7 Players - Same Similar Situation

[mgteich]

Obviously, one of the players below could make a strong case for a roster spot, or there could be an injury to one of the top 7. However, for now, I am pretty satisfied with

CB: McCourty, Arrington, Dowling, Moore, Dennard
S: Chung, Gregory, Wilson, Ihedigbo

DB'S ON THE OUTSIDE LOOK IN
--------------------------------------
Allen
Barrett
Brown
Cole
Ebner
Williams
Ventrone

 

[Ring 6]

Obviously, one of the players below could make a strong case for a roster spot, or there could be an injury to one of the top 7. However, for now, I am pretty satisfied with

CB: McCourty, Arrington, Dowling, Moore, Dennard
S: Chung, Gregory, Wilson, Ihedigbo

DB'S ON THE OUTSIDE LOOK IN
--------------------------------------
Allen
Barrett
Brown
Cole
Ebner
Williams
Ventrone

I think 3 of each are locks:
McCourty, Dowling, Arrington
Chung, Gregory, Wilson

I think Moore, Dennard, Allen, Cole are in a battle for one or 2 spots and there is no distinct favorite(s) among that group. I think separating Moore and Dennard is more speculation than reality that they have any leg up.
At safety, Id say the same for Ihedigbo, Barrett, and even Ebner, especially if the corner # is 5.

 

[TyronePoole]

Call me crazy but I'd much rather roll the dice as the season goes along on a Barrett or even Ebner (if he's actually training to be a safety?) and see how it goes than go with a thoroughly mediocre Ihedigbo who has a very low ceiling. In an emergency situation I feel like the Ihedigbos of the world would be available anyway.

 

[mgteich]

I agree with your locks. I am just not as reticent as you to picks the favorites at this point in time. Others will have different opinions. Others have no interest in guessing at this point.

I agree that the number of corners could be 4 or 5. Therefore, it might useful to consider that the players you list at corner are competing for one roster spot, the backup corner position.

I agree that Ihedigbo and Barrett are competing for the #4S/ST stud position. I don't see Ebner getting THAT roster spot.

Once the 2 positions above are filled, we have all we need for position players, except in the case of emergency players in case of 2 injuries. We would have 4 corners and 4 safeties.

CHOICES AFTER WE HAVE OUR 8 DEFENSIVE BACKS
Obviously the choice of #4 CB could influence the choices below. Either of the potential #4 safeties could be a potential #9 DB as a STer.

We are likely to have 1-2 addition DB/ST roster spots available. Also, one of these 1-2 positions could be used on a developmental player.

If we are nervous enough about our 8, we might keep a vet who can be both an emergency corner and an emergency safety.
If Belichick is confident with our ST's, I could see him making this choice.

SUMMARY
6 locks as noted
2 position roster spots with contenders noted
1-2 roster spots available for those who best fill needs not fully addressed

I think 3 of each are locks:
McCourty, Dowling, Arrington
Chung, Gregory, Wilson

I think Moore, Dennard, Allen, Cole are in a battle for one or 2 spots and there is no distinct favorite(s) among that group. I think separating Moore and Dennard is more speculation than reality that they have any leg up.
At safety, Id say the same for Ihedigbo, Barrett, and even Ebner, especially if the corner # is 5.

 

[Kay Mad]

I don't know who'de I exclude but
I'm rooting for Ventrone to make this team.


After last year..
Who's mentally tougher ?

 

[jah]

Call me crazy but I'd much rather roll the dice as the season goes along on a Barrett or even Ebner (if he's actually training to be a safety?) and see how it goes than go with a thoroughly mediocre Ihedigbo who has a very low ceiling. In an emergency situation I feel like the Ihedigbos of the world would be available anyway.

How is Barrett a roll of the dice? He had his shot and he proved to be both terrible AND injury prone.

 

[Sciz]

If Belichick thinks 1/10 as highly of Ebner as his college coaches, then he's a lock.

 

[TyronePoole]

How is Barrett a roll of the dice? He had his shot and he proved to be both terrible AND injury prone.

you don't think it's risky to have a terrible and injury prone player on the roster?

I meant to say side with more of the young guys that are more unknown than a "proven" mediocre player.

Barrett was probably a poor example...

 

[Ring 6]

I agree with your locks. I am just not as reticent as you to picks the favorites at this point in time. Others will have different opinions. Others have no interest in guessing at this point.

