2017 Practice Squad (and visits & workouts)

[mgteich]

Not really sure what Ferentz did to deserve a continued look as a professional football player.

His family has been tied to Belichick in many ways over the years.

 

[Love The Drake]

He torched first team playing the jags. He caught everything in hi catch radius.

If you think the Saints picked him to fill a roster spot for a few weeks in an O he is not familiar with I can't help you.

There should be a button for neither strongly agree nor disagree I'm in between on this statement.

 

[patsinthesnow]

He torched first team playing the jags. He caught everything in hi catch radius.

If you think the Saints picked him to fill a roster spot for a few weeks in an O he is not familiar with I can't help you.

Both Jags starting CBs didn't play. Come on.
Agree to disagree at this point.

 

[kennyb]

Carr was way too good to cut.

Having richards on as a safety does not in any way improve safety depth. Unless you count standing there while players zoom by him to be "depth". Or doing an ole with his bad angles.

Should have signed nate sudfeld to the ps or even the 53.

Killings i thought had potential. Should be somewhere on a practice squad.

 

[unoriginal]

Carr was way too good to cut.

Having richards on as a safety does not in any way improve safety depth. Unless you count standing there while players zoom by him to be "depth". Or doing an ole with his bad angles.

Should have signed nate sudfeld to the ps or even the 53.

Killings i thought had potential. Should be somewhere on a practice squad.

I'm not saying Richards is one of the best players on this roster or might not be cut tomorrow.

But hopefully people have noticed the Pats used a lot of 3-3 and 5-1 fronts in Preseason Game 3. Richards played all game and spent a lot of the day as an EOL/EDGE player in those looks. That role fits his MO to a T and he didn't look out of place doing it. I can't say exactly how well he did but the Patriots tested him out thoroughly this preseason in what is essentially a new position. The one guy who did look out of sorts in those fronts (Kony Ealy) was cut basically the next day, so this wasn't a weird experiment or a small part of the team's plans. They want guys that can do this and Richards apparently can.

This may be the first time in Patriots history the elusive big safety/linebacker has made the opening roster. That's what I think Richards is at this point.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Don't we have the same OT's as last year?

I don't understand this question? What in my post suggests we don't?

 

[Patsgofor4]

I'm not saying Richards is one of the best players on this roster or might not be cut tomorrow.

But hopefully people have noticed the Pats used a lot of 3-3 and 5-1 fronts in Preseason Game 3. Richards played all game and spent a lot of the day as an EOL/EDGE player in those looks. That role fits his MO to a T and he didn't look out of place doing it. I can't say exactly how well he did but the Patriots tested him out thoroughly this preseason in what is essentially a new position. The one guy who did look out of sorts in those fronts (Kony Ealy) was cut basically the next day, so this wasn't a weird experiment or a small part of the team's plans. They want guys that can do this and Richards apparently can.

This may be the first time in Patriots history the elusive big safety/linebacker has made the opening roster. That's what I think Richards is at this point.

Has Richards grown during the offseason? 5'11" 210-215 isn't big safety/LB size. Seems as though Richards was hand picked by BB and overdrafted and has become one of his pet projects. It's not going to end well, in my opinion (and many others'). It's a shame to lose someone with potential to be a CB3/4 at some point this year like Moore, in order to keep him. I doubt that Richards would have been picked up on waivers, despite his draft position. Was it really that important to have Richards on special teams against KC?

 

[unoriginal]

Has Richards grown during the offseason? 5'11" 210-215 isn't big safety/LB size. Seems as though Richards was hand picked by BB and overdrafted and has become one of his pet projects. It's not going to end well, in my opinion (and many others'). It's a shame to lose someone with potential to be a CB3/4 at some point this year like Moore, in order to keep him. I doubt that Richards would have been picked up on waivers, despite his draft position. Was it really that important to have Richards on special teams against KC?

He looked bigger to me. I'd guess he's 225 lbs now but I wasn't sizing him or even watching him that closely. Just noted he kept popping up in an unusual position.

