A new CB will decide this teams fate.

[ctpatsfan77]

This team should improve next year IF they have a good draft/FA acquisitions and if they can stay healthy. Welker/Hernandez/Gronkowski all have to be healthy.

Ideally, the Pats will find a roster spot for a third TE who is actually used to catching the ball. . . .

 

[Triumph]

We don't need any CB. We need a FS. McCourty should be better next season. We shouldn't waste our draft picks.
Ridley should be our future RB.

Its all speculation.

McCourty might be better and he might be worse. Dowling could be lights out or he could be the next Darius Butler. Im ready to fix the problem thats been killing the Pats ever since 2004.

It seems like every season theres a different CB that everyone is hoping will bust out. Hobbs, Wheatley, Wilhite, Butler and now McCourty and Dowling.

 

[VrabelJr]

How many shutdown corners are there in the NFL? 0? 1? 2? 3 at the very most depending on your definition of shut down. Even the almighty Revis isn't shutdown anymore. Still, I get your point. I think we have a good core in the secondary and we just need a vet or two to lead these youngins.

 

[JackBauer]

Nobody knows if Dowling can even play. Reviews were mixed on him anyway.

They were? Which one(s)?

And I disagree with the premise of this thread entirely. Get some pass rushing talent in the front seven and all of a sudden your average corners improve markedly.

 

[PatsSweFan]

Brent Grimes is imho the 2nd best shutdown corner in NFL...with dunta Robinson on the team is he likely to sign a new contract with Falcons?
Shouldn't be ridiculous money because he's not that highly rated...

 

[VrabelJr]

Brent Grimes is imho the 2nd best shutdown corner in NFL...with dunta Robinson on the team is he likely to sign a new contract with Falcons?
Shouldn't be ridiculous money because he's not that highly rated...

No offense but Grimes isn't even close (Hall, Haden, Bailey, Gamble, Joseph, etc etc). We don't need more CBs. We need to develop the ones we have. Depth and leadership at safety is a much bigger concern.

 

[Leemo]

No offense but Grimes isn't even close (Hall, Haden, Bailey, Gamble, Joseph, etc etc). We don't need more CBs. We need to develop the ones we have. Depth and leadership at safety is a much bigger concern.

Wrong he's up there with the guys you listed. Underrated guy. See Cornerbacks: A Glance at the 2011 Numbers | ProFootballFocus.com

 

[JackBauer]

Wrong he's up there with the guys you listed. Underrated guy. See Cornerbacks: A Glance at the 2011 Numbers | ProFootballFocus.com

Just a tip: PFF rankings are generally quite unreliable.

 

[Leemo]

Just a tip: PFF rankings are generally quite unreliable.

LOL! Thats why five nfl teams, including the giants, pay for regular reports from PFF....

 

[JackBauer]

LOL! Thats why five nfl teams, including the giants, pay for regular reports from PFF....

Look, I really don't care whether you choose to believe me or not. I'm only telling you on account of you being new here. PFF's rankings have been widely criticized around here and elsewhere, and that's something you should probably bear in mind before you cite them.

 

[VrabelJr]

PFF is the biggest turd of stats I've ever seen.

 

[DarrylS]

At the beginning of the season it was said we were "stacked" at CB, then crap happened.. Bodden was a huge loss and Ras I Dowling had an unsure impact. Coupled with some safety injuries, the D backfield was decimated.

Not sure one CB will make the difference, what we do need are more playmakers on both sides of the ball. Also need leadership in the secondary, there seemed to be a lot of confusion at times.

All of these young'uns will mature in the next year, and all will benefit from off season strength and conditioning, OTA's and a regular TC.

 

[SteveBsFan]

IMO, I don't think we need to go out and get much. That doesn't always work and it ends up burning cap space. They need a strong defensive draft, especially in the front 7, and one of the secondary to step into a Ty Law or Rodney Harrison situation. Meaning, stop being a good player and become a great one.

Easier said than done of course, but I think the chances of one of our current secondary playing that role is just as good as BB signing a random FA that costs a big cap hit.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

All my money would go on positions that can dictate, not react.

 

[Deus Irae]

The team should have their starters in place, with Dowling and McCourty both having a normal offseason to prepare. The team should have a nickel/CB3 in place with Arrington. I certainly wouldn't complain if a Finnegan, Carr or Rogers was brought in, though, especially given the 'glassy' nature of Patriots CBs in recent years and the struggles of McCourty this season.

 

[JackBauer]

The team should have their starters in place, with Dowling and McCourty both having a normal offseason to prepare. The team should have a nickel/CB3 in place with Arrington. I certainly wouldn't complain if a Finnegan, Carr or Rogers was brought in, though, especially given the 'glassy' nature of Patriots CBs in recent years and the struggles of McCourty this season.

I don't know if his character concerns have been overblown, but I can't see BB bringing a degen like Finnegan in. As to the other two, absolutely. Can never have too much CB depth.

 

[TriplecHamp]

Not when the defense cant stop the pass. No.



Nobody knows if Dowling can even play. Reviews were mixed on him anyway.

Mcourty was supposed to be a great CB who now could be Saftey. Butler was supposed to shine too.

Dowling looked great in the Miami game. Write him off if you want but IMO only one piece in the secondary is needed. Either a corner which sends McCourty or Dowling to safety or a safety which lets McCourty an Dowling stay at corner. Arrington is your nickle and Moore and a couple other guys for depth.

 

[Dessalines]

The Pats need a lockdown CB, period.

The pass D is not good enough to win a championship and has been this teams Achilles heal for years. Other teams know it too. Bend dont break is a load of hogwash. Look at a few of the games where NE lost or hung on for dear life because of it:

(1) 2006 AFCC vs the Colts. The Pats were way up and Peyton Manning has his way in the 2nd half. The Pats would have killed the Bears for ring #4.

(2) The 2007 SB and 2007 season for that matter. How many times did Brady have to come back in a game during 2007 to score more points because the pass defense called in sick that day?

(3) 2010 AFCD vs Jets. Mark Sanchez actually looked like a QB.

(4) 2011 AFCC vs Ravens. Flacco drove down with ease at the end.

(5) 2012 SB. Eli Manning MVP and he wasnt chosen because he was handing the ball off.

If they do not go out and acquire a better CB through the draft or FA, its going to Groundhog Day for the foreseeable future. Watching the Pats have the lead only to sit there and witness other good QBs pick their passing defense apart like a plate of nachos.

Uh, I might suggest another quality receiver is also required. Branch is old but he can probably continue to contribute. Welker should get his deal, nobody catches everything, though Wes almost always does. Ocho has got to be jettisoned and I was hoping all year for him but he sat around, picked up his checks and did pretty much nothing. Fill his roster spot with a first class FA receiver. PLEASE.....

 

[eagle eye]

If Gronk had been fully fit nobody would be talking about needs for next year, they would all be talking about the Patriots winning the Superbowl.

Our defense only gave up 21 points. Our offense struggled and the reason for that is above. So we need to have better WRs. We need another matchup nightmare for defenses and for me thats a big guy on the outside.

 

[Triumph]

Dowling looked great in the Miami game. Write him off if you want but IMO only one piece in the secondary is needed. Either a corner which sends McCourty or Dowling to safety or a safety which lets McCourty an Dowling stay at corner. Arrington is your nickle and Moore and a couple other guys for depth.

Dowling looked good for 1 game?

McCourty looked good for 16 games last season. The Pats secondary is the weakest area on the team. Too much "hope and change" is riding on Dowling.