SB Nation - Sergio Brown

How Ryan Grigson Blew Up The Colts Secondary

Brad Wells — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:00:24 -0000

Real quick, click this link and sort the position column.

OK, notice the names under the S, CB, and DB categories? What's different about them?

Give up?

OK, I'll tell you, and I promise not to charge you a fee to view my online wisdom.

Of the nine players who are safeties or corners, six of them were not on this team last year. In fact, of those six, three weren't on the roster when training camp started, including Vontae Davis and Josh Gordy. Both of them are likely to play major roles in the secondary this year.

Purged from the roster between the start of camp and now were Kevin Thomas, David Caldwell, and Chris Rucker. They started a combined 22 games for Indianapolis last year. During the offseason, Melvin Bullitt (26 games started since 2007) was released as well.

That is a massive turnover of talent, and most of it was done in the span of just the last six weeks!

It's impressive work on the part of Colts G.M. Ryan Grigson, and it deserves a bit of praise. Rather than be content with bad corner play, or use the excuse that the Colts 2012 cap restrictions have hamstrung the front office, Grigson has been aggressive. He's refused to settle.

More importantly, he knew this once putrid Colts secondary was not NFL caliber; not for what Chuck Pagano and Greg Manusky want to do, defensively.

We blogged about it all offseason (mainly because, during the offseason, there isn't a whole helluva lot to blog about): The Colts secondary was awful. The criticism seemed to irk one of the few good players in the secondary for the Colts, Jerraud Powers. However, regardless of how Powers felt about his former teammates, the reality is they weren't that good. Bill Polian himself admitted that corners Thomas and Rucker, two men drafted by Polian, could not cover wide receivers man-to-man. In the Colts new hybrid 3-4 defense, designed to throw multiple fronts and coverages at an offense, man coverage corners are as essential as a daily, warm cup of human blood is to Bill Belichick.

Thus, Rucker and Thomas were expendable. Thomas was traded just as training camp began, and Rucker almost always worked exclusively with the No. 3 unit in preseason before being cut.

Replacing them are Cassius Vaughn (acquired via a trade with Denver), Justin King (signed as a free agent), and the before mentioned Josh Gordy. While each has incomplete skill sets, all have the speed and technique necessary to cover man-to-man.

However, all three of these players pale in comparison to the talent Vontae Davis brings to the table. He has shutdown corner ability. The problem is his head gets in the way. If it gets screwed on tighter, the Colts have a difference maker in the secondary.

Also added into the mix is free agent waiver claim Sergio Brown, taken off waivers after the Patriots purged him from their roster last week. Brown is a solid coverage safety with game experience. Other teams wanted him, such as the NY Giants, but the Colts had top priority in the waiver claim due to their 2-14 record last season. Adding him with Antoine Bethea and Tom Zbikowski gives Indy some much needed depth at safety. Brown can play both strong and free, as can Joe Lefeged.

Despite the huge turnover, this secondary has the potential to be a very good group. Last year, the Colts surrendered 3,632 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and only snagged 8 INTs. Teams also averaged 7 yards a completion.

If you want to know why Thomas, Rucker, Caldwell, and the others are out of work, that's why. Hopefully, this new crew in the secondary can actually showcase some coverage skills and maybe, just maybe, create more than 8 turnovers for Andrew Luck and the Colts offense to work with in 2012.

Colts Claim Three Players Off Waivers, But Likely Aren't Done Shaping Roster

Brad Wells — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 02:46:09 -0000

Earlier today, the Colts announced that they were rewarded S Sergio Brown, OT Mike Person, and NT Martin Tevaseu off waivers. I don't know much about Tevasue, but Brown and Person had significant interest from other teams.The Giants were one team that put in a claim for Brown while the Patriots had their eyes on Person.

Also, per Adam Caplan, there was chatter that the Colts would claim S Larry Asante off waivers from the Buccaneers. However, it seems that did not happen.

All three claimed players players (Person, Brown, and Tevaseu) fill needs and all three provide better depth at areas that are fairly thin. Personally, I don’t think the Colts are completely done adding players. One reason is they only have five corners on the roster. D.J. Johnson, who the Colts traded for during preseason (sending Ollie Ogbu to the Eagles), was waived to make room for Sergio Brown.

