SB Nation - Tank Williams

The Worst Ten Tennessee Titans Draft Picks of the Decade

Jimmy — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:15:08 -0000

More photos » by John Russell - AP

With the decade coming to an end in a few weeks, we here at MCM decided it would be a good time to do a top 10 list or two- because who doesn't love a top 10 list?

Today we have the worst 10 draft picks of the decade. Here is how this list was compiled- August, gramsey, hal and I all came up with our own list. They sent their lists to me, actually shared it with me via google docs (which are awesome), and I averaged the four lists together to come up with what I am posting here. After the jump I have added a link that lists all of the picks the Titans made in the decade.

One note on this list; if you need further evidence that the Titans are terrible at picking receivers, here it is- they drafted 15 receivers in the decade. 15! What makes it even worse is that only three of them are still on the active roster. (and gramsey notes that only two of the other 12 are still in the league)

So without further adieu I present the worst 10 draft picks of the decade as voted on by the esteemed panel:

1. Chris Henry, RB, Arizona (2007, Round 2, pick #50 overall)

The Chris Henry pick is pretty much the only one on the list that just never made sense. The Titans fell in love with hal's boy because of the numbers he put up at the combine. They apparently failed to check and see if he was actually any good in college. He was widely known as Cockroach because he ran to darkness. That isn't a good thing, in case you didn't know.

2. Andre Woolfolk, CB, Oklahoma (2003, Round 1, pick #28 overall)

If there were to be another guy on the list that never made sense it would be Woolfolk. Here is an interesting tidbit about Woolfolk that I did not know- all three of his career INTs were thrown by David Carr. If you ever wondered how bad Carr was..

3. Adam Pacman Jones, CB, West Virginia (2005, Round 1, pick #6 overall)

As Danno said yesterday, it has been far too long since we talked about Ol' Pacman. The pick of Adam made football sense but not common sense. He was a dynamic returner and a good cornerback when he played his assignment instead of what he wanted to do, which was about 32% of the time (get it?), but he there isn't really an adjective that adequately describes what he was off the field.

4. Paul Williams, WR, Fresno State (2007, Round 3, pick #80 overall)

P-Dub couldn't decide in college if he was a corner or a receiver. Maybe he should have picked corner.

5. Tyrone Calico, WR, MTSU (2003, Round 2, pick #60 overall)

August loves Calico. Calico had a lot of raw talent, but he had trouble staying healthy. He also had some trouble catching the football which is a problem for a receiver. Too bad for him that he didn't get drafted by another team because he would have gotten a lot of money from the Titans in free agency eventually.

6. Ben Troupe, TE, Florida (2004, Round 2, pick #40 overall)

Troupe had more NFL success than any of the other guys on this list. The problem was he could never put it all together. He had loads of potential but was hampered by injuries, the inability to learn the offense (allegedly), and the inability to catch the football at times.

7. Courtney Roby, WR, Indiana (2005, Round 3, pick #68 overall)

Roby was really good in the preseason pretty much every year.

8. Tank Williams, S, Stanford (2002 Round 2, pick #45 overall)

And now Danno hate us. Tank started his career playing pretty well but suffered an ugly ACL injury and was never the same.

T-9. Byron Frisch, DE, BYU (2000, Round 3, pick #93 overall)

This is a name that none of us even remembered. He actually never played a game with the Titans and was cut after the 2000 season. He ended his career with 5 sacks after playing one season with the Cowboys and one with the Giants.

T-9.Shad Meier, TE, Kansas State (2001, Round 3, pick #90 overall)

Shad Meier had my favorite stat line ever in a game at San Diego in 2004- 9 catches for 31 yards. That's 3.4 yards per catch. He finished his career with 42 catches. I need more than that from a third round pick.

Others receiving votes: Chris Brown (2003, round 3, #93), Brandon Jones (2005, round 3, #96) and Donnie Nickey (2003, round 5, #154).

$1,000,000 MCM bucks to the first person to identify who put Nickey on the list.

Click here to see the complete list of draft picks.

And there you have it. We would love to hear your comments on our list, or even your own list in the comments.

New England Patriots Training Camp: 5 things to watch for

MaPatsFan — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:49:07 -0000

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

6 months ago: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) flips the ball to a coaching assistant during the second day of football minicamp at the team's training facility in Foxborough, Mass., Thursday morning, June 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

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Like, has this been the longest off season or what? Like, fer shure, like, ya know? Like, O...M...G!!!!

