Patriots: Everything set, and nothing is set, at the start

Monday, September 05, 2011

John Rooke, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

Now the real work begins.

An off-season of uncertainty was finally met by football on the field a little more than a month ago. Even so, the job at hand for the Patriots’ coaching staff was difficult – how to turn a good team, into a potential Super Bowl team.

The final 53-man roster, however, is anything but final. It is assuredly that way for every team in the NFL as the regular season kicks-off this week, but for New England…even the seemingly insignificant moves can mean the difference between pretender and contender.

There is plenty of time before the Patriots actually begin their season next Monday night in Miami. But you can expect the roster shuffle to be a constant part of every day life at Gillette Stadium for awhile. Here are three areas of interest to watch as the 2011 season unfolds:

(1) Offensive Line

With late-in-the-preseason injuries to Rich Ohrnberger and Ryan Wendell, and with rookie Marcus Cannon remaining on the reserve/non-football injury list as he recovers from cancer treatments, line depth is decidedly thin. The Patriots did sign former Pro-Bowl guard Brian Waters, who was a roster casualty in Kansas City…but they also turned around and reduced their depth again by releasing tackle Steve Maneri on Sunday.

While the guard position is apparently stronger, the tackle slot has only Matt Light, Sebastian Vollmer and rookie Nate Solder lining up. At least right now. Cannon could be an eventual option at tackle, but not until Week 7.

(2) Tight End

This was not expected to be a position of need for the Patriots, with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez providing plenty of ability. However, a third tight end on the roster is preferable, due to the physical nature of the position, and the team figured to sneak rookie free agent Will Yeatman through waivers and sign him to the practice squad. Only…the Miami Dolphins beat them to the punch.

Rookie fifth-round draft choice Lee Smith could have been another option, but Buffalo picked Smith up off of the waiver wire Sunday as well. Right now, it appears the Patriots have done nothing but develop two young tight ends through a month of training camp and four pre-season games for two divisional opponents.

(3) Secondary

Maybe the shock of cutting loose Pro Bowl safety Brandon Meriweather (since signed by Chicago) should not have come as much of a surprise. After all, Pro Football Focus had a rather in-depth analysis of Meriweather’s statistical decline from 2009 to 2010, which ranked him tied for 79th out of 85 safeties in the league that played at least 25 percent of their teams’ snaps last season.

Wow.

Even the casual fan, to the naked eye, probably figured out something wasn’t right about Meriweather. But cutting loose a former first round draft pick (’07, 24th overall) is something that isn’t ever done easily – witness the recent languishing of former running back Laurence Maroney. Still, it’s hard to believe a trade could not have been worked out for Meriweather, since he was signed so quickly by the Bears. Add to this the departure of James Sanders (since signed by Atlanta), the release of cornerback Jonathan Wilhite, and the addition of James Ihedigbo and Antwaun Molden – and this area of the team is anything but settled.

Coming into the season, the thought was the play of the secondary this year would be improved with an emphasis on strengthening the defensive line first – which the team has done. But there is, apparently, more work to be done…with the Patriots’ defensive backfield still in motion.

News and Notes

The Patriots also released long snapper James Dearth on Sunday, and signed Danny Aiken off of waivers from Buffalo to replace him. The revolving door at this position continues, since Lonie Paxton was allowed to leave as a free agent prior to the 2009 season. Aiken is the 3rd different long snapper for the team since late July…two other linemen who were with the team during training camp have signed elsewhere. Offensive lineman Thomas Austin is now with the Houston Texans, while defensive lineman Landon Cohen is joining the Seattle Seahawks…Brandon Tate, the team’s third receiver and top kickoff returner last season, was claimed off of waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals…

The Patriots announced their eight practice squad signings Monday morning...LB Markell Carter, RB Eric Kettani, OL Matt Kopa, DE Aaron Lavarias, OL Nick McDonald, WR Kerry Taylor, S Ross Ventrone and OL Thomas Welch. Carter, Kettani, Lavarias and Ventrone were with the team through training camp, and Welch was a Patriots' 7th round draft choice in 2010 who spent last season in Minnesota...