Two Additional Needs Remain: SS and IOL

[Joker]

Richards was a step behind last season. Perhaps a recognition problem that fades this season. If it's purely physical than I'd want a player with similar skills that has better speed. You can't have a tortoise playing in your secondary these days in the NFL.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

I think David Jones is going to make the 53

David Jones doesn't look like a play in the box SS - like Chung. He is more a McCourty / Duran Harmon FS type. He seems to be a decent returner though, which is intriguing.

While he might make the squad, there's still a need to backup Chung with a legit SS

 

[supafly]

The only position that I see a real "need" to improve upon would be a player on the interior offensive line. We'll know what Belichick thinks by whether or not he makes a move, but we can't have pro bowlers at every position and I'd like to keep as much available cap space as possible, to carry over into next year.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

We've always tried to have a backup at both free and strong safety. Richards IS ON THE SQUAD, and was last year. I'm OK if Belichick chooses Richards as the #4 safety. I don't think that he will simply go without by cutting Richards with no replacement.

Richards needs to prove he is worth that roster spot because he hasn't done a thing yet. He was a healthy scratch down the stretch last season while Ebner saw some mop up snaps as the #4 safety. If Chung goes down, is everyone fine with Ebner getting the start?

It's going to be an interesting camp competition and could be the last stand for Richards.

 

[supafly]

Richards needs to prove he is worth that roster spot because he hasn't done a thing yet. He was a healthy scratch down the stretch last season while Ebner saw some mop up snaps as the #4 safety. If Chung goes down, is everyone fine with Ebner getting the start?

It's going to be an interesting camp competition and could be the last stand for Richards.

Something to keep in mind is that Ebner suffered two concussions from Thanksgiving thru January (AFCCG). Just pointing it out, since I had forgotten, myself.

I think ST is Ebner's calling, and while he's a ST staple and does a tremendous job, I wouldn't feel that comfortable with him seeing many snaps in coverage. I'm in the camp that believes the SS backup may be pressed hard from an UDFA.

 

[ausbacker]

I always find it amusing when MGTeich writes off players such as David Jones, Damarius Travis and Jason Thompson. It shows a huge gap in his football knowledge. Forget about the fact that the Patriots have been one of the better teams at finding late rounders / UDFA who can actually play football the way the team wants them to play it.

Let's help you out, MG. There are very good signs for the players that the Patriots signed as UDFA in the secondary.

David Jones - Richmond - FS/SS/R - 6'1 - 205 lbs- 4.43/ 40 - Played 40 games - 9 interceptions as a red-shirt Junior. 11 Punt Returns - 16.1 YPR. Has an injury flag on him. When healthy, he was viewed as high as a 3rd round pick.

Damarius Travis - Minnesota - FS/SS - 6'1 - 206 lbs -4.65/40 - 53 College games played - Started 23 games - 83 Tackles - 5 TFL - 4PBUs - 2Interceptions - 1 Fumble Recovery.

Jason Thompson - FS/SS /ST - 6'1 - 210 lbs - 4.45/40 - 6.57 3 cone - Transferred from Wyoming to Utah. He also switched position from QB to Safety for his Junior and Senior years. Was made a Captain by his UTAH teammates for the Senior year. Played almost exclusively on Special Teams both years. Is considered a project, but he has smarts and is good in the film room. Extremely athletic and people believe he could line up as a coverage LB.

Out of curiosity, why do you feel the constant need to disparage the opinions of those with whom you disagree? Kinda ruins some of the excellent contributions you do make.

 

[DarrylS]

Now that David Harris is on board, could Nick Mangold be an additional IOL ??

 

[patman52]

Kind of hard to get worked up about a b/u safety in June. If he needs one I am sure they will be a cut in august that BB can plug in to keep the bench warm.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

There might be 5-6 legit difference makers at the LB position and we have one in Hightower.

It would great to have a Davis, Bowman etc but again theres very few impact guys at that position.

 

[BTTA]

I always find it amusing when MGTeich writes off players such as David Jones, Damarius Travis and Jason Thompson.

My interpretation of MG's contribution was that he doesn't expect any specific one of them to make the team, not that he's writing them off. I'm pretty sure he'll be as delighted as any of us if one of them impresses enough to make the team. Heck, we should all root for each of them to be so good that they put McCourty, Harmon, and Chung on the bench. But MG is making a statement about likelihood, not his hopes.

I don't recall an NFL team with this strong a roster going into camp. It makes the usual UDFA competition even more interesting, because the window appears to have a much smaller opening.

 

[Schmo]

Having played rugby longer than i played football, Ebner's one of my favorites. Thing is, ruggers will always, on the whole, be better tacklers than football players, but aren't exactly trained to hit guys and stop them from gaining inches. He's tailor made for open field ST tackles, just not stopping RBs at the los. Maybe this year he'll step up and prove me wrong.