Sorry, I went into "teenage daughter with teenage niece" mode. But, it has felt like the longest off season I can remember. With rookies arriving Sunday, 7/26/09 and veterans arriving this coming Wednesday, Training Camp starts this Thursday. To say I'm just about crawling out of my skin is an understatement. There will be plenty to write about, plenty to talk about, and games just around the corner.

With little more than mini-camps to keep us going, we've been forced to satisfy our appetites with what amounts to professional flag football. Helmets, but no pads or contact worth noting. Training Camp is where we get to see what's what. 300 pounders bashing into each other, full speed action, DE's bearing down on Tom Brady - it's all good, clean fun. With that said, I started thinking about what it is I'm looking for in this year's camp and thought I'd share it with you.

Tom Brady's knee - I know, I know, stop worrying; there's probably bigger things to get worked up about, but I can't stop being concerned. Peyton Manning showed visible problems and mobility issues a number of games into the 2008 season. Yes, I know Tommy Terrific has had longer to recover and will be participating in training camp while Manning was basically watching film in his training camp dorm room, but Brady's ACL/MCL repair was more serious an operation than Manning's bursa sac procedure. I want to see Brady jiving in the pocket with OLB's and DE's bearing down on him. Even then, I'll most likely be nervous until a few games into the season.
Defensive Backfield - Rated 11th by the NFL (yards per carry) and 16th by Football Outsiders' DVOA, the defensive passing game has got to improve. Unfortunately, it's sliding. Football Outsiders' ranked the Patriots 12th in 2007. What's happened for 2009? Hybrid safety/linebacker Tank Williams' is healthy, Patrick Chung was our first draftee, and there appears to be a battle at cornerback. FA acquisitions Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden add veteran skills to the mix and are the likely starters. Behind them are second year men Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite, both having showed mettle and skills in 2008. However, the one to watch is Darius Butler. Apparently, he's got mad skills which includes a 43" vertical leap. That's almost four feet off the ground, folks. Suddenly, we're flush with talent, but can that translate to game time?
Wide Receivers - There is no question in my mind: Randy Moss and Wes Welker are arguably the best wide receiver tandem in football today. Watching the 2008 season, many said Moss checked out on occasion. Hogwash. That's because Matt Cassel never developed a long ball with Moss, so they started turning him inside. He was a target, so he ducked a few hits rather than end his career. At any rate, we know what those two can do. What about Joey Galloway and Greg Lewis? At 37, Galloway is certainly the oldest of the crew, but the questions for me are a) can he be productive when Moss is tied up and b) can he be an effective decoy? What will Greg Lewis' role be? Will he roam the middle or maybe act as another slant guy?
Running backs - I got into hot water when I put the Patriots first in Around the AFC East: Running Back Rankings. Well, I learned something while interacting with rival AFC East fans: I think of Patriots running backs as a whole, not as individuals. It's "backfield by committee". Some teams may have great success with a workhorse running back, but I think the Patriots have always done well with a few general purpose backs like Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, and Fred Taylor while adding a specialist like Kevin Faulk. Different guys for different situations. It seems to have worked; the Patriots posted the best 2008 running game in the AFC East. The big question for me, however, is will Laurence Maroney live up to his potential? He may not be a workhorse back like rivals think of, but can he be that young, steady, presence in our running game? Maybe Fred Taylor is the kick in the pants who can help him along.
Offensive Line - Last, but not least, we have the 300 pounders. JHR taught me to keep an eye on these guys, that games are won and lost in the trenches. One of my biggest concerns, other than Tom's knee, is the sturdiness of our offensive line. Having drafted three offensive linemen (Sebastian Vollmer, Rich Ohrnberger, George Bussey), I think Belichick's worried about it, too. 2007 saw them simply wear down towards the end of the season. But, can the added youth come up-to-speed to add value? Do they have enough skills to contribute early? Who survives the roster cuts?

That's my list of 5 things to watch for. What's your list? What are you interested in seeing? Is there anything you're particularly worried about or is everything OK? Fire away, sports fans. And yes, I'd love to see a rival fan's perspective, too.

New England Patriots: Questions for 2009, Part I

MaPatsFan — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:40:27 -0000

More photos » by Eric J. Shelton - AP

6 months ago: New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speaks during a media availability after football practice at the team's training facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday June 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Shelton)

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I try not to play armchair Head Coach. Bill Belichick is one of the best and smartest coaches of the last decade, so who am I to even think I know what I'm talking about? Well, this is a fan site - we discuss and debate the team we love. So sometimes, I have no issues sitting at my computer, tapping away about things I can only understand as a fan. So be it. For now I'm Bill. Not in a weird, creepy, existential sort of way but in a...

Questions after the jump.

