Are we set at LB?

[mgteich]

Dial plays on ST, S, CB. I like Bolden size and speed. He will have a chance as we will be playing more DBs on the field more this season.

OK.

You want to count on Bolden and Dial,

I want to count on Woodson.

We'll see who gets the reps if there are injuries or when we put 8 DB's on the field.
========
As a side issue, your method probably means that we will need to cut Epps or Hawkins rather than Bolden or Dial.

 

[Real fan 02]

OK.

You want to count on Bolden and Dial,

I want to count on Woodson.

We'll see who gets the reps if there are injuries or when we put 8 DB's on the field.
========
As a side issue, your method probably means that we will need to cut Epps or Hawkins rather than Bolden or Dial.

I want count on Woodson being the field safety 20 yards off the LOS. Epps was signed as a camp body, depth player.

 

[signbabybrady]

I want count on Woodson being the field safety 20 yards off the LOS. Epps was signed as a camp body, depth player.

He's possibly going to be a better free safety than Diggs or Peppers but from what I read after the draft he was very versatile in college. He played FS, SS, Nickel. He's very good vs the run and tackling. He excels at covering TEs. And add in a little nickel work and it quickly conjures a player who is probably better closer to the line of scrimmage than 20 yards deep.

 

[mgteich]

I want count on Woodson being the field safety 20 yards off the LOS. Epps was signed as a camp body, depth player.

really?
And who were our backup safeties when we signed Epps. ANSWER: Pettus

Epps was signed to be one of our backup safeties, or at worst compete for one of those position. A week later, Hawkins was re-signed to compete for one of our backup safety spots.
=======
Going into the draft, we had
starter: PEPPERS, DUGGER
backup: EPPS
backup/STER: HAWKINS, PETTUS
========
I suspect that Vrabel was OK going into the season with this group if no one became available during the draft or camp. Epps and Hawkins were not signed as camp fodder.
===========
The Woodson was available in the 4th, a player who could backup at multiple positions.

 

[mgteich]

I want count on Woodson being the field safety 20 yards off the LOS. Epps was signed as a camp body, depth player.

just cut Peppers and Woodson will play lots in that role,

 

[Real fan 02]

He's possibly going to be a better free safety than Diggs or Peppers but from what I read after the draft he was very versatile in college. He played FS, SS, Nickel. He's very good vs the run and tackling. He excels at covering TEs. And add in a little nickel work and it quickly conjures a player who is probably better closer to the line of scrimmage than 20 yards deep.

Yes I saw his bio very impressive. Thank you for that summary. From what i remember Vrabel saying about him was that he loved his range. While all those things are excellent we already have 2 excellent safeties that thrive up near the LOS.. need that field general that hawk eyed guy who can make QBs pay for trying to attack us deepe. I see him in that role as a rookie. Now going forward once say peppers probably leaves as he's the oldest i can see Woodson assuming bigger role. Vrabel likely won't put too much on the kid as a rookie especially when you have 2 studs at S already.

 

[Real fan 02]

really?
And who were our safeties when we signed Epps. Epps was signed to compete for one of the backup safety roster spots.

Are we not allowed to have depth at S? Your right just cut peppers and Dugger...we don't need them.

 

[mgteich]

Are we not allowed to have depth at S? Your right just cut peppers and Dugger...we don't need them.

I'm 100% fine with Woodson as a backup free safety.

The issue is where will he be able to be able have reps this year. You restrict him to being the 3rd safety, so much so that you need to say that Epps was signed as camp fodder and is no competition for Woodson.

I think that he is far more valuable. I think that he and Austin are the 6th and 7th DB from the start, and Woodson is the 5th corner (getting lots of reps if any of the top 4 are injured, especially Jones).

 

[Real fan 02]

I'm 100% fine with Woodson as a backup free safety.

The issue is where will he be able to be able have reps this year. You restrict him to being the 3rd safety, so much so that you need to say that Epps was signed as camp fodder and is no competition for Woodson.

I think that he is far more valuable. I think that he and Austin are the 6th and 7th DB from the start, and Woodson is the 5th corner (getting lots of reps if any of the top 4 are injured, especially Jones).

We will likely be playing 3 safeties is why im including him. Unless Hawkins somehow turns into a starting Caliber FS. I expect Woodson to earn that role. Also he is a rookie so Williams isn't going to overload him with responsibility especially when he's is playing alongside 2 great players already. I will tell you my friend Woodson is the type of player we've been lacking at FS since McCourty left. He has 2 alpha Dawgs on the outside in gonzo and Davis, an aggressive, stout front 7 . He will have plenty of passes to run back for pick 6s. Question when you say nickel do you mean the formation or nickel CB?

 

[Real fan 02]

just cut Peppers and Woodson will play lots in that role,

ALL.. of our young guys will stand to be better with top notch ccoaching now back in Foxborough.

 

[Real fan 02]

really?
And who were our backup safeties when we signed Epps. ANSWER: Pettus

Epps was signed to be one of our backup safeties, or at worst compete for one of those position. A week later, Hawkins was re-signed to compete for one of our backup safety spots.
=======
Going into the draft, we had
starter: PEPPERS, DUGGER
backup: EPPS
backup/STER: HAWKINS, PETTUS
========
I suspect that Vrabel was OK going into the season with this group if no one became available during the draft or camp. Epps and Hawkins were not signed as camp fodder.
===========
The Woodson was available in the 4th, a player who could backup at multiple positions.

