Hicks wins DL battle over Thornton who's cut for...LaFell?

[RayClay]

The Pats cut defensive tackle Khryi Thornton Thursday, putting them at 52 players heading into the weekend.

LaFell has practiced the past two days, which means the team has 19 days to activate him or place him on PUP reserve. Since LaFell has traveled for the past two road games and has been seen frequently in the locker room, it appears a near certainty that he'll be activated sooner rather than later.
http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2015/10/brandon_lafell_khyri_thornton.html
Of course, I welcome LaFell, but also hope that Hicks availability was a pleasant surprise, more ready then Thornton.

 

[deters]

bye bye thornton for sure

 

[Marqui]

Who the hell is Thompson?

 

[RayClay]

bye bye thornton for sure

He could still be PS material. Trying to0 build a D line with no high draft picks means trying lots of guys.

 

[RobertWeathers]

He did win PS player of the week. My take is that they liked him. Obviously not as much as Hicks.

 

[meatface]

No idea who is going to get cut for lafell or stork, I don't think lafell will be activated this week or next though

 

[RayClay]

Who the hell is Thompson?

He's Thornton. Sorry. Ain't even going to try the first name.

 

[tombonneau]

No idea who is going to get cut for lafell or stork, I don't think lafell will be activated this week or next though

I wish Vegas took action as I would bet large they activate Lafell this week. Need all the weapons they can get against Jets D.

 

[meatface]

I wish Vegas took action as I would bet large they activate Lafell this week. Need all the weapons they can get against Jets D.

Not much time left to do it

 

[supafly]

Not much time left to do it

They can wait as long as tomorrow afternoon, meat.

The fact that he's traveled with them the past two games and has been practicing this week may point to an activation, whether that's this week or the next.

 

[Froob]

Hicks WWE slam of Frank Gore must have done it.

 

[RayClay]

Hicks WWE slam of Frank Gore must have done it.

Thornton seems to have potential, with question marks. Hicks seems to be a gift. He's been a starter almost every game the last three years and seems to be a victim of a scheme change as much as anything. Could be this years Ayers, or more, given the position. A top notch DT for what they paid would be robbery.

Looking at his weird college history, he may have been underdrafted in the third round.

After the 2008 season, he was rated as a top junior college player and signed to play at LSU. However, recruiting violations by LSU made him ineligible for the 2009 season; unable to transfer to another American football program, he went to work at a DirecTV call center in Colorado Springs, Colorado while he considered his next move. Hicks had an offer to play for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, but decided instead to continue his education and college football career with the Regina Rams of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association. After his first season at Regina, he was drafted by the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League, but again decided to stay in college. In his second year at Regina, he made 42 tackles and 6 1/2 sacks and was named the CWUAA's top lineman. A strong performance in the East-West Shrine Game increased his profile with NFL scouts.

 

[Patsrock]

Not much time left to do it

They have till 4pm tomorrow afternoon. Gives them practice today and walkthrough tomorrow.

 

[dburgwin]

Even in the supersized world of the NFL, Hicks looks huge. He dwarfs almost everyone else on the field.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Even in the supersized world of the NFL, Hicks looks huge. He dwarfs almost everyone else on the field.

Funny thing is that the Saints wanted him to lose 20lbs. Hes at ~325 now.

I'm assuming the reasoning behind that is they wanted him to be more of a 4-3 DE?

Wonder if the Pats would want to keep him at that or have him put the meat back on the bones.

 

[zydecochris]

Funny thing is that the Saints wanted him to lose 20lbs. Hes at ~325 now.

I'm assuming the reasoning behind that is they wanted him to be more of a 4-3 DE?

Wonder if the Pats would want to keep him at that or have him put the meat back on the bones.

I haven't looked it up again, but wasn't his problem in transitioning from a 4-3 DT to 3-4 DE? I thought I read that somewhere, although at the time of the trade another poster said it wasn't that simple.

 

[jah]

I haven't looked it up again, but wasn't his problem in transitioning from a 4-3 DT to 3-4 DE? I thought I read that somewhere, although at the time of the trade another poster said it wasn't that simple.

I think he was a good 4-3 DT and an alright 3-4 DE, but the Saints were trying him at 4-3 DE lately which obviously wasn't going to work.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I haven't looked it up again, but wasn't his problem in transitioning from a 4-3 DT to 3-4 DE? I thought I read that somewhere, although at the time of the trade another poster said it wasn't that simple.

Yes. I read that somewhere as well. He did very well as an interior DT but when they moved him to end he didn't do as well.

Part of me thinks Sean Payton has slipped.

 

[BobDigital]

Makes sense. Didn't see Thornton on the field or make a single play. Was worth a look but Hicks is more ready and we are not short on young talent. I think this does mean we are adding Lafell.

I doubt anyone can complain about the Pats WR core going forwards especially the way Amendola has played. 3 NFL starting WRs is nothing to laugh at.

Gronk
Edelman
Lafell
Amendola
Lewis

That is hard to stop in the passing game. Seeing how Amendola has played I don't see how they sit him much over Chandler outside of redzone duties for the most part.

 

[PP2]

No idea who is going to get cut for lafell or stork, I don't think lafell will be activated this week or next though

He will be activated by tomorrow 4pm.

Reason: divisional game. A Jets loss puts them in the hole, a win puts them in first.