Browner & Tyms Watch: Activated!

[Stitch01]

I meant from off the roster, Easley is obviously getting PT over Bequette although I have pretty much no idea if he's a good or useful player right now. 
 
You've addressed the bigger problem at end (and maybe it needs its own thread) which is Ninkovich has been terribad.
 
EDIT: Also possible Moore is coming along in practice, hard for us to tell that from the outside.

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

Browner was unimpressive in the preseason. I'm honestly not expecting much from him to start out. I hope he looks better.
 
Tyms has to be at least better than Lafell. Yeah he could just be preseason hype but I remember him giving Boykins fits in the Philly game and he's a pretty decent corner.
 
We'll see. Glad to get both on board either way.

 

[DJnVa]

It was the preseason, in a new system, when he knew he was going to be missing the first 4-5 games. I'm not too worried about that.

 

[Ed Hillel]

I don't think Browner is going to cut it as a corner in this new NFL with all the penalties for any sort of contact and his lack of vertical speed, but I think he'd be pretty good in Chung's role. We'll see what happens.

 

[Super Nomario]

I don't think Browner is going to cut it as a corner in this new NFL with all the penalties for any sort of contact and his lack of vertical speed, but I think he'd be pretty good in Chung's role. We'll see what happens.

What do you see Chung's role as and why do you think Browner would be good at it?

 

[Ed Hillel]

What do you see Chung's role as and why do you think Browner would be good at it?

With McCourty playing Centerfield and Revis playing man, you can afford to have Chung playing a bit closer to the line to help in the running game and to help with the Tight Ends over the middle. It gives Collins some room to roam closer to the line and free to go at the QB more often. Browner is a big hitter, a sure tackler, and matches up well with the size and speed of Tight Ends. I think he's much better equipped in that kind of role than matching up outside. If he beats out Dennard in that role, or even Ryan, I'll be surprised.

 

[Super Nomario]

With McCourty playing Centerfield and Revis playing man, you can afford to have Chung playing a bit closer to the line to help in the running game and to help with the Tight Ends over the middle. It gives Collins some room to roam closer to the line and free to go at the QB more often. Browner is a big hitter, a sure tackler, and matches up well with the size and speed of Tight Ends. I think he's much better equipped in that kind of role than matching up outside. If he beats out Dennard in that role, or even Ryan, I'll be surprised.

I could see Browner covering TEs in certain matchups (like Talib did against Jimmy Graham last year), but that's not really how they've been using Chung. He's matched up on backs as much as TEs, but he's played more zone than man, both deep and underneath looks.
 
Browner has SS size, but there's a lot more to the position than that. He'd have to play off the line more, which limits his ability to use his press man skills. He'd have to play more zone. He's have to know all the linebacker-type fits and a lot more diverse coverage scheme roles. I'm skeptical this makes a lot of sense. I do share some of your bearishness on Browner at CB.

 

[Corsi]

 

Doug Kyed ‏@DougKyedNESN  1m1 minute ago
Source confirms that Joe Vellano signed to the Patriots' practice squad.
 

 

[Reverend]

Poop.
 
https://twitter.com/jeffphowe/status/520257296543531009
 
Jeff Howe
‏@jeffphowe
Brandon Browner wasn't activated for Sunday because he has struggled to learn the defense, so there's one question answered.

 

[Stitch01]

Think they'd have to hit on a free agent by accident at some point, right?

 

[DJnVa]

Yet they activated him for this week, so that's progress.

 

[Stitch01]

They had to either activate him or cut him Monday

 

[DJnVa]

That was kind of tongue in cheek.

 

[Oppo]

Browner not at practice today

 

[Ed Hillel]

Think they'd have to hit on a free agent by accident at some point, right?

Revis, but I guess that was obvious.

 

[Tony C]

 
Poop.
 
https://twitter.com/jeffphowe/status/520257296543531009
 
Jeff Howe
‏@jeffphowe
Brandon Browner wasn't activated for Sunday because he has struggled to learn the defense, so there's one question answered.
 

 
Browner (not Tyms) was the one able to go to team meetings even during his suspension, right? If so, this is kind of weird. I don't see them doing anything so complicated.

 

[kolbitr]

Another anonymous source...sigh. Well let's hope Patricia figures out a way to use him sooner rather than later. He still has good instincts, if last year is any indication, and could bring a physical dimension to the secondary that is lacking.

 

[lambeau]

It seems like LaFell is becoming the preferred WR #2-- his snaps have increased as Amendola's have decreased.
It will be interesting to see if Tyms can improbably challenge Amendola and Dobson for the third slot.

 

[dynomite]

Tyms was one of the 8 Practice Players of the Week last week. (Along with Barker, Bequette, Boyce, Butler, Ryan, Gray, and T. Wilson)

http://nesn.com/2014/10/brian-tyms-logan-ryan-among-patriots-practice-players-of-the-week/

NESN theorizes Tyms played AJ Green in practice, which seems reasonable.

Anyway, more evidence that he's a valuable piece of the roster, regardless of his snaps this Sunday.