Will the departure of Josh McDaniels hurt? Josh was with New England for a long time. There are some things about him that make me cheer and other things that infuriate me. For example: In Super Bowl XLII, it was clear the Giants were getting into the backfield far too often. We could call this an offensive line breakdown, but I believe McD should've adjusted and instructed Brady to checkdown more, go for the options and slants. Instead, he stuck with the game plan. Maybe Belichick's stats guru, Ernie Adams, instructed him to do so. Who knows. On the cheering side, he took the 2008 team, racked with injury after injury, and made a contender out of it. We lot Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney for roughly 12 games, and LaMont Jordan for a significant portion of the season. Josh also had to work hard with Cassel to keep us competitive. Bill O'Brien, technically the Quarterbacks Coach, could be the heir apparent to OC. Will Belichick whisper plays in his ear or will O'Brien take the reins?
Will Defensive YAC be a problem again? In 2008, we were hammered by defensive YAC (yards after carry). Leading the league (not a good thing for defense YAC) with 7.3 yards per carry when rushing the passer, we simply had trouble reading plays and bringing down receivers once they had the ball in their hands. Handling the middle of the field is typically the responsibility of the inside linebackers, Tedy Bruschi and Jerod Mayo in this case. Sometimes the strong safety (Rodney Harrison or Brandon Meriweather in 2008) is used to support the ILB's. Could the use of Tank Williams in a hybrid safety/linebacker role help with this problem?
Will our new wide receivers take the heat off? Let's face it - the receiving tandem of Randy Moss and Wes Welker is tops for the Patriots, if not the league. I hate the term #1 and #2 (I prefer to differentiate receivers based on roles), but it's the truth. Greg Lewis and Joey Galloway are the prospects for removing pressure from Moss and Welker. The term decoy comes to mind. Let's face it: teams would be stupid to not swarm Welker and/or Moss. If Galloway can run the sidelines and make opposing backfields nervous, all the better for Moss. If he can be productive, backfields will be scrambling to figure out how to cover two deep threats. Greg Lewis will be an ideal decoy for Welker. He's productive with slants, can go downfield, and will, in my opinion, be deadly in the middle. Many predict the three wideout set of Welker/Galloway/Moss as deadly, but what about Welker/Lewis/Moss?
Where's our workhorse running back? I find it somewhat crazy many rival fans don't realize what a strong rushing attack the Patriots had in 2008. Sixth in the NFL and first in the AFC East, New England quietly put up one heck of a season on the ground. So why don't we get any credit? Because many teams in the NFL mistakenly rely on one star back for the majority of their production, ex: Colts. Their reliance on Joseph Addai will kill them when he's out as he was for four games in 2008. The Colts ranked an abysmal 31st. To the contrary, the Patriots have used a backfield-by-committee approach and it works. The question should actually be, "Do we NEED a workhorse running back?"
Are we all set at nose tackle? Technically, Vince Wilfork is under contract and has to play for 2009. The Patriots don't need to negotiate a contract until then. But, it is good business sense to work it out as fast as possible. I believe a lot of players in this situation are big, whiney, babies. They're looking to get out of something they signed years back (Jay Cutler, anyone?) and get a bigger slice of the pie because they did well. So, if they did poorly, would they allow the team to re-negotiate a lesser contract? Anyway, I think Wilfork is approaching this with class by trying to get all this stuff out of the way before the season starts. Both the team and Vince know he's valuable, so why not work it out before it becomes a distraction? The next question would be if we DO have issues with Vince, will Ron Brace be up to the task?

That's it for now. As I was writing this, I realized there's FAR more than five questions to grapple with, so I added a "Part I" to the title. Look for a "Part II" fairly soon. What questions do you have? Are these the right ones to worry about?

Patriots Links 7/13/09 - Drew Bledsoe makes the list

MaPatsFan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:47:00 -0000

[Editor's Note: Marima's the links master, no doubt. She's on vacation in the wilds of Maine, so you'll have to put up with me for a week.]

Jim Donaldson (Projo) lists the 10 Best Moments in Sports History. Of course, loaded with Patriots factoids, he gives some love to Drew Bledsoe:

8. Drew Bledsoe’s overtime TD pass to Kevin Turner in 1994

That’s how it’s listed on the Pats’ web site. The much bigger story is that the pass to Turner was Bledsoe’s 70th of the game and his 45th completion – both NFL records. Throwing on 34 consecutive plays in the second half, Bledsoe passed for a club-record 426 yards while rallying the Pats from a 20-0 deficit to a 26-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. It’s the greatest individual, single-game performance I’ve seen in all my years of covering the Patriots.

Lynn Worthy (Lowell Sun) reports local high school stars represent New England Patriots at national competition.

