Reed could 'definitely' see himself playing for BB

[JackBauer]

I'm not advocating getting rid of McCourty. With BB's preference for depth, he would still see the field a good bit depending on situation/whether or not Reed would need a breather.

True, but you are expending cap dollars + a first round pick when you already have a first rounder + second rounder already at the position. I fully support one of the following: drafting Elam/signing Reed/signing Phillips. But I think after that all your other resources have to go into DT/WR/OL/DE/OLB.

 

[JackBauer]

With Ed Reed at safety, we would see Talib, McCourty, and Dennard as the three CBs, with Dennard probably being moved to nickel.

Who is the other starting safety?

 

[Marqui]

McCourty is going to be starting at safety next year no matter who they sign/draft.

 

[manxman2601]

Okay, need some help from DB scheming gurus here, but doesn't it make sense to play Mccourty and Reed as two deep safeties. The big LB's mitigate against the need to put a safety in the box, having safeties with outstanding range and/or ability to read the game takes the deep pass away which is what BB wants to achieve anyway and Dennard/Talib/Arrington are good in enough in man to take away the short to intermediate pass.

So I see them playing cover two with Reed/McCourty and man with the Corners. That looks like a very good secondary to me. What's the downside? Not enough of a pass rush? Seams not being covered?

 

[Lanuch1110]

Whatever move the Pats make in the secondary, I hope it doesn't involve moving Dennard and DMc out of the positions they finished in last year. Dennard has shown more then a few flashes of being very good, just needs some development. And I think reiterating the impact DMc made a safety is redundant now. I love the thought of Reed coming here, But I would more so love to see them get a Bernard Pollard type of SS, because lets admit it, he is the kind of guy you hate when he is on the other team, but just like Rodney if he played for us we would love him. The Pats need someone that put the fear of God into people coming over the middle. Spikes is that guy up front but not 10-15 yards downfield. Were Flacco and the Ravens ate them alive.

 

[stelfans]

Moving McCourty back to corner would completely negate an ed reed signing. (or any other safety for that matter)

Lets try not to ruin one of the good things we accomplished this season.

 

[DocHoliday]

Okay, need some help from DB scheming gurus here, but doesn't it make sense to play Mccourty and Reed as two deep safeties. The big LB's mitigate against the need to put a safety in the box, having safeties with outstanding range and/or ability to read the game takes the deep pass away which is what BB wants to achieve anyway and Dennard/Talib/Arrington are good in enough in man to take away the short to intermediate pass.

So I see them playing cover two with Reed/McCourty and man with the Corners. That looks like a very good secondary to me. What's the downside? Not enough of a pass rush? Seams not being covered?

One of the reasons having a SS is desired to help the LBs cover the outside runs/tosses/passes to the flat. Rice and Foster were getting big yardage there.

Would love to have an SS (or a CB like Sheldon Brown) jack up some RBs in the flat. Anyone remember this?

Reggie Bush Jacked Up by Sheldon Brown - YouTube

 

[JackBauer]

Okay, need some help from DB scheming gurus here, but doesn't it make sense to play Mccourty and Reed as two deep safeties. The big LB's mitigate against the need to put a safety in the box, having safeties with outstanding range and/or ability to read the game takes the deep pass away which is what BB wants to achieve anyway and Dennard/Talib/Arrington are good in enough in man to take away the short to intermediate pass.

So I see them playing cover two with Reed/McCourty and man with the Corners. That looks like a very good secondary to me. What's the downside? Not enough of a pass rush? Seams not being covered?

Going off this point, I think having two such safeties as you describe will mitigate some of the deficiencies we've seen with our LB pass coverage. I don't think it's a coincidence that in games where Talib/Dennard/McCourty/Gregory lined up, this problem was less glaring. Now imagine that with Reed or some other equivalent...

 

[Kontradiction]

True, but you are expending cap dollars + a first round pick when you already have a first rounder + second rounder already at the position. I fully support one of the following: drafting Elam/signing Reed/signing Phillips. But I think after that all your other resources have to go into DT/WR/OL/DE/OLB.

Keep in mind that this is a hypothetical dream scenario for me. Let me explain...

