Converting CBs to safety

[Fencer]

Assuming a CB is physical enough to play safety -- what else does he need for the conversion to make sense?

I think of safety as stressing mental reflexes over physical, while CB is more demanding on the physical reflexes as well. But what other differences are there?

And which CBs now on the Patriots' roster might shine at safety?

• McCourty was competent at safety, but his future seems to be at CB, right?
• Edelman? Physical and one would hope smart.
• Dowling? We know little about him.
• Arrington? Seems like a natural choice, but it never comes up.
• Moore? Isn't he the one who injured McCourty?

 

[Deus Irae]

McCourty only played safety in sub packages.

Patriots mailbag: Trying to predict Bill Belichick's draft-day priorities. - ESPN Boston

 

[supafly]

Moore could potentially play safety, with Dowling/McCourty on the outside, and Arrington at the slot/star.

McCourty could continue to play safety full time, although it seems doubtful. Allen could possibly be a candidate, although I'm guessing that he's there for depth.

Edelman could I suppose, anything's possible. At least he'd be playing an actual position. He may get some looks in camp.

I'm not sure about Arrington, but it's certainly possible.

My guess is that maybe Gregory gets the inital looks with the 1st teamers, with the possibility of another CB taken in the draft who either moves there or allows one of the CB's already on the roster to move there.

I would like to see Dowling play CB, as he seemed to do well in college playing physical and exceeding in man coverage at times.

 

[Mystery Pats Fan]

Moore could potentially play safety, with Dowling/McCourty on the outside, and Arrington at the slot/star.

McCourty could continue to play safety full time, although it seems doubtful. Allen could possibly be a candidate, although I'm guessing that he's there for depth.

Edelman could I suppose, anything's possible. At least he'd be playing an actual position. He may get some looks in camp.

I'm not sure about Arrington, but it's certainly possible.

I doubt that Arrington will even be on the final roster this season.

 

[Sciz]

This sounds crazy, but I think Edelman actually has the best chance of being a FS for the Pats next season of all the guys you listed. He's got decent speed and size for the position. He was a QB in college, so he's got experience reading what is going on in front of him. We know he can tackle. He was smart enough to handle a college QB playbook and WR and CB at the same time in the NFL. He's got a defender's mentality on the field. It's just a matter of putting it all together.

Dowling was playing well before he got hurt, and the fact that he beat out both Bodden (who was healthy at the time) and Arrington to start despite a lot of lost time during the offseason says a lot. And I think he's exactly the kind of physical corner that Belichick wants starting.

Arrington seems at his best when he can smother a WR at the line of scrimmage. The deeper he is in coverage, the less I trust him. If you put him 20 yards off the line of scrimmage, I think he loses a lot of value.

McCourty should be back to at least close to his rookie year level of play at CB. They've got a whole offseason to figure out what was wrong and fix it.

The fact that Moore was cut in favor of Slater at safety says a lot about his future there. I think he's got long-term #3/4 CB value, but not much value at safety.

I doubt that Arrington will even be on the final roster this season.

And I think that's absolutely ridiculous. You can read why here:
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...3-man-projection-draft-needs.html#post3011683

 

[supafly]

I doubt that Arrington will even be on the final roster this season.

You doubt that the guy who led the NFL in picks and held the vaunted Victor Cruz to 4 catches and 25 yards in the SB "will even be on the roster?"

He's extremely cheap, knows the system, and has overachieved.

He will be much utilized on the inside playing the slot, where Belichick likely envisioned him until Dowling was injured last yr.

I would seriously doubt if Arrington isn't pretty much a lock, unless he's traded, and it better not be a draft day trade a la Ellis Hobbs part 2.

If he's not starting, he will offer great depth at a very reasonable price. To say that he won't be re-signed is one thing, but to say that BB will outright get rid of him is borderline silly IMO.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I would seriously doubt if Arrington isn't pretty much a lock, unless he's traded, and it better not be a draft day trade a la Ellis Hobbs part 2.

One thing people forget is that Hobbs had hit escalators in his contract that had raised his salary for 2009 to over $2.5M.

FWIW, according to the Boston Herald (and other sources), Arrington earned a $1M incentive in his contract, so his 2012 salary is now $1.85M.

 

[Sciz]

One thing people forget is that Hobbs had hit escalators in his contract that had raised his salary for 2009 to over $2.5M.

FWIW, according to the Boston Herald (and other sources), Arrington earned a $1M incentive in his contract, so his 2012 salary is now $1.85M.

Wasn't Hobbs also starting to run his mouth a little, or was that right after he was traded?

I don't think $1.85M is too bad for Arrington, even if he is the #4 or 5 CB. He'll play on all 4 main ST units, and he'll always be around if they need him on defense. Slater just got $1.8M a year, and I think Arrington is just about as good of an STer as Slater, plus has value on defense. I think people forget that Arrington led the Pats with 13 ST tackles in 2009, even though he only played 8 games. With his role on defense down to #3 or 4 as opposed to every down, I think he's the starting punt gunner opposite Slater, and good gunners have a lot of value.

