At least 6 First or Second Year Starters

[fester]

Have the Patriots in the Belicheck era ever had this many first or second year players projected to start in their base offense and base defense in the first game of the season?

On offense, assuming a base of 3 WR, 1 TE and 1 RB, we are looking at Edelman, Vollmer and one of Hernandez/Gronkowski as definite starters with Ohrenberger being a potential injury replacement starter.

On defense, the Pats will likely start Chung, Spikes, one of Butler or McCourtney and potentially Cunningham.

Throw in Ingram and the ZOLTAN, that is a lot of fresh blood taking 1st team reps.

I figure the loser of the 2nd CB and 1st TE battles will each get 40%-50% of the total snaps, plus Brace, McKenzie, Tate will all see at least 25% of the total snaps, with the 6th and 7th rounders fighting for game-day inactive and PS slots.

 

[Headcase]

Have the Patriots in the Belicheck era ever had this many first or second year players projected to start in their base offense and base defense in the first game of the season?

On offense, assuming a base of 3 WR, 1 TE and 1 RB, we are looking at Edelman, Vollmer and one of Hernandez/Gronkowski as definite starters with Ohrenberger being a potential injury replacement starter.

On defense, the Pats will likely start Chung, Spikes, one of Butler or McCourtney and potentially Cunningham.

Throw in Ingram and the ZOLTAN, that is a lot of fresh blood taking 1st team reps.

I figure the loser of the 2nd CB and 1st TE battles will each get 40%-50% of the total snaps, plus Brace, McKenzie, Tate will all see at least 25% of the total snaps, with the 6th and 7th rounders fighting for game-day inactive and PS slots.

I don't know about that, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Crumpler as the #1 starter. Gronk has alot on his plate having to learn all of the inline blocking calls, plus the entire route tree and his place in it. Hernandez will be more of a situational player, as well as learning the route combination from multiple spots. I wouldn't say that either is a starter at this point.

SSDD

 

[MaineMan]

With the exceptions of O-line, QB and maybe CB, the Pats staff their other positions so situationally, with so many different sub-packages on both offense and defense - even to start games - I'm not even sure the term "starter" has a lot of relevance anymore.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Have the Patriots in the Belicheck era ever had this many first or second year players projected to start in their base offense and base defense in the first game of the season?

On offense, assuming a base of 3 WR, 1 TE and 1 RB, we are looking at Edelman, Vollmer and one of Hernandez/Gronkowski as definite starters with Ohrenberger being a potential injury replacement starter.

On defense, the Pats will likely start Chung, Spikes, one of Butler or McCourtney and potentially Cunningham.

Throw in Ingram and the ZOLTAN, that is a lot of fresh blood taking 1st team reps.

I figure the loser of the 2nd CB and 1st TE battles will each get 40%-50% of the total snaps, plus Brace, McKenzie, Tate will all see at least 25% of the total snaps, with the 6th and 7th rounders fighting for game-day inactive and PS slots.

No doubt in my mind, that nobody turns over a roster as well as BB does.

How do we keep the Mannings, Brees, Rivers, and other top QB's from drooling over the thought of playing us, especially when almost the entire secondary has less than five years of experience and we have no pass rush.