Molden and Guyton and Brown

[mvrabel50]

did chung practice at all this past week?

 

[plk]

In a few weeks when the season is over, BB will be known as the man who put together the worst pass defense in NFL history.

Don't you just wish.

Actually, BB is going to be remembered for the number of games that he has won, and for being competitive year after year in a league that deliberately makes that extremely difficult to do.

 

[NinjaZX6R]

btw, did the prized ex-Jet LB Ellis play?

DE not LB and yes he did. All goal line snaps, couple of reg formation snaps.

 

[condon84]

In a few weeks when the season is over, BB will be known as the man who put together the worst pass defense in NFL history.

How about the man who coached the winning SB team with the worst pass defense in NFL history.

 

[Patsfan1102]

Off topic but there is no Love thread that I see maybe there is. But this guy deserves an appreciattion thread this guy is the Spikes of our D-line. Brings so much intensity and has played far and above his expectations. Just had to get that off my mind.

 

[DaBruinz]

Yeah, boy are we missing James Sanders and his 38 tackles this year (10 of which came in one game).

Looking at tackles that Sanders made for another team in now way reflects what he would have done for this team. Where he was a play-caller amongst the defensive backs..

Sanders would be an upgrade over anyone we have back there, currently..

 

[plk]

Sanders would be an upgrade over anyone we have back there, currently..

That may well be true.

It is unfortunate that the decision had to be made before the season started and cannot just be made now.

 

[mgteich]

Belichick made the decision before the season that he would rather have Brown at safety than Sanders.

Belichick made the decision before the season that he would rather have Barrett at safety than Sanders.

Sure, Belichick might wish that he didn't mis-evaluate those players.

That may well be true.

It is unfortunate that the decision had to be made before the season started and cannot just be made now.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

DE not LB and yes he did. All goal line snaps, couple of reg formation snaps.

Thanks for the answer and correcting my mistake!

How did he do? What's your opinion of his game so far?

 

[mgteich]

Thanks for the reminder. Molden's lack of play now makes more sense. Even if Belichick doesn't want Molden at nickel, Molden has been the backup for McCourty when he's injured. I was surprised that Belichick didn't give McCourty some rest when he was obviously hurting.

Basically summed my thoughts.

I would add that Molden had a concussion last week, so it's possible they were playing it safe with him. Maybe they felt he could play in an emergency, but was better off on the sideline. Otherwise, it's hard to explain.

 

[NinjaZX6R]

Thanks for the answer and correcting my mistake!

How did he do? What's your opinion of his game so far?

Useful in goaline situations and run downs. Useless in pass downs.

 

[plk]

Belichick made the decision before the season that he would rather have Brown at safety than Sanders.

Belichick made the decision before the season that he would rather have Barrett at safety than Sanders.

It is more likely that BB decided, looking to the future, that he would rather keep young players to develop than an old player who had lost a step and was the end of his career.

I believe decisions between experienced players on the way down and young players, hopefully, on the way up are typically difficult, but they have to be made and made on what the coach can see at that point. The 53 man roster forces these decisions.

If memory serves, we kept six corners; that did not leave a lot of room for players at safety.

 

[mgteich]

This is an unusual set of decisions for Belichick. Belichick has almost always kept old grizzly vets on the roster, while at the same time developing the kids.

It is more likely that BB decided, looking to the future, that he would rather keep young players to develop than an old player who had lost a step and was the end of his career.

I believe decisions between experienced players on the way down and young players, hopefully, on the way up are typically difficult, but they have to be made and made on what the coach can see at that point. The 53 man roster forces these decisions.

If memory serves, we kept six corners; that did not leave a lot of room for players at safety.

 

[plk]

This is an unusual set of decisions for Belichick. Belichick has almost always kept old grizzly vets on the roster, while at the same time developing the kids.

Such as Vrabel and McGinest? BB has brought in old vets when he has needed them, but I believe his philosophy has been it is better to drop a player a year early rather than a year late. (I am not defending that philosophy; I'm just reporting it.)