OT - I hear Jaime Collins wants to play safety. Make him responsible for a much larger part of the field.....I think that's a great idea!

 

[mgteich]

My interpretation of MG's contribution was that he doesn't expect any specific one of them to make the team, not that he's writing them off. I'm pretty sure he'll be as delighted as any of us if one of them impresses enough to make the team. Heck, we should all root for each of them to be so good that they put McCourty, Harmon, and Chung on the bench. But MG is making a statement about likelihood, not his hopes.

I don't recall an NFL team with this strong a roster going into camp. It makes the usual UDFA competition even more interesting, because the window appears to have a much smaller opening.

Yes, I expect the normal 3-6 patriot UDFA's on someone's roster.

And yes, I would be happy to see them beat out players at the end of the roster. There are lots of opportunities: TE, OG, DT, LB, CB and S.

I'm NOT one of those who thinks that our bottom of the roster players and our cuts could start and win somewhere else. There a lots of positions that could be upgraded.

 

[Nunchucks]

This year will be very difficult for a UDRFA to make the team. In the past, the Patriots had obvious holes at a variety of backup positions. This year is quite different. The Patriots are deep everywhere. Even safety is comparatively deep. Maybe interior offensive line could use one body and maybe there is room for somebody to make the roster at LB. Other than that the only other way to make the team is by pushing somebody off special teams.

 

[The Brandon Five]

As much as I disagree with the Jordan Richards take, that is how much I agree with the need for quality coverage OLBs take.
Out of the top 6 LBs on the depth chart - Hightower, Van Noy, McClellin, Harris, Langi & Roberts - the only one who is likely to provide any coverage ability of RBs
& TEs at all is Van Noy, though he isn't real natural doing so either.
I hope that Trevor Bates is given a legitimate chance to show that his coverage skills have improved since arriving here. If they have, then he could replace Roberts, who almost cost us everything with his completely blown coverage of Devonta Freeman
late in the 4th quarter of SB51.

Not sure getting knocked down is the same as blowing a coverage, but yeah, losing Collins and Mayo over the last couple of years has left them a little thin there.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

If our biggest worry is our #4 safety or #4 guard, I think we're doing okay.

It's like hearing a billionaire complain about a property tax increase on his third house. Sure, he may feel like it's a legit complaint, but the rest of us think, "Shut the **** up man."

 

[mgteich]

If our biggest worry is our #4 safety or #4 guard, I think we're doing okay.

It's like hearing a billionaire complain about a property tax increase on his third house. Sure, he may feel like it's a legit complaint, but the rest of us think, "Shut the **** up man."

Sure, we're "OK". We are by far the most likely to team to win the Super Bowl.

That is NOT a reason to stop and not improve where possible, as Belichick knows much better than we do. And, for the record, I do think that Douglas and Richards are upgradable.

 

[Joey007]

Anyone else not as worried about the TE depth due to how deep our WR depth is this year?

 

[Joey007]

It's really grasping straws to look for needs on this team. In terms of depth and completeness of the roster, this is the most complete I've ever seen.

That even includes the 07 roster, which did have more glaring weaknesses at CB (depth past A$ante was uninspiring) as well as RB.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Sure, we're "OK". We are by far the most likely to team to win the Super Bowl.

That is NOT a reason to stop and not improve where possible, as Belichick knows much better than we do. And, for the record, I do think that Douglas and Richards are upgradable.

I understand, I'm just saying that I don't see any obvious upgrades without doing something drastic. I'd love to have Pro Bowlers at every backup spot too, but there's a price to doing so.

How would we potentially upgrade those spots right now? On what terms? Trade future draft picks to upgrade our back-ups?

Maybe there will be some cuts in training camp, but at this moment, I can't think of an obvious move to make that would improve our team.

 

[AzPatsFan]

I understand, I'm just saying that I don't see any obvious upgrades without doing something drastic. I'd love to have Pro Bowlers at every backup spot too, but there's a price to doing so.

How would we potentially upgrade those spots right now? On what terms? Trade future draft picks to upgrade our back-ups?

Maybe there will be some cuts in training camp, but at this moment, I can't think of an obvious move to make that would improve our team.

I do not think the IOL needs anymore help, any more. Between Karras, Fleming, who is a great drive blocker, and perhaps Douglas and Crofton they have plenty of IOL depth. Fleming merited his run blocking reputation in college, and his pass blocking proved well above most IOL capabilities, when he played LOT and did a creditable job there.

Ditto for Safety and Strong Safety as well. Richards, and the rooks, have solidified that position too.