Our Defense is NOT Loaded; our BACKUPS are weak.

[TheRainMaker]

Mike Vrabel Needs Christian Barmore to Finish More for Patriots Defense

Drafted by the Bill Belichick administration and handed a four-year, potential $84 million extension by the abbreviated Jerod Mayo regime, Christian Barmore found himself in need to prove his NFL worth to a third coach in 2025, Mike Vrabel. The Alabama product overcame the blood-clot issue that...

sports.yahoo.com

Apparently posters here don't think so because he's amazing at "splitting double teams" and putting "pressure on the QB", so that's good enough. Barmore himself has been irritated he's had a hard time getting to the QB which actually started his rookie season. Vrabel is being too nice propping him up, but I've seen a guy who's had a very difficult time shedding in obvious passing downs since his return. The 3 sacks in 21 games prove that. He's known as a pass rushing DT who can't get to the QB and isn't very good at stopping the run. There are many guys around the NFL who are more productive and make way less than him. He is on the hot seat.

It's not surprising to see he's the team's most overpaid player....

Christian Barmore earns unflattering title due to $84 million contract

Christian Barmore was once good enough to command an $84 million extension, but he may no longer be worth that price point after a down 2025.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Water Boy]

Water Boy. Any relation to Polyanna Boy by chance?

How'd you guess?

 

[captain stone]

Apparently posters here don't think so because he's amazing at "splitting double teams" and putting "pressure on the QB", so that's good enough. Barmore himself has been irritated he's had a hard time getting to the QB which actually started his rookie season. Vrabel is being too nice propping him up, but I've seen a guy who's had a very difficult time shedding in obvious passing downs since his return. The 3 sacks in 21 games prove that. He's known as a pass rushing DT who can't get to the QB and isn't very good at stopping the run. There are many guys around the NFL who are more productive and make way less than him. He is on the hot seat.

It's not surprising to see he's the team's most overpaid player....

Christian Barmore earns unflattering title due to $84 million contract

Christian Barmore was once good enough to command an $84 million extension, but he may no longer be worth that price point after a down 2025.

sports.yahoo.com

That's a lot to pay for basically a healthier Dom Easly(injured)...

 

[Zuma]

25 Thoughts on the Patriots Heading Into the Summer Break

After taking in minicamp and OTAs, here are 25 thoughts on the state of the Patriots.

www.patriots.com

- The Patriots are also replacing their depth at linebacker, mainly third linebacker Jack Gibbens, who played 48.2% of the snaps last season. K.J. Britt is my current favorite to fill the Gibbens role after he got his hands on a few passes in coverage. Britt was solid in coverage during the spring and can contribute on special teams. Chad Muma is also in the mix and undrafted rookie Khalil Jacobs had a pass breakup in Thursday's practice.

- Cornerback is another position where the top of the depth chart could be among the league's best, but the depth needs to be sorted out. Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, and Marcus Jones are entrenched starters as a top CB trio. Charles Woods feels like he's in a middle tier on his own, then Kindle Vildor, Kobee Minor, and Karon Prunty are vying for the last few roster spots.

 

[captain stone]

25 Thoughts on the Patriots Heading Into the Summer Break

After taking in minicamp and OTAs, here are 25 thoughts on the state of the Patriots.

www.patriots.com

- The Patriots are also replacing their depth at linebacker, mainly third linebacker Jack Gibbens, who played 48.2% of the snaps last season. K.J. Britt is my current favorite to fill the Gibbens role after he got his hands on a few passes in coverage. Britt was solid in coverage during the spring and can contribute on special teams. Chad Muma is also in the mix and undrafted rookie Khalil Jacobs had a pass breakup in Thursday's practice.

- Cornerback is another position where the top of the depth chart could be among the league's best, but the depth needs to be sorted out. Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, and Marcus Jones are entrenched starters as a top CB trio. Charles Woods feels like he's in a middle tier on his own, then Kindle Vildor, Kobee Minor, and Karon Prunty are vying for the last few roster spots.

That is some scary, scary **** right there.

 

[rkarp1]

That is some scary, scary **** right there.

look, there aren't going to be pro bowlers or 1st rd picks as back up players in this league.
Woods and Britt are vet depth, that in the right scheme, could contribute.
they could also be early season options, until younger players like Prunty and Obiazor and maybe Jacobs emerge.

 

[n1997y]

look, there aren't going to be pro bowlers or 1st rd picks as back up players in this league.
Woods and Britt are vet depth, that in the right scheme, could contribute.
they could also be early season options, until younger players like Prunty and Obiazor and maybe Jacobs emerge.

And once again Dial isn’t even mentioned. IIRC he looked somewhat promising before his injury. Hoping he can overcome that setback.

 

[DaBruinz]

If the Superbowl is the only reason you're watching then that's on you.

