LOVE seeing a young player develop...

[patsox23]

Belichick today on safety James Sanders: “He works hard. He’s probably one of the most dependable players we have. He’s consistent, a very solid performance day in and day out. That’s a real strength.”

If we can get Sanders continuing on the track of subbing in for, and ultimately replacing, Rodney and get something out of Meriweather and Pierre Woods, the D is going to start getting young the way the O has the last couple of years. Good to see.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I don't doubt Sanders is one of the hardest and most determined players on the team

My question is not whether he has desire but it whether he has IT -IT means the talent to be a great player in the NFL...

I think we all know he wants to play and loves the game but does he have IT?

 

[DaBruinz]

I don't doubt Sanders is one of the hardest and most determined players on the team

My question is not whether he has desire but it whether he has IT -IT means the talent to be a great player in the NFL...

I think we all know he wants to play and loves the game but does he have IT?

Woods doesn't need to have the talent to be a GREAT player. All Woods needs is the talent to be a good to very good starter in the Pats defense. And that is all that really matters. And, to be honest, I think that he does. I think that if Woods continues his progression, he'll be pushing for starting time next season, which will help take pressure off of Vrabel and Colvin.

Now, if only Alexander can prove me wrong and turn into the next Roman Phifer, the Pats will be doing great at LB.

 

[psychoPat]

Ask Bill about any player
and he returns nothing but good.

His presser blurbs do not correlate at all with roster decisions.
They are independent variables.
I learned this years ago when i took to heart his shameless praise
of J.J. Stokes - about a fortnight before releasing him.

 

[AzPatsFan]

People forget that Sanders was an Underclassman draft. He was only a sophomore with the Patriots last year, when he started 6 games.

He also got a some snaps as a rookie.

Samuels started to look good as a third year pro, and shined as a fourth year starter. Hobbs started to look good as a third year pro and will perhaps blossom as a fourth year pro. Sanders enters his third season.

I see no reason bar injury from him not to coninue to blossom in his third season. He is a smidgeon short for SS at just under 5'11", but 210# is optimum weight for a SS.


Youth is not just starting to permeate the Defense. It is in full swing.

Every D-lineman is under 30.

Every starting and top reserve in the secondary is well under thirty, save for Rodney.

Sanders is starting to push him. I don't even know whether Rodney is truly the starter as SS. Sanders and him were really platooning last season (due to injury); and more of the same can be expected this season.

That leaves only the Linebackers.

 

[patsox23]

Ask Bill about any player
and he returns nothing but good.

His presser blurbs do not correlate at all with roster decisions.
They are independent variables.
I learned this years ago when i took to heart his shameless praise
of J.J. Stokes - about a fortnight before releasing him.

Disagree. There is the B.S. kind of praise Belichick will heap on a guy, divulging nothing, and then there are certain tell-tale buzz phrases. The consistency he remarked on out of Sanders does not mean the guy's gonna be all-pro or anything, but I think it is tangibly meaningful.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Disagree. There is the B.S. kind of praise Belichick will heap on a guy, divulging nothing, and then there are certain tell-tale buzz phrases. The consistency he remarked on out of Sanders does not mean the guy's gonna be all-pro or anything, but I think it is tangibly meaningful.

I also believe BB was being sincere about Sanders. He won't be dinengenuous. If hes luke warm on someone, he'll say, "hes grinding away justlike everyone else" or "hes developing, hes learning, hes working hard out there"

 

[patsox23]

I actually was really surprised to see that little tidbit in Reiss's latest. It seems to a very good development, and that's bearing in mind that we all saw some solid steps forward last year. Good news.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Samuels started to look good as a third year pro, and shined as a fourth year starter. Hobbs started to look good as a third year pro and will perhaps blossom as a fourth year pro. Sanders enters his third season.

2008 called. It wants its predictions back.

In other words--Hobbs was drafted in the same class as Sanders.

 

[zippo59]

On the last PFW in Progress they didn't hold back ripping Sanders saying his ball skills weren'y very good--to put it kindly.

 

[cstjohn17]

Belichick today on safety James Sanders: “He works hard. He’s probably one of the most dependable players we have. He’s consistent, a very solid performance day in and day out. That’s a real strength.”

If we can get Sanders continuing on the track of subbing in for, and ultimately replacing, Rodney and get something out of Meriweather and Pierre Woods, the D is going to start getting young the way the O has the last couple of years. Good to see.

I thought Sanders held up pretty well last year when Rodney went down (except for the game against Denver). The Patriots almost made it to the Superbowl with Hawkins and Sanders as their starting safeties. That is pretty incredible.

I complain about the age of the LBs from time to time but this unit is stacked, if some how Lua or Rogers can make the team and show potential as backups the future depth at LB looks a lot better.

It should be interesting, Miguel had commented that the average age of the roster had been declining, lets see where it ends up when the smoke clears.

 

[TeamPats]

On the last PFW in Progress they didn't hold back ripping Sanders saying his ball skills weren'y very good--to put it kindly.

I heard the PFW and I wouldn't say it was ripping. They did say Sanders has a knack to always be at the right place at the right time however he does not ever seem to have the ability to make the big play. The kid is still young and learning. It took Samuel for instance quite a while before he ever came up with the big plays.

Moral of the story is Sander's couldn't be in a better position at this point in his career. He is learning behind one of the best at his position as well as one of the teacher's at his position with almost zero pressure. As long as Sander's continues to show improvement he will become a very capable starter and possible better.