Which rookie will make the biggest impact this year?

[BritPat]

Nobody is talking about McKenzie. I know that technically he's not a rookie, but it will be his first year, and we know the coaches and specifically the HC love him.

I'd love to see some 4 man fronts with him, Mayo and Guyton playing downhill.

 

[mgteich]

We have Mayo and Guyton coming back. We have just added Spikes, who everyone is high on.

McKenzie may or may not have an impact. He seems to be the #4 ILB. I don't see that there are enough ILB reps for all the ILB's to have a major impact.

BTW, we also have Williams making his case for an ILB roster spot.

Nobody is talking about McKenzie. I know that technically he's not a rookie, but it will be his first year, and we know the coaches and specifically the HC love him.

I'd love to see some 4 man fronts with him, Mayo and Guyton playing downhill.

 

[TBradyOwnsYou]

I don't see how it isn't Hernandez. By all accounts he's the guy who can and will line up all over, creating options and depth for our offense which is greatly needed. I think just him being there creating those options makes the largest impact. While other players might have more individual impact in their position, I think Hernandez's impact on the entire offense will be greater than anyone else's individual impact.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I don't see how it isn't Hernandez. By all accounts he's the guy who can and will line up all over, creating options and depth for our offense which is greatly needed. I think just him being there creating those options makes the largest impact. While other players might have more individual impact in their position, I think Hernandez's impact on the entire offense will be greater than anyone else's individual impact.

I agree but I don't think it will last all season; defenses will figure out how to handle him. By then we will get to witness the ascendancy of McCourty.

I have a bad feeling that Gronk will get injured; I am guessing here (I need to review film) but I wonder if he is used to running over guys in college and he will need to learn how to protect his body in the pros. Too big a target for safeties and LBs.

 

[Patspsycho]

Gronk will start off slowly, after all he has missed an entire year. It will take him time to acquire.

It was written that Hernandez was all over the field in OTS, and while OTS doesn't really count for anything- it could be taken as an indication that Hernandez was the first out of the gate.

However, my money is on Price. We still need that alternate threat to force the backfield to stay true, and not cheat towards Moss. I believe that Price has the intangibles, especially the toughness.

 

[woolster22]

hernandez is going to walk all over defenses, and one of Spikes/McKenzie will be doing good things by the end of the year or it will be a very long season...

 

[Taxed in Maine]

You think he's going to leapfrog Butler and Bodden by the end of the year? I think he'll be a nickelback this year, but I doubt he'll supplant either one of those guys in the starting line-up.

Yes I think he will supplant Butler as a starter. McCourty is bigger taller and more physical, has the skillset of a boundary corner. Butler will be the slot/nickel back and Bodden & McCourty will man the outside.

That is my prediction and I 'm sticking to it.

 

[sbpatfan]

Yes I think he will supplant Butler as a starter. McCourty is bigger taller and more physical, has the skillset of a boundary corner. Butler will be the slot/nickel back and Bodden & McCourty will man the outside.

That is my prediction and I 'm sticking to it.

I think you might be underestimating Butler a bit.

 

[PatsFan37]

Spikes? I like this guy, but no, too much competition at ILB.

Cunningham? Probably not. Tough position to play, lots to know. While the competition isn't stellar, they're decent veterans. I don't think a rookie waltzes into it. But if he's good, by the end of the year he'll be a significant part of the rotation.

Price? With Moss and Edelman ahead of him and Welker most likely back in by week 7 or so, and solid competition from Tate, this doesn't seem like Price's year to shine. And that without mentioning an increased focus on TEs and maybe a more balanced running game.

Gronk or Hernandez? Maybe. Gronkowski has a more direct battle with Crumpler for playing time but he probably opens more holes and may get more TDs. Hernandez probably gets more snaps and more receptions. I think one of these guys has a bigger statistical impact than my choice for the real impact guy.

McCourty. Weakness against tough passing offenses like the Colts, especially on third down is where the nickel plays an important role, and I think he beats Wilhite for starting nickelback before the bye week. This guy has size and speed, and by all accounts he hits hard, covers well and isn't afraid to tackle a RB. While interceptions are nice, keeping guys from getting open is critical. I don't hate Wilhite, but he always seemed a step behind and the ball seemed to go to his man at all the wrong times.

I expect Butler and Bodden to start at L & RCB through the end of the year, but McCourty may see some time split wide on the bigger receivers and he's a nice option to play against clever TEs like Dallas Clark who can't be covered by LBs, jamming him at the line and then matching him stride for stride. It won't be flashy, and he won't get the INTs but I see this guy as having the biggest impact.

He'll get his playing time in many ways, taking it from Wilhite and the safeties. I sincerely hope, with everyone healthy, the nickel defense by the end of the year will be Meriweather, Chung, Bodden, Butler, and McCourty. And that is 50% of the snaps.

On top of that, as the media tells us, he'll be an absolute force on special teams.

 

[signbabybrady]

I see no reason why it shouldn't be McCourty. He obviously is the highest touted but that alone does not make him the obvious choice. Part 2 is opportunity and I think he has every opportunity to get some significant game reps because of where the CB position is. Because Butler has little experience and is McCourty only real challenge for a starting role and because Whilhite is McCourty's big comp for the nickle role it is really likely he ends up with one of the two roles.

To a slightly lesser degree the same could be said of Cunningham. He doesn't come as highly touted but he may have even less competition than McCourty for reps.

I know the TE and WRs seem like logical choices but the passing game will still run through Moss and Welker (when he returns) and there were other options brought in as well (Holt, Crumpler, & Patten). Reps wont be as easy to come by.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I loved this draft and last years, and we will see the rewards of them this season imo.

The more I think about it the more i'm leaning toward Taylor Price to be the rookie who has the most impact, even though the TE's have more opportunity to make their marks. If he can get on the same page as Brady he could be a breakout player because athletically he's got all the tools, size, speed, and great after the catch. he could end up being the long term replacement for Moss.

I like the Spikes pick and believe he will challenge McKenzie for a starting spot inside, and i see Guyton going outside, but McKenzie wins out and he's the starter most of the year. regardless they now have a really good and young ILB rotation, with great leadership qualities. Nicely done by Belichik, great reload. If they keep Guyton inside they have four good young ILB's.

Patrick Chung wins the starting safety job aside Meriweather. Chung is going to be a great player who is all over the field. Like many of the players they drafted the past 2 drafts he's a leader with great experience and a student of the game. Last word out of Foxboro is to expect chung to win that spot in the near future.

Both rookie TE's step in and contribute this year.

Butler replaces Springs and McCourty eventually takes over the nickel from Wilhite.

Vollmer replaces Kaczur at RT.

Tate is in the deep rotation at WR.


M. Pryor and R. Brace get far more playing time in 2010

:yeahthat:


I think you pretty much covered it. Nicely done.