Patriots & Saints Joint Practice 8/19

[Soul_Survivor88]

@PatriotsInform: Brandon Gibson has the most receptions today out of the #Patriots, from both Brady and Jimmy. Continues to quietly dominate.

Look like someone's making the roster!

 

[JMC00]

And he did pretty well against Russell Wilson, if I recall correctly.

He also played solid in his one series against the Packers

 

[jah]

The mentions of a McCourty-Butler-Chung-Harmon secondary being "constant" in camp are interesting...to me, it sounds like McCourty is getting some looks at CB in an effort to put the best 4 secondary players on the field. Hopefully, if true, he's closer to 2010 than 2011...

 

[n1997y]

And what if they try to pick on him tomorrow and he has a great day? It would fly in the face that he gets frustrated they try to pick on him.

IIRC Russell Wilson tried to pick on him several times, and Butler did not seem to get frustrated. I'd think it's not getting picked on that frustrated him, but rather not rising to the occasion in response. He'll learn.

 

[JMC00]

The mentions of a McCourty-Butler-Chung-Harmon secondary being "constant" in camp are interesting...to me, it sounds like McCourty is getting some looks at CB in an effort to put the best 4 secondary players on the field. Hopefully, if true, he's closer to 2010 than 2011...

Except going by reports so far in camp Brown would clearly be 1 of the 4.

 

[n1997y]

True, but I was only referring elite QBs.

Looking at Wilson's contract numbers plus the number of times he has played for the Lombardi recently, it seems a credible argument could be made that he is among the elite. Ymmv of course.

 

[Sticky Caulk]

Except going by reports so far in camp Brown would clearly be 1 of the 4.

I look at this set as more of a possibility if an injury comes up, which just means CB is a shallow, weak position at the moment more than anything. Harmon will come off and Brown will come on before week 1. McCourty's ability to play CB well and the depth at safety might mask some of the secondary issues if Brown or Butler went down for a bit. No way McCourty sees most his snaps at CB if everyone is healthy.

 

[n1997y]

To be fair, there are other things going on that merit our attention. Also, we're the World Champs, and have like 6 possible roster spots open. They're a 7-9 team who just blew up their roster because they're in cap jail.

They've got more "football talk" to talk about. Our biggest issue is "who's starting at QB in the season opener".

Fixed that for you.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Jeff Howe ?@jeffphowe 1m1 minute ago
Pats-Saints practiced w/great deal of respect for 1 another. Hightower: "Here to play football -- not to wrestle, not to fight, not to box."

 

[n1997y]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...servations_donta_hightower_progresses_malcolm

Drew Brees completed 4 of 6 passes against Butler, who had a nightmarish drive in the two-minute drill. It started when Butler was in coverage for an incompletion to Brandon Coleman, but Brees then hit Coleman on a short pass and Butler was called for pass interference two plays later. Brees then hit Joseph Morgan for a 40-yard gain down the right sideline and Josh Morgan for a TD on back-to-back plays to beat Butler on the drive.

I think it's good that Malcolm gets tested like this. I think he'll do better tomorrow against Brees

I've wondered sometimes how much the two coaches collaborate on planning during joint practices. Like, BB saying "hey Sean, have Brees give Butler a good working over" or Payton saying "I want to see what Cook can do against press man, dial it up for me will you please". Any thoughts or insights?

 

[mgteich]

I've wondered sometimes how much the two coaches collaborate on planning during joint practices. Like, BB saying "hey Sean, have Brees give Butler a good working over" or Payton saying "I want to see what Cook can do against press man, dial it up for me will you please". Any thoughts or insights?

I would think that this happens.

 

[manxman2601]

Decent article by Doug Kyed on Duron Harmon as a potential starter.

http://nesn.com/2015/08/duron-harmon-viewed-as-one-of-the-patriots-five-best-defensive-backs/

 

[mgteich]

I read this as stating that Harmon is one of our 5 best defensive backs, and a players who should be on the field for the nickel defense.

The other side of this is that none of the corners has shown himself to be a better choice than either Harmon or Chung in nickel situations.

This is a major step upward for CHUNG who was often taken out in passing situations last year. In essence, it is Chung who has replaced Arrington in nickel situations.

If this analysis hold, then it seems likely that McClain will be the odd man out at CB (rather than Ebner). Some posters have been trying to convince of this for weeks. I guess the missing understanding was accepting that CHUNG is one of our 5 best pass defender.

Is it really a GOOD sign that Chung is one of our 5 best pass defenders?

Decent article by Doug Kyed on Duron Harmon as a potential starter.

 

[manxman2601]

I read this as stating that Harmon is one of our 5 best defensive backs, and a players who should be on the field for the nickel defense.