Deone Buchanan is a former SS that plays LB for the Cards in their starting defense at a listed 6' 220 lbs. Zach Thomas played MLB at 5'10" 235 lbs. Richards could be an interesting piece in this pass-crazy NFL, over having Van Noy scamper after wheel routes.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Has Richards grown during the offseason? 5'11" 210-215 isn't big safety/LB size.

What he lacks in big safety/LB size he makes up for in big safety/LB lack of speed

 

[doesntmatter1]

A few things. I'm surprised a team like the Chargers didn't scoop up Foster. They seem to have similar taste to us in rbs such as Sproles and Woodhead in recent years.

I am perfectly fine with Richards as a linebacker, but as a last line of defense deep safety....hell no.

Grissom gives us a Freeney-like security blanket if injuries occur. He showed some improvement and whether people like it or not might have a long term future with us.

Bates was easily pushed around in the run game and that alone goes against what we have seen in Patriot linebackers. I wonder what the staff sees in him.


The ones that got away.

#1. Austin Carr was a little overrated. He was great when given space to work, but I think Cooks and Dorsett will be given just as much space because of their speed. I will admit that Carr seemed to get the offense easily and that is half the battle.

#2. Kenny Moore. It was a little hard to gage his performance because the ball was rarely thrown his direction. But I hate the idea of losing talented corners more so than any other position. It is a passing league and I vividly remember the days of Wilhite etc. Same reason I didn't want to lose Logan Ryan. Consistent and durable etc.

 

[patsfan13]

#2. Kenny Moore. It was a little hard to gage his performance because the ball was rarely thrown his direction. But I hate the idea of losing talented corners more so than any other position. It is a passing league and I vividly remember the days of Wilhite etc. Same reason I didn't want to lose Logan Ryan. Consistent and durable etc.

The reason the ball wasn't thrown his way was because he had good coverage compared to others on the field.

 

[Mack Herron]

What he lacks in big safety/LB size he makes up for in big safety/LB lack of speed

You are overlooking his 3 tackles in 2016. Without those, who knows where we would have finished.

 

[mgteich]

richards plays ST's as a backup should

Carr would have been the #6 WR with no ST's

Carr was way too good to cut.

Having richards on as a safety does not in any way improve safety depth. Unless you count standing there while players zoom by him to be "depth". Or doing an ole with his bad angles.

Should have signed nate sudfeld to the ps or even the 53.

Killings i thought had potential. Should be somewhere on a practice squad.

 

[MagicMarker]

Man, I'm overjoyed Foster is back on the PS. I know most posters don't see much in him, but I just really like what he brings to the table. I'm happy he still wants to be part of the organization, and I wonder if he will continue to be paid almost like a member of a 53 (like last year) and if he will ask teams not to try signing him off the Pats' PS. He may take a little more time to develop but if a guy like Dion is gone next year and/or if Burkhead does not re-sign (or injuries hit the position this year), Foster could become a real contributor.

I am too. But, now I'm starting to wonder if I'm overvaluing him.

Last year, the Patriots kept him on the active roster most of the season. Cut him once and put him on the practice squad, then immediately added him to the active roster again.

However, then I remember -- he was undrafted. Nobody claimed him last year when he was cut. Nobody claimed him this here. Is he JAG?

 

[mgteich]

A JAG used mean an old veteran near the end of his career. he was still good enough to start if there are injuries, but really were there to be a backup or even an inactive backup. We've had many such players.

For me, Foster is NOT a JAG. There is nothing out there that shows that he is capable of doing anything in the NFL, other than possibly being a 5th receiver and punt returner, or possibly a backup receiving RB. So, yes, IMHO you are overvaluing Foster. As you say, 32 teams have passed on him twice (3 times if you count the draft). That being said, Belichick thinks that he is worthy of a PS spot.

I am too. But, now I'm starting to wonder if I'm overvaluing him.