The group of 12 players and two coaches earned the right to represent the New England Patriots in the national tournament beginning tomorrow at Winter Park, the Minnesota Vikings' training facility, as part of the NFL's High School Player Development Program.

LOCAL SHOTS

Chris Gasper (Globe) reports Darius Butler has "sealed the deal" with a four year, $4.125 million dollar contract.
In yet MORE news about "The Flower Pots", mass man sees debt repaid by stranger. How this is even a story is beyond me.
Chris Gasper (Globe) Steve McNair's death hits close to home. Tank Williams talks about how news of McNair left him feeling empty. The two were teammates for four years.
"The Tradition", honoring local sports legends, will air tonight with Bill Belichick tipping his hat to #80, Troy Brown.

LONG SHOTS

MIAMI (AP) Stallworth out of jail after serving 24 days.
Stampede Blue has TWO front page stories about Tom Brady's stolen...wait for it...flower pots. Apparently, it was a slow news week in the midwest.
Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) Top 5 quarterbacks of the game. Tom Brady at #1 and Peyton Manning at #2 will cause yet another uproar. Brooks notes Brady's best-in-class winning percentage which will be an interesting basis for discussion.
(AP) McNair remembered as a 'hero' and 'legend' at funeral.
Judd Zulgad (Star Tribune) Vikings offensive coordinator visits Brett Favre's workout.

Patriots 2009: What would Norm and Cliff say?

MaPatsFan — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:43:24 -0000

Your remember Cheers, right? The sitcom that took place in a mythical Boston bar called Cheers? Every true Bostonian knows the bar is actually called Bull and Finch, but that's beside the point. The show mostly circled around owner Ted Danson and his love life, particularly with the flighty Shelley Long, but I thought Norm and Cliff were a hoot. So in my best Norm and Cliff imitation, let's talk about our favorite team, the New England Patriots.

Norm: Hey Cliff (burp). Whaddya think about the Pats this season?

Cliff: Ehhrrraaahh, Tommy Brayyddee bettah get his byutocks in gear, know wadimean?

Norm: No Cliff, I don't.

Cliff: Well, he's been too busy making googlie eyes at that model there. He's gotta concentrate.

Norm: I think he's professional enough to pull this off, Cliff. I mean, the guy's got three rings, right?

Cliff: Ok. But what about outside linebackah? I mean, what was Billie thinkin'?

Norm: He probably knows what he's doing. Besides, we got Adalius Thomas, Pierre Woods, Tully Banta-Cain and that dude with the long arms, Shawn Crable. We're good.

Cliff: Well, then why the heck wuz Billie Boy so hot on Jason Taylah, huh? I mean, the guys a pass rushing DE?

Norm: In Bill We Trust, Cliff. I mean, (whispering) don't question Belichick too much. You'll end up in a trash barrel on Comm Ave.

Cliff: I once dated a girl on Comm Ave. She...ohhh. Gotcha.

Norm: Besides, we're all set with Brandon Meriweather and James Sanders. Tank Williams will be good in nickel and dime packages. And that new guy, Patrick Chung, looks good, too.

Cliff: It's a good thing we got those guys aftah we lost Rodney Harrison. I mean, he was the haht and soul of that there defense.

Norm: Don't forget Randy Moss and Wes Welker have two years in the system. And we just picked up Joey Galloway and Greg Lewis, too.

Cliff: That there...ahhh...Welkah. Did you see that vicious hit by that Steeler Ryan Clahk? I mean, little Wes almost became paht of the terf!! He got up, though. He's one tough...

Norm: Easy. This is a family show. Let's not forget Laurence Maroney. Fred Taylor is going to get him jumpstarted.

Cliff: Man, "Fast Freddy" is gonna ROCK! I can't wait to see him hit the field in a Patriots uniform.

Norm: Whaddya think? Brady spanks more than 50 TD's and Moss more than 23?

Cliff: Woody! I need another brewskie.

Ten Patriots for 2009: No. 6, CB Darius Butler

MaPatsFan — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:14:19 -0000

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

7 months ago: New England Patriots rookie defensive back Darius Butler (27) works on a drill during football minicamp at the team's football facility in Foxborough, Mass., Friday morning, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

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Back to the defensive side of the ball, the Patriots have been accused of having a weak defensive backfield for a few years. Injuries to key players like Rodney Harrison and Tank Williams are, I believe, part of the problem. Another issue? Average corners. Since the departure of Asante Samuel to the Eagles, it could be argued we've lacked a shutdown corner. I liked Ellis Hobbs because he was one of the most dangerous kick return men in the business. But he was serviceable corner, not the "don't come over here" guy we needed. To his credit, he did play hurt most of 2007 and that says something about the man. But I believe we need a risk taker at this position, a cowboy, if you will.

