New England Patriots PreSeason Watch - Defensive Backs - Updated 9/4/2009

Continuing the position battles: (Previously QB WR RB TE OL DL LB)

The Defensive Backs:

Before training camp, I had Shawn Spring and Leigh Bodden as our top corners, with Darius Butler, Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilihite filling out the active roster,  and Jamar Love going to the Practice Squad.  On the Safety side, I had Brandon Meriweather and James Sanders as the starters, with Patrick Chung filling out the active roles and Matthew Slater sticking on for positional flexibility and Special Teams.

The update after the jump.

Last year we had 5 corners on the active roster, 2 on IR, and none on the practice squad.  Likewise, we had 3 safeties end the year on the active roster, 2 on IR (including the Punisher Rodney Harrison), and Mark Dillard on the practice squad.

The safety side has seen the most change this preseason with Antwain Spann and Tank Williams cut; Herana-Daze Jones and Roderick Rogers were brought in. 

Brandon "Rock Hands" "I Can Catch" Meriweather is a shoe in to start the season at strong safety, but Patrick Chung has had a very strong pre-season.  I'm expecting big hits out of both of these gentlemen.

Belichick went above and beyond extending James Sanders this year, making it known how much he respects his leadership.  I've got him starting in the free safety spot, but we have a load of safeties in our cupboard. 

Matthew Slater is as unimpressive a Safety as he is a Wide Receiver, but will probably be a Special Teams competitor (Belichick seems to like him).  Hopefully, he improves in his other roles.  Ray Ventrone is also a Special Teamer, but you have to wonder how many one dimensional players we will carry.

So far, I've only found 3 guys that make the roster on Safety play alone, and we still have 3 veterans fighting it out for one potential spot.

We've had a couple changes this preseason on the Corner Back side.   Mike Richardson was cut, and we've had the saga of Jamar Love.  Jamar Love was signed by the Patriots, April 30, 2009, as a rookie free agent out of Arkansas.  He was then released on July 29, 2009, and signed again Aug 2, 2009.  Welcome to the NFL, Mr. Love, don't bother to unpack your bags.  Jamar may still find a home on the practice squad, but I don't see any Love in the secondary.

Shawn Springs has more experience with Terrell Owens than any corner back in the league, but he's had a tough time staying healthy this preseason at age 34 (by comparison, Deltha O'Neal is 32).  With all of the up and comers, I don't see us getting more than a year or so from him.

Leigh Bodden was neck and neck with Asante Samuel during the 2007 season.  He then went for the money in Detroit, and did about as well as any other Lion last year.  He's a little taller than most corners, and very athletic.  We've only signed him to a one year, put up or shut up, contract, though.  If he's looking to get paid next year, he'll probably have to do it elsewhere (see Ty Law and Asante Samuel).

Darius Butler has had a strong camp and good preseason.  If he develops into a home-grown shut down corner, the loss of Bodden won't matter as much.

Jonathan Wilhite has been seeing wearing red in practice lately.  It's not his best color.  He was a functional corner last year (in the Ellis Hobbs mold), but was really looking good filling in for Springs this preseason.  Hopefully, he stays healthy and hungry.

Terrence Wheatley was like the Millenium Falcon last year, the fastest hunk of junk in the secondary, but this preseason he's been unable to make the jump into hyperspace.  Last year he spent a quarter shutting down Peyton Manning before he broke his wrist.  Terrence already had one rebuilt wrist, and sets off metal detectors as he walks through them.  I had high hopes for him, but it seems he learned his coverage skills from the veteran Deltha O'Neal last year (remember the Chargers game nightmare?).  Mr. Wheatley really looks like he is overplaying his man; trying to do too much.  While that is fixable, he's on the clock and the cuts are coming soon. 

We're starting to get down to crunch time on the final roster.  As we watch the Redskins game, look for who gets playing time on first team (we are closing on the final roster), and who comes in later (the bubble players).  That will give you a good idea who are locks and who are fighting for their jobs.  Watch special teams play.  We have at least 5 guys who may spend time there.

What do YOU think are the guardians of secondary?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> UPDATE <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

9-4-2009 - The Patriots have cut third year Safety Roderick Rogers.  He was a long shot anyway.