The 53 man roster just does not leave a lot of room to both keep older players and to develop their replacements at the same time. We were already doing a lot of that on the defensive line. (It is obviously easier if you are sure no other team is going to take the young players, and you can put them on the practice squad.)

 

[ralmat55]

Just because the pats have cap space it doesn't mean they wanted to pay James Sanders $2.8 million to be a backup S. I'm not much into defending Belichick these days, but I understand why he made the decisions he made at safety in training camp. The players he had weren't getting it done and in Barrett and Brown he saw some potential. Would this position really be so bad if Barrett and especially Chung not missed so many games? Plus, Sergio Brown isn't trash. He actually made some plays last year as a rookie and made a good INT in Chargers game this year. His problem is a lot like McCourty's in that his confidence got shot early in the season and he has never recovered and probably never will.

 

[JackBauer]

Plus, Sergio Brown isn't trash.

Oh, he most certainly is.

 

[DaBruinz]

Just because the pats have cap space it doesn't mean they wanted to pay James Sanders $2.8 million to be a backup S. I'm not much into defending Belichick these days, but I understand why he made the decisions he made at safety in training camp. The players he had weren't getting it done and in Barrett and Brown he saw some potential. Would this position really be so bad if Barrett and especially Chung not missed so many games? Plus, Sergio Brown isn't trash. He actually made some plays last year as a rookie and made a good INT in Chargers game this year. His problem is a lot like McCourty's in that his confidence got shot early in the season and he has never recovered and probably never will.

Sanders would have been starting by the 2nd game. Brown IS that bad. The interception against the Chargers was gift-wrapped for him. It's not like he actually had to do anything for it.

And I 100% disagree with your assessment that Brown's issues are his confidence. They aren't. He's just not an every down player. He's a good (but not great) special teamer. He's at least one rung below Arrington, Slater and White in terms of how good he is on special teams.

As for Barrett, like Brett Lockett, he's been injured every year he's been in the league. He's got some ability, but can't stay healthy. And he really didn't show a lot out there..

 

[DaBruinz]

Such as Vrabel and McGinest? BB has brought in old vets when he has needed them, but I believe his philosophy has been it is better to drop a player a year early rather than a year late. (I am not defending that philosophy; I'm just reporting it.)

The 53 man roster just does not leave a lot of room to both keep older players and to develop their replacements at the same time. We were already doing a lot of that on the defensive line. (It is obviously easier if you are sure no other team is going to take the young players, and you can put them on the practice squad.)

BB kept McGinest and Vrabel longer than some people thought he would. And, BB's philosophy has been to let older vets go a year early if he felt he had players able to step in. Barrett and Brown did not show that ability in game situations. In fact, the situation with Barrett reminded me a LOT of the situation with Antwan Harris. The Pats put him back there after letting Milloy go and it lasted less than a game before they put Wilson back there. This time, though, the Pats didn't have anyone to put in at safety who could do the job. Brown proved he can't do it. Barrett couldn't do it. And the Pats were left scrambling to find someone. They got Ihedigbo who is mediocre (at best), but he's a better special teamer than regular down player.

With Sanders, he was dependable. He was rarely out of position. And he could call the plays for the secondary. Something they've been missing without Chung back there.

This is one of the few moves that definitely has bitten Belichick in the rearend. It happens. He's human.

 

[Deus Irae]

Just because the pats have cap space it doesn't mean they wanted to pay James Sanders $2.8 million to be a backup S. I'm not much into defending Belichick these days, but I understand why he made the decisions he made at safety in training camp. The players he had weren't getting it done and in Barrett and Brown he saw some potential. Would this position really be so bad if Barrett and especially Chung not missed so many games? Plus, Sergio Brown isn't trash. He actually made some plays last year as a rookie and made a good INT in Chargers game this year. His problem is a lot like McCourty's in that his confidence got shot early in the season and he has never recovered and probably never will.

Brown sucks.

BB screwed up.

It happens, that's not the problem. The problem is that it's been happening too often since the end of 2008.

 

[NinjaZX6R]

Sergio Brown's role on this team should and only be a gunner on ST.