maineman209
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2017
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I don't think Eric Rowe is anything more than a sufficient #3. Never have but Belichick likes him for whatever reason.
I was impressed with JJones last season.
I think that BB clearly liked Rowe - (past tense) as a prospect (and still liked him after Rowe's season in Philly and his first season here) - based on his size/measureables/tape/potential, etc. Whether or not BB "likes" Rowe (present tense) is an open question for me.
Rowe, due to various injuries, appeared in only 8 games and played only 259 snaps in 2017, after appearing in only 9 games (452 snaps) in 2016. Rowe's development overall and within the Pats' coverage schemes has been hindered by his lack of availability for practices and games. Frankly, I think that Jon Jones passed Rowe on the development curve last season.
JJ played 439 defensive snaps last season and was very good, statistically, on a per-snap/per-target basis, and also earned public praise from BB on more than one occasion.
Given how much competition there is at CB this Camp for five spots, competition that includes a pretty good veteran and a 2nd-round draft pick, and considering that Rowe doesn't play ST, I'm classifying Rowe as being on the bubble for now. There are guys that he needs to unequivocally beat in order to retain his roster spot.