A fun fact: when front offices make claims for players, they must also name the player they are cutting to make room on the roster for the new player.

D.J. Johnson wasn’t a bad corner this preseason, but he didn’t stand out. Thus, he became expendable. I won’t rule out Colts G.M. Ryan Grigson bringing him back because Grigson is familiar with him from his days working in the Eagles front office, but it’s my thinking (and this is speculation on my part, not insider info) that Grigson is eying recently waived CB Joselio Hanson.

It seems that Hanson, a vested veteran, passed through waivers either unclaimed, or, if a team did try to claim him, he opted for free agency. Either way, he’s now a free agent, and his agent can negotiate a new contract with any team. Hanson would be a good fit in Indianapolis, but he might be looking for a more contending team or a team offering more guaranteed money.

I also think wide receiver is another place where the Colts could add another player. I tossed out a name like Deion Branch because it makes sense, logically. He’s a solid receiver who actually lives in Carmel, IN in the offseason.

I also don’t think the front office is settled on this offensive line. Mike Person adds depth as a utility lineman, but they could use another guard.

However, overall, this is a good roster. Not perfect, but it has upside. Unlike previous rosters solidified prior to Week One, I don’t see many players here that are on the team for reasons other than they belonged. Most of these players looked good in training camp while also showing ability in preseason.

Yes, even Jerry Hughes.

The practice squad is also a solid bunch. I’m happy to see Chigbo Anunoby and Hayworth Hicks there. These guys show potential to develop into active roster-type players. Is this a playoff team right now? No. Can they develop into one as the season progresses (and the core stays healthy)? Yes. Acquiring Vontae Davis adds a young, quality, man-to-man coverage corner with serious upside. A healthy Cory Redding will help set the edge on the outside of the defense, and Tom Zbikowski will hopefully hold down the strong safety spot (a position that has seen significant turnover in recent years because of injuries). This defense can be good. This team has a chance. Notice I haven’t even mentioned the impressive talents of Andrew Luck.

I'm on record as saying the Bears will beat the Colts next week this time, but I might end up being wrong. If I am, I will be sooooooooooooooooo happy!

Patriots Claim C/G Matt Tennant

Adam Fox — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 19:04:39 -0000

The Patriots have claimed center/guard Matt Tennant off of waivers this afternoon, and have added him to the 53-man roster.

Tennant, 25, was the Saints' fifth-round draft choice coming out of Boston College in 2010. At 6'5 and 300 pounds, Tennant is a big lineman who thrives in zone schemes like the Patriots employ. Tennant garnered praise as being Matt Ryan's center during BC's widely acclaimed 2007 season. According to Tennant's scouting report, Tennant has been noted as lacking athleticism and having small arms, but is lauded for his quick feet and massive strength.

The news was first broken by Greg Bedard, who opines that this could be a depth signing to bolster the offensive line—specifically to backup probable center Ryan Wendell—or a bad sign for an eventual Brian Waters return with Dan Connolly sliding over to right guard.

In other waiver-related news, the Indianapolis Colts have announced that they have successfully claimed S Sergio Brown off of waivers.

Cut Day Discussion Thread: Hoyer, Branch, Ihedigbo Among Patriots Roster Cuts

Adam Fox — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:48:10 -0000

As teams around the league trim down the rosters to the league-compliant number of 53, there are bound to be a couple of surprises mixed in with the routine departure of myriad "bubble" players. The Patriots created a few headlines of their own early this morning with the releases of QB Brian Hoyer and WR Deion Branch.

Hoyer, 26, has held the role of Tom Brady's backup dating back to the 2009 season. The release of Hoyer likely represents a vote of confidence in Ryan Mallett, who also comes with a more cap-friendly salary to manage. Hoyer was due $1.9 million this season and would become a free agent at the end of the season. The Patriots look to carry only two quarterbacks on the roster during the 2012 season, with a likely third stashed on the practice squad after the cut day dust eventually settles.

