Good read from Chris Price on the work some of the DBs put in this offseason in Arizona. I think it’s going to give me a headache trying to analyze and keep track how everything in the secondary plays out from game to game this year. Lots of mixing and matching I think.
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I think the key to it is not so much how people get here but what they do when they’re here, whether that’s a draft choice or a trade or a free agent or whatever it is. We’ve had successful and unsuccessful examples in all those different categories. The past isn’t necessarily a predictor to the future. The future is now. Some guys have good years and then some guys have not so good years and that may fluctuate from year to year. I don’t think there’s any way to really predict that until you see it. Our philosophy has always been to put them out there, let them compete and we can’t control how the competition is going to go, nor do we want to, but the best players are going to get more opportunity than the ones that don’t perform as well.
Jamie Collins broke up a pair of pass attempts for Stevan Ridley during 1-on-1s. These drills heavily favor the offense, and Collins made a play on both reps. Collins also broke up a Tom Brady bid for tight end D.J. Williams in 7-on-7s. He has been their best coverage linebacker throughout the spring and summer, and it’s not even close.
The Blitz with Jeff Howe & Karen Guregian | Boston Herald
Music to my ears. Such a big need for this team…
I think something that is being overlooked when it comes to the offense is how productive it was last year( 3rd in points which really says something and 7th in yards) given everything that happen (gronk,below average blocking and rookie receivers)
Well it certainly hasn’t been overlooked here. Despite a dip in his numbers I think 2013 was one of Brady’s most impressive years. They certainly had their struggles early in the year, especially against the Jets in Week Two and the loss to the Bengals.
But look at the chart below and I think it reiterates how potent this offense is no matter who their weapons are.
i’m sure this has been said before somewhere but even then its worth repeating because its just so exciting but can browner basically be used like an anti-TE weapon a la Talib on Gonzalez?
I’m skeptical about this. Maybe when tight ends are split out wide but I don’t think we’ll see Browner following a Jimmy Graham type all over the formation to cover him.
Why? Because I think Browner’s strength is clearly using his size to disrupt receivers at the line, but if they get by him he struggles chasing. This is compounded if he’s forced to cover someone inside the middle of the formation because he can’t use the sideline to his advantage.
What I’m more curious about is whether they use Browner against bigger receivers like Calvin Johnson or AJ Green this year instead of Revis (as many might expect). Browner would need over the top help but with Revis effectively eliminated any number two receiver on the other side giving a safety to Browner wouldn’t be detrimental.
As for tight ends, I think you’ll see a lot of Jamie Collins on them. Some Hightower too, especially to disrupt at the line. Or perhaps even Revis, though I don’t think the Pats play a team this year where the tight end is as crucial to the offense as Graham was to the Saints last year.
Tweets of Note from Patriots Wednesday Practice
They’ve been at it for just about a week and you can tell tempers are growing short out there. We’re just eight days away from the first preseason game so we can expect to start seeing things take shape to get them ready to play.
Brady to Gronk! #patscamp https://t.co/3DYUANlVsE
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) July 30, 2014
Following up on the center competition, Dan Connolly (2011 center before moving to right guard) took most reps there today.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 30, 2014
Tommy Kelly took a ton of reps, including 11-on-11s near the end of practice. Not final round of drills though.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) July 30, 2014
Not a good practice for Thompkins. Not sure if early spat with Browner got to him or what, but Browner best him all day, INT vs. Brady throw
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) July 30, 2014
Jamie Collins, while covering Ridley, had a couple of pass breakups during 1v1s.
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) July 30, 2014
Brandon Browner is getting heated, just manhandling WRs in 1-on-1s (all would probably be penalties). Chad O’Shea let him have it.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) July 30, 2014
ridley and white are different players but I get the feeling ridley’s snaps are whites for the taking. both ridley and vereen seem to do so much better when they are used as compliments to each other. glad to hear so much about white who could potentially be a healthy shane vereen. still kinda ticked that woodhead left for SD where he caught 76 passes, but this could be so much fun seeing vereen and white zipping past out of breath linebackers.
I don’t want to undersell Ridley or Vereen’s potential this season. I know I usually can’t write about them without mentioning their respective issues, but I don’t think it’s impossible that both turn in full seasons and finally find some consistency/health.
But it’s always good to have a third option and I think White will develop into a great threat to compliment the group. With Brandon Bolden falling behind already (according to a few reports his reps have diminished) it also opens the door for Stephen Houston. Roy Finch too.
And I’m with you on Woodhead. That’s one I’d like back and it doesn’t sound like the Pats had much interest in retaining him. I think the Pats just liked Vereen’s potential more.
Regardless of how it all plays out, the Pats have some intriguing options in the backfield. And next year Tyler Gaffney would be a fine potential Ridley replacement if he walks.
Will be very curious to see what the backfield looks like in 2015.