 

[nazz45]

 
Browner (not Tyms) was the one able to go to team meetings even during his suspension, right? If so, this is kind of weird. I don't see them doing anything so complicated.

On the surface, I agree that it's a puzzling report. Assuming Browner will be used to his strengths and remain on the outside, what would be complicated about the playbook - you are either in man or zone, right? Even using the correct techniques based off receiver keys and providing alert responsibilities to his teammates on time shouldn't be unique to him. But I suppose it's more about Browner's struggles in practice to recognize certain offensive formations, related tendencies and motioning receivers - deciphering all of that and then shifting to the correct coverage on the fly. If the Patriots use multiple coverage schemes on any given play that are dependent on where receivers line up, etc., and he isn't grasping those concepts, then that could be the problem.

 

[CantKeepmedown]

http://www.csnne.com/blog/patriots-talk/report-browner-struggling-patriots-schemes
 
Curran states that it was more of a conditioning problem, which is also pretty strange. 

 

[FL4WL3SS]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4769804/what-is-holding-brandon-browner-back?ex_cid=espnapi_public

How would you characterize Brandon Browner's ability to pick up your defense?

Belichick: Good.

When you make the decision to hold him out last week, not activate him, how much of that was more physical to give him more time vs. comfort level that he'd be able to execute the plan?

Belichick: I don't think the learning part of it is any issue at all. It hasn't been since he's been here.

 

[Tony C]

This just seems like so much side chatter. My only worry is that this year the Pats' ability to suppress such extraneous chatter seems to be challenged. From Thompkins to Brady to Browner there seem to be a constant stream of leaks and such...I know this is par for the course, and I'm certain every team has tons of internal politics, but is it just my imagination that the Pats have usually been better than other clubs at keeping this sort of stuff out of the news, but not so much this year?

 

[Reverend]

This just seems like so much side chatter. My only worry is that this year the Pats' ability to suppress such extraneous chatter seems to be challenged. From Thompkins to Brady to Browner there seem to be a constant stream of leaks and such...I know this is par for the course, and I'm certain every team has tons of internal politics, but is it just my imagination that the Pats have usually been better than other clubs at keeping this sort of stuff out of the news, but not so much this year?

 
I think it's just as much that so little is coming out that they are generating stories based on almost nothing.
 
Right now, two of the stories on ESPN's Boston page are Revis Won't Tell What the Game Plan Is and Ridley Expects Spikes to Talk Trash.

 

[soxfan121]

 
I think it's just as much that so little is coming out that they are generating stories based on almost nothing.
 
Right now, two of the stories on ESPN's Boston page are Revis Won't Tell What the Game Plan Is and Ridley Expects Spikes to Talk Trash.

 
If only there were things to talk about . . .

 

[amarshal2]

This just seems like so much side chatter. My only worry is that this year the Pats' ability to suppress such extraneous chatter seems to be challenged. From Thompkins to Brady to Browner there seem to be a constant stream of leaks and such...I know this is par for the course, and I'm certain every team has tons of internal politics, but is it just my imagination that the Pats have usually been better than other clubs at keeping this sort of stuff out of the news, but not so much this year?

But it just became pretty clear that the Browner "can't pick it up" report was fabricated. Why do you believe any of it?

 

[Tony C]

Where did I say I believed any of it? To the contrary. My point is just that there seems to be more of this BS floating around this year than usual...slightly weird for a club that focuses so much on a "no distractions" mantra. I suspect, though, that per my initial question it is just my imagination, as least to a degree.

 

[Dogman]

Where did I say I believed any of it? To the contrary. My point is just that there seems to be more of this BS floating around this year than usual...slightly weird for a club that focuses so much on a "no distractions" mantra. I suspect, though, that per my initial question it is just my imagination, as least to a degree.

 
Focus from the team hasn't changed.  Media reports, BS reports, unsubstantiated claims of inside tension and, as you note, your imagination help propagate this nonsense.
 
Your initial question is largely answered by the remainder of your post in that you seemingly do believe some of what is printed.  I guess my interest is piqued, mainly from 15+ years of solid data disputing your claim that the club has deviated from their public stance of sharing knowledge,  by a logical one word question as a follow up to find out more of your thoughts.
 
Why?

 

[Ed Hillel]

Brian Tyms ‏@Tyms2Times 2h2 hours ago

see u in buffalo

https://twitter.com/search?q=Brian%20tyms&src=typd

 

[amarshal2]

Where did I say I believed any of it? To the contrary. My point is just that there seems to be more of this BS floating around this year than usual...slightly weird for a club that focuses so much on a "no distractions" mantra. I suspect, though, that per my initial question it is just my imagination, as least to a degree.

When you said "constant stream of leaks and such"and "used to be better at keeping this sort of stuff out of the news" I took that to mean you believed there were legitimate leaks from within the club because the team isn't doing as good of a job keeping things in house.

 

[soxfan121]

New Tyms thread. 
 
Start a new Browner thread when he plays.