Branch, 33, was seen as a probable lock following the releases of receivers Donté Stallworth and Jabar Gaffney. It was not to be so as the front office dealt Deion a pink slip this afternoon. Branch comes off a five-touchdown, 702-yard season and a lauded rapport with Tom Brady throughout his career. The Patriots could be positioning for a big move at the receiver position with Brandon Lloyd and Wes Welker being the only projected starters.

OL Dan Koppen and S James Ihedigbo were also released this afternoon.

Discuss your thoughts of the cuts below!

UPDATE: [7:55 pm E/T] DB Derrick Martin, FB Eric Kettani, TE Alex Silvestro, S Sergio Brown, DL Aaron Lavarias, OL Jeremiah Warren, OT Matt Kopa and WR Jeremy Ebert have been informed of their release.

UPDATE: [10:33 pm E/T] TE Tyler Urban, WR Jesse Holley, G Derek Dennis, DL Marcus Harrison, LB Jeff Tarpinian, LB Niko Koutouvides, S Malcolm Williams, WR Kerry Taylor, OL Dustin Waldron and OL Darrion Weems have been officially released.

These 22 players that find themselves no longer on the team indicate that the Patriots are now compliant with the league's 53-man roster limit.

Patriots vs. Buccaneers: Fan Notes from Preseason Week 3

Alec Shane — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:30:07 -0000

First off, I should apologize for the lateness of this post. The third week of the preseason is long gone by this point and, much like the Jets offense, I didn't really show up in time. The bottom line is this weekend completely got away from me as I attended more local fairs than I care to admit and succeeded in adding Spam to Oreos, Twinkies, bacon, Snickers, jelly donuts, and ice cream on my list of things that taste even more delicious when deep fried.

But I digress. Friday night saw the Patriots play the Buccaneers, and while it wasn't an overly exciting or pretty game, it wasn't all bad either. Yes, the offense wasn't great, but is anyone here really worried about Tom Brady scoring points? And yes, the offensive line continued to struggle, but do people really think that this is magically the year when Dante Scarnecchia finally has five guys he can't transform into a cohesive unit? In the words of club bouncers everywhere when they see me approaching, you can just go head and take your business elsewhere.

While it wasn't perfect, it was certainly one of those games that Bill Belichick loves to call "coachable" and gave the front office some great talking points going into this final week of the preseason. Plus, other than that one awful drive in the first quarter, the defense looked pretty solid.

More observations after the jump.

