Eric Rowe - Pats # 25 (merged w ER gifs)

[long distance]

I know I know .. it was just a glimpse .. but let's give him a thread if nothing for good luck.
It turned out pretty well with Elandon ..

If he can confirm what a few plays on Green and against the run showed .. than possibly the weakest link on this team, namely #3 CB could be fixed and the team completed. (Some people will still complain about OL or pass rush but they are ok and pass rush with solidifying corner position will improve as well)

I bet he chose #25 for a reason. He even tries to talk like #25 (not really the Patriot way of “I“ talking but if he can produce like #25 he might get away with it .. and then soon be mended ..):

“It’s a huge confidence-booster,” Rowe said Sunday after the Patriots’ 35-17 win. “It kind of reminded me of last year against Calvin (Johnson), and I had at least a pass breakup. Even if it was a little bit of a spotty game, it boost my confidence knowing I could play with these elite receivers like him and now A.J. Most importantly, it’s a confidence boost for the coaches. They can see I can get out there and play. So you know, I can get some more opportunities.”

But he sure is aggressive - and that's just what the doctor ordered for our CB unit:

“The key is you’ve got to get a jam on them,” Rowe said about his red-zone play. “I make sure each time I was lined up with him, get a hand on his chest because I don’t want a free release. That makes my down tougher. It’s then playing the ball in the air. Once I saw his eyes get big, I looked back for the ball. Then I turn into the receiver too — no PI gets called on me. The main thing is just getting a hand on him.”

This kind of aggression could be costly - and he was lucky not to get that flag! - but this team needs it there and if he can continue to be aggressive and lucky - well bring it on.
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Here's more in Doug Kyed good piece on/with Rowe:

Read more at: Eric Rowe Built Confidence Matching Up With A.J. Green In Patriots Debut
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And here a little something from another article:

Among the major changes was using Eric Rowe on star receiver A.J. Green, who made only one catch over Cincinnati’s final five offensive series. The Bengals went 68 yards for a field goal with one of those possessions, but otherwise generated -16, 0, 3 and 16 yards over the course of 12 plays.

Its not only about his stat but when he came in (instead of Chung) the D was better adjusted to the CIN offence and there was a better feeling overall.

But as you can read in Kyed article - this was not something they changed on the spot .. they were preparing this the whole week ..
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BOTTOM LINE: Great we could finally see him .. hoping for some more .. hoping this is the answer for our weakest position so far .. and maybe a true #25 here for the future ..

 

[Marqui]

Rowe I believe will be the key to a potential turn around on defense this season. They got much better on 3rd down when he was on the field.

 

[long distance]

yep. hill who had a privilege to review it says so as well ..


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Green caught four passes on six targets for 56 yards in the first half and was held to two catches on four targets for 32 yards in the second half. That will boost any cornerback’s confidence.

 

[jah]

What are you saying about 25? I obsess over jersey numbers but even I do not follow.

 

[deters]

What are you saying about 25? I obsess over jersey numbers but even I do not follow.

sherman

 

[jah]

sherman

Ah, I was looking for a Patriots #25 in the past. Was thinking, "Arrington???"

 

[mihap]

huge tackle on bengals 3&2
nice PB on AJ Green

gifs from overview for timnog

 

[long distance]

great clips

but why don't you add this to existing thread on Rowe already?

do we really have to have so many different threads on the same subject?
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EDIT: Thanks mods!

 

[long distance]

Here a nice little piece on Rowe by Howe:

Patriots Notebook: Eric Rowe helps out in debut

Looks like the kid knows what he's doing:

Rowe got a kick out of Green waving for the officials to throw a flag.
“They’re always looking for the call,” Rowe said of wide receivers in that situation. “I knew it was clean because I was looking for the ball in the air.”

 

[Froob]

Ah, I was looking for a Patriots #25 in the past. Was thinking, "Arrington???"

I was thinking Chung's old number lol.

