Our Secondary

[Kontradiction]

There is no way Bill would pick him up even as a FA, let alone give up draft capital for him to a conference rival. And this is coming from someone who loved his game coming out of college. But his attitude problems have not gone away with age. If anything, they seem to be getting worse.

 

[mgteich]

So, we'll use free agency (including re-signing our own) to address OT, and RB?

If so, I'm generally OK with using the draft as you say.

draft.......there are plenty of guys with plenty of experience....I would use the entire draft on LB's and DB's.........really just need to bring in some youth to push the guys who are here......JJones may be ready for full time, but bring in someone to develop.
....need some fresh legs behind mccourty,chung, harmon

but this team won an SB with Moreland, Gay, Poteat, and Troy Brown playing corner.......why? because the LB's were awesome

 

[mgteich]

There is no way Bill would pick him up even as a FA

1) Belichick and the coaches can deal with players who have attitude problems elsewhere.

2) You wouldn't sign Peters as a free agent to add to Gilmore, Rowe and the injured J Jones? I guess we also have some Practice Squad players and C Jones coming back.

 

[mgteich]

Yes, LB and the secondary needs new blood over the next couple of years. Drafting for the future make sense, as a resource-reasonable way to approach this.

That being said, I suspect that we need mid-level free agent additions for a year or two.

draft.......there are plenty of guys with plenty of experience....I would use the entire draft on LB's and DB's.........really just need to bring in some youth to push the guys who are here......JJones may be ready for full time, but bring in someone to develop.
....need some fresh legs behind mccourty,chung, harmon

but this team won an SB with Moreland, Gay, Poteat, and Troy Brown playing corner.......why? because the LB's were awesome

 

[Kontradiction]

1) Belichick and the coaches can deal with players who have attitude problems elsewhere.

2) You wouldn't sign Peters as a free agent to add to Gilmore, Rowe and the injured J Jones? I guess we also have some Practice Squad players and C Jones coming back.

Yes, but not Peters. Peters is a prima donna and his attitude problems have only gotten worse since his Washington days. He's also been known to verbally assault coaches. That'll go over like a fart in a crowded elevator in New England.

 

[IllegalContact]

So, we'll use free agency (including re-signing our own) to address OT, and RB?

If so, I'm generally OK with using the draft as you say.

yes....we have good leadership/guidance with the existing secondary to get some decent talent up to speed quick for depth.....also, we have jjones and platooning him with fairly high draft pick will have to do.

keep solder because we don't need a rookie LT out there on day 1 protecting Brady's blindside.......my hope is that the injury to Garcia allowed him to gain some mass and be in waiting for when needed.

RB.....business as ususal....use imagination more than money.....we have white and I have no interest in paying lewis RB1 money....as dynamic as he is, he is overdue for something on his body snapping

in general, I don't think there is value in bringing on guys who need developing on offense and vets stand to be more productive with Brady

we've gone circles on LB but I think at this time it is the biggest weakness on the team.......Hightower, Van Noy....neither is totally an every down guy though they are decent....the rest are a combo of too small or too unaware.....we need to draft some quality there as I really don't see much help in FA

 

[Kontradiction]

1) Belichick and the coaches can deal with players who have attitude problems elsewhere.

2) You wouldn't sign Peters as a free agent to add to Gilmore, Rowe and the injured J Jones? I guess we also have some Practice Squad players and C Jones coming back.

Follow up: he's been traded to the Rams.

Like I said, BB wouldn't touch him with a 10 foot pole.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Follow up: he's been traded to the Rams.

Like I said, BB wouldn't touch him with a 10 foot pole.

Nope, guy is a loose cannon. But he can play some corner. If he plays up to his talent level that’s a very good defense they got going there

 

[IllegalContact]

Yes, LB and the secondary needs new blood over the next couple of years. Drafting for the future make sense, as a resource-reasonable way to approach this.

That being said, I suspect that we need mid-level free agent additions for a year or two.

I actually think we are relatively fine in the secondary providing BB doesn't again try to make a guy who plays man play zone which then causes all the dominoes to fall.....we don't need to be overengineering around players strengths

Right now:
CB - Gilmore
S - Mccourty
S - Harmon/Chung
CB - Rowe/JJones

we need to highly draft:
A - a CB who can be a CB2 as well as slot (Isiah Oliver?)
B - an able S with a bit more size (Marcus Allen, Ronnie Harrison)
C - OLB/ILB Leighton Vander Esch (Uhrlacher lite) ..... he can cover, he can rush the passe
D - DT/DE/OLB/ILB Hercules Ma'taafa (Bruschi lite) ..... he can make messes, insane 1st step

get the rest somewhere else

 

[Kontradiction]

Nope, guy is a loose cannon. But he can play some corner. If he plays up to his talent level that’s a very good defense they got going there

There's no questioning his natural talent. It's there. The problem is the 15 yard penalties that come with him and divisive attitude he brings to the locker room.

 

[maineman209]

Yes, but not Peters. Peters is a prima donna and his attitude problems have only gotten worse since his Washington days. He's also been known to verbally assault coaches. That'll go over like a fart in a crowded elevator in New England.

Meh.

I've been banned from elevators for years. No big deal. Stairs are good exercise, anyway.

 

[mgteich]

You're depending on rookies as serious contributors, unless there are no injuries. Even then, they will be on the field on 3rd and very long.

