4th and 5th Safety

[italia44]

not a big 'Dig fan, eh Tip?

After his first tackle,'Dig will be filing for Workman's Comp

 

[AzPatsFan]

I think that Ihedigbo cut by th eJets,and then will be cut bythe Pats this season. I doubt anyone will pick him up. But I think BB will put him on his "Shadow Roster" awaiting a phone call in case of an injury.

 

[mgteich]

Most of us have resigned ourselves to at most a 24 man defensive roster. If we call Ebner our 4th safety, expecting him to be a special teams demon,

Q1) How many more defensive backs do we need?

Q2) Who would fill that position or positions?

SUMMARY OF STATUS QUO (8)
CB: McCourty, Dowling, Arrington
S. : Chung, Gregory, Wilson
CB/S: Moore backs up anywhere and everywhere
ST: Ebner
=================
The answer that I have been hearing is that we need only one player: Dennard. This solution doesn't work for me. Does it work for you?

I had Barrett on my roster at the start of camp, but since then...

- Ihedigbo passed Barrett to start playing with the #2 defense in camp;

- Wilson started taking the #1 reps as a situational S/LB hybrid;

- Ebner passed Ihedigbo to start playing with the #2 defense in camp;

- They signed Demps, who could easily make the squad as (to start with) a KR, eating another roster spot and making 5 safeties less likely.

At this point I'd be pretty surprised if he survived cutdown day.

 

[patsfan13]

Given the number of sub packages and the injury rate of the secondary over the past couple of years I see us keeping 10 DB's Ebner seems to be playing himself onto the 53, which I certainly wouldn't have predicted before TC.

Ihedigbo also looks like someone who will stick for his ST ability.

My guess for the DB today is:

CB: McCourty, Arrington, Dowling, Moore, Dennard, S Chung, Wilson, Gregory, Ebner, Ihedigbo.

 

[mgteich]

I think that Cole over Dennard makes the ST's much better, and the defensive backfield at least as good. Besides Dennard could be placed on the IR.

I would note that having 10 defensive backs likely limits us to 14 front even players. A week ago, we though 16 was essential.

Given the number of sub packages and the injury rate of the secondary over the past couple of years I see us keeping 10 DB's Ebner seems to be playing himself onto the 53, which I certainly wouldn't have predicted before TC.

Ihedigbo also looks like someone who will stick for his ST ability.

My guess for the DB today is:

CB: McCourty, Arrington, Dowling, Moore, Dennard, S Chung, Wilson, Gregory, Ebner, Ihedigbo.

 

[patsfan13]

I think that Cole over Dennard makes the ST's much better, and the defensive backfield at least as good. Besides Dennard could be placed on the IR.

I would note that having 10 defensive backs likely limits us to 14 front even players. A week ago, we though 16 was essential.

I am projecting 25 on each side of the ball. Dennard has ore up side as a contributor both as a DB as well as a ST player. He also hasn't earned a spot as a key ST player like Ihedigbo for example.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Given the number of sub packages and the injury rate of the secondary over the past couple of years I see us keeping 10 DB's Ebner seems to be playing himself onto the 53, which I certainly wouldn't have predicted before TC.

Oh ye of little faith. :snob:

 

[supafly]

Most of us have resigned ourselves to at most a 24 man defensive roster. If we call Ebner our 4th safety, expecting him to be a special teams demon,

Q1) How many more defensive backs do we need?

Q2) Who would fill that position or positions?

SUMMARY OF STATUS QUO (8)
CB: McCourty, Dowling, Arrington
S. : Chung, Gregory, Wilson
CB/S: Moore backs up anywhere and everywhere
ST: Ebner
=================
The answer that I have been hearing is that we need only one player: Dennard. This solution doesn't work for me. Does it work for you?

I agree with you that Dennard goes to IR. That allows us to keep the upside and potential for the future without risk of sliding him to the PS through waivers (as long as the IR move is made during one of the cutdowns, which I expect it to be rather than immediately of course).

I agree with your 8 so far, but I would certainly include one more.

Cole/Ihedigbo/Barrett are all good candidates for that ST only backup role.

The only issue I would have with Cole is that we may be lacking someone to play the backup role to Chung--whatever you choose to refer it to, but in theory it would be more of a SS rather than a FS (understanding that we do not designate those positions). By choosing one of Ihedigbo/Barrett, we also cover that base.

9 seems like a solid number for DB's to me, but I would be in agreement with patsfan13 in keeping 25 defensive positions rather than your suggested 24. That would of course allow us to also keep 16 front seven players, while also covering the ST only positions too (when Edelman, Slater, and Demp are included in the picture on the 25 offensive positions).

EDIT: We could also keep BOTH Cole and one of Ihedigbo/Barrett too if that's the way that Belichick wants to go, in patsfan13's plan of 10 DB's. That of course would likely mean that one of the ST only LB's would be cut, adjusting the number to only 15 front seven positions. It may actually be the best of both worlds in the ability to keep 15 front seven players, while also backing up the SS designation (Chung's backup). On top of that we'd also be able to keep a guy like Cole around to add to the ST only players and backup the CB's in case of injury.

One way or another though, I would like to see 25 on both sides of the ball, b/c I think that this also includes all of the ST only guys besides the 3 specialists.

 

[supafly]

Oh ye of little faith. :snob:

I too will man up and admit my wrong in assuming that Ebner would be a great PS candidate, in thinking that he wouldn't make the roster

 

[supafly]

I am projecting 25 on each side of the ball. Dennard has ore up side as a contributor both as a DB as well as a ST player. He also hasn't earned a spot as a key ST player like Ihedigbo for example.

While I had higher hopes for Dennard myself in both the ST and CB roles, I think the best idea at this point is to put him on IR when the cuts are made.

This way we don't have to worry about PS/waiver exposure, and we also get to keep his upside for the future.

I like and agree with your idea of keeping 25 on both sides of ball with 3 specialists of LS/K/P. It is at least a good starting point when trying to assess the roster spots, and it also includes all of our ST only players.

I would have Pryor to PUP, allowing us one more depth role player in the front seven with the ability to add interior pressure in subpackages.

 

[captain stone]

I don't know if exposing Dennard to waivers would be that risky. He basically hasn't played
since TC opened; he still has those legal issues to resolve; and he could get lost amoung the
900 players released before Opening Day.
I would waive him during final cut-downs, then sign him to the PS should he clear waivers.
He then would be eligible to be promoted to the 53 during the season, should injuries and
under-performance arise.

 

[The Gr8est]

I don't know if exposing Dennard to waivers would be that risky. He basically hasn't played
since TC opened; he still has those legal issues to resolve; and he could get lost amoung the
900 players released before Opening Day.
I would waive him during final cut-downs, then sign him to the PS should he clear waivers.
He then would be eligible to be promoted to the 53 during the season, should injuries and
under-performance arise.

Players cut by the Pats on the final cut , do not get "lost" by other teams. They are examining them intently.