The Secondary

[mgteich]

Should we be concerned about the level of competition for roster spots? Presuming no trades of veterans, we have

SECONDARY (9)
CB: Gonzalez, Davis, Austin
NB: Jones
S: Peppers, Dugger, Epps, Hawkins
S/NB: Woodson
(next up): Mapu, Bolden, Dial, Pettus)
==========
Unless we consider Woodson a corner, it seems that we are very thin at backup CB. We are very vulnerable to even one injury at CB. Of course, there are year when we have had more than one onjury.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Our outside coverage projects to be terrific and Marcus Jones is solid in the slot. Very poor depth at CB though and Davis is an annual lock to miss games and MJones is the type to get nicked up a lot - concerning. The Safety coverage is atrocious, both deep FS and in the SS/box types unless Woodson is a day 1 stud. That's compounded by the lack of any coverage ability at LB too.

We should have a really good interior rush that will force QBs to throw quick, but opponents will be happy to do so because we aren't going to be able to cover backs, TEs or inside receivers at all really which is where quick passes go. I expect us to have a pretty bad pass defense this year even though we'll be great vs. outside WRs.

 

[Wozzy]

Miles Battle played well in that final game against Buffalo, he was one of the reasons we're looking at the #4 overall pick and not the 1st.

He is another large CB with supreme athleticism who might turn into a better pro than he was a college player. With Gonzalez, Davis and Battle they have three large super athletic and fast CB's, with Marcus Jones they have a smurf CB with the same traits.

 

[Love The Drake]

Se

Miles Battle played well in that final game against Buffalo, he was one of the reasons we're looking at the #4 overall pick and not the 1st.

He is another large CB with supreme athleticism who might turn into a better pro than he was a college player. With Gonzalez, Davis and Battle they have three large super athletic and fast CB's, with Marcus Jones they have a smurf CB with the same traits.

I still have hope for Bolden, but it’s running out.

 

[maust]

I supect we are going to see Peppers/ Woodson/Hawkins/Jones used in some interesting hybrid coverage combinations

 

[SlowGettingUp]

He is another large CB with supreme athleticism who might turn into a better pro than he was a college player.

Yes - these are damn good numbers, particularly for someone who went undrafted. Would have ranked him 6th among CBs in the recent draft.

 

[Ring 6]

Should we be concerned about the level of competition for roster spots? Presuming no trades of veterans, we have

SECONDARY (9)
CB: Gonzalez, Davis, Austin
NB: Jones
S: Peppers, Dugger, Epps, Hawkins
S/NB: Woodson
(next up): Mapu, Bolden, Dial, Pettus)
==========
Unless we consider Woodson a corner, it seems that we are very thin at backup CB. We are very vulnerable to even one injury at CB. Of course, there are year when we have had more than one onjury.

You can’t only keep 4 corners in a defensive system that averages 3.5 corners per snap.
We need 6.
Woodson is not a corner.

Battle Bolden Crossley James Polk
are fighting for 2 spots and the 2 that make it will probably end up playing s as combined 300+ snaps on defense.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Davis was paid a lot of money, so he will have some high expectations. Marcus Jones is going to get picked on a lot, so he better play better than he's had since being drafted.

FS is a major question mark which was bad last season.

With that said, most secondary's are trash. Their defense should be good enough to compete.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Yes - these are damn good numbers, particularly for someone who went undrafted. Would have ranked him 6th among CBs in the recent draft.

Incidentally, Gonzalez was top CB all time:

 

[rkarp1]

wouldn't surprise me if the Pats base package is big nickel (3 safeties) and 2 CB's rather than 3 CB's
also wouldn't surprise me if additional help is brought in at cut downs in August
I think Mapu and Hawkins are vulnerable for roster spots on the 53 man roster

 

[BobDigital]

Unfortunately CBs don't grow on trees. While you'd like to have a back up plan for every spot some people just need to stay healthy. Gonzo and Davis are 2 of them. They can absorb any other injury in the secondary. And if need be just change coverage and put another safety on the field where they are deeper. This was always going to happen

This is the problem with having so many bad drafts year after year. We can solve some problems in free agency and hopefully this draft works out like we think it can. But we are very thin at certain spots and can't just buy ourselves out. This can't be solved with one off season.

 

[The Gr8est]

Davis was paid a lot of money, so he will have some high expectations. Marcus Jones is going to get picked on a lot, so he better play better than he's had since being drafted.

FS is a major question mark which was bad last season.