I agree that the number of corners could be 4 or 5. Therefore, it might useful to consider that the players you list at corner are competing for one roster spot, the backup corner position.

I agree that Ihedigbo and Barrett are competing for the #4S/ST stud position. I don't see Ebner getting THAT roster spot.

Once the 2 positions above are filled, we have all we need for position players, except in the case of emergency players in case of 2 injuries. We would have 4 corners and 4 safeties.

CHOICES AFTER WE HAVE OUR 8 DEFENSIVE BACKS
Obviously the choice of #4 CB could influence the choices below. Either of the potential #4 safeties could be a potential #9 DB as a STer.

We are likely to have 1-2 addition DB/ST roster spots available. Also, one of these 1-2 positions could be used on a developmental player.

If we are nervous enough about our 8, we might keep a vet who can be both an emergency corner and an emergency safety.
If Belichick is confident with our ST's, I could see him making this choice.

SUMMARY
6 locks as noted
2 position roster spots with contenders noted
1-2 roster spots available for those who best fill needs not fully addressed

I should clarify re:Ebner.
If he makes the team as a special teamer who can also play safety and a corner makes the team who can play safety, then we may only keep 3 safeties, making Ebner effectively the 4th safety but 99% a special teamers.

 

[patfanken]

Obviously, one of the players below could make a strong case for a roster spot, or there could be an injury to one of the top 7. However, for now, I am pretty satisfied with

CB: McCourty, Arrington, Dowling, Moore, Dennard
S: Chung, Gregory, Wilson, Ihedigbo

DB'S ON THE OUTSIDE LOOK IN
--------------------------------------
Allen
Barrett
Brown
Cole
Ebner
Williams
Ventrone

It will be a series of interesting battles, not doubt, but I look at it this way.

Of course this is based on the assumption that the team will keep 9 DBs (4 CB's 4 S's 1 CB/S hybrid) However given the passing nature of the league and the value of DBs to ST's, no one should be shocked if they keep 10

The "locks": (subject to injury)

CB: McCourty, Arrington, Dowling

S: Chung, Gregory, Wilson

The "battles"

Allen vs Moore for the hybrid CB/S role

Cole vs Allen vs Moore for the 4th CB role

Barrett vs Ihedigbu for the 4th S role (SS)

The "Realities"

Ebner to the PS. He needs at least that to learn the DB craft. 3 snaps in college isn't gonna do it.

Brown to the unemployment line.

Ventrone and Williams are camp bodies and IF they are lucky will make it to the PS.

 

[Ring 6]

It will be a series of interesting battles, not doubt, but I look at it this way.

Of course this is based on the assumption that the team will keep 9 DBs (4 CB's 4 S's 1 CB/S hybrid) However given the passing nature of the league and the value of DBs to ST's, no one should be shocked if they keep 10

The "locks": (subject to injury)

CB: McCourty, Arrington, Dowling

S: Chung, Gregory, Wilson

The "battles"

Allen vs Moore for the hybrid CB/S role

Cole vs Allen vs Moore for the 4th CB role

Barrett vs Ihedigbu for the 4th S roles (SS)

The "Realities"

Ebner to the PS. He needs at least that to learn the DB craft. 3 snaps in college isn't gonna do it.

Brown to the unemployment line.

Ventrone and Williams are camp bodies and IF they are lucky will make it to the PS.

Are you giving no chance to Dennard?

 

[mgteich]

1) If we have 4 position corners and four position safeties, I don't think that we need a hybrid CB/S. We need a STer. I think that this player is likely to be an emergency corner, since I don't see a lot of our safeties playing corner. The 9th position could also be used for a developmental player.

2) Dennard should have a shot at 4th corner or 9th db positions.

3) I would not be at all shocked to see us keep 10. For example, if Cole cannot win one of the 9 positions, he could make the squad as a gunner.

It will be a series of interesting battles, not doubt, but I look at it this way.

Of course this is based on the assumption that the team will keep 9 DBs (4 CB's 4 S's 1 CB/S hybrid) However given the passing nature of the league and the value of DBs to ST's, no one should be shocked if they keep 10

The "locks": (subject to injury)

CB: McCourty, Arrington, Dowling

S: Chung, Gregory, Wilson

The "battles"

Allen vs Moore for the hybrid CB/S role

Cole vs Allen vs Moore for the 4th CB role

Barrett vs Ihedigbu for the 4th S role (SS)

The "Realities"

Ebner to the PS. He needs at least that to learn the DB craft. 3 snaps in college isn't gonna do it.

