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Another point here is that the CB1 position is clearly the Patriots number one priority on defense, or you might say the Queen piece on the chessboard on that side of the ball. Look at the amount they paid Revis and now Gilmore.
When you think about it, the #2 and #3 cornerback positions have been much, much less important. We have seen a whole bunch of guys look good with safety help from McCourty. Brandon Browner was supposedly a great player but was out of the league a year after being our starting #2 CB; Kyle Arrington comes to mind. I don't think Logan Ryan is really a great cornerback, and this isn't sour grapes. He is definitely a good player, but I think the Patriots can get near replacement level on the cheap. Eric Rowe came in and appeared to do his job just fine. I think a lot of this has to do with the Patriots maximizing their safety help with some very fine players like McCourty and Harmon, who may be the league's best 1-2 punch at FS when playing nickel and dime packages. It's a lot like Seattle, where the #2 CB always looks great in that scheme but then get overpaid and exposed when he doesn't have Earl Thomas behind him.
That said the #1 CB better be darn good player at all times, particularly when they face a team with two outstanding wideouts. And this is another reason why I don't think Butler will be on the team much longer...2017 at the latest. It doesn't make sense to pay $26M for two top corners when one superb cornerback and some decent #2s/#3s is very effective. There are only so many positions on the roster where you can invest a lot of money.
When you think about it, the #2 and #3 cornerback positions have been much, much less important. We have seen a whole bunch of guys look good with safety help from McCourty. Brandon Browner was supposedly a great player but was out of the league a year after being our starting #2 CB; Kyle Arrington comes to mind. I don't think Logan Ryan is really a great cornerback, and this isn't sour grapes. He is definitely a good player, but I think the Patriots can get near replacement level on the cheap. Eric Rowe came in and appeared to do his job just fine. I think a lot of this has to do with the Patriots maximizing their safety help with some very fine players like McCourty and Harmon, who may be the league's best 1-2 punch at FS when playing nickel and dime packages. It's a lot like Seattle, where the #2 CB always looks great in that scheme but then get overpaid and exposed when he doesn't have Earl Thomas behind him.
That said the #1 CB better be darn good player at all times, particularly when they face a team with two outstanding wideouts. And this is another reason why I don't think Butler will be on the team much longer...2017 at the latest. It doesn't make sense to pay $26M for two top corners when one superb cornerback and some decent #2s/#3s is very effective. There are only so many positions on the roster where you can invest a lot of money.
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