One year extension for Slater

[Ring 6]

You'd think that over the years he could develop some kind of situation-specific specialty somewhere either on offense or defense. I understand and appreciate his role on special teams but it just seems he should be capable of doing more, even if at a minor backup level.

He isn't good enough on offense or defense. It's like saying the long snapper should be able to play T.

 

[Froob]

If he wasn't such an elite STer he would have been cut b/c he really can't do anything else out there. Bad hands, can't track the ball, cant get separation and whatever reason he can't play on defense.

That's always surprised me he couldn't play safety. The one stretch he did in 2011 I completely missed at basic training and the only football talk I got was from the boys at the laundry mat and that wasn't exactly Ken's idle thoughts™.

 

[Jimke]

We had better enjoy this year to the fullest. Next year we may be starting over on defense.

 

[slash83]

We had better enjoy this year to the fullest. Next year we may be starting over on defense.

Dude shut up with this bs, fans like you are so annoying with these posts.

 

[The Gr8est]

1 year? Slater is getting up there in age too, maybe it's a farewell season for him.

Agreed, I'm thinking only 1 year is telling.

 

[pazrul72]

Didn't feel the need to open a new thread and figured everyone will look here because Slater is the man.

This is way OT but best meme ever:

Whoa whoa whoa whoa....that is way insulting to vaginas. There are many lovely ladies here I would happily spend time with but gotohell? I want to punch him in the face. Calling him a woman is unfair to women. Its more of a...thing then that.

 

[AtomicDawg]

Agreed, I'm thinking only 1 year is telling.

This is true. Especially for 1.8M. It's crazy to even say but he is getting up there in age. Perhaps 2017 might be it. Brandon King is giving him a run for his money but the day he leaves is the day he isn't the first one down field consistently in punt coverage.

 

[GodBrady]

1 year? Slater is getting up there in age too, maybe it's a farewell season for him.

I think it's just indicative of the fact that players like Slater don't have a lot of leverage. Yes, he's a premiere special teams player, but he's not going to go to free agency and land a four-year deal. The team isn't giving him any more than they have to, which is how front offices should work (otherwise it's a slippery slope).

I love Slater and am glad he'll be around next year.

 

[The Gr8est]

So, can we all agree that the Pats got acceptable value from the 5th round pick BB used on Slater?

 

[tasmlab]

Wish he could carve himself a niche at WR.

He seems to always get the once-per-year WTF super long ball snap that he misses by several yards. Sometime, though, once, he's going to catch it for a TD and we'll all go f***ing banonkers. (that's "bananas" + "bonkers", per fitzy)

 

[Nunchucks]

Sign Collins and Hightower already!

 

[bbobbo]

It is crazy odd. Even GoAT STers like Steve Tasker could catch the ball offensively and Bill Bates could play zone coverage, intercept a few balls now and then and play good run D.

Even when Larry Whigham was here he had a few picks as a safety.

His skills are totally transferable but he just doesn't get the time.

slater ran a 4.44 40 at the combine which is really good, but his 3-cone was 7.31 (abysmal for a WR--tom brady's was 7.2) and his shuttle time was 4.4 (brady's was the same).

so slater is fast but not that agile--he probably can't make the cuts to get separation from defenders. it explains why the only play in slater's arsenal is the fly route. opposing teams know that, so he's easy to defend because they know what he's out there for.

likewise, lack of agility would hurt him in coverage since he can't react quickly enough to receivers making a move on him.

it's less of an issue on kick-offs and punts, since you just have to get to the returner really fast, which is what he's good at.

 

[Patjew]

That's my man Chai!

 

[RobertWeathers]

slater ran a 4.44 40 at the combine which is really good, but his 3-cone was 7.31 (abysmal for a WR--tom brady's was 7.2) and his shuttle time was 4.4 (brady's was the same).

so slater is fast but not that agile--he probably can't make the cuts to get separation from defenders. it explains why the only play in slater's arsenal is the fly route. opposing teams know that, so he's easy to defend because they know what he's out there for.

likewise, lack of agility would hurt him in coverage since he can't react quickly enough to receivers making a move on him.

it's less of an issue on kick-offs and punts, since you just have to get to the returner really fast, which is what he's good at.

Yea hes a straight line guy. A human missile but the lack of agility is clear as day

 

[Tunescribe]

slater ran a 4.44 40 at the combine which is really good, but his 3-cone was 7.31 (abysmal for a WR--tom brady's was 7.2) and his shuttle time was 4.4 (brady's was the same).

so slater is fast but not that agile--he probably can't make the cuts to get separation from defenders. it explains why the only play in slater's arsenal is the fly route. opposing teams know that, so he's easy to defend because they know what he's out there for.

likewise, lack of agility would hurt him in coverage since he can't react quickly enough to receivers making a move on him.

it's less of an issue on kick-offs and punts, since you just have to get to the returner really fast, which is what he's good at.

This is good information. You've got to hand it to the guy for making a career despite being athletically subpar by NFL standards.

 

[bbobbo]

i just found this nesn article which listed all the combine numbers for the 2015 patriots. interesting that aaron dobson's numbers are almost identical to slater's--he's really fast, but not that agile. and holy crap, edelman's agility numbers are awesome (not surprising). not to mention his broad jump:

NFL Combine, Pro Day Numbers Reveal Best Athletes On Patriots’ Roster

 

[Urgent]

Interesting that with all the attention on the impending free agents - Butler, Hightower, Collins, Ryan, Sheard, Vollmer, etc. it's Freeney and Slater that get extensions.

This team has a focus on special teams that no other team comes close to matching. Listen to Belichick light up about a good punter. How many teams draft a long snapper? Most special teams players are the fifth wide receiver, the fourth corner, the fourth safety, the fifth linebacker, and so forth. The Patriots have guys like Slater, Ebner, King, who are clearly special teams first.

 

[Urgent]

i just found this nesn article which listed all the combine numbers for the 2015 patriots. interesting that aaron dobson's numbers are almost identical to slater's--he's really fast, but not that agile. and holy crap, edelman's agility numbers are awesome (not surprising). not to mention his broad jump:

NFL Combine, Pro Day Numbers Reveal Best Athletes On Patriots’ Roster

Come on, expecting Slater to be as athletic and agile as Tom Brady or Scott Chandler just isn't fair.

 

[bbobbo]

Interesting that with all the attention on the impending free agents - Butler, Hightower, Collins, Ryan, Sheard, Vollmer, etc. it's Freeney and Slater that get extensions.

This team has a focus on special teams that no other team comes close to matching. Listen to Belichick light up about a good punter. How many teams draft a long snapper? Most special teams players are the fifth wide receiver, the fourth corner, the fourth safety, the fifth linebacker, and so forth. The Patriots have guys like Slater, Ebner, King, who are clearly special teams first.

speaking of ebner, his agility and broad jump numbers were pretty awesome too. and a counter-example to prove that numbers aren't everything--malcolm butler: