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We have 6 safeties.
Belichick needs to decide in the next hour who will be cut or put on IR. This player could be at any position. Most here would like Butler to stay as the 6th corner, although he is the most obvious choice as the player to be cut. If Dennard is healthy, he will get almost zero reps the rest of the way. After all, with Dennard and Browner out, Butler only played when Ryan was being punished because of a penalty.
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IMHO, the least valuable safety is HARMON (how far he has fallen). Let us look at the six.
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McCOURTY - pro-bowl quality starter
CHUNG - starter, pulled on obvious passing downs
WILSON - the first in on passing downs, top special teamer on several ST units
HARMON - the 2nd man in on passing downs, playing almost no special teams
EBNER - a top special teamer on all 6 ST units, and our dime back
JONES - a top special teamer on all 6 ST units
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SPECIAL TEAMS
Note that 3 of our top four STers are safeties Ebner, Jones and Wilson, with Slater being our #1 STer.
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OPTION ONE
Cut Jones and weaken the Special Teams. Harmon (a serious downgrade) would pick up some of the reps.
OPTION TWO
Cut Harmon. Would we notice any change in play? I expect that Ebner is up to being the #4 safety.
OPTION THREE
Put Ebner on IR. IMHO, this isn't likely if Ebner could be back as late as December.
OPTION FOUR
Keep six safeties, at least until Ebner is back healthy.
Belichick needs to decide in the next hour who will be cut or put on IR. This player could be at any position. Most here would like Butler to stay as the 6th corner, although he is the most obvious choice as the player to be cut. If Dennard is healthy, he will get almost zero reps the rest of the way. After all, with Dennard and Browner out, Butler only played when Ryan was being punished because of a penalty.
========
IMHO, the least valuable safety is HARMON (how far he has fallen). Let us look at the six.
========
McCOURTY - pro-bowl quality starter
CHUNG - starter, pulled on obvious passing downs
WILSON - the first in on passing downs, top special teamer on several ST units
HARMON - the 2nd man in on passing downs, playing almost no special teams
EBNER - a top special teamer on all 6 ST units, and our dime back
JONES - a top special teamer on all 6 ST units
=======
SPECIAL TEAMS
Note that 3 of our top four STers are safeties Ebner, Jones and Wilson, with Slater being our #1 STer.
=========
OPTION ONE
Cut Jones and weaken the Special Teams. Harmon (a serious downgrade) would pick up some of the reps.
OPTION TWO
Cut Harmon. Would we notice any change in play? I expect that Ebner is up to being the #4 safety.
OPTION THREE
Put Ebner on IR. IMHO, this isn't likely if Ebner could be back as late as December.
OPTION FOUR
Keep six safeties, at least until Ebner is back healthy.