I actually think we are relatively fine in the secondary providing BB doesn't again try to make a guy who plays man play zone which then causes all the dominoes to fall.....we don't need to be overengineering around players strengths

Right now:
CB - Gilmore
S - Mccourty
S - Harmon/Chung
CB - Rowe/JJones

we need to highly draft:
A - a CB who can be a CB2 as well as slot (Isiah Oliver?)
B - an able S with a bit more size (Marcus Allen, Ronnie Harrison)
C - OLB/ILB Leighton Vander Esch (Uhrlacher lite) ..... he can cover, he can rush the passe
D - DT/DE/OLB/ILB Hercules Ma'taafa (Bruschi lite) ..... he can make messes, insane 1st step

get the rest somewhere else

 

[doesntmatter1]

Fixing our secondary doesn't seem that hard. First step is getting rid of Richards. A healthy J. Jones would also go a long way. I would personally throw in the towel on Cyrus.

Lastly, find a new Logan Ryan. Ryan was slower than I would like but I have always liked his overall game and his jack of all trade skill set was truly missed. Very solid in run support and could play anywhere while picking up a few ints along the way. Though he was often our weak link, he was super consistent and we could work around him. There were many games where Ryan was constantly the target and this year's defense in general missed having some clue of where the ball was going.

 

[RayClay]

I'm not sure how close he is, but I liked Cyrus as a corner, and thought he had the ability to be a very good slot man. I still think he can be a player-- it would be a big bonus if he can return to health and return punts without the yips.

I would imagine Jordan Richards is in camp next year, as he is a valuable special teamer. My hope is he spends all of his time in camp as a linebacker.

They kept 2 safeties on their practice squad the whole season, and I wouldn't be surprised to see those guys in the mix for roster spots

We have a spot for a 211 lb linebacker?

 

[maineman209]

Fixing our secondary doesn't seem that hard. First step is getting rid of Richards. A healthy J. Jones would also go a long way. I would personally throw in the towel on Cyrus.

Lastly, find a new Logan Ryan. Ryan was slower than I would like but I have always liked his overall game and his jack of all trade skill set was truly missed. Very solid in run support and could play anywhere while picking up a few ints along the way. Though he was often our weak link, he was super consistent and we could work around him. There were many games where Ryan was constantly the target and this year's defense in general missed having some clue of where the ball was going.

Richards will be playing STO once the Pats have a more capable safety on the roster. "Getting rid" of Richards before that guy in under contract doesn't "fix" anything. It just leaves an open spot on the roster (and on special teams) and doesn't save squat in cap space.

Not sure why anyone would want to dump Cy Jones after only one season. He certainly showed some improvement over his rookie season during his second Camp. Cutting him also leaves an open spot on the roster and saves next to nothing in cap space.

2017 cornerback snaps counts:
Butler = 1037
Gilmore = 816
J. Jones = 439
Rowe = 259

The Pats may already have the next Logan Ryan on the roster. Or, even the next Malcolm Butler.

 

[ashley]

Getting rid of Roberts, Richards and Lee will be a huge part in fixing our D. Hopefully we can resign Solder and focus the first few picks of the draft on defense.....I don't care if it's cb, lb, dt or de, all could use upgrades.

 

[doesntmatter1]

Richards will be playing STO once the Pats have a more capable safety on the roster. "Getting rid" of Richards before that guy in under contract doesn't "fix" anything. It just leaves an open spot on the roster (and on special teams) and doesn't save squat in cap space.

Not sure why anyone would want to dump Cy Jones after only one season. He certainly showed some improvement over his rookie season during his second Camp. Cutting him also leaves an open spot on the roster and saves next to nothing in cap space.

2017 cornerback snaps counts:
Butler = 1037
Gilmore = 816
J. Jones = 439
Rowe = 259

The Pats may already have the next Logan Ryan on the roster. Or, even the next Malcolm Butler.

Finding special teams players seems like the easiest thing in the world for us. So Richards isn't vital imo. I can already see from his time on defense that he isn't the greatest tackler and I don't recall him doing anything worthwhile on the few returns that actually happen to assume he is on King's, Ebner, Jones, Slater, Bolden etc level. He is addition by subtraction.

Why would I throw in the towel on Cyrus? Deja vu with past corners like Wheatley and Wilhite are my primary reasons. I could obviously be wrong but most corners that suck don't really seem to turn it around. I'd rather take my chances in finding another udfa like we did in Butler and J. Jones. I'm not rooting for guys to fail but highly drafted guys do bust and the quicker we move on the better. Right now, Cyrus is Aaron Dobson. 2nd round guy that doesn't drop passes in college routinely drops or double caught everything thrown his way in the NFL. Cyrus 2nd round pick who was the best punt returner in the nation was a fumble waiting to happen for us.

 

[captain stone]

Richards will be playing STO once the Pats have a more capable safety on the roster...
...The Pats may already have the next Logan Ryan on the roster. Or, even the next Malcolm Butler.

The hope here is that Glitch will be playing STO Somewhere Else once the Pats have a more capable Safety - or 2 - on the roster...
...and Jonathan Jones is not stout enough to play the roles that Ryan & Butler played here. He is what he is, a possible dime/slot CB (#3 for his ceiling) & #2 Gunner on STs.

 

[Love The Drake]

Getting rid of Roberts, Richards and Lee will be a huge part in fixing our D. Hopefully we can resign Solder and focus the first few picks of the draft on defense.....I don't care if it's cb, lb, dt or de, all could use upgrades.

Why Lee I think he could make a leap with another training camp

 

[The Brandon Five]

Remember at the start of the 2017 season when we though the Pats had one of the best secondaries in the league? That was great.