Corner is a crowded spot these days. Both Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs appear to be locks for more snaps than anyone else. Second year men Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite could see action, too. But I believe the future of this position is Darius Butler and I also believe he'll get a chance to show his stuff this year.

Belichick saw something in this kid when he drafted him in the second round at 41 overall and third for the Patriots, behind S Patrick Chung and DT Ron Brace. What he saw was a player with real physical talent. At 5-11, he could be considered undersized for the position, but don't let that fool you; he's got a 43 inch vertical leap. You read that right. 43 inches. From patriots.com:

"I think I have good physical tools; I'm athletic. I can get stronger and I look forward to improving all of my game," he said. "Now it's my profession, it's my job. It's all I have to do to make my livelihood. I'm looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity."

If given a chance, could Darius prove he's one of the premiere corners in the business? I do believe he could. From his bio on patriots.com:

In his last two seasons as a starting left cornerback, no opposing receiver was able to catch a touchdown pass or record more than two first downs in any game against him.

Oh yeah, I like that. But let's not forget another reason for his presence: he's an incredible kick returner, something we definitely need after return man Ellis Hobbs' trade. But the question is will Darius get the exposure he needs to get the role he might be capable of? He's behind four guys, but I think that, given the chance, his natural gifts and work ethic will shine through. And he will become that shutdown corner we've longed for.

Let the Patriots lovefest begin

MaPatsFan — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:59:25 -0000

At the risk of being run out of town or hunted down by our very own SRD (he knows where I live :-(), I'll go out on a limb and say I'm already getting tired of the Patriots lovefest...and it's only May!!! "The Patriots are poised to win another Super Bowl in 2009!!" or "Bill Belichick is a god in the draft room. How can anyone compete?" Don't get me wrong, I'm one of the biggest New England Patriots homers on the planet. Before a game, I put all of my championship jerseys on the floor, roll on them, screaming like a little schoolgirl, and then pick the one that I finally land on...ahem. Ok, T.M.I. Moving on...

I respect Peter King from SI.com a great deal. He's a real football dude and a very good writer, but this week's Monday Morning QB power ranks the Patriots at numero uno:

New England should have enough ammo to be competitive with the best quarterbacks on the schedule. It was 5-1 down the stretch, including 4-0 on the road, as many of its young defenders grew up. I don't see much downside.

All very true, I agree. They pulled off an amazing season with a backup quarterback who is now starting in KC. However, not to take anything away from Cassel nor the Patriots, but that wasn't the hardest schedule on the docket. The other bit that's got me all lathered up is the oddsmakers. As of January 22nd, the Patriots were favored 7-1 to win Super Bowl XLIV. Guys, it's a little early.

Before I sound like a negative nelly (or Boston Globe sportswriter Dan Shaughnessy), I think they have a pretty good chance, too. However, my reasoning may be different than others.

Brady's back - Well, not so different than others. When Brady went down against the Chiefs, the heartless were cheering, but the pragmatists were saying, "Too bad, but maybe we have a chance." The playoff landscape may have been VASTLY different had Tommy Terrific been holding the reins. The 'Fins had a breakout year and huge props to them after a tough 1-15 2007, but I think Brady would picked up 1 or 2 more wins in 2008, just enough to take the East. Right now, I think teams are changing their underwear knowing Brady's back; you don't have to be a homer to know he's that much of a difference maker.
Contract year - 11 of 14 offensive linemen's contracts are up in 2009. Did I mention Vince Wilfork, too? So, Hoodie drafts three defensive linemen and a couple of young OL's to spice things up a bit. He creates competition and KNOWS these guys will be playing their hearts out for a payday either with the Patriots or for a prospective team.
Old vs. New - Belichick is a master at mixing free agents and young guys. In 2008, however, a series of injuries (Brady, Harrison, Jordan, Maroney, Tank) and questionable FA choices (Deltha O'Neal, released John Lynch) seemed to hamper their potential. This year, Hoodie has hit the nail on the head. Bodden and Springs will be HUGE at corner while Tank is back at safety. Have I mentioned Greg Lewis and Joey Galloway at WR? Let's not forget Fast Freddy Taylor at RB.
Health - Hooray, the Patriots have been one of the most successful teams in the last decade!! Oh no, they've been one of the most successful teams of the last decade. Winning in the playoffs and playing in Super Bowls is great, but it means the rest between one season and the next is very short. Due to their success, the Patriots have had the least amount of rest of most any team. Until this season. Not making the playoffs last year meant their season was over on 12/28/08. That means time to recuperate. That means healthy linemen in front of Tommy. That means a strong and fired up Laurence Maroney with a chip on his shoulder. Health, for lack of a better word, is good.

