question

by feetey on Jul 24, 2011 3:28 PM EDT

I like Kyle Arington. Don't know why. He was a weak link in our pass coverage last year. But I like him. Undrafted free agent from a nerdy college, earned his way onto the team playing special teams, seems like a good story. I like him.

Here's why I am worried.

Sam Aitlin and Pierre Woods. Both were part of the special teams unit primarily in 2008. Both were asked to step up and take on bigger roles in 2009. Aitkin was asked to step up when the team cut Galloway. Woods was asked to step up when the team placed Crable on the injured reserves. Both did not step up too well. Both really were not that good. Both were cut before the 2010 season.

So now we have Arington, who was great on special teams in 2009, asked to step up in 2010, but really was not able to perform as well he needed to. So does anyone see Arington being cut before 2011, based on the pattern I kind of laid out? I personally don't but I like Kyle Arington. I am biased. What do others think?

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I doubt he is cut

He stepped up pretty well and would be very confident with him as the 1st guy off the bench at outside corner

by Joel Korson on Jul 24, 2011 7:05 PM EDT reply actions

I like him too.

I think he has a little versatility to him and I think he will get better. NOt sure what Belichek thinks of him. Thanks for your response.

by feetey on Jul 25, 2011 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

He did pretty well last year considering it was his first year playing corner a lot.

He is a very good special teams guy, and he was versatile enough to play where BB wanted him. I dont think he gets cut. I think Butler may be on the roster bubble more than arrington to tell the truth, but with the addition of ras-i and bodden coming back, have 5-6 corners on the roster still seems like a possibility, so maybe none of our corners get cut.

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

by Jack'sAxe on Jul 24, 2011 9:29 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks for your reply

I think he played corner back in college, and last year was only his second year, but true, he did not see much action at corner his first year. I think he can get better, but I also think Butler can get better. Butler may have the “higher ceiling.” I predict roster spots for both Butler and Arington, but I don’t think the patriots keep six corners. James Wilhite, we hardly knew ye. That’s my prediction at least.

by feetey on Jul 25, 2011 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

He won't be cut,

But I don’t see him spending too much time on the field if he’s still seen as a CB. Dowling should be pushing for a starting spot, Butler is far more talented and should jump him if he puts it together, and Wilhite is an acceptable nickel/dime guy, so he’s looking at being the 4th or 5th guy on the depth chart.

Now, maybe they try him in a few different spots – a deep centre field FS perhaps, or a few exotic packages with 9 DBs or something and he’s blitzing.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Jul 25, 2011 2:15 AM EDT reply actions

I too feel that his special teams ability may translate well into a blitzing defensive back. But if you blitz the same defensive back every play, is it really a blitze?

by feetey on Jul 25, 2011 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

They just put everyone out there and tell them to walk around.

Whether he’s ultimately blitzing or covering, whatever goes.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Jul 25, 2011 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Arrington's likely a keeper

Remember, Belichick was finding excuses to have him out on the field last season – playing him at 4-3 DE just to get him on the park. You only put in exotic packages if you really, really want that guy on the field because he’s trusted (think Mike Vrabel, Troy Brown, Kevin Faulk).

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Jul 25, 2011 3:54 AM EDT reply actions

I agree with this

to a point, but then again, they tried to get Crable on the field in various ways too. Adalius Thomas played a bunch of positions for us as well. Tank Williams is another player Belichek tried to get creative with but ultimately cut in the end because his skills did not match up with what the team needed. So is Belichek recognizing that Arington is a good player and trying to get him on the field in the same way Belichek tried different ways to get those guys on the field? Thanks for your thoughtful response

by feetey on Jul 25, 2011 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Not really

He played Crable at 4-3 DE because that was where he was most accustomed to playing, and a little at 3-4 OLB (where he disappeared). Not exactly experimentation.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Jul 26, 2011 3:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Eh, I think the Arrington at 4-3 DE was just to get Arrington on the fiield.

They already had Arrington on the field, as a starting outside CB.

They wanted him on the field that bad? Just keep him at outisde CB.

I think the Arrington as a 4-3 DE wrinkle was to get BOTH Arrington AND Butler on the field, once Butler started recovering his confidence and playing a bit better. Also I think he might have been trying to get creative to help generate a pass-rush. But if he really wanted Arrington on the field a ton, play him 99% of the defensive snaps a starting outside CB. He pretty much already was playing every outside CB snap opposite McCourty.

by UtopianAverage on Jul 27, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

The subject should read "wasn't just to get Arrington on the field" ****

by UtopianAverage on Jul 27, 2011 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

How come

when I like a player, such as Arington, and they shift him to a new position, I think, “Oh, they are being creative with him.”
But when I really don’t care for a player, such as Crable, and they shift him to a new position, I think “Oh, we must not have been effective at his original position.”
Is it possible that a reason Arington was playing Defensive line was because he really wasn’t cutting it at cornerback? I mean, they didn’t ask McCourty to play defensive line.

by feetey on Jul 27, 2011 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it was something they saw.

They thought they needed a speed rush, and were willing to put one of the more expendable players out there and see what happened.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Jul 28, 2011 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Because they cut Shawn Crable the week after

That’s the difference.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Jul 28, 2011 2:48 AM EDT up reply actions

I like Arrington

He’s versatile and fast and still young. My guess is Belichick keeps him.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Jul 25, 2011 7:52 AM EDT reply actions

He is fast and versatile

I like him too.

by feetey on Jul 25, 2011 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

If a cut needs to be made, I'd look at Wilhite.

No special teams value. Arrington does.
Marginal coverage ability. Same as Arrington.

Butler has more upside, so I’d look at Wilhite.
We likely will keep all of them.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Jul 25, 2011 9:56 AM EDT reply actions

I agree

But I think it comes down to not who Belichek feels is the best but who has the most potential. And because Arington was undrafted, I am guessing that at some point the league looked at him and saw limited potential, and did not draft him. I hope he continues to improve and do well.

by feetey on Jul 25, 2011 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I feel like Arrington might learn to make the shift to FS...

…he’s better with space in front of him. He can’t turn around (cue the “I’m not an ambi-turner” comments).

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by Richard Hill on Jul 26, 2011 10:33 PM EDT reply actions

I would rather have Meri to tell the truth.

He did have an off year last year, but he is a much better tackler than arrington, especially against bigger guys. also, like his stone hands, I think he’ll fix his tackling angles this year.

by Jack'sAxe on Jul 27, 2011 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Much better tackler????

I really don’t know about Meriweather. Hands you can improve, but teaching someone the correct lines and angles, and how to approach a ballcarrier… I think he’s always going to struggle with that, here or elsewhere. Probably elsewhere after this year.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Jul 27, 2011 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions

he is a better tackler than Arrington, simply because arrington will not be able to bring down big guys like meri can.

And I believe he would improve his tackling. I am sure people improved their tackling before. Its all about fundamentals, and meri has the mental ability to improve his fundamentals imo.

by Jack'sAxe on Jul 27, 2011 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions