Defensive Contributors: Any Of These?

[mgteich]

We expect contributions from the expected "starters", including Talib, Dennard, Arrington, McCourty and A Wilson. Who else do you expect significant contributions from on defense (in addition to any special teams contributions)?

COLE

DOWLING

EBNER

GREGORY

HARMON

RYAN

T WILSON


I suppose that we have improved last year's group, having upgraded T Wilson with A Wilson.

 

[Sicilian]

I expect Gregory to contribute as one of the veteran guys back there. I don't have as big an issue with him as most. He's not ideal and I don't want him playing 80% of the snaps, but as a rotational guy I think he's fine.

Harmon too, but that's just a hunch. I think he's going to be playing in for McCourty if Devin has to play some corner here and there.

I think Tavon is going to assume a more in-the-box coverage linebacker type of role. In that I think he could be useful, and hopefully learn some things from the older Wilson. I don't he earns much time playing regular safety though, barring injuries.

 

[Brady6]

We expect contributions from the expected "starters", including Talib, Dennard, Arrington, McCourty and A Wilson. Who else do you expect significant contributions from on defense (in addition to any special teams contributions)?

COLE

DOWLING

EBNER

GREGORY

HARMON

RYAN

T WILSON

I’m somewhat curious to see what they do with Dowling when he returns (if) from injury; a part of me wonders if trying him at safety may be a better option for him, maybe these leg injuries will diminish if he is in a position where he is coming into the play rather than chasing after the play, also it might benefit him to have more control over the trajectory of the contact with the opponent.

That though withstanding I will go with Logan Ryan and Steve Gregory, even though I’d prefer if Tavon Wilson got his head out of his rear and displaced Gregory, but it is not looking promising right now.

 

[manxman2601]

I expect Gregory to contribute as one of the veteran guys back there. I don't have as big an issue with him as most. He's not ideal and I don't want him playing 80% of the snaps, but as a rotational guy I think he's fine.

Harmon too, but that's just a hunch. I think he's going to be playing in for McCourty if Devin has to play some corner here and there.

I think Tavon is going to assume a more in-the-box coverage linebacker type of role. In that I think he could be useful, and hopefully learn some things from the older Wilson. I don't he earns much time playing regular safety though, barring injuries.

This

10 char

 

[fnordcircle]

Vote for Cole.

 

[mgteich]

For me the analysis is simple.

IMHO, GREGORY is much more likely than any of the others to be a significant competitor during this season. He is also likely to be cut after the season.

Both these statements suggest how far we have come at safety (not very far).

IN: A Wilson, Harmon
OUT: Chung, Ebner

 

[jah]

I currently don't have Cole or Gregory making the team, and the only player I voted for was Harmon, but I think Ryan could see a lot of snaps if the injuries persist.

 

[Sciz]

Based on about a season's worth of play from Gregory and one preseason game from Harmon, I'd much rather see Harmon on the field than Gregory, especially in deep coverage situations. I feel like Harmon provided deep outside help more times in one preseason game than Gregory did all last season.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Interesting.

Despite all the self-serving posted rants about the "reach" on Tavon Wilson, by deluded Draftniks, the majority body of fans understand he had a fair rookie year, amid the constant Draftnik criticism. He will continue to develop as a mobile, big, SS. That was the position he was drafted as, and not a FS, will serve as he develops behind established veterans, until their time runs out...

Harmon was drafted as a team leading FS and future captain of the Defense. He seem well suited to the job, as he learns in his red-shirt year.

 

[Deus Irae]

Interesting.

Despite all the self-serving posted rants about the "reach" on Tavon Wilson, by deluded Draftniks, the majority body of fans understand he had a fair rookie year, amid the constant Draftnik criticism. He will continue to develop as a mobile, big, SS. That was the position he was drafted as, and not a FS, will serve as he develops behind established veterans, until their time runs out...

Harmon was drafted as a team leading FS and future captain of the Defense. He seem well suited to the job, as he learns in his red-shirt year.

T. Wilson mostly sucked as a rookie, and has currently fallen behind Harmon this season, according to reports.

McCourty
A. Wilson/Gregory
Harmon
T. Wilson
Ebner

 

[tonyto3690]

Tavon Wilson was horrible all of last season.

Tavon Wilson was horrible all of the preseason game against the Eagles.

Tavon Wilson has been horrible the entirety of training camp.


I would be more surprised if Tavon was a significant contributor than if he were cut before the season started. He has been horrible and is a massive liability every time he is on the field. Furthermore, he keeps making the same mistakes and giving up the same deep throws over and over.

Benching Tavon in favor of McCourty was just as much to credit for last years turn around as adding Talib. In fact I'd argue that it wasn't adding Talib (who is equal or worse than McCourty at CB), that made the change, it was Talib allowing McCourty to play safety and benching Tavon that spurred the turn around.


He is awful. Legtimately awful, and even Steve Gregory (IMO the worst starting safety in the NFL last year) is an upgrade to Tavon.

Please, just no.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Harmon for 3rd safety!

 

[manxman2601]

Harmon for 3rd safety!

You da' man!

 

[Fencer]

I think you included every serious candidate for backup or dime safety. So yeah, SOMEBODY will contribute.

 

[AzPatsFan]

T. Wilson mostly sucked as a rookie, and has currently fallen behind Harmon this season, according to reports.

McCourty
A. Wilson/Gregory
Harmon
T. Wilson
Ebner

Sorry DI and MG, He doesn't fit your pre-conceived pigeon hole. His rookie year was a mixed bag, but he did better than any Safety taken, and only a smurf, slot, nickle corner Casey Hampton, did better, after he was drafted. Smurf slot corners we have aplenty. His presence allowed Belichcik to make Pat Chung to take a walk. Do either of you think that highly drafted Chung was better?

Tavon will get pushed down the stack, with the patch acquisition of former Probowler, A. Wilson, as Adrian fits his job description to a T. Comparing a box SS to a FS, or a two-way Safety, is like comparing a journey man Guard to a starting Left Tackle. Sorry it doesn't compute.

Did you really think that preseason out of drafted position experimentation with Tavon as a deep FS would prove successful? Neither did I, nor I suspect does Belichick.

But he can continue to develop quietly, while the two vet patches, Gregory & Wilson, in front of him spend their last year or two in the line of fire.

 

[Deus Irae]

Sorry DI and MG, He doesn't fit your pre-conceived pigeon hole. His rookie year was a mixed bag, but he did better than any Safety taken, and only a smurf, slot, nickle corner Casey Hampton, did better, after he was drafted. Smurf slot corners we have aplenty. His presence allowed Belichcik to make Pat Chung to take a walk. Do either of you think that highly drafted Chung was better?

Don't apologize for something that's not the case, since I'm not pigeon holing T. Wilson. However, Wilson did suck last season, and he is reportedly behind Harmon now.

As for Chung, using him in your argument might have more impact if I had been a big Chung supporter rather than a Chung critic.