It's a little embarrassing how excited I was at the start of this one. I mean it's Friday night, one of the last gorgeous weekends of summer, and I'm inside hunched in front of my computer salivating at a streaming online video like a teenage boy whose parents are out for the night and forgot to put the parental lock on the internet. Oh well. No use trying to fix it now.
Good Lord Chandler Jones has long arms. A funny anaolgy escapes me at the moment, but I have all season to think of one. I'll get there, I promise.
Jermaine Cunningham has been getting a lot of looks as the 3^rd down pass rusher. I'm not sure whether they are looking for him to eat up blockers or crash in off the edge, but the coaching staff clearly has faith in him.
Doug Martin's nickname at Boise State was apparently "The Muscle Hamster." I'm not sure whether I'd take that as a compliment or an insult if I were him.
Boy that opening Tampa Bay drive looked familiar. I can't quite recall where I saw it before...a team just marching right down the field and scoring on the Patriots defense...but I know I've seen it somewhere.
Putting Devin McCourty back there instead of Jeff Demps for New England's first kick return is vintage Bill Belichick; he knew what everyone is looking to see and he didn't give it to them. He did the exact same thing with Corey Dillon's first game against Indianapolis back in 2004 and he's doing it again here.
Was anybody else absolutely terrified right before Tom Brady's first drive? Just panicked to death that he was going to get hurt or something?
I'd use the ol' "it's preseason for the announcers, too" in regards to Randy Cross and Don Criqui‘s commentating Friday night - but that kind of blubbering buffoonery is pretty par for the course for those two. Didn't know who had the ball, where the first down markers were, what anyone's name was, or which way they were supposed to be facing when the camera was on them. Absolutely love those guys.
For example: Who the hell is Nate Eeber? And who the hell is Justin Edelman?
While I personally don't know who Nate Eeber is, I do know that Nate Ebner saw first team snaps at safety, and he actually had a pretty good game.
I should admit, though: one of the reasons I love Criqui and Cross so much is because I invented a drinking game that revolves around them making a mistake. Needless to say, it's a game that I won. Several times.
Does anyone else laugh every single time one of the linemen pats Danny Woodhead on the head after a good play? If only his name was Rusty.
Once again, Donald Thomas has a great game. He may start before the season is out.
If Nate Ebner makes this team, how many Ebner jerseys will the Patriots Pro Shop sell this season? More importantly, how can I use my highly respected status as an Internet Blogger to get one for free?
Props to the Buccaneers fans for bringing it Friday night. It's great practice for New England as well, having to playcall in a hostile environment. Supporting their team and getting loud in a meaningless game is always great to see in a fan base.
The refs need to come back NOW. Too much is getting missed by these replacement refs all over the league. Again, usually I'd be all for it, but when the real refs do come back everything is going to change. Just a bad precedent to set.
Danny Woodhead has a pretty rockin' farmer's tan.
Did the Buccaneers' offense make any plays at all that weren't to Doug Martin or Vincent Jackson in the first quarter?
Ron Brace lined up right next to Vince Wilfork early and often. He was pretty disruptive and, as he always been, highly effective against the run. Brace has always been difficult to move, and anyone who wants to take the time to do a YouTube search for some of his highlights will see very good lateral movement and an ability to collapse running lanes. He isn't very fast, as evidenced by his slowness chasing Josh Freeman down in the backfield in pursuit, But he consistently forces runners away from him and I think he has a chance to be effective as a 1^st and 2^nd down lineman.
How pissed off was Tommy B after he threw that pick six? Hoo boy. Lucky for him he's still cute when he's mad.
You know what worries me most about the offensive line? The fact that I'm still not even remotely worried about the offensive line. And the fact that I'm not worried really worries me. I worry about everything. But I just don't think that they are going to have any problems come September.
Good for Ronde Barber still playing after all these years; I feel like I've been hearing his name ever since I started watching football in 1986.
More good blocking from Eric Kettani. I think that if the Patriots do decide to keep a fullback, it will be Kettani over Spencer Larsen.
I'm very much looking forward to seeing Chandler Jones's career unfold. Right now he's making plays off instinct and raw athleticism; with some coaching up, he's going to be a monster.
How many kickers do the Buccaneers have on their roster? 10?
Beautiful throw on that Brady to Gronk TD pass. Gronkowski was pretty well covered, but Brady's accuracy combined with Gronk's massive paws makes that play happen.
But was that play good enough for Tommy B? Nope. He just went straight to the bench and kept on stewing.
Jeff Demps can absolutely fly. Made a great cut on that 29 yard run and he was gone. Really excited for him to develop further.
Jeff Demps is also always smiling. Reminds me of Hines Ward in that respect.
Some great scrambling by Mallett on that final TD drive. He's still not very mobile, though.
I mentioned last week that I had the most faith in Ihedigbo to make the team, and he was pretty much the only one of the three to see the field on special teams. I don't think Will Allen saw any time at safety, losing reps to Nate Ebner, and we saw Marquice Cole much more than we did Allen. I don't recall seeing Sergio Brown at all.

Patriots Bubble Watch: Grading the Big Names

Alec Shane — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 14:55:17 -0000

So you know how I said that last night's game would be a great opportunity to examine some of the bigger name bubble players and see how their playing time would reflect their chances on making the final roster?

Well, never mind.

I may have even less of a clue now about who will be cut and who won't than I did this time yesterday. Guys I didn't think would start ended up starting. Guys I thought would start didn't even play. Players that should have been done by the 3^rd quarter played well into the 4^th, and some "roster locks" didn't see their first action until the field was populated by mostly backups.

Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration. But I personally didn't get that much better a sense of the Patriots' bubble situation after watching last night's preseason game. However, I said I would be looking at certain players and coming back with my thoughts, and I'm a man of my word. Just be sure to take these observations with a grain of salt; I wasn't overly confident to begin with, and I developed a drinking game that revolved around Randy Cross and Don Criqui completely messing up their commenting. Needless to say, the hydration factor was high.

Analysis after the jump.

Deion Branch/Donte Stallworth. The offense sure picked a lousy day to crap out. I was really hoping that one of these two receivers would have a big day yesterday and put this battle to rest. Instead, neither player had a particularly remarkable day. The big difference, however, is allotment of playing time. I don't think Stallworth even saw the field with the first team, and he also had a few drops once he finally did get on the field. He technically had a better day than Branch, as Deion only had one catch, but Branch's catch was a reception from Brady that kept a drive alive and once again illustrated his chemistry with Tommy B. Regardless, I really didn't see anything from either receiver that makes me confident endorsing one over another from a sheer play standpoint. I'm definitely still giving the edge to Branch, though, based on the amount of first team playing time he got. Stallworth seems to be pretty far down the depth chart at this point and may not be much longer for this club.

James Ihedigbo/Sergio Brown/Will Allen. I mentioned yesterday that I had the most faith in Ihedigbo to make the team, and he was pretty much the only one of the three to see the field on special teams. I don't think Will Allen saw any time at safety, losing reps to Nate Ebner, and we saw Marquice Cole much more than we did Allen. I don't recall seeing Sergio Brown at all. As of now, it looks like Ihedigbo will stick around for his value as a special teamer, and Allen and Brown are on the outside looking in. What I am pleased with right now is that none of these men are going to see any time in the secondary.

Myron Pryor/Gerard Warren. As expected, neither Pryor nor Warren played. At this point, you have to wonder how much longer each man will be on the team. But with both Pryor and Warren out, I tried to focus on Brandon Deaderick instead. I didn't see anything from Deaderick until the 3^rd quarter, and even when he was in, he didn't make any significant plays. He actually got stood up a few times on some big Buccaneer running plays, and didn't generate all that much pressure. It's hard to really get a read on Deaderick; he has been very reliable when called on during the regular season, and while he isn't a playmaker, he definitely isn't a liability.I think he'll at least make it through this next round of cuts.

Ron Brace. Brace both started and finished the game, which I found a little bit confusing. However, the bottom line is that he was on the field with the first team on 1st and 2nd downs, and he forced more than a few runs back into pressure. He had a pretty solid game, and so I'm not going to read too much into the time he saw late in the game. The defensive line is a little thin, and he has done well enough so far to lead me to believe that his place on this team is pretty secure.

Trevor Scott. I don't think Trevor Scott played a single snap last night. If he did, he certainly didn't do anything of note. He has been playing so well as of late, I don't really know what to make of that; the fact that he didn't play at all leads me to believe he was kept out for other reasons, and if the team wants him healthy, it's probably because they want him to make plays when it matters.

Patriots Bubble Watch: The Big Names

Alec Shane — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:01:43 -0000

Well, this is it. It all comes down to this one.

We all know what tonight means, right? I mean, this is Week 3 we're talking about here; this is the dress rehearsal for the regular season. Anything short of perfection in this game pretty much dooms the entire year. You'd be hard pressed to find any team anywhere that had a lousy preseason dress rehearsal game and didn't go on to have a losing record when the games mattered. So if you're nervous for tonight's Patriots vs. Buccaneers showdown, good. You should be.

Well, not really. Week 3 of the preseason is only meaningful in the respect that we'll see more of the starters tonight than we will for any other fake game this August. And the only thing I'm really nervous for (other than my self-admitted fan paranoia) is an injury. Yes, I'm hoping that the Patriots come out looking great from the opening kickoff and that the offensive line looks more cohesive and I don't have to read too many articles this weekend about how the Patriots still look rusty and question Bill Belichick's choice to give his starters a decent amount of rest over the past week or so. And yes, I'm hoping that the Patriots put together a solid first half and that the camera has plenty of cuts to Tom Brady looking dreamy on the sidelines. But at the end of the day, no matter how you slice it, Week 3 of the preseason is just as meaningless as Weeks 1, 2, and 4.