I don't think Reed is coming here. I would love to see it happen, but I don't think it will. The reason is that I think he's going to want more money at the age of 35 than what the team will be willing to pay him. That being said, if I'm wrong, I would love to have him. Elam is my binky. IMO, he's the best safety in the draft. He has range, isn't a liability in coverage, is excellent in run support, and can hit. Those two together, with McCourty coming in depending on situation or package, would make this defense a damn hard one to throw on.

It's my opinion that this defense needs to get nasty and physical again if we're going to get Brady another Lombardi. We have that blueprint up front in the front seven with Wilfork, Mayo, Spikes, and Hightower. It's the back end that's still soft. Pulling in Reed while drafting Elam would completely re-tool the safety position and would be one of the best tandems in the NFL. But, like I said, if not Reed, I would gladly take a McCourty/Elam tandem. IMO, their skills play well off each other. Elam takes care of the nitty gritty in run support and McCourty's range makes him a threat for a turnover while being solid against the pass. Add Mathieu to the mix and throw him into the slot and you have three people in the secondary with very nasty dispositions.

As for the offseason/draft, here are the needs I see with only safety being in order of importance...

1. Safety

2. WR
3. 3-4 DE/4-3 DT
4. RG
5. CB
6. LB (coverage specialist)

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

cameraman: Hey Ed Reed, you just won the Super Bowl! What's next?

Ed: I'm going to Foxboro!

 

[102 Pat]

Just the fact that it's being talked about publicly makes me think it won't happen, but if it did, that would be sweet.

 

[thenepatsrule]

cameraman: Hey Ed Reed, you just won the Super Bowl! What's next?

Ed: I'm going to Foxboro!

Cameraman: Hey Ray Lewis, you just LOST the Super Bowl! What's next?
Ray : I should be going to Rikers, but instead i will be available for comments at ESPN CT

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Just the fact that it's being talked about publicly makes me think it won't happen, but if it did, that would be sweet.

this....i know a lot of people want him here..but it isn't realistic IMO

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

ravens forum perspective

Ed Reed on being a Patriot - Ravens Talk - Ravens Official Message Board

 

[DarrylStingley]

I refuse to read that Ravens forum but I will say that I would be really annoyed if I were a Ravens fan to be reading about Reed's Patriots gushings this week. I'd be thinking "Ed, can you please just deflect the question until AFTER the SB!"

That he's not doing that, and is likely pissing off Ravens fans, is AWESOME.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I refuse to read that Ravens forum but I will say that I would be really annoyed if I were a Ravens fan to be reading about Reed's Patriots gushings this week. I'd be thinking "Ed, can you please just deflect the question until AFTER the SB!"

That he's not doing that, and is likely pissing off Ravens fans, is AWESOME.

just read that thread..not going to kill you...most of them hate it

 

[Froob]

How is anybody against this after the crap we've had at safety last few years? Dude can still play. Million times better than Gregory.

 

[Kontradiction]

How is anybody against this after the crap we've had at safety last few years? Dude can still play. Million times better than Gregory.

A couple of reasons. The first is that, at age 35, he may be too expensive for some people. We don't know that yet, but it's pretty much the assumption.

The second is that people like to be right. Before this season, there was a large contingent on this forum that were trying to convince themselves and anybody that would listen that Gregory was anything more than a JAG. Many of those same people are still of the opinion that Gregory would be fine next to McCourty.

As for me? I'd love to see Elam drafted. I'd also love it if the team brought Reed in. I'd probably die of a heart attack brought on by excitement if the team did both.

 

[Observer]

"It's the reason why I wear my sweater cut off a little bit. He's the first guy I saw like, 'That's cool.' You know, that's cool. He cuts those sweater sleeves, and he'll be comfortable. So there's a reason why. Most people will tell you around the facility that's how I look. "

Is he serious or is he joking? It's almost as if he is making fun of BB.

 

[Deus Irae]

...Elam is my binky. IMO, he's the best safety in the draft. He has range, isn't a liability in coverage, is excellent in run support, and can hit.

You have Elam ahead of Vaccarro... Any particular reason, or just a general thing?