A Nickel Package Without Wilhite?

[mgteich]

Wilhite was a 4th round draft choice. I expected that he would develop into a reasonable nickel or dime back after a couple of years in the league.

As a rookie, he started the last four games, and starting eight games last year. He didn't look like a veteran corner. He was decidely below par for a starter. OK. So, we didn't have anyone better and had to have Wilhite start half our games in 2009. We were 5th in points allowed. Wilhite was OK, but we badly needed an upgrade. We drafted McCourty.

The BOTTOM LINE is that Wilhite should be an OK nickel and dime back. He is better than most #4 defensive backs in the league. He is probably an average nickel back, which is fine for a backup. Obviously, injuries have moved him to a starter position in the past. This week he is our nickel.

If Wilhite if is to be cut if he isn't a reasonable starter, then he should ahve been cut. Last I noticed, we had six corners on the squad. He doesn't need to be starter quality to contribute.

It is the beauty of a Belichick team that there is room for the Wilhite's of the world as depth.

 

[Ring 6]

Wilhite was a 4th round draft choice. I expected that he would develop into a reasonable nickel or dime back after a couple of years in the league.

As a rookie, he started the last four games, and starting eight games last year. He didn't look like a veteran corner. He was decidely below par for a starter. OK. So, we didn't have anyone better and had to have Wilhite start half our games in 2009. We were 5th in points allowed. Wilhite was OK, but we badly needed an upgrade. We drafted McCourty.

The BOTTOM LINE is that Wilhite should be an OK nickel and dime back. He is better than most #4 defensive backs in the league. He is probably an average nickel back, which is fine for a backup. Obviously, injuries have moved him to a starter position in the past. This week he is our nickel.

If Wilhite if is to be cut if he isn't a reasonable starter, then he should ahve been cut. Last I noticed, we had six corners on the squad. He doesn't need to be starter quality to contribute.

It is the beauty of a Belichick team that there is room for the Wilhite's of the world as depth.

2 months ago most posters were saying McCourty couldnt beat out Wilhite for the nickel. Now Wilhite is a disaster at the nickel? What does that mean?
I think sometimes the criticism searches for its target.

 

[bigfandan]

I see very little bumping and jamming by our secondary. We almost never take advantage of the bumping within the rule
.
We need more physical/sturdier corners that can bump and jump. NEP's midget and shifty corners yield too much at end of the routes allowing wrs to get into good catching position; we need to play a little more physical. CB has the same right to the ball as WR. It'd be worth risking a penatlty with Wilhite if he is giving up 70% completion (vs the penalty rate 50% maybe). Revis is the best at being physical without getting flags. We need to teach bump and disrupt and avoid drag and push.

Its a fair point. But what about the DBs that have had success in these years of a lesser pass rush, namely, Bodden?

 

[HomelandDef]

It looks like there was a lot of "Big Nickel" with Chung/Sanders and Meriweather, and Wilhite was the dime back. I think Belichick might be sending Meriweather a message. Sanders played a ton, a couple weeks ago I heard some rumblings that he might be CUT.