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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Read today's practice rundown and it stated that Ebner would be a shock not to make the roster. So who does everyone see as missing the roster in that situation.
Chung
Gregory
Wilson
Ebner
Do we keep just 4 or would we keep 5? If so who Barrett, Ihedlgo
Ebner impressing. Hard not to notice rookie safety Nate Ebner, sort of the unknown from the Patriots' draft class. Billed as a special teams stud, Ebner has caught my attention on the defensive side of the ball too. He broke up a pass and snuffed out a reverse. He has impressive ball skills and a quick trigger in his movements.
Nope, those 4 sound good to me. Field Yates had similar notes about Ebner today:
Camp Observations: Day 22 - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston
For a guy who was essentially a pure STer last year, Ebner is showing awfully quick development and some nice instincts and awareness to go along with his insane motor and athleticism. Barrett was atrocious last year, and has had trouble staying healthy. Brown was worse than atrocious. Ihedigbo was a decent journeyman safety, but has little upside. I'd be thrilled to stick with those 4 safeties and a CB group of McCourty, Dowling, Arrington, Moore and Dennard.
#$%&in' A.
That's our Secondary right there, Baby.
If you take those 9 players and add a LB group consisting of Mayo, Hightower, Spikes and Carpenter, a DE/OLB group of Jones, Ninkovich, Bequette and Cunningham, and a DT/DE group of Wilfork, Love, Fanene and Deaderick, you have the makings of a pretty decent defense. That's 21 players, which still leaves 4 spots available.
Couldn't agree more. I like the breakdown too, by the way.
That would leave 4 players.
2 bigs on the line--any combo of 2 from guys like Brace, Pryor, Warren, other
1 DE/OLB--either Scott or Francis could be chosen here
1 ST, smaller/coverage LB--Tarpinian, White, Koutivedes
If you take those 9 players and add a LB group consisting of Mayo, Hightower, Spikes and Carpenter, a DE/OLB group of Jones, Ninkovich, Bequette and Cunningham, and a DT/DE group of Wilfork, Love, Fanene and Deaderick, you have the makings of a pretty decent defense. That's 21 players, which still leaves 4 spots available.
Yep, I like the flexibility as well as the talent level. With those 21 players, you could field just about any style of defense BB can dream up.
I have a feeling that Cole could slip into the CB roster, too. He seems to offer the best balance of ST impact and actual DB skills.
That's about the way I see it. 2 "bigs", 1 DE/OLB, and 1 ST/coverage LB/extra DB. A couple of thoughts:
- Pryor seemed like a pretty safe bet, but having missed all of training camp so far, he could turn out to start the season on PUP. I still think that Marcus Harrison could be a sleeper, and Marcus Forston has shown some flashes.
- Andre Carter is still an option, though unlikely.
- A 10th DB could take the place over one of the 3 positions you mentioned, with Will Allen or Marquice Cole being the most likely candidate.
But I like the nucleus of this defense so far.
I originally had Chung, Gregory, Wilson, Ihedigbo but now I'm thinking Chung, Gregory, Wilson, Ebner + 1 of Ihedigbo/Cole/Allen for the last DB spot. I'm leaning toward Ihedigbo just because he's the only NFL player I've heard of from where I live (I'm sure the coaches are keeping that in mind).
Ihedigbo is part of the problem and not part of the solution to the New England Patriots defensive secondary woes. It's time to move on from safeties Josh Barrett and James Ihedigbo.I'm leaning toward Ihedigbo just because he's the only NFL player I've heard of from where I live (I'm sure the coaches are keeping that in mind).
Marcus Harrison eh um ..... no thanks. Marcus Forston could be a candidate for the practice squad.I still think that Marcus Harrison could be a sleeper, and Marcus Forston has shown some flashes.
I have a hard time justifying more than four 4-3 DE/3-4 OLB on the 53 man roster:1 DE/OLB--either Scott or Francis could be chosen here
Ihedigbo is part of the problem and not part of the solution to the New England Patriots defensive secondary woes. It's time to move on from safeties Josh Barrett and James Ihedigbo.
Mark Chmura played for Frontier in Deerfield (Yes there is a town called that in Mass. for all those geo-politically challenged E. Mass folks).
At the backup strong safety position, the New England Patriots only have Ebner, Barrett, Ihedigbo currently on the training camp roster. Pray that Patrick Chung plays all sixteen games this season.I don't necessarily think Ihedigbo was part of the problem. He was in a role that he never should have been in. If we kept him for ST and minimized his defensive role then I think we'd see this guy in a different light.
I have a hard time justifying more than four 4-3 DE/3-4 OLB on the 53 man roster:
Chandler Jones
Jake Bequette
Rob Ninkovich
Jermaine Cunningham or Trevor Scott
Francis is more likely a practice squad candidate with the aforementioned defensive players currently attending New England Patriots training camp.