Tank Williams placed on IR, CB Jeff Shoate signed

[Pats726]

My thoughts exactly. I was fully expecting to see one of them IR'ed today - but was expecting it to be Aiken. Now hopefully Aiken will be alright.

It's part of the game...but I still hate it..I really would be surprised ...HAPPILY surprised if Aiken was OK..because his looked more serious..to the layman...losing two would be sad...BUT there would be more opportunity for others...absolutely..!!

 

[KevinFaulk-33]

It's part of the game...but I still hate it..I really would be surprised ...HAPPILY surprised if Aiken was OK..because his looked more serious..to the layman...losing two would be sad...BUT there would be more opportunity for others...absolutely..!!

But in my opinion we are thin at safeties, now.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

But in my opinion we are thin at safeties, now.

We have Harrison, Meriweather and Sanders. I don't think we lost anyone from last year did we ? Samuel and Gay were CB, who is gone at Safety ? I assume we will keep Spann who has had a good camp and can play S/CB.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Re: Tank Williams placed on IR...

I understand your point and yes, maybe this is an opportunity for someone else.

But some people are bothered by poor OL play, or bad punting, or penalties. Season ending injuries in training camp are my biggest pet peeve in football. Drives me crazy.

Believe me, it drives me crazy. But it is what it is and with big men running fast and crashing into each other it's unavoidable. No disrespect to Tank, but I'm just thankful it wasn't Mayo, Meriweather or the like.

 

[Zeke_Mowatt]

We have Harrison, Meriweather and Sanders. I don't think we lost anyone from last year did we ? Samuel and Gay were CB, who is gone at Safety ? I assume we will keep Spann who has had a good camp and can play S/CB.

We lost Wilson in the offseason. Hope Spann steps up.

 

[pats1]

We have Harrison, Meriweather and Sanders. I don't think we lost anyone from last year did we ? Samuel and Gay were CB, who is gone at Safety ? I assume we will keep Spann who has had a good camp and can play S/CB.

Eugene, Eugene...

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

We lost Wilson in the offseason. Hope Spann steps up.

Shouldn't be hard for him to do.

 

[Gene In Montana]

Eugene, Eugene...

Ty! Ty!

(OK... Here it comes from the Patriots Pundits! :bricks

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

This helps Spann and L. Sanders as CB/S tweeners, Richardson at CB, and Guyton who is a fast enough LB that he could be developed to play some nickel/dime S-hybrid. Bummer for Tank, like Sooner this is a part of the game I really hate.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Eugene, Eugene...

Oh yeah, forgot about him; easy to do.

 

[RussFrancis]

We have Harrison, Meriweather and Sanders. I don't think we lost anyone from last year did we ? Samuel and Gay were CB, who is gone at Safety ? I assume we will keep Spann who has had a good camp and can play S/CB.

Im not one to normally jump on the "lets bring in 'FA vet Y", but is Belichick gonna give John Lynch some consideration here? The guy's a ProBowl caliber SS, and we just lost a strong safety. He's a smart vet, and our team is all about smart vets. What do you think the chances are? Im hoping he's on the phone right now.

 

[Horace's Ivories]

Re: Tank Williams placed on IR...

Hopefully Aiken will be ok.

Aiken looked worse not to say that means anything

 

[reflexblue]

This is the first time I've ever noticed I was reaching a milestone. For my 4,000 th post I have to say that This Bites the Big One. I really wanted to see this guy play,but this is his HX from what I know of his career.

And he walked off like nothing was wrong,between Aiken and him I wopuld have said Aiken wouldn't be back.

 

[TB146]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

 

[JoePats]

Tough break, but that's how it goes sometimes. We were very healthy save one guy basically last year. I, along with many others, was very interested to see how he was going to be used, he had the chance to fill a unique role as a hybrid. To be honest, I would bring Lynch in now to see what he can do. He seems the type where he won't want to break the bank, a la Harrison/Seau.

 

[Sicilian]

Re: Tank Williams placed on IR...

I understand your point and yes, maybe this is an opportunity for someone else.

But some people are bothered by poor OL play, or bad punting, or penalties. Season ending injuries in training camp are my biggest pet peeve in football. Drives me crazy.

If this had happened in the third or fourth preseason game, I might agree with you. But this was the first game... would you suggest no preseason at all? Have everyone go from camp to full speed overnight?

 

[jbb9s]

The year of the Eagle's super bowl, both Law and Poole went down. Samuel and Gay stepped up to get the job done. Gay was the first undrafted FA rookie to start a CB in the SB and covered the games best WR that game. Other than an illegal screen where TO got about 20+ yards, Gay kept TO in check.

The year of the horrible AFCCG collapse, both Harrison and Wilson went down (when Wilson was actually a good starter). Hawkins and Sanders stepped up to get the job done (well not Hawkins so much but Sanders who is really a SS stepped up at FS if I remember correctly).

Think of this as an opportunity for someone new to step up and make a name for himself........

 

[Richter]

Considering the way he seemed to be getting blown off the ball by guards in training camp while playing ILB, I can't say I'm exactly devastated. I think his only contribution was going to be to spell Rodney and play some third downs in a big nickel type role, where he'd give the team a little better coverage from a linebacker position and not sacrifice too much against a potential draw play. I'd of course prefer that Tank stayed healthy, but this might open a spot for Gary Guyton, a guy with linebacker size with legitimate safety speed. If he can pick up the scheme fast enough, he might see some work as a nickel linebacker. His speed is fantastic, so if Tank going down means he gets a longer look, it could ultimately be beneficial to the team in the long run.

 

[DocE]

I think this is a fairly big loss for the Patriots. Williams started camp running with the 1's at ILB, so clearly BB had plans for him. Tank also is also a good special teams player and would have made an impact in that phase of the game as well.

The problem I see is that there is not another really big safety on the roster to play the role Tank was signed to play. I am sure Rodney could do it, but you'd rather give that role to a player who's not crucial to your base defense as the injury risk is high.

I agree with those who say this might open up a spot for Guyton as his speed might give him a chance to play the Tank role. That said, I think it's wishful thinking to hope an undrafted free agent can play a significant role on a team with Super Bowl aspirations. It could happen, but it would be a rare occurrence.

 

[ScottieC]

Re: Tank Williams placed on IR...

Damn, I was really looking forward to the depth he could provide at safety and somewhat to ILB in the nickel.

Think this might pave the way for a Seau return?

He's coming back no matter what happens.