have the inside track. All three could also serve as Amendola's backup at slot WR.
It appears to me that all of BB's plans are coming to fruition.
Meanwhile Tommy Kelly has patched the interior Defensive Line successfully. With both Vince and Tommy getting older, there is a real need for some talented backups. Who those might be, or if they are even on the team now, is undetermined. But Canadian import, young veteran Armond Armstead could be a pleasant surprise, as could rooks "Porkchop" Grissom or PS soph Forston.
At Defensive End the starters are more than adequate, and Chandler Jones appears to be a rising Star, while Rob Ninkovitch continually reminds me of Mike Vrabel. Premium rookie pick Jamie Collins and a group of young veterans, any one of which could break through to provide depth and more talent in the pass rush.
The picture at LB is brightening too. Depth and talent at LB is showing, with the return of ILB Fletcher and the drafting of OLB/DE Jamie Collins. Adrian Wilson may contribute as a coverage LB too. This is a unit well on its way to lots of respect. Two 1s and two 2s, along with a UDFA find and an ex-Prowbowl big nickel coverage LB, is a well balanced resume of that squad.
The picture in the secondary is heartening as well. Talib, Alphonzo and Kyle return at LCB, RCB and Slot CB respectively. They played well at the end of thr season until injury struck them down. The Pats are getting Ras-I back from IR, and reports are his play is encouraging. They have added Logan Ryan in the 3rd round of the draft. Hopefully never again will we have to play a ST like Marquis Cole in a big game in the Playoffs, due to injuries. In retrospect, BB gave up on premium secondary pick Darius Butler too soon, as he seems to have found a Staring starting role with the Colts. If nothing else, he would have been great depth here.
At S we shall have to see, but adding A. Wilson to be the Big Nickel, and the permanent move of McCourty to S are a good start. Gregory is fair at best, and we shall see how far Tavon, Duran and Ebner have come.
Depth and talent at CB is apparent; and the questions at S are still to be resolved. But McCourty is certainly a solid beginning, at one S position.
Overall the Defense appears deeper and better than in many years. A major weakness to opponents TEs and RBS has been closed with the additions of Wilson and Collins, and the maturity of Hightower.
The ST were exceptional last season except at KOR. Adding league leader KR Leon Washington makes every position star-studded, and the ST the best in the league.
