Patriots sign former Buc CB Leonard Johnson

[ausbacker]

Johnson is likely an upgrade over Melvin as our #4 CB.

A carrot would be an upgrade over Melvin.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

so butler, ryan, coleman and johnson at CB? that's not half bad...

 

[realtime]

Some folks seem to not like the signing. My point is that this signing improves the 53 man squad, business as usual for Belichick.

IMHO, expecting to sign a starter quality player at this point is simply unreasonable. Signing a player who MIGHT contribute is really a major accomplishment.

Belichick has signed three players this week. I was not excited at all regarding the other two. I could see Johnson actually playing and contributing. And, to state the obvious, we need a 4th corner who could actually play defense. I think that Chung and Wilson have done OK as our nickel and dime backs; but that isn't a long term strategy.

I hear you. Melvin was one of the worst CBs we have had on the roster since .... Deltha O'Neal? Earthwind Moreland? Anyway, he was completely unusable so even a modest upgrade (if that is what Johnson is) would be most welcome.

 

[VrabelJr]

Johnson was a decent CB when Schiano was there. He didn't fit Lovie Smith's Tampa 2 scheme at all.

 

[fgssand]

Terrific pick up this late in the season......this guy will contribute.mhas a bunch of picks.

Huge upgrade over Melvin of course.

NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Leonard Johnson

 

[Fencer]

From what I'm reading, I hope this was a 2 yr contract that BB sometimes gives out (Blount, Damaris for example).

A small, man to man/press slot CB with some good film in 2012/2013 who was bad in Lovie's zone scheme in 2014 & got injured before the 2015 season.

I'm always a bit confused by the concept of press slot coverage.

On the other hand, since slot CBs tend to lack the pure speed of some other DBs, they often are actually on the physical side.

 

[captain stone]

Lenny Johnson in, Rash Melvin out = Garbage in, Garbage out.

 

[Canuck]

Johnson was able to shadow Blackmon and still have enough confidence to look back for the football. I'm tired of cb's who have position on the wr and never look back for the football

 

[TomPatriot]

True, but Johnson is a guy you line up against the slot, a la Arrington.

You wouldn't put him up on Megatron or Julio Jones. He'd obviously get abused.

Or Brandon Marshall, Week 17.

 

[TomPatriot]

If he can be Sterling Moore, we have a winner.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

If he was Revis Tampa would have carried him. But we are looking for a CB that is better, quicker and faster, than Chung to play CB3 or CB4 behind Butler, Ryan and Coleman. Chung and T Wilson have been much better than expected IMHO, but they are only a stopgap.

I agree with the second part of this. Not sure what you mean by the first though, considering Tampa cut Revis too.

 

[DarrylS]

Comes from the Patriots AAA affiliate, Tampa...

Chung did not practice yesterday btw...

 

[Love The Drake]

Superbowl

 

[borisman]

Since we don't have a first round pick next year and we need an upgrade at CB (even tho we can draft one later on), does anyone know of a "good" site for future NFL free agents? Just wondering what will be out there. Also, are there any good canditates to be salary cap casualties? Sorry to veer the thread a little off topic.

 

[captain stone]

If he can be Sterling Moore, we have a winner.

They should've just signed the real Sterling Moore during the off-season.

 

[Ross12]

Since we don't have a first round pick next year and we need an upgrade at CB (even tho we can draft one later on), does anyone know of a "good" site for future NFL free agents? Just wondering what will be out there. Also, are there any good canditates to be salary cap casualties? Sorry to veer the thread a little off topic.

Darryl Roberts coming back off IR next year. Should be fully healthy I believe. He was a baller in the preseason.

 

[Todd Bradley]

Darryl Roberts coming back off IR next year. Should be fully healthy I believe. He was a baller in the preseason.

Add Roberts and a healed-up Tarell Brown to Ryan and Butler and that's a damn good secondary. Not to mention possibly adding someone like Sean Smith, who'll be a Free Agent.

Scary that this defense can be even better next year, even without our stolen first and forth round pick.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Butler, Ryan, Roberts, Coleman and a cheap #5 (Johnson and Melvin as possibilities) should be fine. As a FA, I doubt they bother with Brown unless they like the 4 I listed less than we're guessing.

 

[Love The Drake]

Not a bad set

 

[sevengables_2207]

I have been pleasantly surprised by how well the Patriots secondary has held up despite the injuries and lack of depth this season.

The Patriots secondary will again be an asset next season, when one factors in the players returning from injury, additions via free agency, draft, etc.