Bledsoe At Free Safety

[Real fan 02]

Yep, and he signed an Extremely reasonable contract with the Vagiants too, so it wasn't like he was out of our price range or anything.

Yeah.. just another mystery unless mills wanted to leave. I really thought he'd have an opportunity to grab the FS spot especially as we play 3 safeties anyway..

 

[Nunchucks]

Probably see more Duggar at FS

 

[Real fan 02]

Probably see more Duggar at FS

I believe mayo wants him more around the LOS.. where's he's more impactful.. I still think FS is up for grabs in camp.

 

[p8ryts]

Disagree on the bolded, though he'll play STs, probably. Hawkins is a lot like Okorafor - a player who fell out of favor, whether through opening his mouth (Okorafor) or change in scheme (or the signing of Jesse Bates in Atlanta).

In short, he started 16 games at FS two years ago. I don't know if he'll be the Pats starting FS, but he's got a helluva lot more experience there than Bledsoe.

I liked Bledsoe as a rookie but don't think he really developed. He should have grabbed the position last year if he was the one. Pay Justin Simmons, I think he is still out there.

 

[n1997y]

I've thought that Bolden would be a good candidate to move to FS?

Isaiah Bolden, the second Year CB.

Why don’t we see if he can be a good CB first?

 

[DaBruinz]

Currently, Bledsoe is the only safety competing for his position, replacing Mills who played over 40% of the defensive snaps in 2023. Bledsoe played almost not at all since being drafted.

Hawkins, primarily a special teamer is a fine replacement for Phillips, who had that role in 2023.
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Mills was the first player off the bench at safety. I suspect that we will bring in a couple of competitors for the position. Sure, we could sign our favorite binkie top safety left, but I am OK with a JAG backup.

Not having a backup just doesn't work for me. To more I think about it, 40.33% of the reps made Mills more than a backup.

Where the hell do you come up with this?

Mills was NOT the first player off the bench. That was actually Myles Bryant. But why let facts get in the way, right?

Hawkins is a former starter for the Falcons. Claiming that he's primarily a special teamer is complete nonsense on your part. Did you bother to do ANY sort of research on what happened to him in Atlanta after starting 16 games in 2022 and

Isaiah Bolden spent time in TC moving back and forth between CB and FS.

Do you realize that Dugger and Peppers BOTH spent time at FS?

There is also no telling what they are going to do with MAPU.

 

[DaBruinz]

Is why to your point I can't understand why mills wasn't retained.. he can be a FS for us.. he played it well for the eagles. Just mind boggling to me.

Mills fell out of favor. He had a ton of missed tackles (7) in 459 snaps. It's clear that Mayo wanted to move on from him, otherwise he'd have been retained. Could be the fact that he's 30 now.

As I've pointed out, the Pats haven't signed anyone with the exceptions of Henry and Dugger to a contract that takes them beyond 30.

 

[Real fan 02]

Mills fell out of favor. He had a ton of missed tackles (7) in 459 snaps. It's clear that Mayo wanted to move on from him, otherwise he'd have been retained. Could be the fact that he's 30 now.

As I've pointed out, the Pats haven't signed anyone with the exceptions of Henry and Dugger to a contract that takes them beyond 30.

7 isn't an insurmountable amount of missed tackles in 400 plus snaps. That is not bad really. I believe with mills, he spoke about and was very vocal in the media about his playing time as alot of players on defense spoke out last season.

He had some injury issues, wasn't on the field alot or available. he likely wanted to move along. He played FS at eagles and was pretty solid prior to him singing here. He would have been an option being that he's been here and played in the defense. Barmore is 24 and got a 4 yr deal. Dugger is 26, Henry is 28-29 , Owenu is 26. To your point at age 30 in the NFL is usually when players start to decline (sometimes) .

On defense the FS spot is really the only chief concern I have.. becuase you need that field general at FS.

 

[DaBruinz]

7 isn't an insurmountable amount of missed tackles in 400 plus snaps. That is not bad really. I believe with mills, he spoke about and was very vocal in the media about his playing time as alot of players on defense spoke out last season.

He had some injury issues, wasn't on the field alot or available. he likely wanted to move along. He played FS at eagles and was pretty solid prior to him singing here. He would have been an option being that he's been here and played in the defense. Barmore is 24 and got a 4 yr deal. Dugger is 26, Henry is 28-29 , Owenu is 26. To your point at age 30 in the NFL is usually when players start to decline (sometimes) .

On defense the FS spot is really the only chief concern I have.. becuase you need that field general at FS.

7 Missed tackles is horrible in 459 snaps.. Considering that he had just 6 in in 913 snaps 2 years prior.

Mills was 26 when he played safety for the Eagles.. He's 30 now. Dugger had 11 in 1116 snaps and Simmons had 9 in 956 snaps.