 

[RIpats88]

he currently is something we dont have...a tall corner who can match up with tall WR's. Butler as good as he is is something like 5:10 and ryan isnt tall either. he had a nice game, and I think the original plan for him was to take the #3 CB spot but his injury set him back abit.

I think we will see more and more of him and hopefully our 3rd down defense improves because of it

 

[RobertWeathers]

Rowe I believe will be the key to a potential turn around on defense this season. They got much better on 3rd down when he was on the field.

Turn around? They entered the game allowing 14.8ppg. They've been inconsistent on 3rd down but you are coming across like we are talking about the 2010 and 2011 pass defenses.

 

[Bobsyouruncle]

Cool gifs, you should make a separate thread for them.

 

[long distance]

he currently is something we dont have...a tall corner who can match up with tall WR's. Butler as good as he is is something like 5:10 and ryan isnt tall either. he had a nice game, and I think the original plan for him was to take the #3 CB spot but his injury set him back abit.

I think we will see more and more of him and hopefully our 3rd down defense improves because of it

It's not only about his length .. although very important for Pats CB composition .. its also about the aggression and attitude he brings to the table and that was missed since Browner (hopefully he brings it with less penalties).

In any case this really looks promising for locking down #3 CB and composing very solid CB unit that offers versatility in coverage and great tackling. If this is confirmed then I just don't see a way back for Coleman anymore ..

 

[SEA_Pat]

Rowe I believe will be the key to a potential turn around on defense this season. They got much better on 3rd down when he was on the field.

So you think he will damage the defense so badly that we'll go from #1 in points allowed to #32?

 

[Addictive]

I echo earlier posters in agreeing Rowe adds a different ingredient to the Pat's D which we didn't have previously. And it is smart of BB to keep Rowe out of the first quarter of the season until he understands the playbook more.

We've added depth at DB and have a tall, long CB who can match up with talented tall opposing WRs. It allows us to put Cyrus Jones further down the depth chart which needs to happen during his rookie season.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I echo earlier posters in agreeing Rowe adds a different ingredient to the Pat's D which we didn't have previously. And it is smart of BB to keep Rowe out of the first quarter of the season until he understands the playbook more.

We've added depth at DB and have a tall, long CB who can match up with talented tall opposing WRs. It allows us to put Cyrus Jones further down the depth chart which needs to happen during his rookie season.

I didn't think Jones was having a tough time in coverage (kickoffs are a whole separate discussion) but once again, the coaches put the right personnel out there and did the job when they had to. Making him an inactive I think was a combination of factors. Tall CIN WRs, game plan w/ zone, problem with kickoffs and perhaps being a bit too emotional last week. I expect him to be active vs Pitt.

CIN has tallish WRs and it made sense to play Rowe and he did a bang-up job.

 

[patchick]

It's not only about his length .. although very important for Pats CB composition .. its also about the aggression and attitude he brings to the table and that was missed since Browner (hopefully he brings it with less penalties).

I think the two are connected. IMO Malcolm Butler's plays with all of the "aggression and attitude" a 5'9 3/4" 187 frame can hold! It's very, very hard to find a combo of size, coverage skills and aggressive attitude.

Here's a list of all of the CBs drafted in the past decade who stand over 6 feet, weigh over 200 lbs, and still have elite quickness for coverage (shuttle < 4.10, cone < 6.90):

Patrick Peterson
Eric Rowe

That's it. Aqib Talib and Antonio Cromartie were the closest misses, with three of the four targets. It's just a really, really rare physical profile...one that comes ready made for playing aggressively.

 

[DaBruinz]

Turn around? They entered the game allowing 14.8ppg. They've been inconsistent on 3rd down but you are coming across like we are talking about the 2010 and 2011 pass defenses.

Don't mind @Marqui . He's become one of the biggest over-exaggerators in the Game thread. Honestly think he does it for attention..

 

[RobertWeathers]

Don't mind @Marqui . He's become one of the biggest over-exaggerators in the Game thread. Honestly think he does it for attention..

Goodness....