NEW ARTICLE: MORSE: Patriots Secondary Analysis, Comings and Goings

[PatsFans.com Article]

MORSE: Patriots Secondary Analysis, Comings and Goings
Mark Morse

Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

The post MORSE: Patriots Secondary Analysis, Comings and Goings appeared first on PatsFans.com.

Continue reading...

(If you enjoyed this entry - hit the Thumbs Up/If not, hit the Thumbs down in this thread)

 

[captain stone]

"...Isaiah Bolden was drafted in the 7th round last season to be a contributor on Special Teams... By all accounts from OTAs, Bolden has been one of the fastest players in camp. He is expected to take the place of Matt Slater on Special Teams."

- Why in the world do we need anybody else to replace Slater? Schooler is More than Enough. If the dude can't play another position at a backup-caliber level, then I don't ****ing want him.


"...Marcellus Dial was selected by the Patriots in the 6th round pick (#180) this year. The 6’ 190 lbs CB out of South Carolina has similar traits to Shaun Wade. Dial had a 40” Vertical Leap at the Combine. His 4.46 40 times is good and his skill set may be more of a Slot Corner."

- What part of 6 feet tall, 190 pounds with a 40" vertical & a 4.46 40-time screams "Slot CB" to you? That profile more closely resembles an Outside CB to me. He needs to be tried there first before even thinking of moving him elsewhere.


- Marty McPoo is a Linebacker and NOT a Safety. Period.

- I would've let Uncle Dugg walk and instead signed a Real Free Safety; because while Jabril Peppers is a good FS especially for his size, he would be a Pro Bowl-caliber Strong Safety here.


"...Jaylin Hawkins was signed as a futures contract by the Patriots last year when he wasn’t re-signed by the LA Chargers. Hawkins, a Strong Safety, was a 4th round pick (#134) by Atlanta in 20221. At California he was a 4-year starter who started 38 games and accumulated 156 tackles and 10 Interception in his career."

- Hawkins was claimed off waivers by the Chargers in October after he was waived by Atlanta the previous day... He then signed with the Pats in March as a UFA after his rookie contract - which he signed after the 2020 draft - expired.

 

[TheRainMaker]

The defense is what it is. Bill had spent many years allocating resources towards the defense while the offense was eroding.

Now it’s the offense’s turn, so the defense is going to have to make do with what it has.

With that said, Mayo shouldn’t go into the season without a FS.

They should’ve let Dugger walk and Peppers take over at SS.

Someone needs to be adequate enough to play opposite Gonzalez, so Jonathan Jones plays inside.

Marcus Jones should focus on being a returner and only play slot CB if JJ gets hurt.

I would be absolutely shocked and disappointed if Mayo keeps Mapu at S. Bill rarely puts players in bad positions, but trying him at single high S at times was idiotic. He was so bad he makes Chris Carter and Tavon Wilson look serviceable. He needs to do a better job of diagnosing plays as he looks like Madden AI watching players run by.

 

[mgteich]

Now it’s the offense’s turn, so the defense is going to have to make do with what it has.

Except for finding a CB to play opposite Gonzo and a free safety, right?

I agree with your analysis.

For the Defense, we need to focus on draft future studs and extending our own:
Godchaux, Wise, Judon, Tavai, Jon Jones, and Peppers

 

[mgteich]

"...Isaiah Bolden was drafted in the 7th round last season to be a contributor on Special Teams... By all accounts from OTAs, Bolden has been one of the fastest players in camp. He is expected to take the place of Matt Slater on Special Teams."

- Why in the world do we need anybody else to replace Slater? Schooler is More than Enough. If the dude can't play another position at a backup-caliber level, then I don't ****ing want him.


"...Marcellus Dial was selected by the Patriots in the 6th round pick (#180) this year. The 6’ 190 lbs CB out of South Carolina has similar traits to Shaun Wade. Dial had a 40” Vertical Leap at the Combine. His 4.46 40 times is good and his skill set may be more of a Slot Corner."

