Safety Conundrum

[Water Boy]

Listening to Barth and Lazar, there is concern that we have 3 strong safeties and no real answer at Free Safety.

They speculated that Mapu was drafted to replace Dugger, which may have made some sense.

So far it seems they've given Mapu no reps at LB. Barring injury, hard to see how he'll get significant reps in games.

Would have been nice to use that pick elsewhere.

 

[slash83]

Barth has been impressed with Hawkins play FS, he might be the answer.

 

[archstanton543]

Barth? The chef from You Can't Do That On Television?

 

[n1997y]

So far it seems they've given Mapu no reps at LB. Barring injury, hard to see how he'll get significant reps in games.

Just today it seems otherwise. Quote from Mayo seems relevant (emphasis added).

7. Mapu finds a home

During the two-minute period, second-year hybrid Marte Mapu was getting quite a bit of run at linebacker alongside New England’s other prominent defenders. It looks like that could be a home for him in obvious passing situations.

“When we scouted Marte, it was kind of going back and forth between, let’s say a big slot corner, a bigger safety, or smaller linebacker,” Mayo said. “That versatility is still in play. He’s done both of them throughout the spring. I don’t know how much—I guess it would depend on the team. Like, if we’re playing a heavy run team, you don’t want to have a 220-pound linebacker in there. But, he’s one of those guys that, he understands the defense conceptually. Very smart guy and his versatility will definitely get him on the field.”

9 Patriots camp takeaways: Drake Maye sharper, defense dominant

 

[rkarp1]

I certainly have not given up on Mapu. he could be a nice situational player depending on the opposing team. his ability to get to the ball carrier perhaps faster than any other Pats S of LB, and his sure tackling ability also makes him an asset as a "spy" when playing someone like Allen of Lamar.
I also like Takitaki in a similar role.
Lastly, more than likely make or break time for Bledsoe.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I keep laughing at this narrative. Peppers was the 5th ranked FS in the nfl last season. 2nd vs the run and 8th vs the pass. He led the league in forced incompletions from man coverage and while covering the slot led the league with a 42.3 passer rating. There’s nothing to see here and for so called professionals to be so lazy and not recognize his play at the position is laughable. Pats should extend him asap imo. He was one of the bright spots on a somewhat depleted defense missing Judon and Gonzales. Unbelievable that some people feel this way about one of our beat defenders.

As far as Mapu, give him reps at LB on passing downs where he belongs

 

[Wozzy]

Listening to Barth and Lazar, there is concern that we have 3 strong safeties and no real answer at Free Safety.

They speculated that Mapu was drafted to replace Dugger, which may have made some sense.

So far it seems they've given Mapu no reps at LB. Barring injury, hard to see how he'll get significant reps in games.

Would have been nice to use that pick elsewhere.

Mapu was responsible for a “sack” in yesterdays practice, he’s put on weight according to the teams own website and will play weakside LB this season. Mack Wilson is gone as that timely playmaker on third downs.

A CB should and will assume the free safety job, they’re CB’s in all but name anyhow. I suspect they like Wade in that role but there are other options.

 

[mgteich]

I keep laughing at this narrative. Peppers was the 5th ranked FS in the nfl last season. 2nd vs the run and 8th vs the pass. He led the league in forced incompletions from man coverage and while covering the slot led the league with a 42.3 passer rating. There’s nothing to see here and for so called professionals to be so lazy and not recognize his play at the position is laughable. Pats should extend him asap imo. He was one of the bright spots on a somewhat depleted defense missing Judon and Gonzales. Unbelievable that some people feel this way about one of our beat defenders.

As far as Mapu, give him reps at LB on passing downs where he belongs

FREE SAFETY
We've discussed this for months. I have often misunderstood the situation. Peppers was our free safety in 2023. As you point out, he did very well. He certainly didn't HURT the defense with his play at free safety.

It seems that Mills was the backup and had lots of reps since we often had 3 safeties on the field. We signed Hawkins who replaces Mills and who should be at least as good in the role.

FOURTH SAFETY
We had Phillips and Schooler, two special teamers, labelled as safeties last year.

Mills was the backup to Peppers.

Mapu was the backup to Dugger in his hybrid role. That seemed to work out fine. Sure, I want Mapu to get more reps as LB, but he can also be valuable as a backup to Dugger.

I have been one who has pushed for the signing of a free safety. I think that I now understand that there isn't a need, although if Bledsoe is making the team, I would want a free agent signed to compete with him for the potential roster spot.

 

[203Pat]

If I had to guess Dial and Shaun Wade will be given an opportunity to play that centerfield role.

 

[mgteich]

If I had to guess Dial and Shaun Wade will be given an opportunity to play that centerfield role.

I agree.

