State of the Patriots: Cornerback
by Richard Hill on Jan 26, 2011 12:00 PM EST
in Opinion/Analysis
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PrintPlayers on the Roster:
Free Agents:
Kyle Arrington (ERFA)
I'll go ahead and say that once the Patriots' re-sign Arrington, I believe that their cornerback position is solid for the next three or four seasons. Bodden will be back to lockdown with McCourty and, even if Bodden isn't at his old form, the Patriots know what they will be getting from Arrington. There will be another season for Butler to prove himself and another season for Wilhite to fight for his roster spot. Keep in mind that the Patriots' cornerbacks were all first year starters for most of the season as Bodden was on the IR and Wilhite was injured.
Here's a quick summary of each player:
Kyle Arrington - Originally a special teams player who emerged as a the #2 cornerback on the depth chart after Butler didn't play up to expectations early in the season. Arrington was average as a cornerback, which is great for what we expected from him, but it's nothing special if we removed our expectations. He struggled against the deep pass, but looks like a pretty good defensive back if he keeps his receiver in the box. He can stop the run and he can take solid angles, but he just struggles to turn his head around. Potential free safety convert?
Leigh Bodden - Spent season on the injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
Darius Butler - Entered the season with high hopes as a #1 cornerback with Bodden out with injury, but quickly dropped down the depth chart after he was taken advantage of in Week 1 and Week 2. He was a healthy scratch in Week 10, despite Wilhite being placed on the IR. After Week 10, Butler saw more time on the field and played like a solid nickelback, especially as Pat Chung saw his role reduced.
Tony Carter - Won four Practice Player of the Week awards and was promoted at the end of the season to provide depth at the weak cornerback position.
Devin McCourty - All-Pro. Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate. McCourty exceeded the lofty expectations of a first round draft pick and delivered week after week.
Thad Turner - Practice Squad player. One time Practice Player of the Week.
Jonathan Wilhite - Played the first nine games of the season before being injured. Finished the season on the injured reserve, but was missed as Pat Chung couldn't play nickelback at Wilhite's level. Should get another season on the roster, if he recovers.
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Will the Patriots get another cornerback? Probably, in order to push the depth chart in training camp. I wouldn't bet on an early draft pick, but I wouldn't be surprised either.
Best Case 2011 Cornerback Roster:
LCB: Devin McCourty - Darius Butler
RCB: Leigh Bodden - Jonathan Wilhite
NCB: Kyle Arrington
Practice Squad/Camp Bodies: Tony Carter, Thad Turner, Draft Pick
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BB might surprise us this draft
I could see one of the premier CBs falling to the Pats in the first or second round draft and BB snaps him up. As we know you can never have enough quality defensive backs with the pass happy offenses in the nfl. Who knew BB would take McCourty last year. Who knows how well Bodden plays in 2011. I can see BB drafting a CB early.
I agree.
I just can’t see the Patriots making a move to grab one. If they fall to the Patriots, great, if not I don’t see the Patriots moving to find one.
by Richard Hill on Jan 26, 2011 1:03 PM EST up reply actions
I've said all along I wouldn't be surprised one bit if we took a CB in the 1st round
especially if Amukamara or Peterson fell to 17. This draft is packed with big corners (6ft +, 200lbs) so it could be an ideal time to take one. We do have other needs but the league is becomming all about coverage skills down the field.
I agree.
I don’t think either of those two corners will drop to 17, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they managed to take a cornerback early again.
by Richard Hill on Jan 26, 2011 1:08 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah I can't see either getting out of the top 10
but stranger things have happened. I would rather take Amukamara if he did fall
Peterson is too much of a 'superstar' to me
strikes me as feeling a bit more entitled. I also think Amukamara is a better CB, Peterson relies on athleticism a bit too much for me.
If you say so. Rodgers thinks he's a "superstar" also.
Hence his championship belt salute after every TD. My point is, i couldn’t care less if he thinks he’s a “superstar”. I just want us to change up a few things and actually win a championship. It’s been awhile. We haven’t even come close lately.
Don't cut your locks Tom Terrific!
Not sure why Patrick Chung is featured here....
The majority of his snaps, and the majority of his plays made was at Safety, which is also his collegiate position.
He was pretty bad in the nickel role and based on that alone I’d agree his a slight risk of losing a roster spot.
But he’s not really expected to be a nickel corner, next year that’s between Butler and Arrington hopefully and Chung is back to Safety for the majority of his snaps.
As much as I like the players and agree with your analysis, it’s hard to say the Pats couldn’t use more top end depth at this position.
I think just bc he filled in there a bit
as the slot CB. Clearly it’s better for everyone if Butler or Arrington can step into that role next season and Chung can play SS. He didn’t impress many people with his coverage skills either.
Deep in enemy territory
Pat Chung's featured because he was asked to play nickelback.
Once Wilhite was out in Week 9, Chung took over the nickelback duties. He was great in underneath coverage, but was burned time and time again in deep coverage (basically the Kyle Arrington of cover safeties).
