Should We Keep 11 Defensive Backs

[mgteich]

I think that there are 12 worth keeping, but 11 is enough. The last spot is a battle between Wilson and Ebner.

This is a passing league and we have 4 corners who played very well this evening, with a potential starter yet to be heard from. That makes 5. Ryan looked, well, like Ryan. He is an OK zone corner, and a good special teamer.

If we keep only TEN defensive backs, I would be tempted to keep 6 corners and 4 safeties. The issues is how many of these three STers do we keep: Ebner, Wilson, Ryan

BTW, if we keep 11 DB's, I would keep 9 DL's and 5 LB's.

 

[supafly]

CB

1) Butler
2) Ryan
3) McClain
4) Roberts
5) Fletcher

Safety

1) McCourty
2) Chung
3) Harmon
4) Richards
5) Wilson/Ebner

Who are your 11th and 12th players under consideration? Who am I forgetting?

 

[mgteich]

CB

1) Butler
2) Ryan
3) McClain
4) Roberts
5) Fletcher

Safety

1) McCourty
2) Chung
3) Harmon
4) Richards
5) Wilson/Ebner

Who are your 11th and 12th players under consideration? Who am I forgetting?

You've listed 11. Both Wilson and Ebner are good enough to make the roster. Brown is the 12th. I agree that we should keep either Wilson or Ebner.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Never enough IMO ...

a hard perhaps the hardest defensive position to fill when injuries run rampant during the season.

 

[Sticky Caulk]

CB

1) Butler
2) Ryan
3) McClain
4) Roberts
5) Fletcher

Safety

1) McCourty
2) Chung
3) Harmon
4) Richards
5) Wilson/Ebner

Who are your 11th and 12th players under consideration? Who am I forgetting?

You are forgetting Terrell Brown. I can't see his contract getting released.

 

[supafly]

You've listed 11. Both Wilson and Ebner are good enough to make the roster. Brown is the 12th. I agree that we should keep either Wilson or Ebner.

Yes, Brown. I knew I was forgetting someone, but couldn't remember who it was.

I would consider keeping 11 (one of Wilson/Ebner), unless Belichick feels comfortable enough choosing Brown over say...Fletcher, then keeping Jean on the PS as well?

 

[Spiral]

I don't care how many the Patriots keep, as long as Logan Ryan isn't one of them.

 

[Ring 6]

I thought McClain was awful last night.

 

[McClusky]

I don't care how many the Patriots keep, as long as Logan Ryan isn't one of them.

This is a bit extreme. I don't think Logan Ryan is going to be better than a #3 corner, but his tape at this point in his career isn't awful. People selectively remember bad plays that really stand out like the one in the Super Bowl or the one last night, but Logan Ryan had plenty of plus plays last year as well.

He's not Revis, but he's not Darius Butler either.

 

[jah]

Butler
Brown
Ryan
Fletcher/McClain
Roberts

Like it or not (I currently lean toward not), Ryan is making this team and getting a lot of meaningful snaps at CB. Right now I'm predicting (NOT saying what the best choice is) the odd man out is Fletcher. Last night, I saw McClain all over the field, although not necessarily doing anything noteworthy. I know lots of people say he had a bad game so I should look at his snaps again. I also saw Fletcher...standing around? Granted, I paid much less attention in the second half and I think McClain got more early snaps than Fletcher, but I'm gonna give Fletcher an "incomplete" for now.

 

[jah]

This is a bit extreme. I don't think Logan Ryan is going to be better than a #3 corner, but his tape at this point in his career isn't awful. People selectively remember bad plays that really stand out like the one in the Super Bowl or the one last night, but Logan Ryan had plenty of plus plays last year as well.

He's not Revis, but he's not Darius Butler either.

If 2015 Darius Butler were on this team (I watched him in 2010, you don't have to convince me how bad he was back then), he'd probably be our nickel.