The lovefest has gotten sickeningly sweet for my tastes, but I'm no less of a homer. It's my opinion New England has a major "Oh Yeah?!?!" season coming. They'll play like there's a massive chip on their shoulder. Whether it's for a mega contract or a permanent roster spot, Belichick has structured the team so players will eat gravel for him. I just wish the media would stop these silly, early predictions about greatness and winning.

Save it for next February.

Patriots changes by position: Inside Linebacker

MaPatsFan — Sat, 09 May 2009 14:29:39 -0000

[Editor's note: I've decided to split the inside and outside linebacker stories as the Patriots are carrying 13 linebackers at this writing]

Dang. I was so stoked to see Tyrone McKenzie possibly make it into the rotation. I was stoked for a number of reasons: a) Tedy Bruschi is in the last year of his contract and, at 36 on June 9th, he has nothing left to prove; he's given his heart (literally) and soul to this team, b) the thought of another strong ILB next to DROY, Jerod Mayo, had me fairly confident the Patriots had taken care of the "Linebacker Situation", at least on the inside, and c) Tyrone is such a good story - a standup, unselfish guy putting his mother and sisters ahead of his own career when they needed him most.

Tedy Bruschi - Tedy has 13 years in the NFL, all of them with the Patriots. A super rare accomplishment, he's been there every step of the way. When sidelined by a stroke, the haters immediately lept to the conclusion Bruschi's heart condition was related to steroid use. When Tedy's doctors found a hole in his heart, they were later proven to be wrong, looking entirely stupid in the process. One of our favorite Patriots, he could've easily rode off into the sunset and retired with full honors. Typical of the man, he couldn't turn the motor off and became an example to everyone. Whether or not he plays past 2009 is anyone's guess, but I, for one, am thankful for all he's given us. Breeewwwwwskiiiiii!!!!
Jerod Mayo - What is there to say? Our 2008 10th overall pick is exactly what we hoped for - talented, hard working, and a HUGE football IQ. Did I mention humble? When asked how he thinks he did last year, his response is, "I don't think I'll ever be satisfied." Belichick must've smiled from ear to ear when he heard that...never be satisfied. Jerod has, quite simply, never left Gillette Stadium this off season. If he's not in the weight room, he's watching film, looking for those things he needs work on and then fixing them. He's going to be scary.
Gary Guyton - Mayo was a rock and took on a very complex defense at an early stage in his career; Jerod played the most snaps of any defensive Patriot. However, as Tedy approaches the twilight of his career, we needed a rotation strategy and Guyton was it. Taking on various roles as a reserve and special teams guy, Gary could be counted on to fill a gap when called on. An UFA, he's a find, in my opinion, and will only get better.
Eric Alexander - Mostly a special teams guy and reserve ILB, Eric has been with the Patriots for four seasons. He's done what's been asked of him and has been a productive tackler. Knowing the system, he's an important reserve option for our defense.
Antonio Appleby - A rookie free agent from Virginia, Antonio may have a leg up on the other rookies; Virginia ran a 3-4 defense under former Patriots assistant, Al Groh. Getting...younger...at...linebacker. I like it!
Vinny Ciurciu - With four years at Carolina and one at Minnesota, Vinny was considered a special teams ace; he consistently ranked at the top of the heap for tackles. When called upon, he jumped in at MLB, ILB, and OLB. A real utility guy, it's always good to have someone on the team with his versatility.
Tank Williams - Dude, you know Tank is a Safety, right? Yep. That's what he's LISTED as. However, Tank is a rare safety/linebacker mix. He'll be widely used in special packages were they need that nickel or dime guy and I believe he'll lineup a few steps in between and behind the ILBs, prowling the middle and assisting on the edges when called for. I can't wait to see this; I've waited a year due to his season ending injury in 2008 and I'm incredibly psyched to see what Tank can accomplish.

Analysis

Typical Belichick, he adds youth and then adds experience to mentor the young guys. Jerod Mayo is a clear lock as an ILB starter. If he was unsatisfied with his breakout performance last year and is putting in the time he seems to be, he's going to be a monster on the inside. Tedy will rotate in and out, but I see his role diminishing; the younger guys need the reps and Tedy has given us enough. His presence will be huge on the sidelines and in the locker room. I believe Guyton and Appleby will vie for rotational duties at ILB. That is, unless we decide to sign Pisa Tinoisamoa. Jettisoned by the Rams, Pisa has six seasons under his belt and could add depth and experience at that position, similar to adding Bodden and Springs at CB.

