We Seem To Have Enough Special Teamers To Play KC

[mgteich]

We had Ebner, King, and Slater.

Belichick added Marsh, Flowers, and Bademosi.

And he brought back Bolden.

 

[meatface]

I thought you were talking about Trey Flowers for a minute.

 

[Ring 6]

We had Ebner, King, and Slater.

Belichick added Marsh, Flowers, and Bademosi.

And he brought back Bolden.

No surprise.
Marsh and flowers replace Grissom and mcclellin.

 

[mcmurtry86]

Mingo, Grissom and McClellin all played ST last year and all are gone.

Nothing new here. The Pats have always valued ST more than most teams (and fans).

 

[farn]

It's not at the expense of playmakers on D/O... on D, HT - Butler - Flowers - Gilmore - McC can all make big plays. On O, there is even more in the cupboard.

So : it is ok to have a lot on STs.

 

[maineman209]

Top 11 special teamers from 2016:
(ST snaps per game & current status)

Grissom, 22.7 - PS
*Ebner, 22.4 - limited
Mingo, 20.2 - GONE
Jon Jonzz, 19.2
Bolden, 18.9
King, 18.7
*Slater, 17.4 - limited
McClellin, 15.6 - IR
Richards, 13.7
Chung, 12.6
Freeny, 9.8 - GONE

Four of eleven unavailable, plus two limited in practice so far this week.

Special teamers added (all relatively young):
*Langi - limited
Flowers
Bademosi
Marsh

I think it's worth noting that Slater turns 32 on Saturday.

 

[bruce_w]

We Seem To Enough Special Teamers To Play KC

We DO seem to be missing some letters/words though.

 

[DarrylS]

Am mindful of the discussion about when Gronk broke his arm on special teams a few years ago, the radio sports talkers went wild because Gronk was used on special teams.. how unnecessary it was blah, blah, blah.

As our knowledge of this team evolves it seems as though ST's are more in focus then they have ever been, for a long time as fans we took that aspect for granted.. now we have come to understand this phase better. Have gone from whole lot of bottom roster guys to specialists..

 

[shmessy]

No worries.

We have Jordan Richards out there.

.

 

[long distance]

Top 11 special teamers from 2016:
(ST snaps per game & current status)

Grissom, 22.7 - PS
*Ebner, 22.4 - limited
Mingo, 20.2 - GONE
Jon Jonzz, 19.2
Bolden, 18.9
King, 18.7
*Slater, 17.4 - limited
McClellin, 15.6 - IR
Richards, 13.7
Chung, 12.6
Freeny, 9.8 - GONE

Four of eleven unavailable, plus two limited in practice so far this week.

Special teamers added (all relatively young):
*Langi - limited
Flowers
Bademosi
Marsh

I think it's worth noting that Slater turns 32 on Saturday.

nice list.

they really “lost“ only 3 from 2016 since Grissom came in after Freeny went down.

Langi played very well there in preseason . but suddenly this is a strong and experienced group and could start as inactive, depending on inj. situation. Last two spots could be between Langi, Richards and Bolden, depending who ends up on inactive list . assuming Ebner and King are good to go. (Ebner sounded ready)

They might take it slower with Slater though. Bademosi could be stronger (and certainly is faster) as a gunner at this point and Id guess its a pretty much plug-in position. If active, maybe Slater can start in return units as experienced playcaller close to returner . but if Dola and Lewis will return there's enough experience there..
__

This are some compositions from preseason (some core guys missing).

Starting kickoff unit week 1 of practice:
Rowe-Bolden-O’S-Slater-Ebner--Ghost--Richards-JJ-Grissom-King-Coleman
(w Burkhead coming in for Bolden and Freeny/McClellin for O'S)

Starting kickoff unit week 3 @DET:
JJ-Bolden-Hollister-Bates-O'S--Ghost--Richards-Freeny-Langi-D-Mac-Chung
__

So week 1 it could be something like this (if new ST guys are ready to go):

JJ-Bolden-M.Flowers-King-Ebner--G--Marsh-Langi-D-Mac-Chung-Bademosi
..(Burkhead).............................................. .......(Roberts)...(Richards).................

Reserve/other kicking units: Slater, Rowe, Develin, Roberts, KVN
(I expect Hollister to be inactive)

 

[Sicilian]

It seems like there are two major philosophies when it comes to building the bottom of your roster. Either you like to fill it with players who have more offensive/defensive upside, and jam them into ST roles, or you get ST specialists who can play O/D in a pinch (but likely won't be much good). Because it's difficult to find (and pay) bottom of the roster folks who can do both, most of the time you have to pick one or the other.

BB elects to go with the latter when forced to make the choice.

 

[mgteich]

It seems like there are two major philosophies when it comes to building the bottom of your roster. Either you like to fill it with players who have more offensive/defensive upside, and jam them into ST roles, or you get ST specialists who can play O/D in a pinch (but likely won't be much good). Because it's difficult to find (and pay) bottom of the roster folks who can do both, most of the time you have to pick one or the other.

BB elects to go with the latter when forced to make the choice.

I believe that Belichick doesn't consider special teamers as bottom of the roster players. He considers them starters on special teams.