 

[mgteich]

Butler
Brown
Ryan
Fletcher/McClain
Roberts

Like it or not (I currently lean toward not), Ryan is making this team and getting a lot of meaningful snaps at CB. Right now I'm predicting (NOT saying what the best choice is) the odd man out is Fletcher. Last night, I saw McClain all over the field, although not necessarily doing anything noteworthy. I know lots of people say he had a bad game so I should look at his snaps again. I also saw Fletcher...standing around? Granted, I paid much less attention in the second half and I think McClain got more early snaps than Fletcher, but I'm gonna give Fletcher an "incomplete" for now.

So you believe that Ryan has the nickel back position locked up? You did say "lots of meaningful snaps".

After all, the corners who get all the reps, unless there is an injury, are the outside starters and the nickel back. If we have a good enough #4, sometimes he can be the outside guy against some teams.

I don't see Ryan is any of these roles. I see him as a fine #5 CB, a special teamer who can be injury insurance and/or a dime back. I also suspect that he may be our #3 (emergency) free safety at this point. IMHO, all of this is enough for Ryan to make the 53.

 

[jah]

So you believe that Ryan has the nickel back position locked up?

After all, the corners who get all the reps, unless there is an injury, are the outside starters and the nickel back. If we have a good enough #4, sometimes he can be the outside guy against some teams.

I don't see Ryan is any of these roles. I see him as a fine #5 CB, a special teamer who can be injury insurance and/or a dime back. IMHO, that is enough for Ryan to make the 53.

That's the idea--I think playing him inside is a safer bet.

 

[supafly]

After considering this another day, I don't think we keep more than 10 DBs.

Brown hasn't returned from his foot surgery yet, at least to the point of being able to play meaningful snaps. Fletcher was a bit of an unknown for making the team the entire time. Roberts injured his wrist, so we don't yet know the severity of that.

I think it's Butler, Brown, McClain, Ryan, and Roberts. Fletcher would be my odd man out unless this changes due to injury.

McCourty, Chung, Richards, Harmon, and either Wilson/Ebner makes 10.

 

[Zuma]

CB

1) Butler
2) Fletcher
3) Brown
4) McClain
5) Roberts
6) Ryan

Safety

1) McCourty
2) Chung
3) Harmon
4) Richards
5) Wilson/Ebner

 

[ashley]

I think we keep 5 corner's and 5 safeties. At this point it's anyone's guess who our 2nd corner is going to be. Very disappointed with Ryan's performance though. Here would be my guess:

1-Butler
2-Brown
3- Fletcher
4- Ryan
5- McClain

1-McCourty
2-Chung
3-Harmon
4-Richards
5-Wilson

 

[Wordsmyth]

I don't care how many the Patriots keep, as long as Logan Ryan isn't one of them.

Once more, he got burned like toast.

 

[JMC00]

If BB kept 6 CBs with Revis and Browner, I think he will have 6 CBs going into this season.

 

[Ross12]

After considering this another day, I don't think we keep more than 10 DBs.

Brown hasn't returned from his foot surgery yet, at least to the point of being able to play meaningful snaps. Fletcher was a bit of an unknown for making the team the entire time. Roberts injured his wrist, so we don't yet know the severity of that.

I think it's Butler, Brown, McClain, Ryan, and Roberts. Fletcher would be my odd man out unless this changes due to injury.

McCourty, Chung, Richards, Harmon, and either Wilson/Ebner makes 10.

I agree 100%! I also think that Fletcher is the guy on the edge, who may or may not additionally be kept, depending on how dinged up the top 5 guys are by the end of preseason, or maybe if BB just wants to keep 6 corners.

 

[ashley]

I don't care how many the Patriots keep, as long as Logan Ryan isn't one of them.

What's frustrating about Ryan is that he shows flashes that he can actually play, but then he'll get burnt for two td's. Right now I don't see how as a Pat fan anyone can trust him as a starting corner.