BradyManny

Vrabel is great at the POA and great against the run. I do think his pass rushing seems to have somewhat declined from the middle of last season up until now. I agree, his pass rushing is one dimensional, but it generally works and does the job - forcing the QB to step up.

But we've seen AD been asked to pass rush a lot more (whereas to start the season, Vrabel was always rushing and AD dropped into coverage much more often), we've seen Vrabel come off the field for Pierre Woods at times (pass rushing situations for a series or two a game), and we've seen pass defense packages without Vrabel in it. Reading between the lines, I think we can assume that the coaching staff probably doesn't want to see Vrabel get gassed like he did last season, and/or that they have decided AD is a more consistent pass rushing threat than Vrabel.

But to suggest cutting Vrabel is crazytalk. Again, he's great against the run, and our defense is predicated on the ability to stop the run and force passing situations. Vrabel's a big part of that.

maryjane

Vrabel is old and feeble. What's he signed through? Next year?

His salary is probably so low, it won't make sense to cut him.

Definitely need some new blood. Maybe BB's seeing Mayo and Guyton playing well has gotten him over his reluctance to draft a LB. That and the ABYSMAL record of drafting RBs and WRs. Those positions should be off the board; Belichick and Pioli are INCAPABLE of drafting there...they draft losers.

Draft where you have proven you have SOME ability, ie LB/OL/CB. I'll give them a pass on drafting Sanders b/c he was like a 5th round pick. So although he sucks, it doesn't indicate that they can't draft safeties.

Leave No Doubt

LOL I said this same thing at the game yesterday! My friend's outlook this year had been that TedyB was getting slow and blahblah but oddly enough last week and especially this week, he's come up BIG. Mayo's also a factor in helping Tedy be able to play his game. Bru's FAR from done

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Box_O_Rocks

You haven't taken your analysis far enough my friend:
- Where "has" Adalius been playing on passing downs during the first quarter of the season?
- Who "else" has been playing where Adalius was and what was/is their experience level?
- Has there been any progress made that would allow Adalius to rush more often...which means a two-headed edge rush like when Colvin was playing across from Vrabes.
- And finally, does anyone think a pass rusher who was voted to the Pro-bowl after a double digit sack season just might draw more attention?


For scaryjane and her ilk, I'll provide some answers, please find an adult to read and explain them to you:
- Adalius has been playing "ILB" on passing downs in nickel and dime packages alongside "Mayo." Any lights going on? You know, like "rookie?" "Soft target" for experienced NFL QBs? Veteran "help" while the kid is learning? Not to mention "Guyton" has been taking more passing down reps and needed Adalius's "help" too.
- Mayo and Guyton are having the training wheels taken off and they are doing some X-games stunts already. This frees Adalius so Pees can send him to crunch the QB.
- Adalius is getting sacks because the blockers now have to protect a wider front with Vrabes and Sey/Vince/Ty/Jarvis/Wright/Le Kevin coming like wild men, not to mention Pees likes to blitz Guyton up the middle for a change of pace (remember the Denver 'int' gang?).

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JSn

Post of the day, without a doubt.

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Rob0729

Vrabel has been getting pressure on the QB this year. He just isn't getting to the QB. He is definitely not pass rushing like he did last year or previous years, but it isn't as bad as some make it.

Vrabel's best pass rushing game last year was against the Steelers, but he didn't show anything in the stats column. But he almost single-handily kept Roethlisberger off his game. He isn't performing to that level this year, but I do see him in the back field at times which has forced the opposing QB to dump the ball or make quicker decisions than he would have liked. It doesn't show on the stat sheet, but it does make a difference.

I am not kidding myself to think Vrabel has been playing like the Vrabel of old, but he is better than I think some people are realizing or at least giving credit for. AD is definitely the better OLB, but Vrabel is no liability and has made an impact.

primetime

Thomas is all over the place this year, but Vrabel is not playing poorly at all. The linebacking corps looks very good. Only Bruschi looks out of place and very, very slow (I don't care how many times you heard his name, he's on his way out), but Guyton looks like a strong player and he's getting an awful lot of reps for an undrafted rookie, which shows me the coaching staff thinks very highly of him.

I wouldn't be surprised if Woods starts getting some reps on Vrabel's side simply because Vrabel has alot of wear and tear and needs to be rested for the final push.

BradyManny

Good points...Guyton &/or Mayo being on the field the past few weeks frees up AD in the nickel and dime packages. But what about Woods coming in for Vrabel & never spelling AD? Doesn't this suggest the team is cognizant of Vrabel getting overworked?

The other factor, likely a result of Guyton and Mayo earning PT and playing well in coverage - the nickel package early in the year exchanged Warren for Green and Bruschi for Meriweather...I think I'm seeing more 2 DLs (Wright and Sey) on the field in the nickel now, with AD and Vrabel consistently rushing.

primetime

The nickel package in the last game had 2 down linemen (Wright and Seymour; Wright seemed to be on a jailbreak every time he was in there, even if he did not record a sack himself) and a plethora of linebackers - Thomas would occasionally put his hand down, but Guyton, Mayo, and Vrabel seemed to be the other 3 on nickel situations. Thomas provides versatility in that you don't know where he's going to line up - he's a more athletic version of McGinest.

maryjane

First of all, you're not supposed to insult other members and now you're threatening 'internet violence' against them (me)? WTF? You should be punished! Hard! I'm going to sic one of the moderators on you, I know they'd be on me if I had done that.

So what did I say that was so bad? Vrabel is old and feeble and slow. No pass rush whatsoever. It's like my grandmother otu there. And the Pats' picks of WRs in the draft (Jackson, Johnson) have been ABYSMAL. Do you dare try to refute that? Do you? And their 1st round RB (Moron-ey) is ABYSMAL. I call him 'dancing glass' Maroney. How about them apples?