McCourty to safety permanently, Talib to cover opponent's #2 WR.

[hugepatsfan]

If McCourty played as a safety yesterday with Gregory back and Talib still suspended, my bet is that he stays there for the long haul. Maybe he goes back to CB when/if Chung comes back. Chung wasn't looking too good out there himself though, so we'll see what BB does next week.

[bagwell368]

If McCourty played as a safety yesterday with Gregory back and Talib still suspended, my bet is that he stays there for the long haul. Maybe he goes back to CB when/if Chung comes back. Chung wasn't looking too good out there himself though, so we'll see what BB does next week.

The reason IMO McCourty is at S is not because Chung sucks or is hurt, but because McCourty and Gregory are both FS and McCourty is out playing him by a lot. I had hopes in Gregory, but he's a feeb I am afraid. As soon as Chung is back the SS duties will be split by Chung and Wilson, and McCourty will get most of FS playing time. Gregory can find a comfy place on the bench.

[PatsSoxKnicks]

The reason IMO McCourty is at S is not because Chung sucks or is hurt, but because McCourty and Gregory are both FS and McCourty is out playing him by a lot. I had hopes in Gregory, but he's a feeb I am afraid. As soon as Chung is back the SS duties will be split by Chung and Wilson, and McCourty will get most of FS playing time. Gregory can find a comfy place on the bench.

Wilson is going to have to learn the ropes fast because I don't know that Chung can be out there as a safety for much longer considering the huge liability he is in coverage. Sure he's good in run stopping but in todays NFL, you need safeties who can play the pass.

[bagwell368]

Wilson is going to have to learn the ropes fast because I don't know that Chung can be out there as a safety for much longer considering the huge liability he is in coverage. Sure he's good in run stopping but in todays NFL, you need safeties who can play the pass.

Without a doubt. back in the spring I predicted BB would be the first coach that would move to 5 DB back field with 2/3 FS and 3/2 CB's. The SS will be a ST guy that plays 4-12 plays a game on rushing downs. Chung won't be back next year. This year, they are so thin back there - Wilson starts, but Chung needs to take about 15% of the snaps just to rest Wilson. Next year Wilson will be called a S, and sometimes a SS, but he'll play mostly as a FS.

[Austeezy]

Give Wilson the PT to grow and get that invaluable experience. Same with Dennard

[PatsSoxKnicks]

Give Wilson the PT to grow and get that invaluable experience. Same with Dennard

They don't really have a choice since the alternatives basically suck. These rookies are gonna have to grow up fast. But so far Dennard has played well. Wilson has been up and down.

[sdceltsfan]

I watched enough Chargers games, living in San Diego, to know that Gregory was not even going to be a patch for this defense. He has decent ball instincts, but lacks especially cover instincts or the speed to stay with his man on a deep pass.

Chung has been the real disappointment, along with Dowling going down again. For where we got him in the draft especially, Dennard has been a stud, stepping in to a lot of playing time nobody expected him to get.

Talib will step in and cover 1/3 of the field, a lot better than anyone else we've got. Coaching staff is banking on that, as well as the rest of the DB personnel.

We have no read/cover specialist over the middle of the field, or on the deep ball. They have no choice but to use McCourty there, IMO. He will be fine, and it will be the case for the rest of the season, or until one of Wilson/Chung/Gregory decides to show up consistently.

[BradyIsTheMan12]

Chung is not the same player he was before all of his injuries. SS is one of the most physically demanding positions, and he already has broken down at a young age. It's a shame because he's one of my favorite college players ever, and he showed flashes of being a dominant in-the-box safety.

[B'sCeltsPatsSox]

Chung is not the same player he was before all of his injuries. SS is one of the most physically demanding positions, and he already has broken down at a young age. It's a shame because he's one of my favorite college players ever, and he showed flashes of being a dominant in-the-box safety.

Chung's still pretty awesome at stopping the run, and you could definitely see that with his absence from the field this past week. His pass coverage got much worse though from last season, which sucks because it adds on to the secondary problems. I hope he's able to come back for a small contract next year and BB implements a 3 safety rotation with Chung getting a smaller role.

[BostonSports96]

Chung's still pretty awesome at stopping the run, and you could definitely see that with his absence from the field this past week. His pass coverage got much worse though from last season, which sucks because it adds on to the secondary problems. I hope he's able to come back for a small contract next year and BB implements a 3 safety rotation with Chung getting a smaller role.

I don't know if anyone here remembers the Chargers game last season?

Chung was lining up on the line of scrimmage and jamming Antonio Gates at the line, shut him down.

That's where he is best used, in the box jamming TEs and stuffing the run.

He is being misused this season, trying to play deep zone coverage when he doesn't have the speed to play like that.

[hugepatsfan]

I don't know if anyone here remembers the Chargers game last season?

Chung was lining up on the line of scrimmage and jamming Antonio Gates at the line, shut him down.

That's where he is best used, in the box jamming TEs and stuffing the run.

He is being misused this season, trying to play deep zone coverage when he doesn't have the speed to play like that.

Yeah I remember early in the year they were playing Wilson as the in the box/TE coverage safety in sub packages and I wonder why they never kicked Chung down there in passing situations and put someone else deep.

[BradyIsTheMan12]

I don't know if anyone here remembers the Chargers game last season?

Chung was lining up on the line of scrimmage and jamming Antonio Gates at the line, shut him down.

That's where he is best used, in the box jamming TEs and stuffing the run.

He is being misused this season, trying to play deep zone coverage when he doesn't have the speed to play like that.

Our safety depth is so bad that Chung can't be used in a specialized role. Hopefully Talib can be a factor at corner, because that may allow BB to use Chung in an in-the-box role like the one you suggested (if he ever gets healthy). McCourty would help Dennard out as the deep safety, and Chung could stay around the LOS and chip tight ends. I realize that this scenario is putting a lot of faith in Talib, so it may not be realistic. Plus, McCourty may be moved back to corner anyway..

[makavellijrw]

When Chandler Jones comes back I think that they need to put Chung as a Linebacker with Hightower and Nickovinch and I know that they would be dominating the run and short passes easily. Chung is good for short passes for either catching it easily or hitting them so hard that they fumble. I hope that Bellicheck gets the line right by getting everyone in their right position because it is not all done yet.

Dennard and Talib at corners
McCourtey and Gregory at Safety
Ninchovinch, Hightower, and Chung as main Linebackers
&
the front Defensive 7 can stay the same.

With that kind of setup they would be tearing **** up..!!!

[bagwell368]

When Chandler Jones comes back I think that they need to put Chung as a Linebacker with Hightower and Nickovinch and I know that they would be dominating the run and short passes easily. Chung is good for short passes for either catching it easily or hitting them so hard that they fumble. I hope that Bellicheck gets the line right by getting everyone in their right position because it is not all done yet.

Dennard and Talib at corners
McCourtey and Gregory at Safety
Ninchovinch, Hightower, and Chung as main Linebackers
&
the front Defensive 7 can stay the same.

With that kind of setup they would be tearing **** up..!!!

If the OL's got past our DL they would run right over Chung's prone form.

So in your world there is no room for Mayo? LOL.

[makavellijrw]

If the OL's got past our DL they would run right over Chung's prone form.

So in your world there is no room for Mayo? LOL.

My fault I did not mean to leave out Mayo.. He is the beast on the line.. I just think that if they put Chung in there they could almost be unstoppable..