Patriots to Release Alfonzo Dennard

KontradictioN said:

Agreed. I said as much when it happened and I have still yet to hear a convincing argument for why Browner was let go.

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I think by now it has been said thousand of times.. Given that it looks like we will return to play more zone coverage this year, Browner would have been exposed most of the time. He is not a good zone corner, and saving 5m apparently was more valuable to the team. The timing on how his folks were informed they can shop him around was not coincidentally around the same time that the FO reportedly moved on from Revis.

How badly do you F'up for a team dying for CB's to release you? Must have been a whale of a screw up!

Wow. They really liked Darryl Roberts.

KontradictioN said:

God I hope not. McCourty is a MUCH better FS than a CB. There's a reason they moved him back there in the 2011 playoffs and a reason why the secondary got better when they moved him back there midway through 2012. I'm calling it now: the Patriots will be trading for a CB midway through this season.

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Midway through the season? I am hoping it's midway through this week...

Maybe McCourty's troubles at CB relate more to man coverage.

patsbrasilpatriotas said:

Wow. They really liked Darryl Roberts.

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I think it was more about Dennard not fitting in anymore than the team being high on Douglas.

NE-VT said:

Maybe McCourty's troubles at CB relate more to man coverage.

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That and he had absolutely zero over-the-top help.

DMC was an ok CB. Hes a top-5 FS

Patstopia said:

How badly do you F'up for a team dying for CB's to release you? Must have been a whale of a screw up!

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Perhaps he was spotted on Nebraska driving after parties and drinks again. Like when he violated his probation. I'm joking but he has given proof of stupidity before.

KontradictioN said:

One of the primary reasons for getting Talib in 2012 is because McCourty, while he STARTED out the year well, was getting torched. When you combine that with the dumpster fire they had at safety to start the season off, the move was obvious. McCourty is a much better FS than a CB. As a matter of fact, he's so much better at it that a move back shouldn't even be worth discussing. I'm expecting a trade for a veteran CB. McCourty needs to stay where he is.

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I find no fault with your logic but I thought the combination of having McCourty and Harmon on the field at the same time might be better then having McCourty and Butler/Ryan/Fletcher combo. Really no clue what's going to happen and I agree 100% that what you said is the best way. The question is what happens if we don't get that veteran CB or what do we do until we can get one. I really doubt they want to move McCourty back to DB and probably Plan Z of things they will attempt but I still think it's an option.

raduray said:

Wasn't Dennard replaced by Butler for being ineffective in the second half of the SB?

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Actually, that was Arrington. But this is an apples to oranges comparison. Arrington was being asked to cover the 6'5" 218lb Chris Matthews. When the change to Butler was made, Butler was covering Kearse (thus, the Kearse miracle catch vs Butler) and I believe Browner was moved over to cover Matthews.

Bobs My Uncle said:

Well, McCourty was a pro bowl CB at one time. I could see them trying him out at CB again. Have Harmon and Chung as safeties with, hopefully, Richards dethroning Chung as the year progresses along.

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He was a pro bowler one time at corner. But has been borderline ALL PRO at safety every year he has played it. Just let him play where he is best. With him at safety you can also limit the damage of not having really good corners.

Marinlik said:

He was a pro bowler one time at corner. But has been borderline ALL PRO at safety every year he has played it. Just let him play where he is best. With him at safety you can also limit the damage of not having really good corners.

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True, or it might be the case that the coaches believe that putting DM back at CB allows them to put their best 4 players in the secondary. Time will tell.

luuked said:

I think by now it has been said thousand of times.. Given that it looks like we will return to play more zone coverage this year,

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This is not the least bit convincing. It only "looks" like we'll play more zone this year because a lot of the CB's we had cannot play man to man. Dennard could, Butler has showed flashes of it, Fletcher can but will get toasted. This is only peoples' best guess at why we cut him.

Browner would have been exposed most of the time. He is not a good zone corner, and saving 5m apparently was more valuable to the team.

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You are aware that Seattle employs and employed (during his time there) a mostly zone based scheme, correct? You are aware that he played a lot of zone here to good results, correct? You are aware that his main weakness is man to man down the field when the receiver gets a release, correct?

Not to try to sound like a ****, but I've seen posts with explanations like your's before and it still doesn't explain Browner's release one bit. The secondary was stronger with him in it - with or without Revis. As of May 5, 2015, the Patriots now have one of the worst secondaries in the NFL. That's why I'm expecting a trade. If it doesn't come by TC, it will come by midseason when Belichick sees the results, ala 2012.

KontradictioN said:

I'm calling it now: the Patriots will be trading for a CB midway through this season.

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I definitely think they're going to try, though it's hard to say they 'will' make a trade since it takes a second party. Morris Claiborne sounds like he is on his way out of Dallas so that could be an option if he agreed to sign a new contract in the deal (he'll be a UFA after this season).

I wonder how much the Pats schedule comes into play with their approach to fixing the CB situation. In the first 9 weeks we face only 3 top-tier QB's - Big Ben, Luck, and Romo. That's plenty of time to find the right combination at CB and make a move if necessary.

EDIT: I guess our first half of schedule is more difficult than our second half schedule in terms of QB play, so maybe my above point is off. Still feels like we are taking a similar approach to CB that we did to our OL last year, shifting things around until you find the right combo.

Disappointed by this. I think like a lot of Pat fans I was hoping he could bounce back and have a decent year at a position which is the weakest on our team.

The what?? Your elite CB is gone, so lets release the other starter, dont draft anyone and release some more..
Just Bill being Bill.

stelfans said:

The what?? Your elite CB is gone, so lets release the other starter, dont draft anyone and release some more..
Just Bill being Bill.

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Dennard was not a starter he was 6th CB on the depth chart last year.

I think the team will add another CB at some point, but I'm not horrified with the current group. McCourty can play CB if necessary but I doubt that is the plan since he is an excellent safety... A starting secondary of Fletcher on one side and Butler or Ryan on the other side, won't be awesome but it could be solid. Then run McCourty at FS and either Richards/Chung or Harmon at the other safety spot depending on the type of offense you're facing, and Arrington in the slot... Plus, you never know what unexpected contributions you get from McClain, Chekwa, Roberts, etc. Could be a solid unit even without any other additions.

JMC00 said:

Dennard was not a starter he was 6th CB on the depth chart last year.

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The other starter was Browner. Release, not pick option..whatever.
I trust we'll have a good group no matter what.

McCourty is NOT moving back to CB. He's not very good there.