The other side of this is that none of the corners has shown himself to be a better choice than either Harmon or Chung in nickel situations.

This is a major step upward for CHUNG who was often taken out in passing situations last year. In essence, it is Chung who has replaced Arrington in nickel situations.

If this analysis hold, then it seems likely that McClain will be the odd man out at CB (rather than Ebner). Some posters have been trying to convince of this for weeks. I guess the missing understanding was accepting that CHUNG is one of our 5 best pass defender.

Is it really a GOOD sign that Chung is one of our 5 best pass defenders?

As we're in nickel most of the time, I consider that a starter but you are right to point out that out.

I am intrigued, and worried, that there seems to be a concentration on three safeties rather than three corners for a nickel defense but if the safeties are better as a group, then why not? It will be interesting to see what happens if Tarrell Brown ends up starting. Will McCourty play the nickel role? It wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Thanks to those who spent time updating. Much appreciated.

 

[Oswlek]

I've wondered sometimes how much the two coaches collaborate on planning during joint practices. Like, BB saying "hey Sean, have Brees give Butler a good working over" or Payton saying "I want to see what Cook can do against press man, dial it up for me will you please". Any thoughts or insights?

When the coaches are Payton and Bill, quite a bit I suspect.

In all serious, I've heard coaches discussion this so I know that it happens but I have no idea how frequently or to what extent.

 

[patfanken]

Not a witness to the practice of course but a couple of things to remember when you have a practice between 2 teams like this

1. 1-1 drills between the OL and DL will ALWAYS favor the DLman. He gets much more room to rush on both sides than he ever would in a real game. The DLman has a distinct advantage and SHOULD win more than 50% of the time.

2. The reported leaky play in group and team drills is more troubling, but with our #3 C and 2 rookie G's is no wonder.

3. For the guy who asked the question, "do he coaches plan in advance areas of concentration in practice". The answer is yes. They will ask what situations they want to work on. Like for example, it looks like the running game wasn't worked on much today. Likely it will be tomorrow. It also seemed like he Pats didn't throw to Gronk much. That also might be by design. And so on.

4. I said a while ago the best 2 CB's the Pats will have this season could be Butler and McCourty. The Pats seem deep at safety, while thin at CB. In 2011, when McCourty was being pilloried by the mediots and here, he wasn't great, but he wasn't as nearly as bad as some of the mediots and people here thought.

I would predict that if had to play strictly CB for this season, by the end of it he'd be at LEAST a top 15 CB. But I don't think he'll just be playing CB. What I do believe we'll see a lot of is a 3 Safety nickel, and McCourty's versatility will make it very difficult for teams to diagnose the coverage.

5. I'd like to point out that this is a time for patience. One of the key advantages the Pats have over the rest of the league is their game plans. It should be noted that NO ONE is game planning now and won't be for a few weeks. Even in the 3rd PS game, the game planning is very nominal.

It's one of the reason's the Pats have historically started slowly. For a game planning focused team like them the first 3 games are the most dangerous, because you really don't know what to expect, not only with the personnel but with the schemes. By the forth game, you sort of have a feel for what each team is looking to do on both offense and defense, and by December you KNOW what they want to do. Its another reason why the Pats are so successful after Thanksgiving.

 

[pherein]

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. -- It is what it is.

With a lighthearted touch, that Bill Belichick catchphrase highlighted a dash of humor between Belichick and Saints coach Sean Payton prior to the team's joint practice on Wednesday at the Greenbrier.

The two coaches have mutual respect and Payton, after praising Belichick and the Patriots as a whole, was asked if Belichick has ever made him laugh.

"I think I have a good relationship with him; he makes me laugh when I watch him talk to you," Payton said to reporters.

Belichick's swatting away of certain questions from reporters is well documented.

When informed of Payton's remarks, Belichick smiled.

"I feel the same way," he cracked.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-england...a-relations-crack-up-saints-coach-sean-payton

to funny

asked about bountygate, and pats gate

Sean Payton asked how #Saints got through their "Gate" as #Patriots go through another of their own now. Said bountygate was long time ago..

#Saints Sean Payton said the mindset was they can't control it, have to move on. Would be silly to dwell. ...

#Saints Sean Payton said there are some things you "file away" though and said he's got a good memory.

 

[pherein]

Really love Rob Ninkovich, I think Malcolm Butler did fine, and Brees nows hes good. Im sure hes not pushing to hard, and he should not be. We have a lot of young WR's, cooks, BC,Toon, etc and Morgan that are fighting for a spot. So, Im sure they are trying to prove something.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/08/...tower-a-full-participant-brady-a-little-flat/

 

[pherein]

Best image of the day, our kid looked afraid and whats with only one hand securing the ball !

https://twitter.com/FletcherMackel/status/634003633831563264/photo/1