James Sanders: How do you rate him?

[Ice Cold Bruschi]

I didn't pay too much attention to him this year I can't remember any amazing plays that jump out at me. Can anyone here rate his quality of play? Does he still have upside to become more than just an adequate starter? What kind of safety is he, a down in the box or a more of a coverage guy?

 

[RodThePat]

Re: James Sanders how do you rate him?

Nice little player. Can be a starter but will always be an "upgradable" part of this team. (Assuming he takes Rodney's spot when he retires)

 

[tatepatsfan]

Re: James Sanders how do you rate him?

I'd rate him as a solid starter. He isn't going to be a pro-bowler anytime soon, but I definitely like having him around. I think that when Rodney chooses to walk away, I'd be very comfortable with Meriweather (assuming he continues to progress) and Sanders back there.

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

Re: James Sanders how do you rate him?

Adequate starter who needs to keep improving and be more consistent. Not an intimidator, at times looks lost in coverage, blows assignments and also misses tackles which for a safety can not happen. It's why they're called safeties. He's also not the most instinctive, isn't great in play recognition and playing in space isn't a strength. He'll however bounce back nicely from having blown plays to make nice tackles and stuffs and is generally good in working through the trash.

As is, he's a bit of a tweener safety in that he doesn't have great coverage skills and isn't a playmaker if called upon to play FS and isn't the knock-out hitting, intimidator who'll make receivers think twice while coming over the middle as a SS. If he doesn't improve and become more consistent this season, then drafting a SS or finding one in FAcy should be a high priority once Rodney leaves or retires.

 

[JackBauer]

Re: James Sanders how do you rate him?

A lot better than DWToys will give him credit for.

Seriously though, a solid starter that has improved by year. I expect him to retain the starting SS spot unless there is a serious hitch in his development.

 

[skri65]

Re: James Sanders how do you rate him?

Right now he's a solid starter. However, he has continued to improve each year and I see no reason to believe that he won't continue this trend in the coming years. Right now, I don't know where his ceiling is. But I don't think it's fair for other people to contend they know where this ceiling is.

He's continued to improve each year. I think he'll be more than a solid starter by the end of this year or the next.

 

[Iron Helmet]

Re: James Sanders how do you rate him?

Personally, I think he has been serviceable, but expect more from the position. I expect Meriweather to beat him out in camp and assume the spot next to Rodney.

 

[crowell33]

Re: James Sanders how do you rate him?

One of the surest tacklers on the team. Adequate in coverage. I thought he was easily the teams best safety last year. I thought Harrison was starting to slow down and that Meriweather had a weak rookie season.

 

[Lockdown06]

Re: James Sanders how do you rate him?

solid safety - he's no ed reed but he generally is where he needs to be and doesn't screw up very much. He's not a game changer but he certainly doesnt hurt us.

 

[pats1]

Re: James Sanders how do you rate him?

Nice little player.

Stolen from PFW in Progress from over the weekend. They joked about that too.

 

[RodThePat]

Re: James Sanders how do you rate him?

Stolen from PFW in Progress. They joked about that too.

I was waiting for someone to get the reference, actually.

 

[cstjohn17]

I didn't pay too much attention to him this year I can't remember any amazing plays that jump out at me. Can anyone here rate his quality of play? Does he still have upside to become more than just an adequate starter? What kind of safety is he, a down in the box or a more of a coverage guy?

What is wrong with adequate starter? I would like to see the Pats extend him, he is young and can start at either safety position and is a core special teams player. No Ed Reed but no Ed Reed salary. He can be signed cheap and at worst we have average (or better safeties) for the next 5 years.

 

[Stop Being A Jerk]

Usually on a scale of 1-10, but sometimes I do use letter grades.

 

[Boston Jay]

Won't wow you with amazing talent and won't wow you with mind-boggling horrible gameplay.

Solid player.

 

[rusH1023]

Re: James Sanders how do you rate him?

Stolen from PFW in Progress from over the weekend. They joked about that too.

verbatim, haha

 

[JoeSixPat]

I didn't pay too much attention to him this year I can't remember any amazing plays that jump out at me. Can anyone here rate his quality of play? Does he still have upside to become more than just an adequate starter? What kind of safety is he, a down in the box or a more of a coverage guy?

I rate him about where I rated Samuels when Ty Law left in free agency - adequate, not excellent, but like Samuels, he could grow into the role.

 

[BionicPatriot]

I rate him about where I rated Samuels when Ty Law left in free agency - adequate, not excellent, but like Samuels, he could grow into the role.

Sums it up perfectly.

 

[BradyToMoss]

I think we've seen the best of James Sanders, I think he's peaked.

"That's a good thing............not a bad thing"

A steady-Eddie, keep his mouth shut, get the job done type of guy without the big plays and flair. His open field tackling and pursuit angles are still "a work in progress" and to be honest are something that I thought he would have corrected by this point. But he makes the plays he's asked to make without making mistakes and that's really what he is. The "difference maker" back there will be Meriweather and both of them will compliment each other for the next 5-7 years or so. I'll take it. Still would have liked BB to atleast bring Jamie Silva into camp, personally, after watching Jamie's interview, you can count him right now as being on the Colts sideline wearing blue in September with a future as a potential starter for them down the road. There is no UDFA more motivated now to make it and prove the doubters wrong, than Jamie Silva, I wish he were here to show us................

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

Re: James Sanders how do you rate him?

I'd rate him as a solid starter. He isn't going to be a pro-bowler anytime soon, but I definitely like having him around. I think that when Rodney chooses to walk away, I'd be very comfortable with Meriweather (assuming he continues to progress) and Sanders back there.

*knock on wood*

 

[satz]

Some funny thing about this thread is he is never going to be beaten by merriweather as meriweather 200 LB speed FS type and sanders is 220LB strong safety. They have different responsoblity. Ed reed is also a FS .SOmetimes depending on match up they might play FS /SS but the responsiblity is different. Merriweather like Ed is going to be asked to give more coverage support as FS are lighter /smaller/faster and Strong safeties like harrison/sanders/tank will be play in run support,blitzing and TE coverage at the LOS.

how can both positions got merged i have no idea. when harrison went down sanders had held his own. i would like to see a true safety combo of sanders and merriweather together. :rocker:...when we say we need more speed in the back field you guys forget we never had a merriweather type player to be used as free safety before. When he is in you need a strong safety in for mass against the running game.