My point is that belichick doesn't feel forced to have Slater, Ebner and King on the roster. And yes, Bademosi and Flowers are STO, with hope that they might add something if there are a couple of injuries, and perhaps develop as J Jones did.

Of course, he is happy when he gets guys like J Jones who are Ok backups and a also good special teamers.

 

[maineman209]

nice list.

they really “lost“ only 3 from 2016 since Grissom came in after Freeny went down.

Langi played very well there in preseason . but suddenly this is a strong and experienced group and could start as inactive, depending on inj. situation. Last two spots could be between Langi, Richards and Bolden, depending who ends up on inactive list . assuming Ebner and King are good to go. (Ebner sounded ready)

They might take it slower with Slater though. Bademosi could be stronger (and certainly is faster) as a gunner at this point and Id guess its a pretty much plug-in position. If active, maybe Slater can start in return units as experienced playcaller close to returner . but if Dola and Lewis will return there's enough experience there..
__

This are some compositions from preseason (some core guys missing).

Starting kickoff unit week 1 of practice:
Rowe-Bolden-O’S-Slater-Ebner--Ghost--Richards-JJ-Grissom-King-Coleman
(w Burkhead coming in for Bolden and Freeny/McClellin for O'S)

Starting kickoff unit week 3 @DET:
JJ-Bolden-Hollister-Bates-O'S--Ghost--Richards-Freeny-Langi-D-Mac-Chung
__

So week 1 it could be something like this (if new ST guys are ready to go):

JJ-Bolden-M.Flowers-King-Ebner--G--Marsh-Langi-D-Mac-Chung-Bademosi
..(Burkhead).............................................. .......(Roberts)...(Richards).................

Reserve/other kicking units: Slater, Rowe, Develin, Roberts, KVN
(I expect Hollister to be inactive)

It'll be interesting to see how much Burkhead is actually used on kicking/punting coverage units that tackle (as opposed to blocking-only units). Typically, offensive skill players who regularly get more than token offensive snaps per game (say, a minimum of +/- 15), aren't used on coverage units.

Good on ya for including Marsh, btw.

Speaking of projecting inactives, perhaps we should start an "Inactives/Injuries" thread to record and track them in one place across the season? Kind of like the way we've been using the Practice Squad thread?

 

[mgteich]

I was thinking that Belichick was adding more special teamers this year. I guess it is more of an even swap.

For me, Belichick sought out top special teamers and got what he wanted. The emphasis is startling for some posters, especially those who begrudgingly accept Slater as being on the team to play special teams, and view Ebner as a backup safety.

Top 11 special teamers from 2016:
(ST snaps per game & current status)

Grissom, 22.7 - PS
*Ebner, 22.4 - limited
Mingo, 20.2 - GONE
Jon Jonzz, 19.2
Bolden, 18.9
King, 18.7
*Slater, 17.4 - limited
McClellin, 15.6 - IR
Richards, 13.7
Chung, 12.6
Freeny, 9.8 - GONE

Four of eleven unavailable, plus two limited in practice so far this week, with Langi likely to be inactive.

Special teamers added (all relatively young):
*Langi - limited
Flowers
Bademosi
Marsh

I think it's worth noting that Slater turns 32 on Saturday.

 

[maineman209]

I was thinking that Belichick was adding more special teamers this year. I guess it is more of an even swap.

There may be a small element of looking forward to 2018 in these ST moves as well, since Slater is 32 and in his contract year. Everyone else is 28 or younger, and Ebner seems primed to take over Slater's ST captaincy.

 

[long distance]

Speaking of projecting inactives, perhaps we should start an "Inactives/Injuries" thread to record and track them in one place across the season? Kind of like the way we've been using the Practice Squad thread?

I think last yr we included them in weekly practice, pregame threads, but you can certainly try.

My week one looks like this:
Fleming-Valentine-A.Butler-Hollister-Dorsett/Mitchell-2 of Richards/Langi/Slater

depending if something happens w Fleming, Valentine re. roster spot .
and Beavers - but id be surprised if they put him directly on 53

 

[mgteich]

There may be a small element of looking forward to 2018 in these ST moves as well, since Slater is 32 and in his contract year. Everyone else is 28 or younger, and Ebner seems primed to take over Slater's ST captaincy.

Are any of these players signed for more than 2017?

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think last yr we included them in weekly practice, pregame threads, but you can certainly try.

My week one looks like this:
Fleming-Valentine-A.Butler-Hollister-Dorsett/Mitchell-2 of Richards/Langi/Slater

depending if something happens w Fleming, Valentine re. roster spot .
and Beavers - but id be surprised if they put him directly on 53

Not sure BB would de-activate both as that'll leave the team with just two pure DTs. I guess Guy would be ok for one game.

With that in mind, interesting how the Pats just signed Angelo Blackson to the PS.

 

[long distance]

Not sure BB would de-activate both as that'll leave the team with just two pure DTs. I guess Guy would be ok for one game.

With that in mind, interesting how the Pats just signed Angelo Blackson to the PS.

He wouldn't but he may have to. Valentine inj absentee, A.Butler wrapped up knee after practice - listed on inj. report unfortunately.

 

[Bill Lee]

No worries.

We have Jordan Richards out there.

.

Living proof that BB can be bribed/blackmailed!