Last year, the Patriots kept him on the active roster most of the season. Cut him once and put him on the practice squad, then immediately added him to the active roster again.

However, then I remember -- he was undrafted. Nobody claimed him last year when he was cut. Nobody claimed him this here. Is he JAG?

 

[ATippett56]

richards plays ST's as a backup should

Carr would have been the #6 WR with no ST's

Jordan Richards was so valuable on special teams that he was inactive during the 2017 NFL Playoffs.

www.patriots.com/news/2017/01/14/inactives-patriots-vs-Texans

www.patriots.com/news/2017/01/22/inactives-patriots-vs-steelers

www.patriots.com/news/2017/02/05/inactives-super-bowl-li

 

[maineman209]

We should realize that this practice squad is just a starting point.
Nick Caserio will tweak it all season long as better players are available.

For most of the season, changes to the PS are more related to bringing in guys who can play a specific role on the scout team to mimic a specific player or help to mimic a specific scheme that the Pats will face in their next game. BB and Caserio will occasionally bring in a guy for a tryout, because, yeah, they're always looking to upgrade. But that happens more often toward the end of the season, after Thanksgiving, when they gradually begin looking ahead to the next off-season and for guys who they might want to retain on futures contracts.

 

[maineman209]

I am too. But, now I'm starting to wonder if I'm overvaluing him.

Last year, the Patriots kept him on the active roster most of the season. Cut him once and put him on the practice squad, then immediately added him to the active roster again.

However, then I remember -- he was undrafted. Nobody claimed him last year when he was cut. Nobody claimed him this here. Is he JAG?

IIRC, Foster was waived right after Thanksgiving weekend. The risk of a guy getting claimed at the point in the season, especially that particular weekend, is relatively low.

It's easy to generalize about the perceived quality of "undrafted" prospects, but difficult to know for certain why teams choose not to spend a 6th or 7th on a particular prospect (or position) in a specific draft.

Only 18 RBs were drafted in 2015, the lowest total going back to 2011. Only 3 RBs were drafted after the end of the 5th round in 2015 (the average is >7), but teams loaded up on UDFA RBs that year, including Thomas Rawls and Zach Zenner. At the same time, 2015 was a relatively large draft, quantity-wise, for late-round TEs (9) and WRs (11).

 

[Wordsmyth]

Carr was way too good to cut.

Having richards on as a safety does not in any way improve safety depth. Unless you count standing there while players zoom by him to be "depth". Or doing an ole with his bad angles.

Should have signed nate sudfeld to the ps or even the 53.

Killings i thought had potential. Should be somewhere on a practice squad.

Glad you know so much more than BB. You should insist that Kraft fire him and you replace BB.

 

[maineman209]

I'm not saying Richards is one of the best players on this roster or might not be cut tomorrow.

But hopefully people have noticed the Pats used a lot of 3-3 and 5-1 fronts in Preseason Game 3. Richards played all game and spent a lot of the day as an EOL/EDGE player in those looks. That role fits his MO to a T and he didn't look out of place doing it. I can't say exactly how well he did but the Patriots tested him out thoroughly this preseason in what is essentially a new position. The one guy who did look out of sorts in those fronts (Kony Ealy) was cut basically the next day, so this wasn't a weird experiment or a small part of the team's plans. They want guys that can do this and Richards apparently can.

This may be the first time in Patriots history the elusive big safety/linebacker has made the opening roster. That's what I think Richards is at this point.

The thing is, Richards' pre-draft measureables are nearly identical to Chung's

Richards is clearly not playing at anywhere near Chung's level, and it seems doubtful that he ever will, at this point. It seemed to me that, this pre-season, the Pats were using Richards in all the various roles that Chung typically plays, rather than "trying to find out where he fits". That's not to say that I think they're "grooming" Richards to eventually take over for 30-year-old Chung (that ship seems to have sailed), just that they're continuing to train Richards for an emergency reserve role until they can acquire someone who's more capable.