With that said, most secondary's are trash. Their defense should be good enough to compete.

I am continually hearing good things about Woodson.

Someone said he and Campbell were the most impressive performers at the recent camp.

Maybe he is the solution at free safety?

 

[Real fan 02]

Davis was paid a lot of money, so he will have some high expectations. Marcus Jones is going to get picked on a lot, so he better play better than he's had since being drafted.

FS is a major question mark which was bad last season.

With that said, most secondary's are trash. Their defense should be good enough to compete.

Agreed. We all know about our all pro gonzo.. who will be fully announced as the best CB in football by the middle of next season..barring any injuries. Marcus will have ample opportunities to pick of passes.. the perimeter will be a danger zone for opposing QBs.. Davis is 6'1 but plays like he's 6'7 on the outside. Marcus is in a perfect position as slot CB he speed and balls skills will allow him to thrive under Vrabel and Williams..

 

[Real fan 02]

I am continually hearing good things about Woodson.

Someone said he and Campbell were the most impressive performers at the recent camp.

Maybe he is the solution at free safety?

If he can play anywhere to the level of a HOF player with the last name then we have a find..

 

[signbabybrady]

I know he's undersized but Marcus Jones would be fine for a few weeks if he had to play on the outside.

And I think Dial and Austin are decent depth pieces. The safety group is pretty deep too.

Ideally there would be a little more camp competition for CB 4 and 5 but it is what it is. As long as no one regresses it's a very good, deep, and versatile set of DBs.

 

[Triumph]

You can’t only keep 4 corners in a defensive system that averages 3.5 corners per snap.
We need 6.
Woodson is not a corner.

I believe that as well.

I see him as run stuffing S. I keep looking at Buffalos 2024 offensive production and see Cook with 16 rush TDs and Allen with 12 rush TDs. Got to stop the run to take down Buffalo.

 

[Nunchucks]

Our outside coverage projects to be terrific and Marcus Jones is solid in the slot. Very poor depth at CB though and Davis is an annual lock to miss games and MJones is the type to get nicked up a lot - concerning. The Safety coverage is atrocious, both deep FS and in the SS/box types unless Woodson is a day 1 stud. That's compounded by the lack of any coverage ability at LB too.

We should have a really good interior rush that will force QBs to throw quick, but opponents will be happy to do so because we aren't going to be able to cover backs, TEs or inside receivers at all really which is where quick passes go. I expect us to have a pretty bad pass defense this year even though we'll be great vs. outside WRs.

I can't disagree more. What makes you think the patriots will be susceptible to quick passes?

 

[signbabybrady]

Our outside coverage projects to be terrific and Marcus Jones is solid in the slot. Very poor depth at CB though and Davis is an annual lock to miss games and MJones is the type to get nicked up a lot - concerning. The Safety coverage is atrocious, both deep FS and in the SS/box types unless Woodson is a day 1 stud. That's compounded by the lack of any coverage ability at LB too.

We should have a really good interior rush that will force QBs to throw quick, but opponents will be happy to do so because we aren't going to be able to cover backs, TEs or inside receivers at all really which is where quick passes go. I expect us to have a pretty bad pass defense this year even though we'll be great vs. outside WRs.

That's way off.

The physical play of Davis will slow down one WR. Gonzo will lock down another.

Marcus is one of the better slots corners in the game.

And one of our safeties playing in the box instead of a LBer will help counter the rest of the quick passing game.

I don't imagine very many teams can play like that. If anything since most of our Safeties are more strong safety types I think the deep ball is more of a concern than the quick passing game.

That's where we need Barmore, Milt, and White to kill plays before there's enough time to get deep. Plus Davis and Gonzo make deep passing difficult just on their own which should help give our safeties the freedom to play to their own strengths and help in the box and against the run.

 

[n1997y]

Se

I still have hope for Bolden, but it’s running out.

I know he's undersized but Marcus Jones would be fine for a few weeks if he had to play on the outside.

And I think Dial and Austin are decent depth pieces. The safety group is pretty deep too.

Ideally there would be a little more camp competition for CB 4 and 5 but it is what it is. As long as no one regresses it's a very good, deep, and versatile set of DBs.

I’m still hopeful for both Bolden and Dial to show their development and step up when given the chance, but the clock has been running on them for awhile now. Will see how the new coaching staff views them when we get into camp.

 

[DarrylS]

This is probably as much quality and depth that I have seen in a long time, more reason for optimism...
Throw in a hybrid like Mapu lots of interesting schemes..