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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Reflecting back, it is amazing how BB has rebuilt the somewhat shaky parts of the Pats roster. LS is upgraded. Safeties are solidified. Third down backs look more than satisfied. Talent has been secured for the Offensive line and now only awaits some experience to be massive, talented, and pretty good from TE1 to TE2. Now he has turned his attention to improving the KO returner, the last ST specialist position where the Pats do not excel. he wants more certainty and depth than merely Amendola's single long KO return from last season.
Every one of those positions seem to have talent down to the last performer there, e.g. CBs 6 deep, Safeties 6 deep, RBs 5 deep; 3rd down backs 3 deep.
The constant drumbeat of criticism and doom forecasts was/is the CB situation. BB purposely tore it apart after Revis left to score a fantastic guaranteed contract with the myopic Jets. (and ruin their CAP). BB purposely let Browner, Arrington and Alozo go, as he undertook an almost total rebuild. He replaced them with former highly regarded starters from other teams, who had poor years; and a couple of young candidates. It appears he is succeeding.
Everyone seems to want to beat down Logan Ryan as hopeless. It is true that when he gambles and fails its a spectacular miss, as he doesn't possess great recovery speed. But opposition passers have only completed 4 of 11 passes over him, which is a mere 36% completion rate. He is the so-called "weak link". Those are not bad statistics for someone facing Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees among his opposition QBs. And he is regarded as the 5th or 6th CB on the depth charts. His alternate5/6 is a somewhat undersized slot CB who nonetheless was a starter for the Falcons before falling into disfavor. How bad can he be? Neither is a hopeless end of roster UDFA, as is frequent on most end of rosters.
Meanwhile the strong ends of the position squads only seem to get better. The DL looks awesome as does the the linebackers. BB has obtained Malcom Brown, Trey Flowers and Jabaal Sheard for the DL and gets back Dom Easley a #1 pick. At LB he gets back Jerod Mayo and adds Geno Grissom and Morris to the depth, while freeing Ninko for some snaps at at OLB too.
At QB, It appears Polo, the Italian Stallion, is a keeper as a backup QB; and with another years experience he may be the Aaron Rodgers to Bret Favre equivalent to our Tom Brady.
WR is another subject of criticism but with Edelmen, Amendola, LaFell and Dobson/Fletcher how deep can you go?
Despite the Deflategate uncertainty at QB, this 2015 edition is shaping up to be one of Belechick's strongest and deepest Teams. NFL Beware!
Great post! But you seem to be glossing over the depleted and unproven depth in the WR position
I'm not trying to ambush you but what is your definition of depth?
Currently the Pats have JE11, LaFell, Amendola, Wayne and Dobson as your top WRs
We don't know the full deal with LaFell but I'm assuming he'll play this season.
They have <ahem> Slater as an emergency option.
They could keep Harper who has done well.
I'm not even including Cadet but he has played WR.
My Point: The Pats don't depend on 5 WR or 4WR 1TE formations. With that said, I think they are actually in decent shape depth-wise.
I'm not trying to ambush you but what is your definition of depth?
Currently the Pats have JE11, LaFell, Amendola, Wayne and Dobson as your top WRs
We don't know the full deal with LaFell but I'm assuming he'll play this season.
They have <ahem> Slater as an emergency option.
They could keep Harper who has done well.
I'm not even including Cadet but he has played WR.
My Point: The Pats don't depend on 5 WR or 4WR 1TE formations. With that said, I think they are actually in decent shape depth-wise.
LaFell has been on PUP for months and was kept out of training camp ....Harper is Practice-Squad material, Edelmen was kept out of preseason....Dobson is injury prone and all too inconsistent, and Wayne is still trying to learning the playbook.
I agree with your assessment of the current situation. It is a bit worrisome.LaFell has been on PUP for months and was kept out of training camp ....Harper is Practice-Squad material, Edelmen was kept out of preseason....Dobson is injury prone and all too inconsistent, and Wayne is still trying to learning the playbook.
Maybe there's depth, but I'd be real surprise if our receiver group started the season firing on all cylinders
......That said, I really love the idea of lining up Cadet as a Wide Receiver
They also just added Daniels and Saunders.. Saunders could be that deep threat that we've been hoping to see as well as give the Patriots a kick return guy they haven't had in awhile..
Totally agree I see Browner was an average corner, Obviously Bill is usually right about these things.They just need to be solid. For all the love people had for Browner and his physical play, he was a very average CB last year. The penalties and the statistics prove this.
Keep in mind BB didn't cut him because of a scheme change. He cut him because they didn't think he was capable of playing CB at $4m.
Time will tell is he is right.