- What part of 6 feet tall, 190 pounds with a 40" vertical & a 4.46 40-time screams "Slot CB" to you? That profile more closely resembles an Outside CB to me. He needs to be tried there first before even thinking of moving him elsewhere.


- Marty McPoo is a Linebacker and NOT a Safety. Period.

- I would've let Uncle Dugg walk and instead signed a Real Free Safety; because while Jabril Peppers is a good FS especially for his size, he would be a Pro Bowl-caliber Strong Safety here.


"...Jaylin Hawkins was signed as a futures contract by the Patriots last year when he wasn’t re-signed by the LA Chargers. Hawkins, a Strong Safety, was a 4th round pick (#134) by Atlanta in 20221. At California he was a 4-year starter who started 38 games and accumulated 156 tackles and 10 Interception in his career."

- Hawkins was claimed off waivers by the Chargers in October after he was waived by Atlanta the previous day... He then signed with the Pats in March as a UFA after his rookie contract - which he signed after the 2020 draft - expired.

In last year's camp, they liked Bolden as an outside CB. As a #5 or #6 CB, it is all about special teams. Bolden was a top kick returner in college. Is it enough to be a prospect at outside CB, a kick returner, and a STer on at least four of the ST units. I think so.

HOWEVER, I am fine if the rest beat him out: Wilson, Austin, Dial and/or Wade.
We have lots of room on the roster after the SIX locks: Gonzo, Jon Jones, M Jones, Peppers, Dugger, Hawkins

For me (and for you), there is plenty of room for a free agent or two to compete with these 5 for 3-4 roster spots.

 

[mgteich]

If I understand correctly, Pepper is our free safety and was the #5 free safety in the league.

The conclusion is that we have a critical need for a free safety, presumably one who would take reps from Peppers or Dugger.

????????

I am fine with adding a free safety, especially as a backup to Peppers in that role. Is Hawkins that man? Is Bledsoe? Is Wade? But, let's ne clear. This is NOT a critical need. We have a TOP safety group with Peppers, Dugger and Hawkins.
===============
The issue is backup safety. We often played three. If Hawkins is one of the three, we are thin on backups, if we think of Mapu as a backup to Dugger at his hybrid role at SS.

 

[DaBruinz]

"...Isaiah Bolden was drafted in the 7th round last season to be a contributor on Special Teams... By all accounts from OTAs, Bolden has been one of the fastest players in camp. He is expected to take the place of Matt Slater on Special Teams."

- Why in the world do we need anybody else to replace Slater? Schooler is More than Enough. If the dude can't play another position at a backup-caliber level, then I don't ****ing want him.

Why would they need to replace Slater? Because Schooler was already ON THE TEAM at the same time. So they need a GUNNER. For all your blathering about your football smarts, you're aren't acting like you know anything. No one cares what you "****ing want". Your wants don't mean anything and we're tired of hearing the same blathering BS.

Maybe if you weren't so high or drunk all the time, you'd have noticed that Bolden was going to be the #3 Outside CB behind Gonzalez and Jon Jones. He also has the ability to play FS. Not that facts ever mattered to you.

"...Marcellus Dial was selected by the Patriots in the 6th round pick (#180) this year. The 6’ 190 lbs CB out of South Carolina has similar traits to Shaun Wade. Dial had a 40” Vertical Leap at the Combine. His 4.46 40 times is good and his skill set may be more of a Slot Corner."

- What part of 6 feet tall, 190 pounds with a 40" vertical & a 4.46 40-time screams "Slot CB" to you? That profile more closely resembles an Outside CB to me. He needs to be tried there first before even thinking of moving him elsewhere.

Look around the league. There are more and more "Slot WR" who are in the 6ft range than the 5'8 range. What screams of dial being an Outside corner isn't his height, vertical or 40 time. It's his 3-cone (7.29) and his short shuttle (4.42). Those are not good agility numbers.