Brown to the unemployment line.

Ventrone and Williams are camp bodies and IF they are lucky will make it to the PS.

 

[Ring 6]

1) If we have 4 position corners and four position safeties, I don't think that we need a hybrid CB/S. We need a STer. I think that this player is likely to be an emergency corner, since I don't see a lot of our safeties playing corner. The 9th position could also be used for a developmental player.

2) Dennard should have a shot at 4th corner or 9th db positions.

3) I would not be at all shocked to see us keep 10. For example, if Cole cannot win one of the 9 positions, he could make the squad as a gunner.

I think that both the 9th and 10th DB are competing against players across many positons based on special teams value. That can include LB, TE, WR, RB and maybe DE.

 

[Ron Sellers]

Apologies in advance as I commented previously in a similar thread, but here is my opinion. Barring of course the unforeseen injury, these six players are in:

CB: Dowling, McCourty, Arrington
S: Chung, Gregory, Wilson

Most likely Sterling Moore is also in at CB, but I'll list him separately since he is less of a 'lock' than the others listed above.

That leaves what appears to be roster battles for three defensive backs. Perhaps the Pats will look at it as three specific positions and skills.

CB#5: Alfonzo Dennard vs Will Allen
S#4: Josh Barrett vs Sergio Brown vs Dennard/Allen
Special Team Specialist Who Happens to be a Defensive Back: Marquice Cole vs James Ihedigbo vs Sergio Brown vs Nate Ebner vs Malcolm Williams vs Ross Ventrone


My way-too-early-guess? Dennard, a player not on the roster right now, and Cole. ... though I reserve the right to change my way too early roster guess tomorrow.

 

[mgteich]

Are you suggesting that we might keep only 8 defensive backs? This seems very unlikely, especailly given how many question marks we have (players returning from IR, rookies, and free agents). I'm fine with all the new blood, but I think it argues for more rather than fewer defensive backs.

I agree that the 10th defensive back is really one of those players competing with players of many positions for the last 3 roster spots. BTW, I would include OL in your list.

I think that both the 9th and 10th DB are competing against players across many positons based on special teams value. That can include LB, TE, WR, RB and maybe DE.

 

[Ring 6]

Are you suggesting that we might keep only 8 defensive backs? This seems unlikely.

I agree that the 10th defensive back is really one of those players competing with players of many positions for the last 3 roster spots. BTW, I would include OL in your list.

We have done so before and if you eliminate the guys who are almost exclusively s/ts we have done it often.
I'm saying 8 plus special teamers but special teamers often are DBs.

 

[Ring 6]

Are you suggesting that we might keep only 8 defensive backs? This seems unlikely.

I agree that the 10th defensive back is really one of those players competing with players of many positions for the last 3 roster spots. BTW, I would include OL in your list.

You are probably right on OL, only because the number we keep is flexible based on the rest of the roster, but I was trying to limit it to special teams.
You could also include any positions where a developmental player who won't help this year (such as when Price was kept) that would subtract a spot elsewhere, but I was narrowing it to the guys who play on special teams. The OL who are active will be on s/ts but we won't activate an OL just to play s/ts.

 

[mgteich]

There is a HUGE difference if the 2 special teamers are Cole and Ihedigbo rather than players of other positions. All I am suggesting is that is extremely likely than one will be a defensive back this year.

We have done so before and if you eliminate the guys who are almost exclusively s/ts we have done it often. I'm saying 8 plus special teamers but special teamers often are DBs.

 

[mgteich]

fair enough

You're correct. I widened the competition to all those competing for the final 3 roster spots. In a sense there are as many as 6, but we are pretty set on some.

2 QB
4 RB
5 WR (including Slater)
3 TE
8 OL

6 DL
8 LB
8 DB

3 SPEC

6 TBD

BTW, I think that Solder was the 3rd TE position in 2011.

You are probably right on OL, only because the number we keep is flexible based on the rest of the roster, but I was trying to limit it to special teams. You could also include any positions where a developmental player who won't help this year (such as when Price was kept) that would subtract a spot elsewhere, but I was narrowing it to the guys who play on special teams. The OL who are active will be on s/ts but we won't activate an OL just to play s/ts.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I agree that Ihedigbo and Barrett are competing for the #4S/ST stud position. I don't see Ebner getting THAT roster spot.

He could get the #46/ST semi-stud position, though.