@RapSheet: Meanwhile, the #Patriots signed WR Josh Boyce from their practice squad and put CB Alfonzo Dennard on season-ending IR
Dennard to IR/Boyce to active roster
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
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No surprise. No special teams value, can't play the slot, behind three other guys at outside corner, and currently hurt with only one game to go in the regular season.
If memory serves, Spikes was IRed at the same time last season. We know how that ended. I'm thinking Dennard is gone too.
Spikes was a free agent; Dennard has one more year. He could certainly be cut next offseason given how this year has gone.Dogman2 said:
Super Nomario said:
Yeah, their contract situations differ but I'm thinking the results will be the same. Dennard won't play another snap for NE.
I don't know or understand what has happened with Dennard, and it wouldn't be a total stunner if he wound up cut, given his lack of p time this season, but - I don't see why they would do so without seeing how things go in the off-season. They guy had a lousy time of it this year, but last season he was really solid. And solid CBs don't grow on trees. I say let's hope against the Spikes theory.
I'm totally guessing but isn't it possible that Dennard never fully recovered and was attempting to play through an injury? An injury that wouldn't get worse while playing on it but ultimately wouldn't allow him to play at his previous solid level?
It's possible, but, Friday excepted, he hasn't been on the injury since Week 5. I think what was not allowing him to play at his previous solid level was the players ahead of him on the depth chart.The Tax Man said:
That seems correct, but given the struggles of Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler, it is suprising and disappointing.Super Nomario said:
The problem with Dennard is that he can only do one thing (play man coverage on the outside) and he lacks the ideal physical tools to do even that. I still have nightmares about him trying to cover Demaryius Thomas last year after Talib went down.
Per Doug Kyed's article earlier this week, QBs were 16-23 when throwing at Dennard with 2 TDs.
Total list for Patriots is here: http://nesn.com/2014/12/darrelle-revis-allows-two-catches-other-takeaways-from-patriots-jets/
EDIT: Revis' numbers: 36-76 for 499 with 2 TDs, 2 INTs, and 11 pass breakups. Considering those are against WR1s, just completely ridiculous.
Total list for Patriots is here: http://nesn.com/2014/12/darrelle-revis-allows-two-catches-other-takeaways-from-patriots-jets/
EDIT: Revis' numbers: 36-76 for 499 with 2 TDs, 2 INTs, and 11 pass breakups. Considering those are against WR1s, just completely ridiculous.
I think MMS is right and the issue is versatility. Ryan and Butler both play special teams, and Ryan can play the slot as well as outside. Dennard averaged more than 50 snaps per game in Weeks 1, 5, and 6 when he was healthy and Browner as unavailable. In Week 7, with Browner back, he played 50 snaps, a lot in the slot. That didn't work so well, so he's been a healthy scratch in 6 of the last 8 games and only played 19 snaps total in the two games he did play. Really, all these guys are having trouble cracking the lineup: Butler's played just 22 snaps total on defense since the bye, and Ryan's playing time has fluctuated a lot.Eddie Jurak said:
Super Nomario said:
Yeah, but based on his play last year he's better than what Butler has shown this year (Butler isn't as bad as Devey, but still a bit of a mystery what they see that made them think he could match up 1-on-1 with Wallace). Not sure what happened this season that led to him mostly being on the bench, but I'd still feel more comfortable with a healthy Dennard as the Pats 3rd/4th CB instead of Butler. Be interesting to see if he can contribute next year.
Butler really hasn't played much, either - just 140 snaps total, and just 22 since the bye. I don't think his performance is a lot different than what I'd expect from Dennard, who doesn't have the speed to cover Wallace either.Tony C said:
Doug's stats confirm what I have seen, Ryan has been very solid. Unfortunately, his bad game was the GB game where he stood out like a sore thumb. Tough to be an NFL corner, when you get burned everyone sees it.
Is Dennard's problem that he doesn't fit the more physical/man to man scheme the Pats have been playing in 2014? He seemed to be a very physical tackler in his time in NE. One of the things I love about BB, you have to be a good tackler to play corner for him. He put up with Samuel for awhile but most guys seem to come up and take on blockers and ball carriers very well, especailly Arrington. I love that guy as third corner.
Is Dennard's problem that he doesn't fit the more physical/man to man scheme the Pats have been playing in 2014? He seemed to be a very physical tackler in his time in NE. One of the things I love about BB, you have to be a good tackler to play corner for him. He put up with Samuel for awhile but most guys seem to come up and take on blockers and ball carriers very well, especailly Arrington. I love that guy as third corner.