 

[randomk1]

I doubt that Arrington will even be on the final roster this season.

Sure you spelled that right?

 

[Arrington Planet]

I doubt that Arrington will even be on the final roster this season.

By my nick, I know you may think I'm biased about this, but Arrington not making the final roster? What the hell? IMO he's the most dependable CB in the roster right now!! We don't know what McCourty we'll see, the one of the rookie season or the awful from '11. Dowling has played two games, and as much as I liked him, some people will argue he's a bit of an injury prone. And Moore, yes, he made that great play against Lee Evans in the AFCCG, but he hasn't shown yet anything to trust him outside the dime CB role. Plus, dude is a monster on ST. So, why on Earth would the Patriots release him?

 

[supafly]

One thing people forget is that Hobbs had hit escalators in his contract that had raised his salary for 2009 to over $2.5M.

FWIW, according to the Boston Herald (and other sources), Arrington earned a $1M incentive in his contract, so his 2012 salary is now $1.85M.

I think Arrington's 1.85 is pretty reasonable, especially for the position.

Thanks for the reminder on the Hobbs situation. I still think it turned out poorly, but it's a highly debated topic where many will not agree with me.

I can't imagine a scenario where Arrington is gone in 2012, although I can understand him not being part of the future beyond that, depending upon some moves.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think Arrington's 1.85 is pretty reasonable, especially for the position.

Thanks for the reminder on the Hobbs situation. I still think it turned out poorly, but it's a highly debated topic where many will not agree with me.

I can't imagine a scenario where Arrington is gone in 2012, although I can understand him not being part of the future beyond that, depending upon some moves.

FWIW, I pretty much agree with your last two paragraphs.

 

[Fencer]

I doubt that Arrington will even be on the final roster this season.

Are you trolling just for fun, or are you researching a paper for some psychology or journalism class?

 

[Fencer]

I'd love to see Edelman make it at FS. Can you imagine the INT runbacks?

That said -- does he have the right kind and level of athleticism?

 

[Mystery Pats Fan]

Are you trolling just for fun, or are you researching a paper for some psychology or journalism class?

The fact is that Arrington is the weakest and worst cover corner on the roster. Five of his seven interceptions came on batted or deflected balls that bounced right to him in open spaces as he was completely faked out. One was while he was laying on the ground and the ball fell onto his chest.

He may not even make the 53 this season.

He has already been pulled off of the corner position because of being unable to cover and has been moved into the nickle where he may find himself as odd man out as Dowling is back, free agency has brought in some new faces and in the draft you can take it to the bank that they will draft at least one corner...probably two. Belichick sees the weakness in Arrington.

But you could be right and I could be wrong.

 

[Mystery Pats Fan]

I'd love to see Edelman make it at FS. Can you imagine the INT runbacks?

That said -- does he have the right kind and level of athleticism?

Not strong enough or hard enough of a hitter. But, nice thought anyway.

 

[Fencer]

The fact is that Arrington is the weakest and worst cover corner on the roster. Five of his seven interceptions came on batted or deflected balls that bounced right to him in open spaces as he was completely faked out. One was while he was laying on the ground and the ball fell onto his chest.

He may not even make the 53 this season.

He has already been pulled off of the corner position because of being unable to cover and has been moved into the nickle where he may find himself as odd man out as Dowling is back, free agency has brought in some new faces and in the draft you can take it to the bank that they will draft at least one corner...probably two. Belichick sees the weakness in Arrington.

But you could be right and I could be wrong.

Interesting detail from somebody who claimed not to know what a 2-gap system is.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

I doubt that Arrington will even be on the final roster this season.

Not sure if serious.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

Interesting detail from somebody who claimed not to know what a 2-gap system is.

That may explain why he thinks Dowling would play nickle CB...

 

[NEGoldenAge]

Wasn't Hobbs also starting to run his mouth a little, or was that right after he was traded?

I don't think $1.85M is too bad for Arrington, even if he is the #4 or 5 CB. He'll play on all 4 main ST units, and he'll always be around if they need him on defense. Slater just got $1.8M a year, and I think Arrington is just about as good of an STer as Slater, plus has value on defense. I think people forget that Arrington led the Pats with 13 ST tackles in 2009, even though he only played 8 games. With his role on defense down to #3 or 4 as opposed to every down, I think he's the starting punt gunner opposite Slater, and good gunners have a lot of value.

Hobbs had a bit of a mouth, but he more frequently expressed his emotions through dance. Even losing big games, the guy would still dance after tackling a guy who just made a first down. He was the guy doing the lights-out dance at San Diego's midfeild after the Pats beat the Chargers in the playoffs.