I’m not saying that Chung is at risk of losing a roster spot. I’m just saying that he needs to play safety and not nickelback.
The Patriots could use more top depth, but I feel like the positions with the most need for an upgrade will take priority. Upgrading the cornerbacks will be more of a luxury.
by Richard Hill on Jan 26, 2011 1:07 PM EST up reply actions
this draft has alot of CB's that i feel will be good
i expect us to draft a CB late and i dont expect arrington to be back even though he played well.
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
im gonna be all up on you like a spider monkey!
i can just see delonte west winning a game of poker against lebron, throwing down the cards he yells, "who's your daddy!"...."oh, sorry man"
by remembering9ergods on Jan 26, 2011 12:37 PM EST reply actions
The U!!!
Miami has a couple of really nice playmakers this year in the draft.Brandon Harris and Bailey would be 2 nice pick ups for the Pats D.
Sam Acho
Hoping Sam Acho is the OLB the Patriots are looking at.I think he’ll fall to the 2nd round.A few O-line picks and a back would be a great Draft.I like Wilkerson also out of Temple.
Acho could be around for their 3rd round Minnesota pick.
The more I’m watching Beal, the less I’m impressed with his pass rushing ability. He’s fine in coverage and stopping the run, but he seems to get taken out of a lot of plays against guards and tackles and I think the Patriots need someone who can reach the quarterback.
by Richard Hill on Jan 26, 2011 1:53 PM EST up reply actions
What do you think of Pernell McPhee?
He’s at 6’4 275lbs out of Mississippi. He’s listed as a DE, but he can be a big OLB in our 3-4 scheme. He is a projected mid 5th rounder. Worth a look huh?
Don't cut your locks Tom Terrific!
I suspect they look at any of those guys with the prototype size/speed
Because if they slip into being UFAs, Hoodie will want to snap them all up as soon as possible.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on Jan 26, 2011 5:51 PM EST up reply actions
Beal got ripped by scouting reports that I saw in the last week
Slow off the line, no finishing moves (despite his college record saying he’s a good rusher). He sounded like Cunningham without the run-stopping/edge-setting.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on Jan 26, 2011 5:50 PM EST up reply actions
He benefits from playing in isolation...
…and that would require open lanes. I don’t see him getting that in the NFL. They say he’s been improving throughout senior week, but I’m still not sold anymore.
by Richard Hill on Jan 26, 2011 8:45 PM EST up reply actions
Completely agree with the Acho pick
However I think he will be a late 1st / early 2nd rounder come draft dayonce the combine and interviews are out of the way. He’s had consistenly good production in an excellent program for 2 or 3 years now, team captain, unbelievable intangibles.
draft choices
No way in HELL should the Pats take a db with their first pick!!! We need a pass rusher and another dominant defensive lineman in the 1st round. Lack of pass rush is why the Pats “D” looked bad against so-so QB’s. You cant ask the pass “D” to guard recievers all day long, make them throw quickly and their completions go DOWN!!! Vince needs HELP. McCourty and Co. can do the job if you give them “D” line help.
It all depends on how the OLB or DE would fit in our system.
Let’s say we wanted Heyward and could get him at 28, then we could still get our man and use 17 for Brandon Harris or somebody else. If we don’t like any OLBs that would go in the middle of the first, then why not improve another position and get the guy that fits later on?
embrace the martian
Twitter: @BoldandBrash
by BoldandBrash on Jan 26, 2011 9:12 PM EST up reply actions
Patriots pass defense
Statistically the patriots defensive backfield was fighting it out with the Texans and the skins for worst in a number of categories.
They led the league in interceptions because their opposition threw against the Patriots more than any anyone else in the league. Opposing offensive coordinators just threw and threw and the story is told with the numbers isn’t it?
is all of this good? Yes, The young players got better with experience which is what young players who have potential do.
One thing we need to remember in this discussion is that BB thought so highly of his defensive backfield he spent a number one on it last year.
A solid way to assess your team is to ask your competitor. All of the Patriots competitors felt that the patriot’s defensive backfield was poor…all of them.
Will they be better than last year? Without a doubt. Will all of the teams they play throw against them until they get better? Yes.
BB will look at FA DB’s closely, Ty Law ain’t walking through that door….wish he was.
Dont'a Hightower
Was curious if he was in this years draft?Would also be a nice pick up,coming from Sabans defensive background.
Lets face it, with all the young talent, there arent many roster spots open.
We need at least 2 high caliber OL, preferably 2 OLBs (1 good one developmental), RB, DL, and you know at least one of those picks will be rolled into next year.
I can’t see how a DB would be more valuable to the team than any of these.
I also cant see how Tony Carter or Thad Turner are better than Terrance Wheatley…was his mid second round contract that expensive that we were better off grabbing some practice squad guys who are unlikely to make the team?
I can see us grabbing a CB in rounds 3-5.
Arrington was serviceable last year, and maybe butler can step in as well. This is both assuming that bodden won’t be as productive as his first year with us.
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
formerly patriotguy2 ;)
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