One thing that Week 3 is especially good for, though, is getting a handle on some of the bubble players with a legitimate shot to make the final roster. Up until now, I've been examining more of the fringe players, rookies, and guys that wouldn't surprise anyone if they were cut. But with the starters seeing more significant time tonight, I figured that this game is a great chance to look at some of the bigger names currently on the bubble and what we'll be able to glean from their performance - or lack thereof - later on this evening.

Deion Branch/Donte Stallworth. The general consensus is that only one of these guys is going to make the team, a consensus I happen to agree with. Up until Monday's game against the Eagles, I had the edge going to Stallworth; he was getting more media attention in practice, was on the field more, and seemed to be having the better camp. But then Branch showed up with a 3 catch, 51 yard day on Monday and reminded everyone why he has been both a Brady and team favorite for so long. Right now I'd say that Branch has managed to get himself back into the team's good graces, but this competition is still neck and neck. Both players will be fighting for reps tonight, and it's quite possible that the man with the better receiving day ends up making the team. Of course, now that I've said that, Belichick will keep both players and further solidify my status as an idiot.

Ron Brace. With the release of Jonathan Fanene, I'm not sure whether or not I'd classify Brace as a true bubble player; he had a good game against Philadephia and now seems positioned to step into the middle of the defensive line rotation to spell starters Kyle Love and Vince Wilfork. However, I definitely haven't seen enough of him to consider him a roster lock at this point, so I'm curious to see how he fares tonight. I'm also going to be looking for how much time he sees with the first unit; if they use him as a situational down lineman early in the game and then give him extended reps all over the line into the 4^th quarter, I'm going to take that as a sign that the team has Brace in their long-term plans. But they're going to have to make a decision soon either way, as the line is suddenly looking a bit thin and Andre Carter is garnering interest elsewhere. Brace has impressed when given the chance, but he's never made that big leap that coaches are looking for to justify a player's second round draft status; it's well past time to step it up.

Trevor Scott. I know I already touched on Scott in a previous Bubble Watch article, but I think he has made significant strides forward since then and always seems to be around when the defense makes a positive play. At the same time, though, he has seen a lot of reps late in these games, when the field is yielded to the longshots and late-round draft picks. In regards to Scott, I'm going to be looking more for when and where he plays as opposed to how he plays. If he sees reps with the first unit and subs in as a rotational linebacker/edge rusher, I think I'd feel comfortable removing him from the bubble altogether after tonight. But if we don't see him until late in the game and he's still on the field for much of the third quarter, there will still be some questions about his job security.

Myron Pryor/Gerard Warren. I lumped these guys together because I don't think either of them will play. Pryor is definitely out; he's still on the PUP lis and I don't think that Pryor has been healthy for more than a handful of plays his entire NFL career. As for Warren, at this point you have to wonder how much he has left in the tank. I think that Gerard has been great for this team and he's a hard worker, but I think it might be time to cut ties with him at this point. Maybe I'm wrong and Warren will see the field and be given a chance to prove why he should stick around to add depth to the defensive line, but I'm not holding my breath. It's too bad about Pryor, too, because I always remember being impressed with him when he was on the field. I just don't know if it's worth using up a roster spot on him when he is always injured.

James Ihedigbo/Sergio Brown/ Will Allen. With the familiar sight of Pat Chung nursing an injury comes the question of who is going to step in for him at safety when he misses some time in the regular season. Tonight's first team reps are likely going to go to Steve Gregory and Tavon Wilson, but after those two, the safety position gets a little hazy. Yes, we all love us some Nate Ebner, but he isn't ready to step into the safety role just yet. Josh Barrett has been an absolute ghost all preseason as he nurses one injury after another, and he hasn't really been much of a factor for this team since they signed him. That leaves Ihedigbo, Allen, and Brown competing for what is likely one or two roster slots. Of the three, I'm most confident in Ighedibo making the squad, primarily for his value on special teams. Plus, of the three, he's the most reliable safety. Will Allen offers versatility as a cornerback/safety hybrid, but I haven't been overly impressed with him thus far, and his age is something to consider (as he likely isn't around much longer and any time he spends on the field impedes the progress of the younger guys). I've never been high on Brown and won't be sorry to see him go. However, I don't think any of these players' fate is sealed yet one way or another, and so tonight will be a good indicator as to where the coaching staff thinks the safety depth lies.

