Practice / Playoff Roster Discussion Only!!!

[maineman209]

If Mitchell does not play this weekend, then he is out for the season. DR against the Titans is the game where he could shake off rust, no way Belichick lets unprepared player go out against the Steelers or in the SB.

A) We won't know that Mitchell is unprepared until he's actually sent back to IR.
B) BB could "rest" Mitchell for the Titans game and then play him as a supplemental tgt against the Steelers and in the Superbowl. There's no requirement that he be able to return to "starter" status.
C) This is Belichick. Never say never.

 

[Chris Stevenson]

Grissom is one of a couple-three players on the roster who's a sure bet to clear waivers so that he can be re-signed to the PS (there's actually considerable value to that). For the first two weeks of the season, he was waived to the PS so that the Pats could keep a couple injured players on the active roster after cutdowns to make them eligible for IR-return. He was waived back to the PS when Bennett was claimed from the Packers (and while Slater, Ebner and King were all healthy). He was promoted again as soon as Ebner was injured.



There are a lot of different specific jobs on ST units that all need to be done well. Not all of them involve being the first down the field to make a tackle.



At what specific job(s), and based on what specific ST expertise, aside from being able to read tackle stats?

I'm a bit surprised that you appear not to understand these things.

Oh, I understand it plenty. Just don't see how Grissom in all of his time here, has done anything of impact.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Meanwhile, another LB, Trevor Reilly, with pure 3-4 experience and the team short on LBs for that due to injury, has shown more positive things here overall in a very short time compared to what Grissom has done.

He's the Jake Bequette of the last few years.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

I believe someone mentioned earlier that Valentine might be a surprise return, but Valentine was placed on IR in September. He's not eligible to return, since McClellin and Mitchell took those two spots.

 

[Chris Stevenson]

If Mitchell does not play this weekend, then he is out for the season. DR against the Titans is the game where he could shake off rust, no way Belichick lets unprepared player go out against the Steelers or in the SB.

Agreed.

Maybe get a nice lead and then start filtering him in.

 

[maineman209]

Well we are just speculating but Britt, with zero experience in the system, played after a handful of practices. I think that MM with 2 weeks of practices, 2 training camps, and a successful season with Brady could give more than Britt. For the same reasons, he could also offer more than Dorsett. Anything is possible, but I do not think BB designated him just to take some practice snaps. And with a couple of games under his belt, who knows what he might offer for the SB...

I think BB designated Mitchell in order to determine if he is able to contribute more than Britt and/or Dorsett for the playoffs. There's no way he could determine that without seeing Mitchell in practice with the other guys. And there's also no way he'd have designated Mitchell unless there was some potential for him to contribute more.

However, that's merely potential until he's proved enough in practice. It's not guaranteed.

 

[Mack Herron]

I think BB designated Mitchell in order to determine if he is able to contribute more than Britt and/or Dorsett for the playoffs. There's no way he could determine that without seeing Mitchell in practice with the other guys. And there's also no way he'd have designated Mitchell unless there was some potential for him to contribute more.

However, that's merely potential until he's proved enough in practice. It's not guaranteed.

Well I didn't offer any guarantees. Only saying that it is a distinct possibility. Not even as far fetched as some other moves we have seen.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I believe someone mentioned earlier that Valentine might be a surprise return, but Valentine was placed on IR in September. He's not eligible to return, since McClellin and Mitchell took those two spots.

Yep. It is an impossibility for VV to return this year.

 

[jah]

Oh, I understand it plenty. Just don't see how Grissom in all of his time here, has done anything of impact.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Meanwhile, another LB, Trevor Reilly, with pure 3-4 experience and the team short on LBs for that due to injury, has shown more positive things here overall in a very short time compared to what Grissom has done.

He's the Jake Bequette of the last few years.

He's like Bequette except occasionally gets snaps and will record a coverage sack in garbage time.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

One scout thinks getting Hogan back is critical.
These four recipes for beating Brady are basically the same - pressure up the middle, play mostly but not entirely press man, and flood the middle of the field and take your chances with Cooks.

Opponents need to pressure Brady . . . and keep him off the field

For me Burkhead {Edit: was Gillislee} is actually key - he's the closest to Edelman in short-area quickness.

 

[maineman209]

Oh, I understand it plenty. Just don't see how Grissom in all of his time here, has done anything of impact.

Nothing more, nothing less.

There are a lot of ways in which players like Grissom contribute significant value without making whatever it is that you define as "impact". You'd have a much richer experience following the Pats and football in general if you made the effort to try to undersand that.

Meanwhile, another LB, Trevor Reilly, with pure 3-4 experience and the team short on LBs for that due to injury, has shown more positive things here overall in a very short time compared to what Grissom has done.

The 30-year-old Reilly, in six games, 57 D-snaps and 94 ST-snaps has contributed 3 tackles and 2 assists.

He's the Jake Bequette of the last few years.

Nice cliche.

In two seasons with the Pats, Bequette contributed 43 D-snaps and 36 ST-snaps.
In three seasons with the Pats, Grissom has contributed 167 D-snaps and 545 ST-snaps.

 

[maineman209]

 

[TBR]

One scout thinks getting Hogan back is critical.
These four recipes for beating Brady are basically the same - pressure up the middle, play mostly but not entirely press man, and flood the middle of the field and take your chances with Cooks.
Opponents need to pressure Brady . . . and keep him off the field
For me Gillislee is actually key - he's the closest to Edelman in short-area quickness.

Did you mean Lewis? Or Burkhead?

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Did you mean Lewis? Or Burkhead?

Sorry - Burkhead. Up too late last night.

 

[Mack Herron]

Oh well. Here's hoping Hogan resembles his healthy self.

 

[maineman209]

Oh well. Here's hoping Hogan resembles his healthy self.

If true, I hope it's mostly because Hogan, Dorsett and Britt were simply better at this point.

 

[FortressX]

I am not counting on Hogan till I see him out there.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

Boy do we need hogan healthy and 100 percent now after this Mitchell news. Let's hope so.

 

[Mack Herron]

If true, I hope it's mostly because Hogan, Dorsett and Britt were simply better at this point.

Britt I expect will be inactive. Dorsett is what he is. My inner optimistic self interprets this as a positive sign for Hogan.

 

[Tony2046]

For cripes sake, if not now, then when? Mitchell returing has to be the biggest tease of the 2017-18 season. And really, I know he's young (you're young, you can adjust) but how much can he really bring to the table at this point? He'd have to play mostly as a decoy this weekend and get back into "game shape" then I guess they'd go from there.

Back in the preseason @AtomicDawg posted a clip during one of the joint team training weeks of MM juking the crap out of a CB for an easy catch. It was Edelman like impressive. If he can do that he will be an asset. Great hands on top of that.

 

[ohiopatsfan]

If there is any doubt about Mitchell's viability, I would opt to IR him. The playoffs are not the time to experiment with a player who may not be physically ready to perform.