- Marty McPoo is a Linebacker and NOT a Safety. Period.

Yeah. Guy played SAFETY most of his college career. But YOU know better. NOT.

- I would've let Uncle Dugg walk and instead signed a Real Free Safety; because while Jabril Peppers is a good FS especially for his size, he would be a Pro Bowl-caliber Strong Safety here.

That's because you're a lemming who only regurgitates what you get from pundits. You don't have an iota of ability to evaluate people yourself.

BTW, They could have EASILY signed a Free Safety AND kept Dugger. OH. They did that with Hawkins.. You know. A guy who played more FREE SAFETY in Atlanta than he did in the Box. Could they have signed someone else? SURE. They still might. But there might be a reason that they didn't. Or couldn't. You seem to forget that Free Agents can CHOOSE not to sign with teams.

Hawkins FS Snap Counts
2021: 212/462 (45.9%) - Only 134 snaps in the Box as a Strong Safety.
2022: 587/955 (61.5%) - 233 snaps in the Box as a Strong Safety
2023: 111/137 (81%) - Only 13 snaps in the Box as a Strong Safety.

 

[DaBruinz]

@Mark Morse - Seriously. How did you FUBAR so badly the signing of Hawkins? He wasn't signed to a Future's Contract because he was not a Street Free Agent. He was a UFA. There are numerous sources including my Roster Sheet that would tell you this.

 

[Real fan 02]

The defense is what it is. Bill had spent many years allocating resources towards the defense while the offense was eroding.

Now it’s the offense’s turn, so the defense is going to have to make do with what it has.

With that said, Mayo shouldn’t go into the season without a FS.

They should’ve let Dugger walk and Peppers take over at SS.

Someone needs to be adequate enough to play opposite Gonzalez, so Jonathan Jones plays inside.

Marcus Jones should focus on being a returner and only play slot CB if JJ gets hurt.

I would be absolutely shocked and disappointed if Mayo keeps Mapu at S. Bill rarely puts players in bad positions, but trying him at single high S at times was idiotic. He was so bad he makes Chris Carter and Tavon Wilson look serviceable. He needs to do a better job of diagnosing plays as he looks like Madden AI watching players run by.

Agree. The defense has more than enough right now. They have depth at every position pretty much. The reason peppers was masquerading as FS last season becuase we frankly didn't have one. Dmac retired and played FS at a high level so allocating someone to play FS is a priority.. Dugger and peppers are the enforcers in the secondary and need to be free to roam around the LOS and punish ball carriers ,TEs and running QBs.. the defense is set. It got to be all about the offense coming together in camp and at least looking marginally better than last season. This D cannot be on the field all the time like Last year.

 

[Real fan 02]

Except for finding a CB to play opposite Gonzo and a free safety, right?

I agree with your analysis.

For the Defense, we need to focus on draft future studs and extending our own:
Godchaux, Wise, Judon, Tavai, Jon Jones, and Peppers

Absolutely agree. We have plenty left to extend out own guys, and that's exactly what the team is doing. Peppers in my opinion should be up for an extension first and foremost this guy is the 2024 version of Rodney. Jon Jones just got a 3 yr. Deal, Tavai got an extension last season, wise could be extended.. Godchaux is in talks?

 

[TheRainMaker]

Except for finding a CB to play opposite Gonzo and a free safety, right?

Yes. Those are the most pressing needs that can be address via Justin Simmons and/or Stephon Gilmore. There's nobody on offense that is worth signing until possible camp cuts.

 

[Real fan 02]

Yes. Those are the most pressing needs that can be address via Justin Simmons and/or Stephon Gilmore. There's nobody on offense that is worth signing until possible camp cuts.

Wich my hunch I'd those veteran players available are waiting it out for a camp injury and likely trying to wait until the end of camp to sign somewhere... I'd take both.. we have the cap room to sign gilly to a 1yr 7 million deal and Simmons to a 1 yr deal also..