Patriots safety snapshot

From Bosoxj in Cali; via Waterville Maine: I've only heard the rumor once but I think it bears discussion. Rodney Harrison could not hold any real responsibility for the catch that Tyree made in the SB. Harrison did every thing possible during his coverage, the rumor goes (and It never crossed my mind untill someone pointed it out, how much that effects the question I'm not sure) that it was not Harrison that was responsible for Tyree's catch; but that a trailing Asante Samuel who was a mere 3 or 4 yards behind the play...joging slowly hold responsibility for the play. The way it was put to me is that if Samuel had made even the slightest of attempts to assail Tyree or if he had in fact assaulted Tyree like a flying bullet, the catch would have never been made.
Some argue that Samuel had more than enough justifacation (ie; 2 rings already, and a very messy contract dispute w/ the Pats) to... well I'm not sure I even dare putting the words in print.
any thoughts?

Mike, my guess is that this will be Rodney Harrison's final season. As usual, he'll leave everything he has on the field, as he'll want to go out a champion. Unlike the CB position, safety appears to be a strong position on this team. As you correctly pointed out, theres' lots of depth and options with the players the Pats have.

I agree that, especially with Asante Samuel gone, its' time for Brandon Meriweather to step up and make some plays. He needs to stop dropping seemingly easy interceptions. His improved play is one of several factors which must occur if the Patriot's defense is to re-establish itself as an elite unit...that can shut down opposing teams in the final minutes of games.

Tank Williams could prove to be a great pick up. James Sanders should continue to improve.

James Sanders is the most underrated player on the team. He is a versatile safety who is overshadowed by the bigger names on the defense. He is a hard working kid who BB really likes. Just look at the first 4 games of the 2007 season when he slid over to strong safety to cover for Harrison's absence. The Patriots defense did not miss a beat during that time.

Sanders will most certainly be resigned at the end of the year and become a cornerstone in the secondary for years to come. We have a truly hidden gem back there.

Mike, I'm sure you would agree.

mike is there any discussion on james sanders getting a long-term extension before the start of the season?

bosoxj.....................
Thats a bag of lies by Asante samuel hating fans. Samuel is a corner, tyree was running in the middle of the field where a safety or ILB should be. The catch was not samuel's fault nor was it Rodney harrison's. It was just a great play by Tyree thats all.

I can't wait to see Harrison and Tank used more around the LOS. Looks like they're poised to mix in some of the "big nickel", which I think is a better characterization of the defense they played against Indy. Harrison didn't appear to have the regular linebacker gap assignments or positioning in that game. He was more of a rover that was often assigned Clark. Just my 2 cents.

....Bosoxj in Cali, my thoughts are, it's water under the bridge.....what's the point?.....on to the 2008 season.

The one thing I would be worried about if I'm the Patriots in 08-09 is their ability to run the football. The oddest thing to me last year was that the Patriorts were the only team I can remember in history, to have absolutely no running threat and still get to the SB (odd). The last team similar to the Pats passing game was the Bills, but they had Thurman Thomas. Troy Aikmen had Emitt Smith, Joe Montana had Roger Craig.

It seemed last year that opponents teams defensive coordinators were psyched out by the threat of the Pats passing game and appraoched a match-up with the Pats over-conservatively by playing typical play-by-play schemes on defense each week which didn't work (obviously).

The way to beat the Patriots is to get inside the coaches head, and make the players on the field think they're seeing something that they're actually not like moving safties, line backers, playing split zones, and disgusing cover-2's, while implementing a blitz. The Giants nearly blitzed from every position in the SB. And the confidence in the players on the NE side of the field was dimished considerably by half.

This year, an improving Buffalo team, an up and coming Miami (will be better than we expect) and all the other teams the Pats will face will utilize their spead in the blitz to make the Pats run the ball all, which they've yet to prove they can do. I would expect to see the Pats come out running in 08-09, and even using a little play action fake.

Good luck to you fellas this year.

Hi Peter. I have not heard anything regarding discussions on a contract extension for Sanders at this time.
--Mike

James Gallagher,
I would have to disagree based on the fact the Giants blitzed on less than 1/2 the plays. The damage was done by the leagues best D-Line...a group which simply overwhelmed our Visa-endorsed 'protection' to a man.
Despite a game long pummeling, the Pats were still in position to win were it not for a freak play. IMHO.