Some of us enjoy the building part of the program.

You're right. SOME of us do enjoy the team building aspects. YOU, however, are not one of them. You've been a part of the chicken-little brigade for years. Not to mention that 99% of your takes are nothing but hot .

 

[DaBruinz]

There are few teams that are balanced enough to have depth at all positions.

But LB and CB depth are the weakness of this team.

LB is a weakness. CB depth is not. Having Woods, Vildor, and Dial back there is better depth than most teams at this time of year. The Pats also have a promising rookie in Prunty with Canada and Harris as good possibilites for the PS along with Minor.

Having 2 vets like Woods and Vildor behind your starters is something most teams wish for...

 

[DaBruinz]

I think our whole lb core sucks. I'm not a fan of Spillane and there is no one behind him. Gonna be the pats downfall this year

Spillane is an above average LB with good play-calling abilities for the defense.

No one is going to confuse Spillane with Tedy Bruschi. No one is going to confuse Spillane's play-calling abilities with Devin McCourty.

I agree that LB is an issue. It was why I wanted Jacob Rodriguez in the draft as well as Jacas. (though I didn't know about the other maladies plaguing Jacas).

Britt should be a decent Special Teams LB.

The jury is still out on Muma.

I don't care for Elliss. He's very over-rated by many. But he's terrible against the run in pass coverage (zone or otherwise). I have hoped the Pats would bring in O'Kereke, but it's likely that they are saving money for next season to help with the different deals they need to get done.

 

[DaBruinz]

Meyers is that player who has performed. but he was miscast playing with/for Tom. he never was able to gain Tom's level of trust, making him an after thought on Tom's Patriot teams.

Meyers was never able to gain Tom's trust? You make it sound like they were teammates for multiple years. They weren't. They were teammates for 1 year. When Meyers was a UDFA rookie. And yet Meyers still saw 41 targets. 5th most on the team and 4th amongst WRs.

Meyers saw 24 targets after week 8. An increase over the 17 he saw during the first 7 games. How is it that you think that he didn't earn Tom's trust despite having MORE targets over the 2nd half of the season despite the addition of Sanu?

Help me understand how that supports your claim that Meyer was miscast and didn't earn Tom's trust? Or is it more likely that BB and McDaniels went with the veteran receivers over Meyers down the stretch and it had nothing to do with Tom?

 

[festy1986]

You're right. SOME of us do enjoy the team building aspects. YOU, however, are not one of them. You've been a part of the chicken-little brigade for years. Not to mention that 99% of your takes are nothing but hot .

Garbage response as usual. Have another one.

 

[DaBruinz]

• 2026: No UDFAs officially rostered yet
• 2025: 2 UDFAs — Efton Chism III (WR), Elijah Ponder (LB).
• 2024: 1 UDFA — Dell Pettus (S).
• 2023: 0 UDFAs —
• 2022: 2 UDFAs — Brenden Schooler (S), DaMarcus Mitchell (LB).
• 2021: 1 UDFA — Quinn Nordin (K).
• 2020: 1 UDFA — J.J. Taylor (RB).
• 2019: 2 UDFAs — Jakobi Meyers (WR), Gunner Olszewski (WR).
• 2018: 1 UDFA — J.C. Jackson (CB).
• 2017: 5 UDFAs — Adam Butler (DL), Cole Croston (OL), Jacob Hollister (TE), Harvey Langi (LB).

Oh look. You only named the UDFA who made the roster out of camp and even then you missed one.
- 2025 - CJ Dippre-
-2024 - Terrell Jennings -
-2023 - Malik Cunningham -

I guess when you willfully ignore players, you can prove any point you want.

 

[DaBruinz]

each year, roughly 500 udfa's are signed
each year, 35-50 stick on a 53 man roster
that's historically speaking

• 2026: No UDFAs officially rostered yet
• 2025: 2 UDFAs — Efton Chism III (WR), Elijah Ponder (LB).
• 2024: 1 UDFA — Dell Pettus (S).
• 2023: 0 UDFAs —
• 2022: 2 UDFAs — Brenden Schooler (S), DaMarcus Mitchell (LB).
• 2021: 1 UDFA — Quinn Nordin (K).
• 2020: 1 UDFA — J.J. Taylor (RB).
• 2019: 2 UDFAs — Jakobi Meyers (WR), Gunner Olszewski (WR).
• 2018: 1 UDFA — J.C. Jackson (CB).
• 2017: 5 UDFAs — Adam Butler (DL), Cole Croston (OL), Jacob Hollister (TE), Harvey Langi (LB).

you know very well what I said.
-how many UDFA's does a team sign each season (approx 500 signed by all teams)
-how many of them make the initial 53 man roster (approx 35-50 by all teams)

I listed the past 9 years of the Pats udfa's to make the initial 53 man roster.
14 players over the course of 9 years, with over half of the 9 in 2017

I wasn't counting an udfa that has multiple years in the league, like Spillane
I was quite specific, wrote on 2-3 of these posts
each season. the initial 53 man roster
1-2 is the correct response. a year here and there more. a year here and there zero

Yes. We all know what you said.