Dugger is 28 and got a 4 yr deal.
Henry is 29 and got a 3 year deal
Bourne is 28 and got a 1+1+1 deal. Meaning the Pats can cut him any time after the 1st year with minimal money loss.

 

[borisman]

Yes, we could see more Dugger at FS. I don' think it's ideal though.
There are still some FA available that the Pats might have interest in (Simmons, Eddie Jackson and Marcus Maye, e.g.) They have their issues but they would also seek a multi-year deal, which the Pats might not be crazy about doing.

 

[Real fan 02]

7 Missed tackles is horrible in 459 snaps.. Considering that he had just 6 in in 913 snaps 2 years prior.

Mills was 26 when he played safety for the Eagles.. He's 30 now. Dugger had 11 in 1116 snaps and Simmons had 9 in 956 snaps.

Dugger is 28 and got a 4 yr deal.
Henry is 29 and got a 3 year deal
Bourne is 28 and got a 1+1+1 deal. Meaning the Pats can cut him any time after the 1st year with minimal money loss.

I'll say.. your the adams of the forum. That's great stats.. I would have never thought to look up his snap counts.. as it's said Google is our best friend for sourcing. Good stuff!

Personally I have no issues as a fan with who we signed and the terms.. because the FA for 2024 wasn't as desirable as years past. Hence all the great players are under contract elsewhere. I still Believe camp will decide who is best at FS..

 

[Real fan 02]

Yes, we could see more Dugger at FS. I don' think it's ideal though.
There are still some FA available that the Pats might have interest in (Simmons, Eddie Jackson and Marcus Maye, e.g.) They have their issues but they would also seek a multi-year deal, which the Pats might not be crazy about doing.

Agreed. Is why I'm thinking the coaching staff wants competition in camp. Someone has to show they can hold down the position.. also we play 3 safeties usually so maybe it's going to be interesting for sure..

 

[captain stone]

Probably see more Duggar at FS

I sure hope not, because he sucks at it.

 

[mgteich]

Where the hell do you come up with this?

Mills was NOT the first player off the bench. That was actually Myles Bryant. But why let facts get in the way, right?

Hawkins is a former starter for the Falcons. Claiming that he's primarily a special teamer is complete nonsense on your part. Did you bother to do ANY sort of research on what happened to him in Atlanta after starting 16 games in 2022 and

Isaiah Bolden spent time in TC moving back and forth between CB and FS.

Do you realize that Dugger and Peppers BOTH spent time at FS?

There is also no telling what they are going to do with MAPU.

BELIEVE AS YOU WILL
So, Mills didn't start and he wasn't first off the bench but he still played in 40% of the defensive reps, primarily (exclusively) at safety.

So, I said I thought that we need the additional safety.

The response was the 40% was essentially an illusion. After all Myles Brant was the first safety off the bench. Thsi somehow is supposed to make me feel better about losing a backup

I AGREE AND LIKE THAT
1) Duggar and Peppers are our starters, with both playing FS as schemed.
2) Mapu is a linebacker in a dual role, hopefully continuing.
3) Hawkins should be our #3 instead of the #4 (my error).
4) Still we lost our 4th safety. We lost Mills and Phillips. Apparently, we also lost Safety Bryant.

QUESTION
Should we make the change and carry only 3 safeties? Are safeties so unimportant to our Defense that a backup isn't needed? If so, say so.

I may be in the small minority, bit, for me, we start 5 defensive backs and should have 5 backups on the 53, usually labelled as 6 CB's and 4 safeties. [Schooler shouldn't be counted as a safety]. Maybe 3 safeties is right, or 5 corners. What say you all?

 

[captain stone]

...I may be in the small minority, bit, for me, we start 5 defensive backs and should have 5 backups on the 53, usually labelled as 6 CB's and 4 safeties. [Schooler shouldn't be counted as a safety]. Maybe 3 safeties is right, or 5 corners. What say you all?

4 Boundary CBs, 2 Slot CBs, 2/3 FSs & 2 SSs = 10/11 DBs plus Schooler.

 

[mgteich]

4 Boundary CBs, 2 Slot CBs, 2/3 FSs & 2 SSs = 10/11 DBs plus Schooler.

I like your analysis.

I think 3 FS to be very unlikely. If McCourty were still on the roster, I wouldn't clarify any of our other players as a free safety, so having 3 seems like a lot.
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As I recall, we agree that we should add a free safety

and possibly have an upgrade over our group of outside corners. Opposite Gonzo, we now choose from
PICK THREE
Austin, Bolden, Wade, Wilson, Hearn, Dial