Patrick Chung: Trying To Be A 'Coach On The Field'

Jared Stegall — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:00:25 -0000

During the offseason, football players tend to focus on improving a lot of things. For example--Quarterbacks like to work on their stance, accuracy, arm strength, mobility. Every position and every person has something specific they want to want to work on.

For New England Patriots safety Pat Chung, he's not only worked on becoming a "better" player--which has been the most common answer among Patriots players. He's trying to become a better on-the-field teacher. He explains:

"Being a coach on the field," Chung said. "They give us the information, and we've got to execute. It's good to have a couple guys out there who can think like coaches, direct traffic, let everyone else be on the same page."

Chung will likely have a bigger leadership role, with many new faces and a few young guys coming on board. Currently, the Patriots have Chung, Steve Gregory, Tavon Wilson, James Ihedigbo, Will Allen, Sergio Brown, Nate Ebner and Ross Ventrone. Half of this year's safety crop are either free agent acquisitions or rookies. Despite there being new faces, Chung--the longest tenured Patriots safety--is confident in his fellow teammates catching on.

"We've got a couple smart guys," Chung said. "We're all in the same room, we're learning the same things. We help each other in the film room, so when we come out here on the field, the communication is still the same. We're working constantly, regardless of whether it's out here or sitting in chairs.

Patriots Flag Football: Greg's Fourth Pick

Greg Knopping — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 02:25:37 -0000

Through the first half of this draft, a clear trend has become apparent: Alec is collecting talent, while I am building a team. While the players I've assembled might not be the biggest, or have the most Pro Bowl appearances, each has been selected with a role in mind. I've established a clear game plan on offense, one that Alec has no chance at stopping. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

I'm not going to lie, Alec's selection of Rob Gronkowski was a good one. I was down to him and Slater last round. He's big, and he will be damned near impossible to stop in the red zone. But Gronkowski is hobbled by a bad ankle (Okay, I'm kidding, doubt that's really a factor in this game? But for my defense's sake, I say it should matter.), won't make any impact after the catch, and doesn't add any team speed to an already slow team (aside from McCourty).

With my next pick, I'm going to select someone who has a reasonable shot at slowing down Gronkowski, Lloyd, or Hernandez, but someone who also is part of my team's philosophy. I'm selecting safety and special teams ace Sergio Brown.

I'm just kidding. Had ya there, though, right? I'm picking Patrick Chung.

Chung is a big, versatile safety who can play just about anywhere on my defense. I can line him up at middle linebacker and have him blitz. I can have him jam Gronkowski or Aaron Hernandez at the line. I can line him up at cornerback, and guard one of Alec's receivers. I can line him up at deep safety in cover 2 and half him patrol a deep corner of the field. Defensively, Chung will be my torpedo and my MVP on that side of the ball. Chung is a hard hitter, and because of that, is often overlooked as an athlete. In fact, Chung is a borderline-elite athlete. At the 2009 NFL Draft combine, Chung ran a 4.49 40 yard dash, had a blazing 1.49 10 yard split, had a broad jump of 9'11" and a vertical of 34 inches.

On offense, I'd expect Chung to be able to hold his own. He was an all-league player at wide receiver in high school, returned kicks during his time at Oregon, and was working with the kick return unit for the Patriots this year in mini-camp. He's not going to be an elite offensive option, but I already believe I have enough of those. He's someone that you'll have to respect however, somewhat similar to Devin McCourty.

So Alec, keep on collecting that talent, and watch the "semi-professional" build a true winning team. You might have the flashy names and bigger players, but I've got players with more versatility, more heart, and who each have a defined role for my squad. So I implore you to forfeit your final selections as you've suggested, it means I'll beat you to the yet-to-be-determined mercy rule that much faster.