Patriots changes by position: Safety

MaPatsFan — Wed, 06 May 2009 00:11:41 -0000

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

7 months ago: New England Patriots' Patrick Chung (25) works a drill against defensive back Jamar Love, left, during football minicamp at the team's football facility in Foxborough, Mass., Friday morning, May 1, 2009 Chung was the Patriots' first pick in the 2009 rookie draft chosen in the second round as the 34th pick overall. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Browse more photos »

Continuing our series examining changes to the Patriots' positions, we take a gander at Safety. Writing these can be a bit precarious; as hytholdaeus pointed out in his comments, we're adding players at a breakneck pace. Let's also keep in mind that the roster is VERY fluid right now. Many guys will turn into training camp fodder and won't have a locker come cut day.

2008 Roster: Rodney Harrison (IR'd 10/22 with a thigh injury), Brandon Meriweather, Tank Williams (IR'd in preseason), James Sanders, Raymond Ventrone, Antwain Spann

2009 Roster: Brandon Meriweather, Tank Williams, James Sanders, Patrick Chung, Brandon McGowan, Raymond Ventrone, Antwain Spann

Rodney Harrison - The $64,000 question is, "Will Rodney return?" He dabbled a bit in broadcasting with booth time at the Super Bowl and said he was "testing the waters", but has he successfully scratched the itch? Can he turn the motor off? Does Belichick think he can add value? Whether or not his body will do what his mind wants it to is the question and can only be answered by himself and Belichick, but I believe his greatest contribution would be a Bruschi-like role, an on-field mentor, if you will. Bring him back for a year just to tidy things up a bit. If he decides to stay away, I believe it'll be because of some of the rules changes that came about this year.
Brandon Meriweather - Having worked under the mentorship of Rodney for two years, Brandon has come along nicely. He also had to jump in right quick when Harrison went down. If Brandon can develop that prowler instinct that his teacher has, I believe he'll be the future of that position for a very long time.
Tank Williams - I was practically crying when Tank went down last season. I was sooooo stoked to see what he could do, this hybrid safety/linebacker dude. A player in this position with the instincts and football IQ to pull off coverage and pass rushing is VERY dangerous to the opposition. We suffered a great deal with the pass rush and if we don't end up with a pass rushing OLB, Tank could fill that gap as well as the "other" back on nickel and dime packages.
James Sanders - Whew, thank goodness we resigned Sanders. A super productive free safety, he's always making solo tackles as an FS or on special teams. In his fifth year as a Patriot, New England wisely signed him to a three year deal worth approximately $9 million. James' knowledge of the playbook is second to none, therefore considered a valuable asset. I'd love to see him grow as a playmaker as well.
Patrick Chung - The new kid on the block, Patrick was NE's #1 2009 draft choice at 34 (thank you Matt Cassel and KC Chiefs!!). How he plays at a pro level remains to be seen, but he reminds me of Tank in that he's more of an "in-the-box" kind of guy and could be used quite a bit on rushing/blitzing packages as well as dime/nickel formations. Not a deep coverage guy, he could do well roaming the middle ground between deep safety and linebacker.
Brandon McGowan - Acquired today (dang, I have a headache), has five years of experience and could potentially be another nail in the coffin for a Rodney Harrison return. A solid backup guy, he'll add depth, but will have to battle it out for a fourth spot; Meriweather, Sanders, and Chung are the most likely top three.
Raymond Ventrone - Classified as a safety, but primarily special teams, Ventrone won't vie for a top spot on the defense. He may be brought in every once in a while, but that's about it.
Antwain Spann - Like Ventrone, Antwain is a special teams guy. I consider stability at this position just as important as other positions; Belichick is a special teams hound and hates when mistakes are made. I say give guys like Raymond and Antwain credit. That and Antwain was willing to give up his #28 to Fred Taylor. Class begets class and Fred decided to wear his college #21. Cool.

Analysis

Is it the end of an era? Are we seeing the departure of fan favorite, Rodney Harrison? Given the current crop of safeties who have been brought on and the rules changes "softening" the game in many a defensive player's eyes, I think we're not far away from his departure. Sad. RODNEY...DAH...MAN!!

The top two guys will be Meriweather and Sanders with Chung rotating in as he gains experience. Tank (gotta love a guy named Tank) will be used in very specific packages requiring a hybrid guy and/or someone to prowl the line or edges. McGowan, if he makes the roster, will add depth when needed.