You went from "stick on a 53 man roster" to making the 53 man out of training camp. That's called "Moving the goal posts" because those two things are different.

 

[DaBruinz]

walk for peanuts?
Gibbens signed a 2 year deal for $7.5m, with $4.5m guaranteed
Muma is playing for $1.2m, with zero guaranteed

Gibbens got starters money
He wasn't getting that here

You think that 3.75M AAV is Starting money for a LB?? *ROFLMAO*

 

[DaBruinz]

Can’t wait for the games to start

I can't wait for CAMP to start.

 

[DaBruinz]

25 Thoughts on the Patriots Heading Into the Summer Break

After taking in minicamp and OTAs, here are 25 thoughts on the state of the Patriots.

www.patriots.com

- The Patriots are also replacing their depth at linebacker, mainly third linebacker Jack Gibbens, who played 48.2% of the snaps last season. K.J. Britt is my current favorite to fill the Gibbens role after he got his hands on a few passes in coverage. Britt was solid in coverage during the spring and can contribute on special teams. Chad Muma is also in the mix and undrafted rookie Khalil Jacobs had a pass breakup in Thursday's practice.

- Cornerback is another position where the top of the depth chart could be among the league's best, but the depth needs to be sorted out. Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, and Marcus Jones are entrenched starters as a top CB trio. Charles Woods feels like he's in a middle tier on his own, then Kindle Vildor, Kobee Minor, and Karon Prunty are vying for the last few roster spots.

If Woods spot was guaranteed, the Pats wouldn't have gone and gotten Vildor or Prunty. Minor is only in talks for a PS spot in the event of Injury (edit: I am commenting on the article, Zuma. Not you)

 

[Ring 6]

LB is a weakness. CB depth is not. Having Woods, Vildor, and Dial back there is better depth than most teams at this time of year. The Pats also have a promising rookie in Prunty with Canada and Harris as good possibilites for the PS along with Minor.

Having 2 vets like Woods and Vildor behind your starters is something most teams wish for...

For 4th corner there aren’t any teams out there praying they only had woods, vildor and dial. Who knows how they will turn out but most likely is they are not cb4 caliber players and should be end of the bench special teamers or practice squad hopefuls.

 

[Family]

LB is a weakness. CB depth is not. Having Woods, Vildor, and Dial back there is better depth than most teams at this time of year. The Pats also have a promising rookie in Prunty with Canada and Harris as good possibilites for the PS along with Minor.

Having 2 vets like Woods and Vildor behind your starters is something most teams wish for...

For 4th corner there aren’t any teams out there praying they only had woods, vildor and dial. Who knows how they will turn out but most likely is they are not cb4 caliber players and should be end of the bench special teamers or practice squad hopefuls.

I'm with Ring.

Woods seemed like a borderline jag. He's played 130 snaps in his career. Maybe he works out, but he's just a body now.

I don't know Vidor, but he's played 25% of his team's the past two years.

Dial showed some promise, but we'll see.

Every team has at least their own this....................

 

[DaBruinz]

I'm with Ring.

Woods seemed like a borderline jag. He's played 130 snaps in his career. Maybe he works out, but he's just a body now.

I don't know Vidor, but he's played 25% of his team's the past two years.

Dial showed some promise, but we'll see.

Every team has at least their own this....................

Go ahead and list all the 4th CBs on other teams and tell me how many of them are quality starting players.

While Woods is likely a jag defensively, he's an excellent special teams player. While he played 130 defensive snaps, he was only targeted 9 times (6.9%) and gave up 7 completions. Compare that to Alex Austin who was targeted 12 times on 144 snaps (8.3%) and gave up 10 completions.

Vildor played 164 defensive snaps, was targeted 22 times(13.4%) and gave up 13 receptions (59.1%).

I'm not guaranteeing either of them a roster spot by any means. But you're ignoring the reality that team's 4th corners are either going to be a JAG Vet who excels on special teams or a rookie that the team is hoping to step up. The fact that Woods and Vildor both have experience as a 4th CB and that Vildor has starting experience gives them a leg up.

I fully expect Prunty to make the team. Watching him play, he seems to have the right amount of "IT", Swagger, and Instincts. Whether that actually transfers to the NFL awaits to be seen.

But the DEPTH that the Pats have, now, with Woods, Vildor, Dial, and Prunty behind the top 3, on paper, is very good.

Hitching your wagon to anything Andy says is a fools errand.