These two are likely to be beaten out for the 5 top CB jobs, so they will be tried out elsewhere. Bolden has the advantage of being a kick returner. Wade has the advantage of being experienced in the Defense. Perhaps being able to be a free safety will help either Wade or Dial make the 53.

LOCKS: Gonzo, Jones, Jones, Peppers, Dugger, Hawkins
MOST LIKELY BACKUPS: 2 of Wilson, Austin and Bolden
POSSIBLE #9 or #10 DB's: Wilson, Austin, Bolden, Dial, Wade, Bledsoe

 

[Water Boy]

I just read some notes this morning that he had some reps at OLB. Good to see.

 

[TheRainMaker]

It’s quite surprising Mayo of all people is giving resistance on playing him at LB because he thinks Mapu isn’t big enough. He needs to play inside where he played in College. OLB would be a bad spot as well with Judon, Jennings and Uche already there. He needs to stay out of the S room. He’s not a fast reacting player.

Mapu is going down the road Slowan Williams, Jermaine Cunningham, Ron Brace, etc. where they have no idea what to do with them.

 

[VrabelJr]

FS and SS distinctions are kind of dead at this point.

 

[Rob0729]

I am kinda surprised they didn't pick up a FS in free agency since there were quite a few really good ones in free agency and the market was down on them.

 

[signbabybrady]

It’s quite surprising Mayo of all people is giving resistance on playing him at LB because he thinks Mapu isn’t big enough. He needs to play inside where he played in College. OLB would be a bad spot as well with Judon, Jennings and Uche already there. He needs to stay out of the S room. He’s not a fast reacting player.

Mapu is going down the road Slowan Williams, Jermaine Cunningham, Ron Brace, etc. where they have no idea what to do with them.

I think there is more overlap between OLB and the slot DBs. Typically OLBs come of the field and nickel and dimes come on for them.

 

[203Pat]

FS and SS distinctions are kind of dead at this point.

On this team they're pretty different.

 

[DaBruinz]

Listening to Barth and Lazar, there is concern that we have 3 strong safeties and no real answer at Free Safety.

They speculated that Mapu was drafted to replace Dugger, which may have made some sense.

So far it seems they've given Mapu no reps at LB. Barring injury, hard to see how he'll get significant reps in games.

Would have been nice to use that pick elsewhere.

It's OTAs and Minicamp. As noted, Mafi and Robinson have both been getting reps at Center while Jake Andrews hasn't been mentioned there at all.

Let's wait until the Pads are on before we start worrying about the Safeies. Especially since Jaylinn Hawks is NOT a Strong Safety..

MAPU played as a "Robber" in his final 2 years of College. Meaning he was given free reign to line up based on what he saw.

With both Peppers AND Dugger on the field, Mapu should serve as the back-up to both of them. Which mean's he'll see LOTS of special teams play and he'll see some defensive snaps.

One of the issues MAPU had last year was play recognition. Which is why he got burned twice. Having him take snaps at safety and working on that play recognition isn't a bad thing. The Pats developing him to be that sort of player, by giving him time at Safety in OTAs and minicamp is what you want.

Just like you want him increasing the number of Special Teams snaps he took. Despite having Peppers and Dugger ahead of him last year, he still saw 18% of the defensive snaps.

BTW, do you know what kind of Defense the Pats are going to run? Because it's not been mentioned. Are they running a Big Nickel? Are they running a traditional 4-3? A 4-3 Under? Are the running a 4-2 traditional Nickel? Until we know that, how can we really lament on the pick or anything else, for that matter.

 

[DaBruinz]

I am kinda surprised they didn't pick up a FS in free agency since there were quite a few really good ones in free agency and the market was down on them.

They signed Jaylinn Hawkins. Justin Simmons is still out there. So is Gilmore. Let's wait until AFTER mini-camp to see what move the Pats make with the Roster. Even with the Judon and Stevenson extensions coming, the Pats still have a TON of cap space. So a high profile guy like Gilmore or Simmons is not out of the question.. Neither is the team looking at Bakhtiari or a trade for Wirfs if Wallace/Okorafor/Anderson don't show what Mayo and Co are looking for.

 

[DaBruinz]

Mapu was responsible for a “sack” in yesterdays practice, he’s put on weight according to the teams own website and will play weakside LB this season. Mack Wilson is gone as that timely playmaker on third downs.

A CB should and will assume the free safety job, they’re CB’s in all but name anyhow. I suspect they like Wade in that role but there are other options.

Mapu is likely battling that tease of a player Raekwon McMillan for the Mack Wilson role. Wilson played 305 snaps last year. If Mapu can get those in addition to some he already was taking while adding more on Special teams, I think that would be excellent progress.

 

[Water Boy]

FS and SS distinctions are kind of dead at this point.

Could you expand on this? I don't recall McCourty playing in the box very often.