I'm stoked to see what will happen. Losing Tank last year was a major blow, IMO, and I can't wait to see what he'll contribute. We were very thin at safety (same as many other positions) and things were getting a little dicey.

Alright, let's hear it.

Poll

Was 2008 Rodney's last season?

Yes

158 votes

No

95 votes

253 votes | Poll has closed

Patriots regular season - almost five months and counting

MaPatsFan — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:06:23 -0000

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With almost five months to go, I'm losing my mind already. Hoodie and company have been so busy with FA acquisitions that some have proclaimed the franchise ready to field a team. And we haven't even gone through the draft. There are soooo many reasons why I'm incredibly stoked to get this train rollin', but I thought I'd toss out a few and see where it goes from here.

Tom Brady - Duh! Master of the obvious, I know. I, as well as many fans, are indebted to Matt Cassel for being ready to take the reins and do such a good job in 2008. I was also indebted to him for accepting the franchise tag so readily, signing the tender, and allowing NE to deal him to KC. Without doing so, we would've received NOTHING for Matt and could've been faced with a very large cap space issue, to the tune of $14 million and change (Panthers and Julius Peppers anyone?). But that's old news. As indebted as I am to Matt, I'm doubly excited to see Tom Terrific take the reins back. Some of you may disagree with me (citing Moss is an elite receiver and should be able to battle DBs), but I've always felt Brady had a sixth sense with Moss and knows "where" to put the ball so that only Randy can catch it.
Offensive Line - Coming off of 2007, the OL was beaten up and, in my opinion, demoralized by the SB loss to the Giants. It showed as we prepared for the 2008 season; many starters had a tough time getting back in the swing of things and missed significant portions of training camp as well as struggled to take their starting positions for the regular season. I am also ready to blame this on a ridiculous run in the last five years. Success has its positives and negatives and one of the negatives is you play a longer season, leaving a shorter break before the start of the next season. The bad part of not making the 2008 playoffs is, well, we didn't make the playoffs. The good part is it allowed the longest rest in years for the 300 pounders. They'll come back strong and ready to protect Brady.
Running Backs - The addition of Fred Taylor is huge, in my opinion. I believe he still has a lot left in his tank but, more importantly, he'll provide mentorship for Laurence Maroney. Laurence is struggling with the same thing Fred battled with at the beginning of his career - injuries. Labeled "Fragile Freddy", Taylor will be able to offer advice to Maroney and try to keep him mentally "in the game". With three "general service" backs in Maroney, Taylor, and Morris, plus third down specialist Kevin Faulk, we should be in fine shape to mount a fairly significant running attack. Let's not forget surprise rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis if needed.
Linebackers - Mayo is a beast and is the future of the Patriots linebacker corp. Gary Guyton was a surprise rookie talent and can fill in quite nicely at ILB. OLB is in good shape with most likely starters Thomas and Woods, supported by backups Redd and Crable. I'd like to see us grab an elite pass rusher in the draft, though; we struggled with that during 2008.
Cornerbacks - The serviceable Hobbs, along with FA vets Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs, supported by second year players Wheatley and Wilhite, have us covered. However, I do see the need for a risk taker, a "ball hawk". The current list of guys are decent in coverage, but we need a guy willing to go after the ball.
Safety - I'm less concerned about this position than I was a few months ago. Sure, Rodney Harrison may end his career this year and leave a hole at that position, but I believe Meriweather has done a fine job there. With James Sanders signed and hybrid safety/linebacker Tank Williams signed and healthy, I think things are good here. We could decide to go after a safety in the draft, but I think it would be no higher than mid to late second round.
Defensive Line - Sign Vince!! His contract isn't over until the end of the 2009 season, but we need to start thinking about it now. Wilfork is one of the premiere 3-4 nose tackles in the business and it would be ridiculous to lose him. Hopefully, he's not looking for Haynesworth money, but who knows. Defensive end Warren is signed to 2013, but Seymour is in the last year of his contract. Like Wilfork, SIGN HIM!! Richard is a beast and, with all of the rest we've had, will be an animal in 2009.
Wide Receivers - Moss and Welker obviously, but those two can't do it alone. When DBs scheme on them, there needs to be other options. With Gaffney gone, we picked up veteran Joey Galloway who could fit nicely in between the underneath and option routes owned by Welker and the sideline routes taken by Moss. I cringed all last season when Moss turned inside before running ten yards; I'm extremely happy Galloway, as well as Greg Lewis, will be around to handle those duties.

Where you at? What's got you excited about this season?

Poll

Are the Patriots positioned for a great 2009?

Ready to roll

329 votes

Wait until after the draft

187 votes

We're screwed

18 votes

534 votes | Poll has closed