Patriots LB Christian Elliss continues push for starting role after transformative offseason

The undrafted linebacker has been released six times in his five-year career -- but he finally broke through with a sizable deal this offseason.

www.espn.com

 

[Wozzy]

Agreed. I also believe why vrabel took a big approach to strengthen the DL.. Tonga is an upgrade over Godchaux.. guy's a Holgthi Naghta type presence against the run.. big on farmer guy can rush and play the run. Barmore looks excellent. Him remaining healthy is key as you mentioned. While I do like the 2019 defense our LBs are faster and more athletic.

Not sure Tonga is Ngata good, or even Godchaux good, if he was he’d probably be more productive than he has been. Might be a spot NT for them… we’ll see.

 

[Real fan 02]

Not sure Tonga is Ngata good, or even Godchaux good, if he was he’d probably be more productive than he has been. Might be a spot NT for them… we’ll see.

Godchaux was never good IMO.. he's showed flashed here and there but never lived up to being this so called run stuffer. He's was serviceable, nothing more than that. Tonga is a beast in the running game he played out in Arizona so many didn't get to see alot of Arizona games. My reference to Ngata was just saying the affect he could have on the running game playing with Barmore, white, Williams, farmer..Ngata benefited from Lewis and suggs..

 

[Real fan 02]

Not sure Tonga is Ngata good, or even Godchaux good, if he was he’d probably be more productive than he has been. Might be a spot NT for them… we’ll see.

 

[patfanken]

g.

As I've posted before we can't just write off all our players we need to develop them and allow them to reach thier potential under real coaching.

I don't think you can say this enough to fans. You CANNOT become a consistent championship contender unless you can develop so called JAGS into viable long-term pros who contribute on a regular basis.

You cannot win with JUST stars and big names. It's a 53 man roster and only a half dozen guys who are on it are really "stars". The rest are simply really good football players and a dozen or so good prospects who are trying to BECOME really good football players.

Fans sometimes forget these two critical elements of the game. One the vast majority of NFL rosters are made up of "JAGs". And two, players DO have the capacity to improve throughout their NFL careers.

We were fortunate to have the best example of this be our QB for 20 very successful years. We forget now that Tom Brady was the 4th QB on the roster his rookie year and a "adequate game manager" for the next 4 years before he improved his game to be considered a "star". Some would even say longer than that.

Finally, I have always said that coaching matters more in football than any other team sport. Who knows what Tom Brady would have become if he hadn't had the consistent continuity he had with the Pats, or if had gone to some **** show team like the Lions or Jets in that era. Systems matter. What if Trevor Lawrence had been drafted by the Niners rather than Jags, maybe he'd be a "star" now, rather than a talented guy who has rarely seemed like he's a top 5 QB, even though all the "talent" is there,

 

[Huckleberry1]

If our base is 4-2-5, then I suggest that there is no need for NINE OL's as you list. We need a 10th DB instead of a 9th LB. So, there is no need for that UDFA or addition. HOWEVER, I believe that Gibbens might very well beat out Mapu for a roster spot.

If their defensive base is a 4-2-5 then there is no need for a 9th OL? I’m stupid, explain the logic behind that statement?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Bolden is an interesting prospect for that 4th CB/depth guy. He has the size and speed but he's not lightning quick. But I think he could be very effective in the right match ups.

This is his 3rd year and we COULD see an improvement that will make him a regular contributor or at least a core ST's guy. IIRC he's a 6'3 sub 4.4 athlete.

Bolden is a great athlete. Not cerebral. More of a special teams guy.

 

[captain stone]

Bolden is a great athlete. Not cerebral. More of a special teams guy.

He's a fast, explosive dude for his size, but his lateral skills - i.e. what you need to do well to be an NFL CB - are Non-Existent. As in, he doesn't have any.

 

[mgteich]

If their defensive base is a 4-2-5 then there is no need for a 9th OL? I’m stupid, explain the logic behind that statement?

there's a limit based on how many LB will usually be on the field. Sure, we could have 9 LB's or 10. But there is a balance. When we run a nickel, IMO, we NEED 10 defensive backs plus Schooler (unless we carry only 24 of Offense (a really bad idea with OL and WR situation.

That likely leaves 14 up front.

If we start 4 DL's (including DE White) that leaves 2 LB's. Even if we argue that that we often have 4 LB's on the field, EIGHT roster positions should give us plenty of backups. If we normally had 4 DB's on the field, there might be more need for a 9th LB.

But that is just my way of thinking about it. Some would exclude DE's and call them EDGE players. I have never done that with other DE's like Wise, but it certainly is a reasonable way of breaking down the roster. And THEN, some call those EDGE players LB's, and leave us with 5 DL's.

 

[patfanken]

Bolden is a great athlete. Not cerebral. More of a special teams guy.

That's a bit of a presumption, although it may be true. At any rate experience, good coaching, and reps build cerebral abilities. Who knows he just might just get all three this TC and turn out to be one of the CB survivors and play well.

We will just have to wait and see.